The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 286

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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 286

45.

Cedric paid no attention to people’s gazes. He didn’t have the mental capacity to care about such things.

People opened a path for him to where the Empress sat and knelt down one by one.

Cedric approached the Empress and silently knelt on one knee.

“Cedric.”

The Empress called his name in a deeply sunken voice.

“Thank you for taking care of Leticia while I was away.”

Cedric said this and extended his hand.

Then, realizing he was still wearing dirty gloves, he took them off.

Countess Marta respectfully received the gloves.

The Empress raised herself slightly and placed Leticia in Cedric’s arms.

Leticia, who had been sleeping from exhaustion, woke up from the movement.

“Huung…, uwaeng…”

Cedric carefully embraced the whimpering and sobbing baby. Leticia sniffled, then recognizing that it was her father holding her, began to cry loudly.

Cedric held Leticia in a position that made her comfortable, letting her rest her head on his shoulder and gently patting her back.

“I apologize for just showing my face briefly. Please continue the banquet. I’ll go put the baby to sleep.”

If it had been yesterday, his words would have been mere pleasantries.

But today was already different. It was a command.

The musicians resumed their performance. Quick-witted attendants brought several more candles to brighten the salon.

The conversations that had stopped resumed.

There were surely other stories they really wanted to discuss, but for now they had to continue some conversation.

After all, the Empire’s new power holder had indicated he was no longer interested.

Cedric bowed to the Empress and turned around holding Leticia. It was the first time Leticia had cried so heartbreakingly, and it felt like his heart was being torn apart.

As he came out of the salon, Gayan was still waiting with an anxious face.

“Your Highness.”

“Later.”

Cedric said this again.

On the way here, he had already heard about what happened at the Imperial Prince’s Palace. Assigning blame could be done later.

Now was the time to thank those who had risked their lives to save Leticia.

Countess Marta, who had followed carrying the gloves, guided Cedric.

The first place Cedric headed to was the room where Mielle, Hazel, and Natalia were resting.

Having already heard the baby crying from outside, Natalia and Bernart, Hazel and the Belmond couple had risen from their seats and were tidying their appearance.

Mielle was sleeping as if she had fainted. Henry Kishower tried to wake her.

Cedric gestured to Henry Kishower to stay comfortable. And he greeted Natalia first.

“I am grateful for the kindness Her Highness the Crown Princess has shown to my daughter.”

He had received a favor beyond words.

The other side would have protected Leticia without killing her too. She was useful as a hostage, but they couldn’t do anything without a royal family member to support.

But for Cedric, it couldn’t help but be a chilling matter.

Still, he couldn’t say thank you for saving her. Leticia was now destined to become the Empire’s successor.

The Empire’s Emperor couldn’t be said to owe a life debt to another country.

So Cedric only spoke in his heart and bowed his head. If he said it aloud, it would remain as Leticia’s debt in the future, so he couldn’t do that.

But if there was any repayment he could make, he would do anything.

Natalia looked troubled.

“I didn’t do anything significant. I’m just glad nothing happened to the Imperial Grandchild.”

“Thank you.”

Cedric said again.

Bernart smiled. Though he didn’t speak aloud, the Kingdom of Ientz would receive substantial compensation from this.

“Is the Imperial Grandchild alright?”

Leticia was being held quietly, perhaps tired from struggling. She was still hiccupping, but seemed somewhat calmed.

It would be better to leave her to the doctor and nanny maid, but Cedric didn’t do so.

Next, he approached Mielle’s side. Henry Kishower bowed his head to Cedric in Mielle’s place.

His face was pained.

He had come to the Imperial Palace as soon as he received Hazel’s message, but he was no longer a guard knight and couldn’t enter inside.

The one guarding the west gate was Henry Kishower’s junior. Even pleading that he would just take his daughter was useless.

Then the Evron Knights rushed out and instantly trampled the west gate guards.

Henry Kishower and Editor Belmond were startled and ran into the chaotic Imperial Prince’s Palace.

And they found Hazel caring for the collapsed Mielle in the bushes of one side of the garden, at the entrance to a path used as a secret passage.

Not long after that, Natalia arrived. And with the help of other Royal Guards, they came to the Empress’s palace and had been resting until now.

“I am truly grateful to Miss Mielle and Miss Hazel.”

Cedric bowed his head to Hazel. Hazel hastily knelt down. Beside her, Henry Kishower and Editor Belmond did the same.

“Those are undeserved words. In such situations, we should naturally follow the words of the Chief Butler and Guard Captain, but we acted on our own instead, yet we can only be grateful that you forgave us.”

“You must have had reasons not to trust them. Rather, I’m sorry for not giving you that trust.”

Cedric said this.

If they had been soldiers, they should have followed orders even if they had doubts. But Hazel and Mielle were not.

“Thanks to both of your judgment and determination, Leticia is safely here, so I am truly grateful. Please continue to take good care of Leticia.”

“I am honored.”

Hazel bowed her head, not knowing what to do with herself.

Cedric also apologized to Henry Kishower.

“I know more than enough about your mental anguish. I’m sorry.”

“No. My daughter is now an adult… I’m just worrying needlessly as a father.”

Henry Kishower answered in a cracked voice.

He had no intention of blaming Mielle. He didn’t feel resentful that such a difficult task had been given to a weak child like Mielle.

If he had been in that position, he would have gladly thrown away his life to repay the favor.

But seeing Mielle seemingly trying to pay that price herself made him feel terribly distressed and strange.

It almost seemed like that was Mielle’s destiny. Even knowing that Mielle originally liked children and would have wanted her own if she had been healthy.

Cedric also said a few words of thanks to Editor Belmond and left the room.

Gayan followed again. Cedric entered the room with the baby’s cradle.

When he put Leticia down in the cradle, the waiting doctor rushed over. He could tell just from holding her that she had a fever.

Cedric received a wet gauze towel and personally wiped Leticia’s swollen face.

Only then did he finally go outside with Gayan. All the Royal Guards guarding this place were Gayan’s trusted men, so it would be safe to entrust them.

“The personnel who were at the Imperial Prince’s Palace?”

“They’re being held at the Evron Ducal Residence. The casualties are reported to be 32.”

Gayan added.

“All knights.”

That meant the babies and wet nurses who had stayed behind to serve as decoys if necessary were all safe.

Cedric let out a long sigh.

He knew it couldn’t be helped. He himself had survived in such a way before.

But still, perhaps because of that very reason, it pained his heart that the people of Evron were risking their lives for Leticia following him.

And he could more than understand Marcus’s different choice after seeing that.

“I’m sorry.”

Gayan bent his waist at a right angle in apology.

He bore responsibility for the Imperial Prince’s Palace being breached.

There had been a prior agreement. If the Imperial Prince’s Palace held out with its doors closed, Gayan would send reinforcements under the pretext of catching those who had disturbed the Imperial Palace after the commotion spread.

The reason Gayan could come leading 300 Royal Guards as soon as the Empress summoned him was because of this.

But the Imperial Prince’s Palace was breached before he could move. In effect, he had accomplished nothing.

“You don’t truly think you were late, do you?”

Cedric said.

Gayan answered without showing any expression on his face.

“His Majesty entrusted me with full authority to act according to the situation. I misjudged the circumstances.”

“The Imperial Prince’s Palace was breached too early. There was nothing you could have done about it.”

Since the baby had fled, he couldn’t say that victory and defeat were just the fortunes of war.

But Cedric had no choice but to say that. In reality, Gayan bore virtually no responsibility.

No matter how he thought about it, there was no way it could have been breached so simply in such a short time.

The place he had been most careful to guard tonight was none other than the Imperial Prince’s Palace.

It was being guarded by a combined force of 100 men – 70 Evron knights and those among the royal guards who were truly considered trustworthy.

There were also hired hands there.

The hired hands from the north weren’t just ordinary servants and maids. Most of them had completed their military service in the Evron Duchy.

Even if they weren’t knights, they would have been more than capable of serving as soldiers.

The forces the anti-Crown Prince faction could deploy were at most some royal guards and one unit of soldiers they could secretly smuggle in.

No matter how unsuitable the Imperial Prince’s Palace was for a siege, it made no sense that they couldn’t defend with these numbers.

He had thought it was reliable enough, so he hadn’t moved them elsewhere.

If he had forced a move to the Duke’s residence, all the prepared traps might have been wasted. And if the royal guards’ movement route became too long, Gayan might not have been able to provide timely support.

Most importantly, at this crucial moment, he couldn’t afford to show that he only trusted the people of Evron.

But entrusting it to the Empress’s Palace was also reluctant, as he couldn’t distinguish between assassins and spies.

However, no matter how much preparation was made, if the door was opened from within, it couldn’t be defended. That would be the same even if it were Evron Mansion instead of the Imperial Prince’s Palace.

The fact that it was breached in less than 30 minutes was because there was an insider.

After that, the pursuers couldn’t even step on the shadow of the Evron Knight Order. That meant Gayan had moved in time.

“…It’s my responsibility.”

Cedric said in a low voice.

Gayan misunderstood those words and bowed his head even deeper. He took it to mean that the Evron Knight Order’s failure to properly guard the Imperial Prince’s Palace was wrong.

But Cedric hadn’t meant it that way.

It was then.

“Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.”

Gayan looked up in surprise.

If the Empress had business with Cedric, it would have been proper to summon him. There was no need for her to come to a place like this.

Cedric’s face turned coldly stern.

“Withdraw.”

Gayan hid his bewilderment and hurriedly left the room.

“Escort her in.”

At Cedric’s command, the door opened.

The Empress entered the room without even bringing Countess Marta with her.

She had left the salon after an appropriate amount of time to avoid causing misunderstandings with the diplomatic envoys and came straight here.

Deep fatigue was evident on her face.

“I have… something I must tell you.”

“Please speak.”

“The breach of the Imperial Prince’s Palace is my responsibility.”

The Empress took a deep breath. Then she said.

“The spy was Yuven’s husband.”

Cedric was not surprised.

Viscount Yuven was someone Artizea had accepted as a sign of alliance with the Empress.

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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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