The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 239

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 239

In the resting room connected to the banquet hall, Count Camellia and his younger son Luka were waiting.

Skyla was surprised and didn’t know what to do. Ean was also bewildered, but lightly tapped her hand, telling her to go over.

Skyla hesitated. The attendants’ eyes were watching.

“Sister.”

Luka approached her first.

Count Camellia couldn’t bring himself to do so. The image of his dead half-sister remained on Ean’s face, so he couldn’t even lift his head.

Ean looked at him for a moment, then left without saying anything. He told an attendant he would use the restroom.

Luka asked Skyla with a worried expression.

“Was everything alright? Are you okay, sister?”

“Can’t you see? What about you and father… I told you to go to the villa, so what happened?”

Skyla had sent the two of them away quite early. By the time the treason incident broke out, they should have been quite far away.

But Luka shook his head.

“Father fell ill on the way and we were delayed, so we were caught first.”

“Father? Is he alright now?”

Skyla was startled and looked back at Count Camellia. The count looked down with an uncomfortable expression.

Luka answered instead.

“It didn’t seem like he was really sick.”

“…I’m sorry. I felt bad about going to a safe place and leaving you and your mother behind…”

“Father.”

The words “why did you do something so useless” rose to her throat.

He said he didn’t follow orders because he felt bad about it, but it’s not like he actually came and did anything.

He didn’t become a mental support for mother either.

But Skyla held back. Count Camellia said weakly.

“I’m sorry.”

Skyla said to Luka.

“At least you should have done well.”

“Sister, you didn’t tell me anything.”

Luka said with anger in his voice.

“So, is that man what you chose, abandoning our family?”

“Watch your words, Luka.”

“Sister may have had grand intentions, but do I have to understand that too? You shouldn’t do this to mother and aunt. I know sister resented grandfather, but,”

“Shut your mouth. Unless you’ve become an idiot who doesn’t know this is the Imperial Palace.”

Luka’s complexion turned ashen as he closed his mouth.

Count Camellia intervened, saying “That’s enough.” He had the face of a sinner.

Skyla sighed.

Would the two of them understand if she explained?

Before hatred for Marquess Luden or desire for power, there was the judgment that Duke Loigar would lose.

It was something she started to create a lifeline to use when they lost. She failed at walking the tightrope, but still didn’t think her judgment was wrong.

If she hadn’t stolen that jewelry box, would Duke Loigar have survived?

Skyla thought about this to the point of madness while staying in the Imperial Palace guest room.

No, he wouldn’t have. No matter how she thought about it, only an ending where Duke Loigar was defeated came to mind.

Would it have been good if she had helped mother and used all her strength to put him on the emperor’s throne?

No, even then they would have ended up in a miserable situation.

Duke Loigar and Marquess Luden’s fates were bound together.

And as long as Marquess Luden had other options to put on the other side of the scale, Skyla had no choice but to strike at him to survive.

She knew Luka didn’t covet the marquessate. But if Marquess Luden had extended his hand to Luka to make everything work out smoothly, Luka wouldn’t have refused.

Because Luka wouldn’t understand the despair and pressure she felt.

Ean’s appearance only made that situation visible by adding a more effective option for Marquess Luden.

But what was different now?

Her rightful claim as the legitimate eldest daughter was as good as lost.

“Mother will be safe. I’ll make sure of it. And…”

There was one other thing. She was now not in a position to beg for mercy from uncertain future power, but had her name on the first line of the register of meritorious subjects.

Ean returned.

“Ah, Ean.”

Count Camellia tried to speak to him.

But Ean coldly turned his head away. Then he said to Skyla.

“Let’s go over there.”

Skyla also nodded with a hardened expression.

She knew well that Ean being on the same side as her didn’t mean he had forgiven her father and mother.

This problem was also something that needed to be resolved from now on.

“I’ll talk to you later, father.”

Skyla said quietly.

Count Camellia nodded with a forced smile on his pale face. Luka comforted him by putting his arm around his shoulder and took him to another seat.

While the four people were each trying to calm down, an attendant opened the door.

“The Pillar of Cratese, Emperor Gregor Aphanasy Nestor, who received the scepter and orb from the divine and became the sun on earth, has arrived.”

All four people stood up and knelt down.

The Emperor strode into the resting room.

“Rise. Don’t be so uncomfortable.”

“We are honored.”

“Count Camellia, it’s been a while. You don’t occasionally come to the palace to join my card games.”

“How could someone like me dare to receive such grace?”

Count Camellia’s voice was trembling. The Emperor laughed pleasantly.

He also gave light greetings to Luka and spoke to Ean.

“You’ve made great contributions this time.”

“I only did what was natural as Your Majesty’s subject.”

“But elopement isn’t good. Look, your father and younger brother are glaring at you.”

The Emperor joked, and finally extended his hand to Skyla.

The host of the banquet had to escort the most noble lady among the guests.

Conversely, it meant he was giving Skyla that position.

Skyla exhaled a tense breath. Then, while kneeling, she bowed her head deeply as if prostrating before the Emperor.

“Lady Camellia, raise your head. Don’t act like a criminal. I am well aware of your contributions, and the Camellia Marquess family will prosper even more through your efforts.”

“I am grateful, Your Majesty. If you consider me to have merit, please grant me just one request.”

“Hmm.”

The Emperor looked down at Skyla with an interested expression.

It was inheritance order, not the Emperor, that decided the head of a family. However, at this point, the Emperor could prevent Skyla’s succession to the title by influencing inheritance lawsuits.

It was a situation where he could say that since she was a relative of a traitor, he would acknowledge her merit but demote the title by one or two ranks.

He was curious what this clever woman would request.

But Skyla didn’t talk about titles or family.

“Please pardon my mother.”

“Count Camellia and his wife have already proven themselves to be my loyal subjects, and their merit is sufficient to cover the family, so the Camellia Marquess family was cleared of guilt despite being relatives of a traitor. Countess Camellia is no exception, so why are you suddenly asking for a pardon?”

“Because I am afraid. I learned that Your Majesty’s eyes cover the heavens and cannot be escaped.”

Skyla said.

The guilt the Emperor had lifted was only related to this treason.

So the things Countess Camellia had done for Duke Loigar still remained.

Evil deeds committed for a faction are only justified while there is a faction to protect them.

She couldn’t feel safe just because the Emperor had no reason to attack her.

Especially if Artizea was going to become a person in power from now on.

“If there are any sins my mother has committed until now, please pardon them all. What I want is not to receive a reward from Your Majesty, nor to add the honor of being Your Majesty’s loyal subject to the Camellia Marquess family, but only that.”

Skyla said.

The Emperor looked down at her. Skyla felt the illusion that her nervous breathing could be heard throughout the entire resting room.

The Emperor smiled broadly.

“I heard many stories about you from the Duchess of Evron, but I didn’t know you were such a filial daughter.”

“….”

“Good. From this moment forward, whatever crimes Countess Camellia has committed, they shall be permanently pardoned.”

“Your imperial grace is boundless!”

Luka quickly knelt and offered his gratitude. Following him, Count Camellia, whose eyes had turned red, also knelt.

Skyla exhaled a long breath, emptying her lungs.

The Emperor’s mention of the Duchess of Evron’s name bothered her.

However, for now, the matter of inciting Archbishop Akim to assassinate Artizea and Lady Leticia could no longer be officially brought up again.

The Emperor extended his hand to Skyla again.

Skyla hesitantly took his hand and stood up.

The doors to the banquet hall opened wide. The sound of the orchestra’s performance flowed in.

Other guests were already present in the banquet hall. The lights were brightly lit.

That path was not a path of glory.

* * *

Artizea remained awake until the darkness deepened to a time when it was difficult to drive away with a single candle.

“Isn’t it too dark?”

Sedric asked as he entered carrying a large candelabra with five candle holders.

“Ah. You’re right.”

“What were you so absorbed in?”

“Just organizing some things. Since various matters have come to an end.”

She moved a sealed envelope to a copper plate and poured oil over it. Then she set it on fire.

The thin envelope soon burst into flames.

“What did you burn?”

“A debt that needed to be repaid.”

Artizea answered only that.

She had several more similar envelopes. Inside them were papers with only a single number written on them.

It was a method she used to aid her memory.

“Has the date for Duchess Loigar’s exile been decided?”

“In three days, she’ll depart quietly. She’s agreed to cooperate with the escort.”

“Count Kishower aside, the investigative organization should have something to say about it.”

“They seem to want to let it pass quietly for now. It’s better to keep even a few more Imperial Guard troops in the capital. Also, when I said I wanted to look after her even on the road to exile, they understood.”

“Don’t think it will be easy. Among those considered His Majesty’s close allies, there are surely groups that are hostile to Lord Sedric.”

“I know. It’s not time to let our guard down yet. But without planting an insider, relying only on Countess Camellia’s remaining forces might lead to failure.”

Sedric said.

“Don’t worry too much. If it seems we won’t need to take action, we naturally won’t move.”

“Yes.”

Artizea replied.

Sedric reached out and gently stroked her hair. Artizea closed her eyes and leaned her cheek against his hand.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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