The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 276

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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 276

The riot in the slums broke out three days after that incident.

It was sudden. During the evening meal distribution at the temple’s free soup kitchen, someone brought up the story of the saint.

Several of those who frequented that soup kitchen had died from illness, and quite a few more were bedridden with sickness.

It happened every year. In fact, it was common in the slums for someone who was there yesterday to be nowhere to be seen today.

However, the situation changed when agitators got involved.

“If the saint had been here, this wouldn’t have happened.”

There were several people making such claims.

“They say she’s curing the plague in the western regions. Why did she abandon the capital to go there?”

“This is all the temple’s fault.”

“The western plague was brought in by those western bastards. Why is she taking care of them first?”

“I heard the nobles drove out the saint to frame His Highness the Crown Prince as a heretic.”

That was a story with the sequence of events wrong. Artizea had revealed herself as a saint when the accusation of heresy was made.

However, in the slums, there was no one who could verify the facts even when they were twisted.

Up to that rumor, it wasn’t much. Despising and criticizing the west and north was always happening.

And not much time had passed since the Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony.

The memory of scattering flowers, lighting candles, and giving blessings was still vivid in the minds of the capital’s citizens.

So too were the vast wealth scattered for that occasion and the joy-filled festival.

It was natural that love for the Crown Princess, who was a saint, still remained fervent.

Of course, that alone couldn’t have caused trouble.

“Let’s petition the temple to have the saint return.”

Not until someone said that.

Riding the atmosphere, those who had been at the free soup kitchen all rushed to the temple.

The temple, as always, reacted with wariness to such incidents.

In the midst of it all, it wasn’t clear who started using violence first. When one priest was injured, the police stepped in.

By that time, whoever had initially instigated it had already slipped out of the riot first and disappeared into the darkness.

The secret investigators were flustered. Not only Cop, but also 5, who was actually conducting operations in the slums.

Operating in the slums itself hadn’t been an agreed-upon matter in the first place.

5 was working with Count Brennan. And the slums affair was just one of several seeds planted at Count Brennan’s request to question the political power of the Crown Prince, who was serving as regent.

“I didn’t know a riot would break out so suddenly.”

5 spoke in an apologetic tone.

“It’s true that I spread some rumors, but since it wasn’t even a real western plague to begin with, I thought it would just end with various complaints about the Crown Prince spreading a bit more than usual.”

“What use is it now to say that’s what you thought? A riot has actually occurred.”

6 reproached him.

The riot that started at the temple near the slums was changing from a petition to bring back the saint to a slogan calling to hang the necks of the nobles who drove out the saint.

Considering that Artizea had never actually engaged in charitable activities herself, it was somewhat absurd.

7 said.

“Well, it’s not something to think badly about, so stop it. Anyway, if we think of it as dividing the security forces, it’s advantageous.”

“What’s the possibility of the police suppressing it early?”

“They’re just blocking with clubs and shields, so not much. The riot also seems to have only smashed the temple and a few houses so far.”

“The Chief of Police must be watching Duke of Evron’s reaction, and the rioters’ side isn’t that excited yet either? Is that also because of Duke of Evron?”

3 muttered.

5 spoke carefully.

“There seems to be someone controlling the rioters.”

“That’s not bad.”

Cop said.

“Wouldn’t someone who deliberately caused a riot have a purpose? Then we might be able to win them over with an appropriate proposal.”

“Win them over to do what?”

“As 7 said, it would be good if we could divide the security forces. If we escalate things a bit…”

That’s when it happened.

The sound of urgent knocking was heard. 5 put on a mask and went outside the door to receive a note and brought it in.

“This one came for 3.”

He unfolded the note, read it, and handed it to Cop.

Cop quickly scanned the note with his eyes.

“Duke of Evron has left the Imperial Palace.”

“Is he going to the slums?”

“It looks like he’s going out to persuade them directly. Same as always.”

Cop sneered.

7 said.

“Then, isn’t now the opportunity?”

The security forces were only armed with clubs and shields. The Crown Prince would have gone out with only a small guard detail.

It made no sense to bring a heavily armed army to use conciliatory measures with rioters.

Cop hesitated for a moment.

He was cautious about the plan going awry. However, 7’s words weren’t wrong.

Drawing Cedric out of the Imperial Palace and keeping him there was a prerequisite for this operation.

In any case, the core of this operation was eliminating Cedric.

However, assassination was impossible. Not only the secret investigators but most of those who would participate in this operation had considered assassination, but Cop already knew it was impossible.

No assassin could kill him. Considering all those numerous attempts in the west in the past, even a surprise attack by a small unit was impossible.

The Evron Knights would protect him until the last man died. Even if the tide of battle turned, Cedric could still escape by himself.

Poisoning was also difficult. Because they knew it was a vulnerability, it was thoroughly managed even in the Imperial Prince’s Palace.

All food and drinks were tasted on the spot. That said, his body wasn’t weak enough for non-immediate deadly poisons to work.

Even if an imperial decree was issued, it would be difficult within the Imperial Palace. The primary problem was infiltrating the Emperor’s quarters while Cedric was in the Imperial Palace.

Even if they infiltrated and obtained an imperial decree, the army couldn’t enter the Imperial Palace.

If Cedric secured the Emperor again, there was a high probability the imperial decree would become useless.

As long as the Emperor and Crown Prince were together, whatever justification they brought forward would only be treason.

Then the loyal Central Army, which formed the majority, would move under Cedric’s command.

In the end, the only method was to surround him with a large army when he was outside, making escape impossible, and annihilate him.

“Now is the right time.”

Cop acknowledged.

The preparations weren’t sufficient. However, it was also something that had to be done when Cedric went outside.

He jumped up from his seat. The other secret investigators also moved to do what they had promised in advance.

* * *

Torches blazed brightly.

Cedric arrived at the slums with only about twenty knights.

“Forced suppression won’t do. This disturbance will die down soon.”

“However, Your Highness. A few gunshots would disperse them.”

“What if that causes a real riot?”

The Chief of Police thought what was so special about that.

Fighting and looting within the slums was always happening. As long as that anger didn’t spill out beyond the streets, no one cared.

If the temple hadn’t been damaged, they wouldn’t have bothered to deploy with such care. They could have waited until morning, called for more support, and pushed through.

Then they’d catch a few as ringleaders and behead them, and it would be over.

Cedric dismounted from his horse. And he entered the street.

When the Crown Prince appeared, the rioters flinched.

They had shouted slogans to hang the nobles’ necks, but that was something someone had yelled to incite anger.

Even when they came out with clubs, they hadn’t done it thinking it would actually be possible.

Therefore, their anger hadn’t climbed to higher places but was directed at relatively nearby power—namely, the police, loan sharks, and landlords.

Cedric, as the husband of the Holy Lady and as the protagonist of the Crown Prince investiture ceremony that had been full of hope, was still beloved.

The news that the Crown Prince had come to this place spread all the way to the back.

People set down the oil barrels they had brought to start fires right where they stood. Clubs and swords all pointed toward the ground.

Cedric watched this with a calm expression. The street had now become completely quiet.

Eyes shining with anxiety and expectation looked at Cedric.

“I promise food and doctors. Patients will receive proper treatment, and starting this fall, well and sewage maintenance will also begin.”

Cedric said. Then someone suddenly realized and knelt down in surprise.

Then everyone followed suit, kneeling down as if startled.

“Tonight’s events will be overlooked, so return home now.”

Cedric said this and looked at the first person who had knelt. It was a large man.

“You, stand up.”

He hesitantly stood up. Cedric’s gaze swept around his vicinity.

‘Damn, don’t look at me.’

Lai Pijett kept his head deeply bowed and only thought to himself.

He had poked the back of the person in front to make them kneel to create an atmosphere of ending, but he had done something unnecessary.

But Cedric would have recognized him even without that.

Though his current face was unfamiliar, guessing what his face would look like in middle age wasn’t that difficult.

“You behind him too.”

Lai had no choice but to stand up. Cedric pointed out and made Lai’s group stand up almost accurately.

“Guide us to the temple.”

Hoping to appear like someone unluckily caught, Lai bowed his head and began walking.

His return to the capital had been after Duke Loigar was expelled.

The story about the necromancer that Milaire had favored had long since left no trace.

Duke Loigar was dead and the Marquess Camellia affair was over. So even returning to the capital, there would be no one to recognize him.

Artizea had told him to retire and return to his hometown to live with his family. She had given him enough money to start a new life.

But Lai couldn’t stay there long.

He had experienced too much to enjoy a quiet rural life and live leisurely.

Even if it wasn’t work he had done himself, he had twice experienced events he had touched overturning the Imperial Court.

Someone who had such experiences could never return to what they were before. Lai thought so.

Even after returning to the capital, he didn’t contact Artizea again. Even though he thought of her almost every day.

Then he had received contact from Freil.

In the end, he had gotten involved again in something he shouldn’t have. Even knowing that the Imperial Palace was most fun when you looked up at it, watched, and cursed.

“Disperse them as quickly as possible.”

Cedric said in a low voice.

“How easy do you think it is to gather and disperse people? I’m not ruling this crowd, I just spread some rumors and shouted a few slogans.”

Starting a riot and then calming it down – that being as simple as a game would only happen in His Highness the Crown Prince’s meeting room.

But Cedric hadn’t spoken lightly.

“Then guide us to an alley with no people. As quickly as possible.”

Lai glanced at him sideways. Cedric pulled his gloves tight.

Lai understood why he was doing that the next moment.

Bang!

A building exploded.

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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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