The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 243

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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 243

Artizea answered.

“His Majesty has never once treated me wrongly.”

It was a political statement.

Sometimes, stating only the surface facts could be the most political approach.

The Emperor had never been harsh to her.

In her childhood, Artizea had never once received anything like a birthday gift.

There had never been good food served for her birthday either. She would spend entire days locked in her room reading books or lost in various thoughts, afraid of Milaire who had become extremely sensitive and would scream at the smallest things.

Why would the Emperor personally torment Artizea? He had no need to do so.

Everyone who feared displeasing the Emperor simply treated Artizea as if she didn’t exist.

When she was too young to understand this logic, she had once admired the Emperor. Hoping he might become a father to her as he was to Lawrence.

She was too young to know such a thing could never happen. Too young to realize she was so small an existence that she could be kicked aside.

She couldn’t distinguish between the indifference shown because there was no need to personally trample her, and genuine mercy and kindness.

Countess Unise hesitated slightly.

Artizea smiled faintly.

“I should be grateful that His Majesty doesn’t hate me. It wouldn’t have been strange if he had ordered a newborn baby to be abandoned.”

“….”

“Thanks to His Majesty’s forgiveness, I was able to grow up as Marquess Rosan and am here now.”

“Yes, yes indeed. That’s right.”

Countess Unise answered hesitantly.

She hadn’t spoken with political intent.

But when Artizea responded this way, she worried whether she had said something wrong.

“However, I am concerned that inviting people to the Imperial Prince’s Palace now might be interpreted with political meaning.”

“It’s your birthday.”

Countess Unise said once more.

“Then let’s just celebrate with family.”

“Just family… That’s not exactly easy either.”

Artizea nodded slightly in that direction. There stood the statue of Saint Olga who had regained her heart.

Countess Unise realized she had only thought of herself and quickly closed her mouth.

She realized that from the Imperial Prince’s Palace’s perspective, ‘gathering family in one place’ would mean having to invite both the Emperor and Empress together.

“I was being thoughtless. I’m sorry.”

Countess Unise lightly slapped her own mouth.

Artizea just laughed it off.

She truly had no interest in things like birthday parties.

She had decided not to think such extreme thoughts as that she shouldn’t have been born into this world.

However, it didn’t particularly feel like something worth celebrating either.

If she were to have a party, it would be when there was a real need for one.

Artizea looked at Leticia and thought. Leticia’s birthday would probably continue to fall on the same day as the Harvest Festival.

“Come to think of it, all of Your Highness’s maids will attend the investiture ceremony, won’t they?”

“Yes, of course?”

Artizea tilted her head, wondering why such an obvious thing was being asked.

Countess Unise spoke with deliberately more excitement.

“Our Fiona was curious about it. She knows Your Highness sent her to the western regions on important business, but there’s the investiture ceremony this time.”

“Ah.”

Artizea let out a short sigh.

“Well. I did contact her to come, but it seems she can’t easily leave her work.”

She spoke as if making an excuse.

She had never really thought of Lisia as a maid. Even when Countess Unise mentioned it just now, she unconsciously didn’t count Lisia.

Lisia had said she would come for Leticia’s naming ceremony, but in the end, she didn’t come then either.

She couldn’t urge her to return. Artizea couldn’t even guess what might be in her heart.

Because she had never placed Lisia on the chessboard to observe her, she hadn’t thought much about what impact her absence might have.

It was more accurate to say she hadn’t thought about it.

Though she knew Lisia had forgiven her and would cherish Leticia, she was still afraid.

“….”

When summer came, Lisia’s birthday would come around too.

Artizea stood up from her seat.

Leticia looked at her and laughed cheerfully.

“It’s mama, mama. Try calling her.”

A maid said to Leticia. It was behavior that went against etiquette, but everyone spoke in easy-to-understand ways in front of babies.

“Ma! Um!”

Leticia said while reaching out her hands.

Artizea had rarely held Leticia. Partly because she didn’t have much arm strength to support the weight, and partly because she wasn’t sure if it was okay to remain in the baby’s memory.

And she couldn’t help thinking that this lovely baby had perhaps also chosen the wrong body to be born into.

Marcus picked up Leticia and placed her in Artizea’s arms.

Just as Artizea was about to soothe Leticia.

There was a loud crash from outside the door.

“Oh my!”

Countess Unise made a startled sound.

Artizea turned toward that direction while holding Leticia.

“What’s all that commotion?”

She asked in a quiet voice.

Hazel, who had been sitting a little distance away organizing letters, headed toward the door instead.

Through the slightly opened door, a few words were exchanged in low but rough voices.

Soon Hailey entered. Hazel followed behind her with a tense expression.

“What happened?”

“It was nothing serious, Your Highness. A maid spilled water in front of here while cleaning.”

Hailey spoke in a cold voice.

Countess Unise frowned.

There was no way such a clumsy person would be employed as a maid cleaning the Imperial Prince’s Palace, especially Artizea’s quarters when she was about to become Crown Princess.

Someone had undoubtedly sent her to eavesdrop on conversations.

“How could…”

But Countess Unise couldn’t finish her words.

Hailey spoke first.

“I scolded her and sent her away.”

“Well done.”

When Artizea said only that, Countess Unise’s face flushed red with anger.

“Surely you’re not planning to let it slide like that, Your Highness? I understand Your Highness wants to spend time quietly before the investiture ceremony, but that won’t set a proper example.”

“It’s not like we were having any conversation that shouldn’t be overheard.”

Artizea spoke calmly. Countess Unise flinched.

“No, that may be so, but…”

“It’s fine. We can’t dismiss all the maids just because one spilled water.”

Artizea said so.

Anyway, that maid wouldn’t return even if Artizea didn’t dismiss her.

Because exposed spies couldn’t be used again.

Hailey would have handled it well on her own.

Artizea was deliberately leaking information to a certain degree.

She wanted to track where it went to understand the flow of information within the Imperial Palace.

Among what she had brought in now, there was no information she needed to fear others seeing.

Hailey quietly approached Artizea and whispered in her ear.

“Lord Freil asks me to relay news from the Eastern Region.”

“The Eastern Region?”

“It seems Lord Lawrence has disappeared. It’s not certain, but they say whoever is holding his position now appears to be a fake.”

Artizea held her breath. Hailey spoke quickly.

“They say they’ll confirm it first. Since none of the informants in the Eastern Region know Lord Lawrence’s face accurately, they copied a portrait and sent it.”

If that were true, it meant Lawrence had either deceived all the servants and knights the Emperor had sent, or turned them to his side.

Artizea silently put Leticia down.

This time Hailey spoke a little louder.

“And Countess Camellia has departed for the harbor.”

“I see.”

Only then did Artizea nod. And she returned to her seat with a natural attitude.

Countess Unise asked.

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing serious. It seems Prince Eimel has arrived.”

Artizea said with a bright smile.

“They say Countess Camellia has headed to the harbor.”

“Oh. Now it really feels like it’s soon. Once Crown Prince Ientz and his wife arrive, all the important guests will have gathered.”

Countess Unise’s eyes sparkled.

For her, who had nothing to fear, the Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony and the visiting princes from other countries were more exciting than fierce events.

* * *

Cop prostrated himself on the floor, trembling.

Sitting cross-legged before him was a man of unparalleled beauty in the world. And as far as Cop knew, he was also the most cruel and terrifying man in the world.

“Throw that maid into the river.”

“The number of people we’ve placed in the Prince’s Palace isn’t that many.”

Cop said carefully.

“The maid the Empress selected and sent inspected everyone the Imperial Palace would choose. Nearly half of them have worked in the Empress’s Palace for over ten years.”

The rest were either from Evron or people introduced through the Belmond family via Hazel. Meanwhile, the secret organization Cop had created for Lawrence had been weakened during the incidents in the Southern and Eastern Regions, leaving few usable people.

Gayan of the Royal Guards was unusually harsh toward the servants and palace maids and servants.

Even with the slightest connection, he would drag them out and execute them. Sometimes he did so even without a trace of evidence. The reason was that there should be no one in the Imperial Palace who coveted anything other than the Emperor’s favor.

And Cop had only recently learned the real reason.

「That bastard Gayan has sided with Evron.」

Lawrence had said it as if it were nothing significant.

“Even if there are a few incompetent fools, it’s the same as having none.”

He said languidly.

“However…”

“Nothing is better than something half-baked. Was your ability so remarkable that you could underestimate Marquess Rosan?”

“I know it’s nothing but an excuse, but above all, His Majesty Gregor’s eyes are watching, making it difficult to move carelessly.”

Cop bowed low.

“Foolish thing. Even though I taught you how to guide Countess Unise to bring up the topic of the Empress, you haven’t gleaned a single word, and you call that an excuse?”

Lawrence said this and stood up. Cop spoke desperately.

“Why do you concern yourself with the Saint or Evron? Go to His Majesty Gregor. If he knows the truth, both Evron who dares covet the Crown Prince’s position and the traitor Marquess Rosan will be swept away at once.”

“Heh.”

Lawrence bared his teeth and grinned wickedly.

“Let them climb high. That way there will be pleasure in their fall.”

And he rose from his seat.

Without Lisia, there was nothing more to see in the capital.

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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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