The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 309

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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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2. Spring Breeze (3)

Click. Click.

The refined sound of military boots echoed through the corridor. Freil clung to the corridor wall, swaying like a moving corpse.

Officers who had received their first central army positions this year passed through the corridor in formation. It seemed they were returning after an audience with the Emperor.

‘So energetic. Full of hope.’

With the reorganization of the central army, eastern army, and northern army all at once, many from the provinces had entered the capital and palace for the first time.

It wasn’t like before when the Emperor would summon commanders who had achieved outstanding military merit and place them in important positions. The supreme commander was replaced, and nearly half of the mid-level officers were recalled.

The northern army was no longer a loose alliance where the Duke of Evron cooperated with the military, but was properly incorporated into the imperial army organization under the name of the northern army.

For the eastern army, most officials were deliberately transferred to new regions to break the collusion between the military and nobility. The resistance was considerable. Cedric responded by dismissing everyone who refused their assignments.

For a moment, tension heightened as those who were dismissed formed groups. However, since the central army’s appointments were one step faster, they were able to seize control of the eastern army without that tension exploding.

Because there were many dismissals, there were also many promotions. Being transferred to the central army was already considered an opening of one’s path to success.

On top of that, with large-scale promotions, morale was sky-high and loyalty seemed to pierce the heavens.

From the reorganization to responding to the eastern army’s tensions, Freil was involved in institutional reform on the surface while gathering and analyzing eastern intelligence behind the scenes.

Now he was involved in the qualitative integration of the central army, which had become a combination of three regional armies. Since he was in the staff department.

‘His Majesty thinks I’m some kind of magic wand.’

Freil’s current official position was staff aide. There were no set duties. It was a role where he was assigned as needed, as much as needed.

Even when he was the Duke of Evron’s adjutant, there wasn’t really anything that could be called set work. But back then, there wasn’t this much work to do.

Until Artizea started grinding him down.

There was a time when he would create work even when there wasn’t any. There was a time when he felt a sense of responsibility to do something because the simplicity of Evron Duchy was frustrating, but now he desperately missed those days.

‘Isn’t now the time to write my resignation? Do they give pensions?’

Honestly, in terms of time, hadn’t he worked enough to retire in old age?

Freil arrived in front of the office with a dark complexion, dragging his heavy body.

In front of the office stood a secretary holding documents like a mountain. He also looked quite tired, but seeing Freil, he spoke in a sympathetic voice.

“Didn’t you go home yesterday either?”

“I don’t have a home to go to.”

Freil sighed sincerely.

In the year of the coronation, he had rented a small house in the capital. He thought the difficult times had passed.

He thought he could get away from his workplace, whether it was the Evron ducal residence or the imperial palace, and have some time to himself.

There used to be such a thing as leaving work, but it disappeared.

Having a private room in the imperial palace was evidence of power and favor. There was no favor less welcome than this.

But when he opened the office door, it was a wasteland there too.

It was clearly a spacious area decorated lavishly, the air was properly ventilated and had a refreshing fruit scent. Vases placed throughout were filled with flowers and green branches.

Yet it was still a wasteland. Instead of dust, fatigue had settled over everything.

“Did you call for me, Your Majesty?”

Cedric, who had been looking over documents, raised his head. It was a considerably tired face.

It was stamina that wouldn’t budge even after fighting for a week straight on the battlefield, but it couldn’t overcome what the desk had been gnawing at for 2 years.

Cedric looked at the hollowness that had settled under Freil’s eyes and said.

“I thought you’d been resting well for a few days. It was a vacation, wasn’t it?”

“Well, that’s…”

Freil trailed off.

“It’s been so long since I rested that I couldn’t rest. No, why are you looking at me with that expression? Your Majesty ground me down with work, I didn’t do it voluntarily.”

Feeling guilty under Cedric’s gaze, Freil said. True, when he was with the House of Evron, there were quite a few tasks he had handled himself out of frustration.

But in the capital, there were many capable people, and many who were desperate to prove their competence.

The imperial army reorganization that had taken over a year was finally finished. Now it was a point where they could feel somewhat at ease.

So there was no more work for him to be ground down with. For the time being.

Freil calmed his mind while reflecting on this situation. Even if new work was assigned, he had a list of suitable candidates to recommend.

But Cedric asked this.

“How are things with Hailey these days?”

“Cough, cou, cough!”

He choked on the unexpected surprise attack. Freil coughed violently. A servant who had been standing quietly in one corner of the office brought him water.

Freil covered his mouth with his hand and drank water. He tried to force himself to hold back what wasn’t going well, but ended up producing tears and snot.

The servant handed him a handkerchief.

Freil wiped his reddened eyes and nose while barely managing to cough out a reply.

“That was an accident!”

“Did you cause an accident?”

“Cough cough!”

It was self-incrimination. It seemed Cedric hadn’t asked knowing anything. He wanted to dig a grave and lie down in it.

Freil coughed painfully. If caught, Hailey would kill him. It was as certain a fact as that he would have been slapped if he had said he would take responsibility.

In the first place, what happened a few days ago was an accident. Such things happen when people live their lives. Hailey and he were in perfect agreement about that fact.

Cedric said with an uncomfortable expression.

“Well, I’m not trying to interfere with your private life.”

“Yes.”

“Then there would be no problem with going as northern governor.”

“Cough, cough!”

He choked for the second time. Freil grabbed his throat. His vision spun with dizziness.

“You’re joking, right? Northern governor?”

“Why would I be joking?”

Cedric asked back with a face devoid of any humor.

Freil opened his mouth.

“Sending someone from another region would be unreasonable. But if we change it to a direct territory and make someone from House Jordin or another traditional family the governor, it would essentially just be a name change.”

That would defeat the purpose of making it an imperial direct territory.

Evron Duchy should no longer operate by old-fashioned customs. So the governor needed to be a northerner, but a new person.

Freil was suitable.

First, his status was appropriate. More than half of the high-ranking officials were of commoner origin, and Freil’s status was high enough. But he wasn’t from a good enough family to appear as bloodline supremacy.

His age was also sufficient. Over the past year, most high-ranking officials had retired for various reasons, and their positions were filled by young officials suitable for the young Emperor.

There would be no problem with a young governor.

In the capital, Freil was the most trusted of the trusted retainers who had served Cedric closely since his ducal days.

In Evron, talk of being a trusted retainer or whatever would sound quite ridiculous. However, to appoint him as governor, he had to meet the standards required by the capital’s nobles and officials.

Cedric said.

“It’s a sensitive time. Within 3 years, we’ll open the gates of Allia Wall, and several central army units are already up north.”

“Yes.”

“Conflict between the north and the homeland has already essentially begun.”

Cedric said.

“I need a trustworthy plenipotentiary. If it’s you, you know my goals and are skilled at handling information.”

Freil’s face crumpled completely. But he couldn’t say no.

“However, if you were to marry Hailey, it wouldn’t be breaking custom. In the north, they would accept it as House Jordin’s son-in-law becoming Evron’s representative.”

“…”

“I have no intention of putting you in an awkward position. It’s your private life, and I have no desire to tell you what to do. I’m just confirming because of the situation.”

Cedric looked at Freil.

“So, haven’t you proposed yet?”

“No, why does everyone keep saying that? We’re not dating!”

“Then I can make the appointment?”

Freil was at a loss for words. For some reason, even he didn’t know why.

Cedric lowered his gaze to the documents and said.

“This is advice as a friend, not as your lord.”

“…”

“You should just do it when you think of it, or you’ll regret it.”

Freil had nothing to say. His mumbled “I told you we’re not” lacked energy.

* * *

Sedric finished his work early that afternoon.

Following the court physician’s advice, he had established regular holidays for rest. But these irregularly occurring half-days felt more like a vacation than those scheduled breaks.

Instead of riding his horse, he walked to the Empress’s Palace. The gentle sunlight quickly warmed his body.

‘The weather is clear.’

Winter had passed and spring had arrived while he was busy.

Every winter, he would engage in tensions along both the northern border and the homeland, then relax upon hearing reports that the ports had thawed.

But this year was different. Work came crashing down like waves without rest, yet winter didn’t drive him mad. It felt like his sense of the seasons had changed.

He finally felt like he was getting a little used to his new position.

The Empress’s Palace had also changed a bit during winter.

During winter, they had cut down trees south of the palace. Part of the purpose was to clear the view to prevent assassins from entering.

But the primary reason was that Leticia had climbed over the railing trying to reach the tree branches outside her window.

While cutting down the tree that seemed just close enough to grab if one jumped from the window, they cleared everything in front of it as well.

Originally, Artizea had almost no interest in decorating her residence.

The renovation of the Duke’s Residence in the past had been done out of necessity. Decorating the wedding venue or properly furnishing the Imperial Prince’s Palace also had political meaning.

But now there was no need for that. Sedric had succeeded Emperor Gregor and held military power.

Imperial authority was sufficiently high, and there was no longer any need to display power.

Artizea did nothing, just as she had said. Countless opinions poured in right after the coronation to renovate the Imperial Palace to suit the new imperial couple, but neither paid any attention to them.

However, things had to change a little once the baby’s range of activity began to expand.

So during winter, while cutting down the trees, they opened the southern drawing room to the outside and created a large terrace.

On the outer side, they brought white sand and spread it thickly. They left only one tree with a sturdy trunk to install a swing.

Sedric paused in his steps for a moment.

“Your Majesty.”

The Royal Guards protecting the Empress’s Palace raised their spears and saluted him.

Sedric smiled and nodded slightly to them. Attendants came running out, knelt down, and bowed.

“Daddyyy!”

An excited Leticia came running out.

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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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