The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 292

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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 292

47.

The search team discovered a suspicious man going back and forth near Embankment 9, and after interrogating him, found explosives installed in two locations.

They were currently searching the area near Embankment 8.

However, the land was vast, and there were limits to the available manpower. The Western Regions had originally given up on defending even the surface area for military defense.

Owen couldn’t hide his surprise.

“There really were some.”

He had followed orders since they came from the Crown Princess. He also knew that Artizea was Cedric’s political partner and chief advisor.

However, he hadn’t expected explosives to actually be found.

Hadn’t they come to find the kidnapped Lisia? Even in the message Benia had conveyed, there had been no mention of blowing up embankments.

But explosives had truly been discovered. Owen couldn’t help but be shocked.

Artizea said, trying to endure her headache.

“We can’t guarantee that we’ve found all the explosives at Embankment 9 for certain.”

In the Western Regions, weapons and explosives were easy to obtain. Unless they dug up and checked all the ground, they couldn’t guarantee that the two locations they’d found were all the explosives that had been installed.

That’s why she had people searching. If explosives were hidden, it meant there was someone to detonate them.

However, there was no guarantee that whoever was waiting to detonate the explosives had necessarily come from outside.

Lawrence was wealthy. While it wasn’t enough assets to sustain a noble family for generations, overturning the life of a farming family was something he could do with just the money in his sleeve.

So it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they had to suspect everyone currently staying near the embankments.

Interrogating all of them was an impossible task.

‘If it were me, I’d deliberately place someone who could be caught, and actually use a local.’

Being a small regional community, they would keep their mouths shut even more to military inquiries. Even if there were relatives acting somewhat suspiciously, they would cover for them.

Moreover, Embankment 9 wasn’t the only problem now. They couldn’t even know whether Lawrence would start with 6 or 7.

They absolutely couldn’t find everything in time.

‘Even now, if I could get to my brother…’

Artizea thought about it many times. In fact, that thought was almost constantly occupying her mind.

But could killing Lawrence stop it?

It wasn’t just about Lisia anymore.

If preparations were already complete, there was a high possibility that things would continue to proceed even if Lawrence died.

And Lawrence would have directly controlled all of those affairs without entrusting them to others.

He wasn’t interested in thoroughly controlling information and maintaining subordinates’ loyalty like Artizea.

However, he wasn’t foolish enough not to know that he needed to have thorough control over important matters. And he knew the methods well too.

The information given to underlings was extremely partial, and it was arranged so that everything would only fit together and be completed when all reports were gathered.

Artizea used to explain her thought processes and methods to Lawrence.

At first, because she wanted recognition. Later, because she feared his suspicion.

She hadn’t known that would become such a troublesome matter now.

‘Even if I try to kill my brother, would that actually work?’

Artizea pressed her fingers against her head while sinking deep into the armchair.

Since becoming the Saintess, she had become able to divide and use her life force.

But could killing one person’s life be possible with just part of another person’s life?

The great magic of turning back time had actually been possible.

Once the magic circle was activated, the magic would reverse time and devour all life that had lived through that time period as nourishment.

However, human lives were equivalent. That’s why she had been able to cut off 10 years of her own life to give Mielle 10 years.

‘Then, should I turn back time instead?’

To before Lisia was captured? Or to before Lawrence disappeared?

She couldn’t.

Artizea had already failed once. The very fact that she was alive here was proof of that.

The return of so many people’s memories was probably also because the magic had gone wrong.

Artizea still didn’t know by what law such things were happening.

It was certain that the magic had gone wrong. As long as she didn’t know the reason, she couldn’t execute it.

Her own disappearance wasn’t the problem.

But even if they went back to the past, if there was no one to stop Lawrence, the same thing would just repeat.

Moreover, now there was too much to lose politically.

Even if just one thing became a variable, it would become a worse situation than now.

What if only Lawrence’s or the Anti-Crown Prince Faction’s memories returned while she had disappeared? What if the Empress’s memories returned? What if the Emperor’s memories returned?

If the Saintess disappeared, could Cedric hold the Crown Prince investiture ceremony? If her existence disappeared, would memories of things that had happened once in the past also disappear?

Artizea covered her eyes with her hands.

‘No, is my disappearance really not a problem at all?’

Artizea had that thought for the first time. In the tangled tail of complicated thoughts, Leticia got caught.

When she suddenly looked up, Artizea’s eyes met with Benia’s, who was sitting in one corner of the room sewing a collar.

She startled and straightened up, turning her gaze elsewhere.

Alice asked.

“Shall I bring something warm to drink? How about strong tea with milk and sugar?”

“Strong tea?”

“I learned it from the Head Butler. Since you like it, my lady.”

Alice said cheerfully.

“How unusual. Recommending tea at this late hour.”

“Even if I recommended you sleep, you wouldn’t listen anyway.”

Artizea considered for a moment. It seemed like sleeping a little and waking up might help untangle her thoughts that were twisted like thread.

“No. I’m tired now, so it would be better to lie down.”

“Yes. Then I’ll prepare your bed.”

Alice said this while glancing at Benia with unfavorable eyes. Benia was hesitating with her sewing work set aside.

Artizea also knew that Alice didn’t like Benia.

“I don’t really understand. If Benia has rendered service, couldn’t you just give her appropriate reward and send her back? Even if you keep her, there’s no need to keep her right by your side, my lady.”

Alice had even said that.

Those words weren’t wrong either. But Artizea kept Benia close without explaining to Alice.

It was so she wouldn’t forget what she had done in the past.

Artizea suddenly thought. Perhaps the very act of pressing herself not to forget was because she had a desire to forget.

In the early days after returning, she had never had such thoughts.

At some point, she had started holding back even laughter. That was probably also because her emotions were trying to burst out by opening the lid beneath her heart.

Artizea was afraid of that.

Alice went out first, saying she would go arrange the bedding. Artizea said to Benia.

“You’ve worked hard until this late hour. Go rest now.”

“It’s nothing. Sleep well, my lady.”

Benia stood up and bowed respectfully to Artizea.

Artizea also slowly rose from her seat.

Then commotion arose outside. Through the open window, torches multiplied and the outside was instantly illuminated.

“Go find out what’s happening.”

“Yes.”

One of the knights guarding the drawing room answered crisply and went outside.

However, before the knight could return, someone shouted from outside first.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”

Artizea was startled and froze in place. She hadn’t heard any news, not even as information.

She had thought they would never meet again.

Even when leaving the North first, she had considered the probability of not being able to meet. That had also been calculating the probability of failing while plotting conspiracies.

When leaving this time, she hadn’t calculated the probability of dying.

Even if the Emperor issued a secret order to kill her, Cedric would still wear the Emperor’s crown.

It was after she had done everything she could. The time for moving the board with schemes had already ended.

The rest was work that Cedric himself and those who supported him had to push forward and climb up.

Her own death had nothing to do with success or failure, so there was no future to worry about.

Yet her heart was more tormented than before.

She had already harbored feelings of love before. So her heart should be the same now as it was then.

But this time was different. Before, she had thought she could die without regret since she knew the joy of being loved, but now it hurt as if her insides were being carved out.

Her mind went blank.

Artizea momentarily thought of running away. Of course, it wasn’t anything concrete. It was just the thought of wanting to escape her current anguish.

While she stood there unable to go anywhere, the door opened.

The smell of yellow dust from the Western Regions came rushing in. It was different from the smell of snow and wind from the North. But Artizea thought the scent was familiar.

Cedric stood there with the door open. Artizea held her breath.

“Because of you.”

Cedric squeezed out those words in a cracked voice without any greeting.

Artizea couldn’t guess what words would follow.

The door closed behind Cedric. He pulled off his gloves and threw them on the floor.

That too was familiar.

Artizea recalled the nights that had happened only twice. The night when her hands and feet had melted and become moist, and she thought of the baby’s damp, soft palms.

But Artizea neither rushed to embrace him nor stepped back. She stood firmly in place.

The woman here should not be human.

“Why did you come to such a place?”

Artizea spoke in an emotionless voice.

“You shouldn’t have been in a situation to leave the capital. Moreover, for a sovereign to come to a region where plague is spreading.”

He was a sovereign. Before being an individual, he had to be the Emperor sitting on the throne. He had to be the foundation stone, the pillar, and the main beam, as well as the starting point and manager of the gears.

And she had to be a tool serving that purpose. That must be why she was here without disappearing even after throwing herself into the magic circle.

Cedric lowered the arms he had spread to embrace Artizea.

There was a gap of about two arms’ length between them.

“I came because it was worth coming.”

Cedric said quietly.

“It’s my decision. There was something I had to save.”

Artizea bit her lower lip repeatedly.

Cedric said.

“Why do you make such a face? I should be your lord, can’t you follow my decision?”

“No.”

Artizea answered like that. Her hands and feet were cold.

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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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