The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 247

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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 247

The welcome ball was held for the envoys from foreign nations.

Formally, it was just a simple ball. Since the main guests were clear, no imperial throne was separately prepared.

Of course, since it was being held for foreign envoys gathered ahead of the Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony, it couldn’t be said to be a ball held merely for entertainment.

The Emperor stood comfortably in a spot prepared on the stair railing, looking around at the people. He planned to leave his seat early.

“An old man who can’t even dance would only make the ball boring if he occupied a seat for too long.”

“Your Majesty is still in your prime.”

Duke Faren of the Kingdom of Siwell, who was standing beside the Emperor, spoke respectfully. The Emperor laughed heartily.

“What are you saying? Duke, you and I are both old. We shouldn’t intrude on places where young people play.”

Saying this, the Emperor pointed toward where people were gathered.

The Duchess of Evron and Crown Princess Ients stood side by side, exchanging greetings with people.

Those around them were, as the Emperor said, mostly young men and women.

In another area, there was a group surrounding the young heirs of three nations.

Duke Faren was also swept up in strange feelings seeing this.

He had been coming and going to the Empire as an envoy for nearly several decades. He was someone who had even attended the Emperor’s coronation ceremony.

He felt himself aging. The Kingdom of Siwell had changed the owner of its throne twice during that time.

Yet somehow he seemed to have thought that Emperor Gregor would remain eternally strong.

Even so, he couldn’t share those sentiments with the Emperor.

“Youth may be pretty to look at, but that’s all it is. Just because decorations are pretty, can they become the master of the occasion?”

“To become the master of a ball, shouldn’t one dance? Duke, do you have confidence to dance the mazurka with those young people over there?”

Duke Faren cleared his throat. The Emperor laughed.

“I could tell the orchestra to play the dance music slowly, but I don’t want to become that pathetic.”

“I’d be fine with a quadrille.”

“Are there any lovely ladies left to hold your hands on either side?”

The Emperor spoke jokingly.

“Let’s just have a few drinks like this and move to another place.”

Duke Faren had no reason to decline.

The Emperor leisurely leaned against the railing and lifted his champagne glass.

Cedric was going to get a drink when he passed below. The Emperor looked down at him with interest.

“Cedric.”

At the call, Cedric looked up in surprise. The Emperor gestured for him to come up.

And he said to Duke Faren.

“You’re not close, are you? Though you’d have some acquaintance.”

“Yes. When I came last time, Prince Evron was in the Western Regions. Even before that, he wasn’t one to stay long at the Imperial Palace.”

“I’ll introduce you. You’ll see each other often from now on. He and I also go way back.”

“Your imperial grace is overwhelming.”

Duke Faren offered his thanks.

Cedric soon approached the railing area. The Royal Guards cleared the way.

Though the Emperor was lamenting that he was old and stepping back, in reality Duke Faren’s words were correct. He was the rightful master of the ball.

The reason there were few people around the Emperor was because there was no one who dared approach at will.

Everyone was on high alert. Not one person was unaware that Cedric had stood beside the Emperor.

The Emperor spoke leisurely.

“This is Duke Faren of the Kingdom of Siwell. You probably know his face at least?”

“I remember exchanging greetings about 5 years ago. It’s good to meet you, Duke Faren.”

“Please don’t lower your speech, Prince Evron. You’ve already become someone precious, so you don’t need to lower your speech to someone like me.”

“When His Majesty regards you as someone close, I cannot be negligent.”

“Right. The Duke is someone who knows courtesy, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

The Emperor added to Cedric’s words. It meant that even without deliberately pressing down to clarify the hierarchy, Duke Faren knew his place and conducted himself well.

The Emperor glanced at Cedric’s drink glass. Since the transparent liquid couldn’t be water, it was liquor.

“Tia seems to like Crown Princess Ients.”

“Yes.”

“Did anything happen in the powder room?”

“Nothing special happened. Tia and Crown Princess Ients exchanged fur and hair ornaments as gifts to each other.”

“That must be it then.”

The Emperor said, looking at Natalia’s wolf fur.

“That was wise.”

The Kingdom of Ients issue had become a slightly bothersome matter for the Emperor.

Since they were involved in Duke Loigar’s treason, he couldn’t let them pass without paying any price.

However, he also had no real intention of crushing the Kingdom of Ients.

A chance to solve the pirate problem in the Southern Sea had finally emerged. If there was an opportunity to resolve it through diplomacy, he naturally had to do his best.

The reason he limited Duke Loigar’s treason charges to claiming the Empress title was because of this.

However, he couldn’t let the Kingdom of Ients or Kingdom of Eimel take the initiative in this.

It would be good if he could crush both nations at once, but he didn’t have the capacity for that. So balance was always important.

Since he had used the whip, it was now time to offer the carrot.

From that perspective, Artizea’s actions were appropriate.

This diluted the fact that the Crown Prince couple of Ients had been brought as hostages. The friendship between the Crown Princess and Crown Princess would be emphasized.

By focusing attention on the Kingdom of Ients at the ball, it also had the effect of reducing attention on the Kingdom of Eimel.

This would affect not only within the Empire but also diplomacy among the small southern nations that needed to coordinate their steps regarding the Southern Sea problem.

‘Tia would have thought that far.’

Did Cedric think of that?

The Emperor looked at Cedric with wrinkled eyes. Cedric was conversing with Duke Faren while occasionally bringing his drink glass to his lips.

Cedric’s gaze was directed toward the middle of the ballroom.

The dance music had changed to a waltz.

“Aren’t you going to dance?”

“I’m planning to go for the third song.”

“Why the third one?”

Duke Faren asked curiously.

“Because if I go before then, I’ll probably be chased away for having important work to do.”

Cedric said listlessly. Duke Faren misunderstood the subject and laughed.

“Indeed, there’s nothing more important than staying by His Majesty’s side.”

Standing close to the Emperor and showing that was far more important than going to be surrounded by people and enjoying new power.

Considering his past, this was even more so.

Even if he showed reconciliation and friendship with the Emperor, those who doubted would never cease. Both those who hoped for the Empire’s peace and those who hoped for chaos.

‘For now, he looks fine.’

Duke Faren judged so.

Indeed, Cadriole was conscious of this even while dancing the waltz.

“Did you arrange this?”

“What?”

Artizea asked.

“Duke Evron standing beside the Emperor with the old men.”

“It’s the most important position, so it’s natural. Prince Cadriole, is it really alright for you to be just dancing like this?”

“If I don’t do this, there won’t be a chance for private conversation, will there?”

Those words were correct.

Publicly, the two were almost strangers. The only time Cadriole had met her since coming to the capital was once at the Emperor’s dinner.

The secret pact being discovered would be fatal to both of them. They had to hide the very fact that they had a chance to meet.

“Was there anything left to discuss privately? I think it would be better if you and I weren’t associated any further?”

“You should thank me.”

“Thank you?”

Artizea looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Even if I had thoroughly pretended we were meeting for the first time, would the Duke of Evron have been able to manage his expressions properly?”

“….”

“And now, whether I request a dance, seek an audience, or send secret letters in bouquets, no one will think it suspicious.”

“That is true, but….”

“I’ve also provided a topic of conversation that can bury any troublesome rumors until the Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony.”

Unfortunately, Artizea had to acknowledge it.

If her partner hadn’t been Cedric, there would have been no need to mention things like potential discord in their relationship.

As a member of the imperial family, being the subject of gossip was something one had to endure. Learning to control one’s heart against such rumors was also an essential quality.

It wasn’t much different from spreading rumors about a love marriage with Cedric.

Artizea suppressed a sigh and said.

“Thank you.”

In the past, she wouldn’t have sighed like this. She would have purely considered it strategy.

Now, even Cedric was acting too childishly for her to believe that, leaving her speechless.

“Well, thinking about it, it’s not really something to be thanked for. I’m not lying either.”

“…So what is the content you wish to discuss privately? I’m starting to get tired now.”

Artizea said while paying attention to her footwork.

Cadriole said.

“Would you be angry if I said there was nothing?”

“You do have something, don’t you? Your Highness is a pragmatist.”

“There’s someone I used as a guide when I went north.”

“Yes.”

“He’s someone who worked under a leather merchant in the capital for nearly 10 years before quitting…. Some of his former colleagues are apparently spreading rumors. It seems there’s someone who claims to have seen Karam at the fortress.”

Artizea tensed her body.

She was the type who couldn’t coordinate her head and body movements well. So her feet stopped as well.

Cadriole lifted her up. Her skirt spread out wide.

The song ended.

Cadriole set her down. Artizea looked at him. Then she shrugged her shoulders.

“That’s all I know.”

“Thank you.”

Artizea placed her hand on her chest and bowed her head politely in greeting.

“Don’t mention it. It would be troublesome for me too if something unexpected came up while digging into rumors.”

Cadriole replied while likewise bowing his head in greeting.

He escorted Artizea to the edge of the hall.

Cedric smoothly intervened and took Artizea’s hand away.

“Duke of Evron, show some manners, will you?”

“There’s no custom of dancing two songs in a row with the same person.”

Cedric said.

When the two men faced each other, intrigued gazes focused on them all at once.

Artizea sighed. Then she arranged her skirt with both hands and said.

“I’m getting quite tired now.”

“Tia.”

“How about a walk instead?”

Cedric’s face brightened.

Cadriole clicked his tongue. Artizea gave him a slight bow in greeting and headed outside.

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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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