The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 261

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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 261

Cedric hurriedly headed to the Main Palace, wearing only a formal coat over his comfortable shirt and pants.

“What happened?”

“The fire started first at Eldon First Port. There was a warehouse nearby storing grain that was to be transported to the North soon…”

The color drained from Cedric’s face. The messenger bowed his head like a criminal.

“With the sea breeze blowing, it should be humid, yet the fire spread greatly?”

“I-I’m not sure how it got this bad. Some say it’s because of the paper flower decorations and incense lit at each dock…”

That was undoubtedly a rumor.

What was meant to bless the Crown Prince and Holy Lady had turned into a wrong result. It would be interpreted as meaning the Divine did not want it.

At the right time, the rumor would change into different words and spread again.

That the Divine does not want the newly appointed Crown Prince, or that the Holy Lady is fake.

Unless Artizea continuously demonstrated holy power and showed miracles, once rumors started spreading, they would become uncontrollable.

“Casualties?”

“I sent a messenger to confirm.”

Emma from the Ministry of Internal Affairs answered.

“Since it’s a fire that started at the warehouse side at night, there probably won’t be many.”

“The Guard Corps and Warehouse Guild will likely report it in a minimized way.”

“The casualties on the warehouse side will be minor. It’s originally a civilian-restricted area. I’ll look into the areas where the fire spread.”

The Emperor finally emerged from his Imperial Bedchamber.

He wore a robe over his pajamas, with a cloak bearing the Imperial crest hastily draped over it.

His face was flushed red and blue, perfectly fitting the expression of soaring blood pressure.

The Chamberlain pulled him over and seated him in a chair first. The Emperor asked sharply.

“There was a fire at the port?”

“Yes.”

The messenger knelt and gave the same report he had given to Cedric.

The Emperor struck the armrest.

“The First Port and the grain bound for the North burned first! How could that be an accident!”

However, the primary person responsible was not present.

The Emperor pressed his forehead and asked.

“What about the ships? Surely the vessels that brought foreign envoys weren’t damaged?”

“They’re all docked at different ports, so there’s no problem yet.”

“We should be able to stop it before the fire spreads there.”

Emma said.

“What good are your words of comfort now? If this were something simple, a messenger wouldn’t have come running in the middle of the night.”

At the Emperor’s words, Emma closed her mouth, bowed her head, and stepped back.

The Emperor looked at Cedric and said.

“You go and handle this.”

“Me, Your Majesty?”

“Both the grain to be sent to the North and the envoy ships are involved in this problem.”

“I understand.”

Cedric gave a straightforward affirmative answer.

He was concerned about not finishing his conversation with Artizea.

However, since this matter involved both Northern issues and diplomatic problems, someone of appropriate responsibility had to take charge.

Nearly half of the goods distributed in the Capital depended on water transport. Its role as a port of call was also very significant.

This meant that if the docks became unusable, there would be a meaningful level of damage to Central region logistics.

Given the gravity of the responsibility, if they just left it to the port’s municipal administrator, he would certainly focus on minimizing and downplaying the situation in his reports.

Cedric placed his hand on his left chest, bent his waist, and bowed to the Emperor.

Then he turned around with measured steps and rushed out.

“Have my horse ready.”

“Yes!”

The adjutant shouted and ran off.

The Imperial Prince’s Palace was filled with commotion. The Imperial Guard was temporarily assembled.

Cedric said to Emma.

“Administrative support will be needed. Prepare so we can depart as soon as the sun rises.”

“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Emma answered and also hurried off in the direction she needed to go.

Cedric returned to the Imperial Prince’s Palace. At Artizea’s command, the butler was already packing a simple bag.

“Tia, I must.”

“I know. The situation seems urgent?”

“Yes. I think I need to go now.”

“Just change your clothes and go. I’ll send your change of clothes tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

Cedric lightly kissed Artizea’s cheek.

Then, as he was about to leave, he said one more thing.

“Our conversation isn’t finished yet. You can’t decide on your own.”

“I understand.”

Artizea answered obediently. Cedric looked at her with suspicious eyes.

However, there was no time to hesitate. Outside, the guard announced that escort preparations were complete.

“I’ll be back.”

Cedric left his farewell and departed from the Imperial Prince’s Palace.

The summons from the Main Palace came two hours later. It was now past midnight, close to dawn.

The servant delivered the message with an apologetic face.

“He said if you were sleeping, not to wake you.”

“When His Majesty calls, I must go, of course.”

At Artizea’s answer, the servant’s face showed relief as he bowed and went ahead.

Until then, Artizea had been dressed comfortably, but properly enough that it wouldn’t be strange to go for a walk.

Artizea simply put on a shawl over it and headed to the Main Palace.

The outside of the Main Palace was noisy and chaotic. Managers called in to provide the administrative support Cedric had mentioned were running here and there.

Even when the Empress passed by, they only briefly stopped and bowed their heads.

Artizea waved her hand, indicating there was no need for such formality.

The Imperial Bedchamber area was rather quiet.

Since full authority had been entrusted to the Crown Prince, there was nothing for the Emperor to personally handle now.

Cedric would handle the incident first, then after confirming the follow-up report, if the situation changed, orders could be given then.

He had gained the successor he wanted, someone to share the burden with.

However, the Emperor seemed unable to fall back asleep.

Artizea respectfully bent her knee and bowed in front of the drawing room door.

“Did you summon me, Your Majesty?”

“Come in and sit.”

He said, completely clearing the complex expression from his face.

Behind Artizea, the servant closed the door. This was their first conversation since Artizea had revealed she was the Holy Lady.

The Emperor held a wine glass in his hand. Artizea watched the amber liquor swirling at the bottom.

There was probably no need for her to add a word about it being bad for his health.

The Emperor saw her gaze and spoke first.

“I’ve already heard the advice not to drink from the doctor. From the Chamberlain too.”

“Yes. I am honored.”

The Emperor moistened his lips with the liquor.

Then he let out a tired sigh. He wanted to rest.

However, perhaps due to his frayed nerves, sleep wouldn’t come. The unpleasant heat that had soaked his back the moment he woke up wouldn’t subside.

It was understandable that he would be stressed. Too many things had happened in succession, and recently it had gotten even worse.

Ever since Duke Loigar’s suicide, he could hardly remember getting a good night’s sleep.

Even filling his bedroom with jasmine and lavender flowers for their fragrance, and having a masseur knead his aching legs until he fell asleep, nothing worked.

He dreamed of emptiness.

Something was always being erased from his hands. Sometimes it was the pattern on an old teacup handle, sometimes it was the gold plating on a fountain pen.

And sometimes his own fingerprints were being erased.

Every time the Emperor woke up, he thought he was forgetting something.

But when he actually tried to recall, there was nothing he had truly forgotten.

It felt like he had lost something, but while there were things he had let go of himself, he hadn’t actually lost anything yet.

Nevertheless, he felt a persistent discomfort and numbness in his hands and feet.

His chronic illness only worsened and showed no signs of improvement. He had managed it well for a long time, but perhaps it was due to excessive stress.

The Emperor gazed at Artizea’s young and beautiful face.

He could no longer say he was still young. That fact had come too close to reality.

As he watched her in silence, Artizea asked.

“What is it, Your Majesty?”

“I was quite fond of you.”

There was no need to say such a thing. It was tantamount to revealing that the Emperor himself was disappointed, felt betrayed, and had even been hurt.

Right now, revealing that fact would do no good at all. Yet the Emperor had exposed his inner feelings anyway.

Even that seemed like something a weak old man would do, he thought to himself.

And he recalled his own younger days.

Artizea maintained her radiant face with the same faint smile as always.

“I haven’t changed, Your Majesty.”

“…Yes. I suppose not.”

“The reason Your Majesty chose him as your successor also remains unchanged.”

To a power-hungry schemer, any emotion was nothing more than a convenient trap to exploit.

In that sense, Artizea was of the same kind as him.

Though he had known this, the Emperor realized that at some point he had thought he would be an exception. He could only let out a hollow laugh.

“You’re right. I chose Cedric for his character, and that hasn’t changed.”

Perhaps it would be better to leave things as they were.

As the Empress had said, it would be good to entrust his remaining years to a trustworthy nephew and live watching his daughter and grandchildren play.

But he couldn’t do that.

He couldn’t live in defeat. He couldn’t place anyone above himself.

It wasn’t because of resentment or a desire for revenge. He was simply a person who could only live that way.

He spoke to Artizea without beating around the bush.

“Go to the Western Regions. If you do, I will keep your husband and daughter in their positions and treat them as before.”

“Will you forgive me if I do?”

Artizea spoke with the same bright expression as always. The Emperor’s complexion darkened with anger.

“How dare you try to make a deal with me?”

“Please forgive me for not trusting the imperial word. However, no matter how deep the grief of losing one’s parents, childhood events with unclear memories are not the same as present matters. Things that have been digested and forgotten are not the same as newly arising matters.”

Artizea spoke gently.

“Your Majesty knows this as well, so how could I completely trust Your Majesty’s words?”

“So what will you do? Will you continue to turn away from the plague while using the Holy Lady’s name like a coffin, and keep playing chess games with me here?”

The Emperor spat out his words.

“Those are most unreasonable words. Since you have commanded it, I have no choice but to obey.”

Artizea bowed her head.

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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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