The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 27

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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 27

After witnessing the scene of human trafficking at Baron Itz’s gambling house yesterday, he had been conflicted for a very brief moment.

Because he couldn’t know how far that matter would extend.

If the incident expanded, it would become uncertain when he could retrieve the diamond.

The most certain way to retrieve the diamond was to hold information about human trafficking and bribery and negotiate with Countess Camellia.

However, that conflict was time to suppress the guilt of not being able to keep his promise to Artizea, not time spent wondering whether or not to negotiate over the human trafficking case.

“I could not use this matter as a negotiating weapon. Even if it meant breaking my promise with the young lady. And I believe the young lady knew that I was not someone who could do such a thing.”

“Your Highness always makes me feel ashamed. You must have already known that when I asked for Saint Olga’s Heart, it wasn’t because I truly wanted that jewel.”

“I know. The young lady probably hoped that I would become involved in this matter through a natural process. If you had simply wanted to handle the human trafficking case itself, you could have spoken to Count Kishower.”

But she had not done so. She had not directly told Cedric about Baron Itz either.

If she had, Cedric would have first worried about procedural issues, such as whether it should be left to the Security Bureau.

Even knowing that the corrupt Security Bureau would try to minimize the case.

But now he had met the jeweler seeking an engagement gift, and had forcefully pressured Baron Itz’s gambling house because of what happened to the innocent jeweler.

As a result, he had witnessed the human trafficking scene and become enraged.

Perhaps from now on, he could directly involve himself in the matter, leading with that anger.

And he would quickly rise not as a hero from distant borders, but as a true noble who thinks of the people.

Cedric had already understood this intention during the night.

He had known from the beginning that it wasn’t simply about finding a jewel she wanted to possess.

He also didn’t think that Artizea wouldn’t have known she couldn’t find the diamond.

Nevertheless, he had wanted to come and apologize.

The words “engagement gift” had a kind of romantic ring to them. He seemed to have cared about it more than he had thought.

“A promise is a promise, after all.”

Then Artizea lowered her head.

“I’m the one who should apologize.”

“Pardon?”

“I have already secured that jewel.”

Artizea said this and went to the bedroom.

Then she placed a jewelry box in front of the puzzled Cedric and opened the lid to show him.

“This diamond is Saint Olga’s Heart.”

The necklace sparkled with brilliant light.

The central jewel, Saint Olga’s Heart, was magnificent, but the surrounding decorative gems were also excellent, only smaller in size.

Cedric had no artistic eye, but he could tell how carefully the necklace had been crafted.

“This, when did you…?”

“I went to the Camellia Marquess family at dawn.”

Artizea answered. Cedric looked at her in surprise.

No amount of surprise would be insufficient when it came to her.

“Your information is very fast. I think I went to that gambling house after 10 o’clock last night.”

“No one truly follows someone like Baron Itz. The workers, the colleagues, everyone is connected only by money, and employees change frequently. There are many people who will pass along news for a few coins.”

“So knowing that I went to that gambling house last night, you immediately went to find Countess Camellia.”

Artizea looked at Cedric cautiously.

“Are you disappointed?”

Artizea raised her gaze again to look directly into Cedric’s eyes.

When giving advice to Lawrence, she always kept her eyes downcast. Because that way he wouldn’t get angry.

But when talking with Cedric, she had to make eye contact.

Cedric wanted understanding, and he was someone who could understand.

If speaking to Lawrence was like creating and presenting lottery tickets, Cedric tried to have conversations.

He probably had no idea how much that made her heart flutter.

Cedric asked back in surprise instead.

“Why would I be disappointed?”

“Because I deceived Your Highness.”

“I don’t think so. Didn’t the young lady make it clear from the beginning that the jewel was a means? That I would come to know the young lady better?”

Feeling warmth rising inside his chest, he said firmly.

“But I am angry. Not because the young lady did something wrong, but because you didn’t trust me.”

“Your Highness…”

“I understand the young lady’s proposal of marriage to me as holding hands and walking through life in the same direction. Even though it didn’t start as a romantic matter, aren’t we companions heading toward the same goal?”

“It’s different.”

Artizea stood up from her seat. She didn’t want the waves rising in her heart to be detected.

“I mentioned a political marriage, but that is merely a means. If I were over twenty and not Lawrence’s sister, instead of making such a request, I would have knelt and sworn loyalty.”

“Then all the more, the young lady should have trusted me. Everything the young lady does would become my responsibility.”

Cedric said quietly. Artizea shook her head.

“I know that Your Highness dislikes schemes and plots. Probably with this matter too, even if you understand it, deep in your heart you would feel uncomfortable, as if you had used the victims of human trafficking for political maneuvering.”

“Dislike is merely dislike. I know that the young lady is trying to compensate for what I lack.”

Cedric looked at her quietly.

“The young lady has been telling me one thing from the beginning until now, haven’t you realized it yourself?”

“What?”

Artizea turned to look at him.

“You’re telling me to give up immediate honor and immediate justice for the future, to bear disgrace. From the story you told on the day we first met until today. I have understood the young lady’s ‘method.'”

“Your Highness…”

“It’s not a straight and righteous path. But it has produced right results.”

Cedric said calmly.

“Among my adjutants, there’s a fellow called Freil, and he said this. To give up procedural legitimacy for a while for the sake of what’s right. I too, from the moment I led the knights to Baron Itz’s gambling house to avenge White, am not completely righteous.”

“Yes…”

“I know that one cannot approach the throne through upright paths alone. So tell me everything. No, since I’m not good at lying, if necessary, you can tell me after everything is finished. However, I think I must bear responsibility for all of this.”

Artizea could say nothing.

Cedric spoke a bit more firmly.

“Answer me.”

“…Yes. I will follow Your Highness’s will.”

Even though he had decided to accept Artizea, he was still endlessly close to white. How could Artizea dare shake her head and refuse?

But even after answering, Artizea had no intention of keeping that promise.

For now, she planned to reveal only the parts he could understand even if he knew.

‘And because there are things you shouldn’t be held responsible for.’

Like with Lawrence, she had to ensure that he could maintain a clean state by cutting away only herself at any time.

Still, those words, that heart, were very grateful.

She smiled bitterly.

“Do you know why I like Your Highness?”

“Pardon?”

At the sudden words, Cedric flinched and stiffened.

“Your Highness was born into noble status and suffered hardships in childhood. You could have looked down on or not even considered subordinates as people, and you could have pitied and felt sorry for yourself, burying yourself in your own world. But Your Highness’s heart always moves in the same direction as the people’s will.”

“Ah…”

Cedric let out a long sigh from his lungs, which had tensed up in momentary surprise.

So that’s what it was about.

Feeling awkward for no reason, Cedric turned his gaze away.

He didn’t consider himself such a great person. He also didn’t think Artizea understood him completely. They had only met for the third time.

However, there was a strange persuasiveness in Artizea’s words.

She seemed to have faith that Cedric could make the world better.

He thought he would like to be able to not betray that faith.

The two drank tea in silence for a while. When the teapot was nearly empty, Cedric spoke.

“When I leave here, I plan to go directly to Prime Minister Lin.”

“Yes. Prime Minister Lin is a fair and excellent person. You’ve made a good decision. Your Highness is a military figure unrelated to politics, and there’s no need to give up that image yet. It would be appropriate to check on the progress occasionally.”

Artizea said that. Cedric asked.

“What do you plan to do with Saint Olga’s Heart?”

“I’ll present it to Her Majesty the Empress. Since it’s a precious friend’s keepsake, it would be right for her to keep it.”

“I understand.”

Artizea asked carefully.

“You’re not disappointed, are you?”

“I thought you would plan to do that from the moment the Peshier County family’s story came up. What reason would I have to be disappointed?”

In truth, he did feel disappointed. So Cedric let out a small sigh.

“It’s just that without a gift, a grand proposal will be difficult.”

Artizea closed her mouth, not knowing what to answer.

Cedric took out a small velvet pouch from his chest. Then he opened the pouch and shook out a diamond bracelet onto his palm.

“Please give me your hand.”

Artizea’s face flushed red.

If he had brought a jewel as large as Saint Olga’s Heart in a precious box, she wouldn’t have felt this way.

But that diamond bracelet had no history, no political value, and no distinctive features that others would find noteworthy.

It was far too modest to use as the Duke of Evron’s proposal gift.

That’s what made Artizea even more bewildered.

Had he bought that bracelet for her sake?

Cedric carefully fastened the bracelet around her wrist.

“I’ll use this as a substitute for the proposal gift. Please marry me.”

This is merely a formality. Cedric had simply chosen one of the similar proposal phrases.

If he were to express his true meaning, he should have said, “I will accept you as both colleague and vassal.”

Artizea thought so.

Cedric’s thoughts were different. Rather than Saint Olga’s Heart, this diamond bracelet was something he had chosen while thinking of Artizea.

So for him, it was actually a more meaningful moment.

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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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