The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 300

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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 300

The journey back was much slower than when they had departed.

Hailey and Sophie had joined them. Hailey was half exhausted and half angry.

However, upon seeing Artizea’s face, she swallowed all the words she had intended to say.

Sophie was the same. She left the room without saying anything and returned with puffy eyes from crying.

“Let’s take this opportunity to dye it a really vibrant, pretty color. Starting with light sky blue and ending with light pink at the tips.”

“Don’t say such foolish things.”

Hailey replied as if exasperated.

“Or red and black would be nice too.”

“At least stick to one color.”

“You were so eager to collect things by color, and now you want to dump it all on my lady’s head?”

“If not now, there won’t be another chance.”

“You can dye it black anytime.”

“But I never felt like touching my lady’s original hair.”

“But isn’t hair dye bad for your body?”

Artizea smiled bitterly, sensing the effort to brighten the mood even a little in the bickering between the maid and servants.

That day, Sophie took new measurements.

They were to be sent to the capital for the coronation dress. Since Artizea had grown thin again in the meantime, making it with the old measurements would mean alterations alone wouldn’t be enough to fit her properly.

“I heard the coronation preparations in the capital are almost finished.”

“It doesn’t seem like His Highness the Crown Prince arrived that long ago?”

“The abdication edict has already been issued.”

Hailey said.

“I heard Her Majesty the Empress had preparations made in advance. It seems His Majesty the Emperor’s condition is quite poor.”

“I see.”

“Didn’t they pass by yesterday too? The lords attending the coronation.”

“Yes. Honestly, I was startled thinking something had happened.”

Sophie nodded.

Since there was a coronation, those in important positions in each region departed to attend the coronation as time permitted.

An edict was delivered to the western regions to move cautiously due to the plague issue.

But it was the most important political event in decades. Administrative officials might be one thing, but those involved in politics couldn’t lose interest.

The Empire would be turned upside down.

Even though the Crown Prince had been acting as regent for several months, it wasn’t much different. Now it could finally be called a change of government.

“I heard some nobles from the eastern region are coming too.”

Hailey thought, recalling the letters she had received in advance.

She had laughed hollowly upon hearing that Count Brennan was among them.

And she realized anew that Cedric had accepted even such compromises.

While she had been mocking and disappointed that nothing would change, Cedric had already become different.

“Most of the envoys who came for the Crown Prince’s investiture haven’t returned yet, so they’ll end up seeing the coronation too.”

“What are you talking about. They have to send new envoys. Congratulatory gifts and state letters need to be sent again.”

“I need to work hard.”

At Sophie’s words, Hailey tilted her head.

“You? For what?”

“Our lady was so beautiful on the investiture day. But she can’t look worse than that on the coronation day.”

Sophie said forcefully. A bitter smile crossed Hailey’s lips.

Artizea was listening to such talk absentmindedly when she suddenly stood up.

Hailey stood up following her.

“Ah, Your Highness. Where are you going?”

“To get some fresh air for a moment.”

Alice supported Artizea. Artizea waved her hand saying she was fine and picked up her cane.

“I’m not going to walk for long anyway.”

“My lady.”

Alice said pitifully, but Artizea came outside with slow steps, leaning on her cane.

Alice followed her, carrying a hat with a veil.

Though she said she was going to get fresh air, she actually had an appointment with Father Colton.

Artizea went out to the garden under Owen’s guard. Father Colton was waiting there.

“I’ve kept you waiting.”

“Not at all. I just arrived, Saintess.”

Father Colton bowed politely.

“I told you I’m no longer a saintess.”

“You received an oracle, so you are a saintess.”

This conversation was also the third time they’d had it since reuniting.

Artizea had sent a letter to the temple.

It was a letter stating that her role as saintess was over, and that God had given a new oracle to Lisia.

So she requested that the temple serve Lisia as saintess from now on and provide full support for treating the plague.

Unlike the past, with substantial power backing her, Lisia wouldn’t need to fight with the temple.

Lisia, who had left before Artizea, had already healed three villages, she heard.

Benia had followed Lisia. She had stopped by her hometown village first.

Lisia sent a brief letter telling her not to worry too much. That Benia’s heart would soften with time.

It also included a request to become a good ruler so as not to disappoint her.

In any case, Father Colton still wouldn’t listen to Artizea.

“I know the truth.”

“Father, you may know exactly what an oracle is, but most people in the world don’t use the word saintess in the same meaning as you do.”

At Artizea’s words, Father Colton didn’t answer directly but smiled and asked.

“Then, was the oracle not fulfilled?”

“….”

Artizea looked quietly at Father Colton.

He hadn’t been surprised or flustered from the beginning when he saw Artizea’s aged face.

It was the same when he heard it was due to holy power.

Artizea had inwardly worried that he might deny that fact. But he had simply spoken with a calm face.

「In the end, you didn’t believe in yourself, Saintess.」

Artizea sighed.

“It was fulfilled. From a certain perspective.”

“Fulfillment doesn’t necessarily mean completion, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

“Fine. Let’s settle on that title.”

Artizea replied. Father Colton smiled again.

Father Colton opened the carriage door. Artizea boarded the carriage with his escort.

Alice followed behind her.

Father Colton got on last and closed the door. Owen mounted his horse and gave the departure signal.

The plain carriage with all crests removed moved along, simply guarded by four knights in plain clothes.

The target monastery wasn’t very far away.

After leaving the castle and riding across the open field for about an hour, they could see an old stone manor of heavy, dark colors.

The manor’s main gate was wide open.

Monks in rough brown robes saw the carriage and scattered in surprise. Alice asked puzzledly.

“Why are they running away?”

“There are people who practice silent meditation or monasticism completely cut off from the outside world. If patrons or nobles speak to them, they can’t not answer and it becomes troublesome.”

Father Colton answered instead.

Artizea lowered her veil. And she unfastened the diamond bracelet from her wrist and gripped it tightly in her hand.

Her heart felt so dizzy it seemed like it would fall to the bottom of her soul.

Thanks to sending word ahead, someone had come out to greet them.

A monk dressed in the same brown hemp monastery robes as the others bowed respectfully upon seeing Artizea.

Father Colton said.

“How is the lady?”

“These days she hasn’t had any seizures, but she seems depressed…”

The monk glanced cautiously at Artizea. However, there was no way to know the expression of the noblewoman hidden behind her veil.

Artizea made no reply. Father Colton spoke to her.

“I heard it was his request.”

Since it would be inappropriate to mention Sedric’s name in this place, he spoke that way.

Artizea did not answer that either.

The monk who came from the monastery looked quite worried that her feelings might have been hurt.

However, Artizea wasn’t hurt, she just didn’t want to say anything right now.

Because she felt like her heart would crumble if she knew that Sedric had been considerate of even such things.

The monk guided Artizea inside.

The monastery was quite large in scale. The Central Chapel that you see when entering through the main gate was nearly 3 stories high.

The monk explained.

“All monks wake up at 4 AM and hold morning mass here. Whether they came voluntarily or… not, it’s the same for everyone.”

“Roll call time.”

The monk smiled awkwardly at Artizea’s murmur.

“After that, they have breakfast and scatter to do their daily work. Farming, woodworking, sewing…”

The monk explained that although it was a monastery relatively close to the city, it was no different from other places in that it aimed for self-sufficiency.

“There are services every hour from 5 AM to 8 PM. Anyone who wants to can participate. After the final evening mass at 9 PM, you can spend time freely within the monastery. Praying, copying manuscripts, or having study groups.”

Of course, someone who had been exiled and sent here wouldn’t be interested in such things.

It was natural that the environment was restrictive. Still, it seemed like a decent monastery where food, clothing, and shelter were adequately provided.

The monk began to hesitate in his steps partway through.

“The lady has… mainly been doing… laundry.”

“…”

“Because we must be self-sufficient. It’s our monastery’s rule not to share food with those who don’t work.”

“Can’t let her near knives and fire so the kitchen is out, even if we put her to farm work she can’t distinguish weeds from crops, she’s not skilled enough in writing to do copying, and she has even less connection to theology.”

Artizea said as if muttering.

The monk’s head bowed as if apologetic.

“I’m not trying to reproach you. Just stating facts. I know that whatever state she’s in, it’s not your responsibility.”

“…She has very little energy.”

Finally the monk stopped beating around the bush and said what he couldn’t bring himself to say.

“We heard that moving her body would help, so we had her go back and forth to the river, but her heart ailment won’t heal…”

Artizea raised her hand.

The monk closed his mouth. They were already in front of the door.

Alice held her breath.

Artizea knocked on the heavy door. Since there was no answer, she simply opened it.

The room was small. One bed, one desk and chair. And a small window.

It was exactly the kind of room where ordinary monks stayed.

The most beautiful woman in the world was sitting curled up on that bed.

Artizea called to her.

“Mother.”

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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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