The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 273

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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 273

The last time the Emperor had written a will was right after Milaire was exiled.

The Emperor—or rather, Gregor as an individual—possessed no small amount of personal wealth.

There were assets his birth mother had left him, which had sustained him until his ascension to the throne. As the adopted son of the former Empress, he had also inherited his adoptive mother’s fortune.

In his will, the Emperor had written about the inheritance he would leave to his two daughters and grandchildren, as well as to his birth mother’s distant relatives whom he had sent away to keep them from political involvement, and to the former Empress’s natal family.

He had also decided on the money and possessions to be distributed among various people, from the masseur and musicians he had favored in his later years to the coachman who had served him long and his faithful chamberlain.

To Lawrence, he intended to bequeath a considerable amount of concessions and wealth, enabling him to establish a new family line.

When Lawrence had fallen from grace due to his mistakes, the Emperor had already decided this in his heart.

He had already inherited to Lawrence the title he had possessed before becoming the former Empress’s adopted son.

Now he planned to arrange a marriage, connecting him through blood ties with a traditional noble family, making him not just a title holder but the proper head of a distinguished house.

There was so much to do.

The Emperor had believed that when he faced death, he would be able to handle these matters rationally and precisely.

And he thought he would be able to calmly organize his final years.

But that was far from the case. Even knowing what he should do, the Emperor did not act. His hands and feet would not obey reason’s commands.

Though he knew he should rest, the Emperor called his secretary separately every evening to attend state council meetings.

A clerk would compile all the orders issued from the Crown Prince’s office that day and bring them to the Emperor’s bedroom.

Of course, the Emperor could not read them. He lacked the strength, and his eyes were dim.

A young servant would read them aloud instead, but it was impossible to fully judge the content by hearing alone.

So it was nothing more than a desperate attempt to signal that he had not yet completely let go of control.

However, he did not receive guests. He did not want to show his weakened state.

Only Countess Unise came to see him almost daily.

“I didn’t bring the children. I was worried it might tire you, Your Majesty.”

“You did well.”

The Emperor spoke in a sunken voice.

While wanting to act as if he would not die, he disliked the loneliness of his sickbed.

“I’m sorry.”

Countess Unise took the Emperor’s hand and said this.

“Sorry for what?”

“If I had known your condition would worsen this much, I wouldn’t have brought things like honey.”

“How could that be your fault?”

The Emperor gripped her hand tightly and shook it as he spoke.

“Even the doctor didn’t know. Could a few cups of that have caused me to become like this?”

The Emperor closed his eyes and sighed. There would be no end to such scolding, lamenting, and revenge.

Countess Unise held the Emperor’s hand for a moment before speaking.

“I sent a letter to Grace.”

This was about his other daughter who had petitioned the Emperor to marry a distant provincial noble.

The Emperor had married Grace to Count Josiah. He was a man without ambition who wished to live cultivating the lands that had been passed down through his family for generations.

Count Josiah’s estate was quite far from the capital. The couple claimed they had no reason to come to the capital and lived quietly on their manor.

The Emperor looked at Countess Unise with sunken eyes.

“You’ve done something unnecessary.”

“What do you mean? Surely you’re not going to say that if Grace comes up, people will think about it politically this way and that?”

“That’s important too.”

The Emperor smiled faintly.

“Don’t say such things. Grace will resent you for it later.”

“I wonder about that.”

“You should see the children Grace has borne too.”

“That’s, that’s true.”

“You’ve never seen the youngest, have you?”

“She sent a portrait once.”

“That child is five this year and looks exactly like you, Your Majesty. Though in personality, she takes after her mother and father—always reading books. She’s only five but can already read everything.”

“How clever.”

The Emperor answered in a cracked voice.

“How is your husband these days? Is his work going well?”

“Yes, of course. You’ve shown him so much consideration, Your Majesty.”

“Sed isn’t treating him harshly or anything?”

“Nothing like that. Don’t worry. Actually, it seems he helped with various matters that arose from the recent port fire. We even received a separate letter of thanks afterward.”

“I see.”

Countess Unise spoke gently.

“I wrote to the Crown Princess asking her to return quickly. You won’t be angry, will you?”

“To Tia?”

“Yes. She’s a saint, after all. I heard rumors that Baron Morten has been carrying sacred relics entrusted by the Crown Princess and curing the plague.”

“….”

“I know the western regions are in serious trouble, but nothing is more important than Your Majesty’s health.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Countess Unise spoke in a deliberately cheerful voice.

“When did Lawrence say he would return?”

“I did tell him to send word.”

In fact, this was not the first time the Emperor had asked about Lawrence’s news.

He had sent word once right after the incident with Duke Loigar.

With such a major incident having occurred, it was time for Lawrence’s mistakes to be forgotten.

More than anything, in a situation aimed at dividing the eastern region, he was reluctant to keep Lawrence there.

He had no immediate plans to reinstate him in politics. He intended to have him stay near the capital where he could personally watch over him.

Then, when he matured, he could perhaps entrust him with minor tasks.

But no reply had come from Lawrence.

Only regular reports of “nothing unusual” came from the man sent as both guard and surveillance.

The proud fellow was probably resentful too. The Emperor thought this and did not press the matter.

Not having seen him for so long made him feel rather fond.

The Emperor also quietly ordered Milaire to be summoned. Though he could not lift her exile, he intended to let her live quietly with Lawrence in a stable place.

“Word will come soon.”

Countess Unise stroked the back of the Emperor’s hand comfortingly as she spoke.

“Until then, be satisfied with just me.”

The Emperor nodded with a bitter smile.

But no matter how long he waited, no news came.

If there were circumstances preventing them from coming, at least word of that should have arrived. But Lawrence did not send even a single letter despite being told of the Emperor’s critical condition.

It was the same with Milaire. Even if she could not quickly cross that vast western region to rush here, it was natural for a messenger to bring advance word.

“Could something have happened in the eastern region?”

The chamberlain answered with an apologetic expression.

“Your Majesty, might it not be better to wait a little longer? The place where Lord Lawrence is staying is not exactly close, is it?”

“Hmm….”

“I fear your health may suffer from worrying.”

The Emperor thought these words were also reasonable and let the matter pass that day.

News from distant places tends not to come the more one waits for it.

However, two days later, the Emperor summoned Ferguson.

“Have you perhaps heard any news of something happening in the eastern region?”

“The only recent new development would be the dispute between the Paelan Count family and Marquess Hamelton’s family. They’re fighting over the guardianship of young Count Lesden.”

That answer was too obvious and lacking in sincerity. What the Emperor needed was more detailed information.

“I don’t mean that. I mean whether anyone has taken military action. Is there any reason why the messenger sent to Lawrence might not have reached him?”

“What would I know about military affairs?”

Ferguson bowed his head and answered with a respectful attitude.

The Emperor blinked his eyes.

There was no way Ferguson wouldn’t be receiving reports about the Eastern Region’s movements. Wasn’t this about those who had fled after being involved in treason?

Even if he couldn’t immediately raise an army to subjugate them, the investigative organization Ferguson managed should naturally be keeping flawless track of information about the Eastern Region.

It wasn’t just because of that.

Even if he hadn’t been keeping proper track before, he would have unconditionally said he would find out.

And he would have desperately rushed to gather information. Not calmly saying he didn’t know like now.

This was the first crack the Emperor had clearly noticed.

“Withdraw.”

The Emperor commanded with an expressionless face.

Ferguson withdrew with an apologetic expression without making excuses.

The Emperor tapped his fingers. He was already tired and his eyes were closing. However, this was no ordinary matter.

But he couldn’t be certain yet.

Ferguson was an opportunist. Such people were naturally the first to change their attitude according to the direction of power.

If he had known he would end up like this, he would never have kept Ferguson in that position.

The Emperor called a servant and said.

“Bring Servant Cop.”

Secret Investigators had to be summoned more discreetly. However, since the Emperor couldn’t move around freely by himself, he just called like that.

The servant returned only after two hours had passed, his face pale as he prostrated himself.

“Your, Your Majesty, I am terrified. Servant Dinski Cop was dismissed last month.”

“What?”

“Several servants and attendants from the Main Palace were sent away to hide Your Majesty’s illness. He was on the list of those expelled then.”

The Emperor’s face turned bright red.

“Who did such a thing?”

“I did.”

The answer came from the doorway.

The Emperor raised his head in fury. The Empress in black clothes was standing there.

She was even wearing a black hat with black mesh decorations on her head.

Those clothes were definitely mourning attire.

“I was about to go out when I heard you were looking for a dismissed servant, so I came to explain. The innocent messenger would only get scolded.”

“You, you…”

“Is there a problem with me replacing some servants and attendants in the Main Palace?”

Of course there was no problem at all. Originally, the Empress was supposed to manage the Imperial Palace’s domestic affairs.

Whether the Empress knew there was a Secret Investigator mixed among them or not was unknown.

However, at this point, he had certainly revealed the name of one Secret Investigator to the Empress.

“Don’t get angry. If you collapse again from that, even if the doctor clings to you crying and desperately, you won’t wake up.”

“Katrin…!”

“At this age with a sick body too, don’t think strange thoughts for nothing, and live comfortably by entrusting your remaining years to your well-behaved nephew.”

The Empress narrowed her eyes and looked down at the Emperor.

“Affection, loyalty, bloodline… power, even hatred are all meaningless. Isn’t that right?”

“Kuk…!”

The Emperor groaned like a beast.

The doctor and servants rushed over and laid the Emperor on the bed.

“Take good care of him. He seems to be feeling unwell.”

The Empress said that and turned around.

Behind her, the door closed. Now what was inside the door was the Emperor, and what was outside the door was her.

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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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