The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 248

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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 248

39.

Artizea hoped for quiet until the Crown Prince investiture ceremony at all costs.

Even though he had formed an adoptive relationship with the Emperor and entered the Imperial Palace, Sedric’s position was not yet secure. For now, it simply meant that Sedric had become the Emperor’s son.

Though they say there are no private matters in imperial affairs, it was still a relatively private issue and something that could be reversed by the Emperor’s personal decision.

However, the Crown Prince was different.

The Crown Prince was officially proclaimed as one who could take the Emperor’s place.

At the investiture ceremony, his name would be written and reported to the gods and announced to all the people.

The Crown Prince’s position was also a peerage, so just as the Emperor could not arbitrarily strip other nobles of their titles, he could not depose him without justification.

So they just needed to safely complete the investiture ceremony.

Then, even if something unexpected happened, there would be no problem. Honey water could overflow from the cup at any time.

Even if they failed to achieve the goal of receiving the government peacefully and without chaos from the Emperor, he could ascend as the next Emperor with legitimacy.

‘If only nothing happens until then.’

Artizea lowered her head and glared at her teacup.

On the day of the welcome ball, she had simply smiled and spent the day, but the information Cadriole had mentioned was no ordinary matter.

‘Who could it be?’

Artizea mentally wrote several names on the white tablecloth.

If someone wanted to attack Sedric, it would be right to do so before the investiture ceremony.

But realistically, with only one successor to the throne remaining, there was no reason to make an uncertain gamble.

Now the power struggle should not center around Sedric, but should be fought over the Empress’s position.

‘If someone tries to use Karam as justification to prevent the investiture ceremony, that means their goal is to bring down Lord Sedric himself.’

The only reason she could think of was hatred.

As long as Leticia was there, religious reasons were also unlikely.

‘Lawrence? Or perhaps opposition factions in the temple? Could there be some imperial collateral bloodline I don’t know about?’

Or it could be revenge.

If not that, there might be someone purely trying to cause chaos.

‘Has the Eastern Region already begun plotting independence? Count Brennan has been moving differently than before.’

When Lawrence was made Emperor, Count Brennan had been in a cooperative relationship with Artizea.

But now it was different. Count Brennan was a spy planted by the Emperor, but ultimately she moved for her own benefit.

The Eastern nobles were now divided. Any one of them could be plotting such a thing.

Artizea mentally erased the names one by one.

There were hardly any who seemed certain to do such a thing. But if she lowered the standards, conversely, there were quite a few who might.

Just then.

Someone knocked on the door.

“It’s Freil, Your Highness.”

“Come in.”

Artizea erased all those names at once and raised her head.

Freil entered and closed the door. Then he glanced around the spacious drawing room.

Outside the window, two Evron knights stood guard. The rooms on both sides were probably the same.

Artizea was sitting in the middle of the drawing room.

Freil approached as she gestured and sat in a nearby seat.

“It seems those seeking information have entered Evron Mansion.”

“Yes. It has worsened since you entered the Imperial Palace. Since we began accepting various merchant groups last year, it became impossible to track every outsider’s movements.”

Artizea let out a low sigh.

After entrusting operations to Mel, Evron Mansion had become more open. This was partly because Sedric’s rule had changed, and partly due to generational change.

That itself was a good trend. But information leaks were inevitable.

“There was a leather merchant we used to deal with exclusively.”

“Yes.”

“People from his side are going around investigating Karam based on rumors that Karam was seen at the mansion.”

Freil’s face hardened.

“I don’t think Lord Mel would have handled things so carelessly. Though it was more difficult to manage than before, it’s not to the degree where he couldn’t distinguish outsiders.”

“Still, if they were long-time acquaintances, he might not have been particularly wary. Rumors could spread through soldiers telling relatives what they saw.”

“Yes.”

Freil nodded. Then he gave his opinion.

“That leather merchant was connected to Marquess Luden. If there are people seeking information, they’re probably Eastern nobles.”

“Then that would be rather fortunate. They’ll wait until Lord Sedric ascends the throne.”

Then they would attempt independence, claiming they cannot serve an apostate who conspired with Karam.

“The problem is when other things come out while investigating that issue. There’s also the matter of House Jordin.”

“I understand what you mean.”

“In any case, nothing must happen until the Crown Prince investiture ceremony.”

“Yes. I’ll also track that leather merchant separately.”

“Good.”

Freil bowed his head with a tense expression.

Artizea gestured for him to withdraw.

Freil withdrew. Artizea fidgeted with her bracelet and thought a little more.

If the mastermind was an Eastern noble, there was time to spare. But if it was Lawrence, the situation would be quite difficult.

‘Even more so if the Eastern nobles and Lawrence joined hands.’

The Emperor had been disappointed in Lawrence.

However, if he could succeed in a scheme capable of canceling the Crown Prince investiture ceremony and bringing down Sedric…

‘He would be delighted and want to pass everything on, even if it somewhat damaged His Majesty’s power and honor.’

Just as he had in the past.

That’s why the Crown Prince investiture ceremony was even more important.

Sedric always believed she could find the best path. But Artizea herself didn’t feel that way.

Until now, she had abandoned safe and efficient methods and chosen to walk dangerous paths.

Risk factors had accumulated to the point of collapse.

‘In the end, a price must be paid.’

If she wouldn’t cover and hide it with others’ corpses, she had no choice but to seal it with her own blood.

Artizea quietly placed her hand on the table. Then she pulled the bell cord.

Hailey, who had been in the next room, soon came carrying an armful of letters.

“You called for me, Your Highness?”

“What about Hazel? Why are you organizing the letters?”

“There were too many letters. I thought I’d handle those from foreign envoys, important figures, and Eastern-related correspondents.”

Hailey had dark circles under her eyes.

She always complained that there was too much work and it was difficult, but honestly, much of it was self-inflicted.

“They’re probably just invitations or meaningless love letters anyway.”

“It’s become like a trend. Just yesterday, over a hundred love letters arrived in one day.”

“Leave it to Hazel.”

“But…”

“If you’re worried about information flowing to Belmond, it doesn’t matter. Such things aren’t important at all.”

“If you say so, I can rest assured…”

Hailey set aside a thick bundle of letters separately.

“I wondered if there might be letters with coded messages mixed in. There’s also one from Prince Emel.”

“It’s probably just a smokescreen anyway, so you can burn it.”

“Yes.”

Hailey was about to explain about the other letters, but Artizea postponed it, saying they’d discuss it later.

Then she said.

“I’ll write a letter, so go personally and invite Natalia.”

“Understood. I’ll prepare some gifts as well. What time should…”

“Go today. Her Highness Natalia probably doesn’t have any important schedule yet. It would be good if she could come early. If His Highness the Crown Prince would like to come together, that’s fine too.”

“Yes.”

Even as she answered, Hailey looked somewhat dubious.

Artizea asked.

“Why?”

“Please don’t think me rude, Your Highness. Are you planning to receive Her Highness Crown Princess Natalia as a guest at the Imperial Prince’s Palace?”

“Yes.”

“I’m against it.”

Hailey said.

“If you invite only Her Highness the Crown Princess, that will cause talk in its own way, and if you invite His Highness the Crown Prince as well, His Highness the Prince will be criticized for getting too close to the Kingdom of Ients.”

Even though the Crown Prince of Ients wasn’t directly involved in Duke Loigar’s treason incident, it would be even worse at a time when he bore responsibility for that matter.

But Artizea said this.

“That’s not more important than Leticia’s safety.”

“…”

Hailey fell silent.

Artizea waited for Hailey to interpret her words in her own way.

Hailey took a deep breath.

“Do you think there will be something that requires witnesses?”

“…The investiture ceremony is imminent. It wouldn’t be strange if anything happened.”

“Until now, you’ve said we should stay quiet without any disturbance because of the investiture ceremony. Something happened, didn’t it?”

“Let’s say that’s the case.”

Artizea breathed in quietly.

She trusted Hailey quite a bit. However, that trust wasn’t yet enough to confide everything.

Hailey knew how to judge for herself. So she could stop Artizea through Cedric.

While Artizea remained silent, Hailey seemed to have finished her own interpretation.

“I’m against it.”

“I haven’t said a word about what I intend to do yet, Hailey.”

“Aren’t you thinking of using yourself as bait to sweep away the hidden hostile forces within House Evron and the Imperial Palace in one fell swoop? If you need witnesses.”

Artizea couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

It wasn’t wrong. She had been aiming for that, gradually leaking her movements through Alice’s side.

But at least this matter wasn’t for that purpose. If spies in the Evron Duchy were digging into the Karam issue, the target of attack would be Cedric, not herself.

“I want to lay down one more layer of safety for Leticia.”

Artizea could speak honestly.

“If she’s attacked while Her Highness Natalia is at the Imperial Prince’s Palace, it would become a diplomatic issue, so rash violence wouldn’t easily occur.”

First of all, the Emperor wouldn’t stand for it.

Hailey asked.

“How about telling His Highness the Prince about this matter?”

“It’s about receiving a guest at the Imperial Prince’s Palace. Of course.”

Hailey seemed relieved by that answer and smiled. Then she said to write a letter, and that she would go find an appropriate gift.

Artizea nodded.

She would only tell Cedric about the purpose of inviting Natalia.

Now was too important a time to talk about Lawrence, whose whereabouts were still unknown.

Cedric was focused solely on the investiture ceremony, and didn’t have enough time even for legitimate affairs.

It would be sufficient to discuss it after some concrete information emerged.

‘I should send Count Alphonse to the Western Regions.’

Artizea decided only that.

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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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