The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 288

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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 288

The Emperor could hardly regain consciousness.

“Even if he opens his eyes this time, his remaining days won’t be long.”

The doctor said so.

He too seemed to have accepted the situation, appearing calmer than before. Or perhaps he understood that the Emperor’s life was no longer an important matter.

Though he didn’t say it, he might have realized that someone from the Crown Prince’s faction had intervened.

In any case, he would keep his mouth shut and turn a blind eye to the conspiracies he suspected.

He would know well that being satisfied with the honor and wealth already gained was the way to live long.

Cedric burned the imperial decree. He waited until the burning paper scattered and became final ash, then scattered even the ashes.

The interrogation and execution of the traitors would be carried out quietly.

There was no need to deliberately show tortured bodies to people, make public executions, or display severed heads to incite fear.

Cedric also greatly relaxed the guilt by association system. No one was sentenced to death by guilt by association.

If they were nobles, their titles were stripped and their families scattered to eliminate the house. If they were wealthy, their property was confiscated. Some had their honor removed and were relocated to remote areas.

All children under fifteen were pardoned. If their parents were alive, it was decided they would either go to exile areas together or be entrusted to monasteries for upbringing.

Simple participants like soldiers following superior orders weren’t subject to guilt by association at all. Even the parties involved were ordered to serve in the ranks instead of execution.

To those who worried, Cedric said:

“If they want revenge, that’s fine. If those seeking revenge can gather enough public support to overthrow the imperial family, then such an imperial family deserves to fall.”

Freil, who heard this, was startled and tried to dissuade him.

“Please don’t say such things publicly. It really gives me cold sweats.”

Cedric smiled bitterly.

“Do you think I’m being too soft?”

“If you became a bit more ruthless, I think I’d feel much more at ease.”

Freil said with a sigh.

The military was greatly wary, but the administrative officials welcomed it.

Especially Prime Minister Lin, who had been consistently advocating for relaxing guilt by association, was naturally delighted.

“The world has changed a lot. This will become an important decision symbolizing Your Highness the Crown Prince’s reign in the future.”

Next came talk about preparing for the coronation.

The Emperor was still alive. It was impious.

But now no one questioned it. Except Cedric himself.

The Empress asked:

“You said not to prepare for the coronation?”

“It’s still too early.”

“It’s not too early. Even if Gregor’s breath returns, how long would he last?”

“There’s no need to rush.”

Upon beginning the regency, he had received transfer of everything except military power and intelligence organizations.

While persuading Ferguson, he gained control of half the intelligence organization, and the secret investigation organization was disbanded along with the rebellion.

Active anti-Crown Prince personnel in the military were purged for treason, and their positions were filled by pro-Crown Prince personnel. Through this, the military naturally fell into Cedric’s hands as well.

He had seized all central power.

He could handle all matters in the Crown Prince’s name.

If he hadn’t seized power, he would have had to rush the coronation and place the emperor’s crown on his head. But there was no need for that.

Moreover, above all, Artizea was absent.

“I have no intention of doing it before Tia returns.”

All those who had made the same suggestion as the Empress nodded at those words.

Those who knew Artizea knew she should be at the very top of the list of meritorious subjects.

Even those who didn’t know wouldn’t suggest the Crown Prince hold a coronation alone while the Crown Princess was away.

Especially when the Crown Princess was a saintess, there was nothing more to say.

The Empress could ask one more question than others:

“You sent word for her to return, didn’t you?”

“…Yes.”

As soon as the matter ended, Freil was the first to send a messenger bird in that direction.

Even if he hadn’t contacted her, it didn’t seem like Artizea would be unaware of the situation here.

Nevertheless, there hadn’t been a single letter.

She might think there was nothing for her to handle now. Indeed, this time things had ended reasonably well without borrowing her wisdom.

Still, Cedric had many things he wanted to ask.

Whether she knew Viscount Yuven had betrayed them, what conversation she had with the Emperor before leaving.

Whether she didn’t want to give him news. Whether Leticia missed him.

Whether he was doing well. Whether she had any intention of returning to him.

The goal had been achieved. He would soon become Emperor.

What he had wanted to achieve even by selling his soul when he knelt before Artizea was now within his grasp.

So even if he couldn’t rejoice, he should at least feel some sense of accomplishment.

It would be good to step forward with hope and strength. He could now spread his will to the world without fear.

Hadn’t he desired this throughout one lifetime and in his newly begun life?

But Cedric was not in such a state of mind at all. He had no strength left to leap to the next stage.

The sharp and spirited parts of his heart had already been worn away by wind and rain.

Even the pure center he had barely protected was cracked and damaged, no longer the same shape.

‘If only she had truly been a demon, I could have sold my soul in peace and been comfortable.’

Cedric even had such thoughts.

Even with Artizea gone to the west, he was not alone.

He had people to discuss political matters with, and people he could trust with secret affairs.

People who had died because of him before were alive and staying by his side.

Those who had become enemies due to political circumstances were now his loyal subjects.

He also had a baby to love. Having a child was a joy he had never experienced before.

When he held her up in the morning without shaving, Leticia would push his cheek away with her tiny hands. He couldn’t describe how it tickled his heart.

But now his heart was still as lonely as it had been before returning.

One person had torn through his interior with complete understanding and misunderstanding, and Cedric had never once forgotten those wounds to his core.

There had been long periods spent sometimes chewing on hatred, sometimes trying to understand.

There had been emotions poured out sometimes in pity, sometimes in admiration.

No one in the world would know him as much as Artizea did.

And no one would know Artizea as much as he did.

Yet it didn’t seem like their hearts were connected at all. Even though they should be looking in the same direction now. Surely they must be.

And what came from the west was not word that she would return, but Alphonse’s remains.

It was also at this time that news came that Lisia Morten had gone missing.

“I must go to the west.”

Cedric said to the Empress. At first, the Empress looked dazed, not understanding what he was saying.

Then she opened her mouth. The Empress quickly composed her expression. But for a moment she couldn’t hide her incredulous feelings.

“How could that possibly make sense?”

Though he hadn’t held a coronation yet, Cedric already held the supreme power of the Empire.

Even as just the Crown Prince he couldn’t travel lightly, and in the current situation it would be absolutely impossible.

Moreover, it hadn’t been long since the military rebellion.

Even if he were to make a formal procession for an imperial tour, she would say it was impossible.

But what Cedric was suggesting wasn’t even that.

It was clear he intended to go lightly with just a few subordinates, like when he was a Prince.

“I understand your concern for the Crown Princess. Her maid was harmed, wasn’t she?”

The Empress sighed.

“But I heard she’s now in a safe administrative city. You have the guards you sent with her, and if it’s urgent, you could mobilize the Western Army, couldn’t you?”

As soon as the rebellion ended, the military sent messages to regional armies everywhere not to be disturbed.

Among the warlords, those quick with news would be gradually assessing the situation.

With the Emperor’s secret permission gone, there would be no one brave enough to directly threaten the Crown Princess, who was a saintess.

“Tell her to return quickly. The coronation is one thing, but I’m even more worried because it’s a region where plague is spreading.”

“She won’t come back.”

Hailey had replied to the message sent to inform her of the capital’s situation and tell her to return.

『I apologize for not being able to send word until now, as Her Highness did not wish it. Her Highness has headed toward the Aba River region.』

The letter attached to the carrier pigeon was brief.

Cedric could understand the situation from that alone.

Alphonse was dead, and Lisia had disappeared. The plague’s transmission was slow, but it wouldn’t stop until the infected villages were completely wiped out.

Normally, there would be no reason for Cedric to personally interrogate a mere secret investigator.

However, he had met with Cop.

No useful information came out. All Cedric could learn was that Cop had memories of the past.

And that Lawrence’s memories had also returned.

The people who knew the true meaning of this affair were undoubtedly only Lisia, Artizea, and himself, excluding Lawrence who was orchestrating it all.

The past Aba River disaster was the decisive moment when he earned the Emperor’s hatred and suspicion.

At that time, he also lost his connections. Whatever his true intentions were, moving the army without returning his seal was an unforgivable act.

By completely losing his political standing in the capital, he could no longer protect Lisia.

The people of the west praised him. The retainers of the north understood him.

They thought he had done what should naturally be done. Even if the same situation occurred again, he would make the same choice.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but think about what he had lost.

Now it was all a thing of the past. Cedric had become the owner of the seal.

He should keep his body in the Imperial Palace, deploy the Central Army and Western Army, and ignore old emotions. But he couldn’t do that.

He owed a debt to Lisia. It wasn’t only Artizea who had been forgiven by her voice.

And above all, he couldn’t throw Artizea alone into that place.

Her responsibility was his responsibility. He had to repay Artizea’s sins together with her.

When he knelt before her, he had tried to take responsibility himself. When he put the bracelet on her wrist, he had decided to bear all the things she had done together with her.

“I’m thinking of temporarily entrusting the regency to Prime Minister Lin.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! Be aware of your position! You are no longer alone! Your standing in that position is not something you achieved by yourself!”

The Empress raised her voice.

“I am… a person, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Cedric said in a subdued voice.

“I was never alone in my body. The lives of Evron were placed upon my life, and now I carry the present and future of the Empire.”

“Cedric.”

“Nevertheless, I am a person. Not a statue to be carved with human desires and despair and placed on the throne.”

Cedric stood up.

Artizea had said. People act because they cannot help but do certain things.

And right now, he could not help but go.

“Just once, I will live as myself.”

The Empress knew she couldn’t stop him and asked in a bewildered voice.

“What about Leticia?”

“Your Majesty the Empress will take care of her, so I won’t worry. It won’t take long. Please don’t worry too much. I’m confident I can return alive from anywhere.”

Even if he ended up alone.

Cedric said that and left the room.

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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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