The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 311

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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 (5)

Artizea was wavering on the boundary between reality and dreams.

The sunlight shining on her body was warm, but the wind was cool. Her ankles and around her knees felt cold.

She could hear rustling sounds and the sound of footsteps on sand. There was the sound of waves sweeping across the white sandy beach.

Even with her eyes closed, Artizea felt the illusion of seeing the deep blue sea.

‘I’ve never even been to the Southern Sea.’

Even in her dream, Artizea realized. The color of this sea was similar to the salt she had offered to the Empress Dowager.

Was she having this dream because she had talked about Viscount Pesher’s daughter today?

At some point, the Empress Dowager was standing beside her. A faceless maid was holding up a parasol from behind.

The blue silk sash tied around the Empress Dowager’s waist fluttered in the wind.

“I always wanted to return here.”

‘To the Southern Sea?’

It was a strange dream.

Empress Dowager Katrin’s trip to the Southern Region this time was simply a journey. It was true that she went to sort out her feelings, but they weren’t close enough to have such a conversation.

So this dream wasn’t depicting something likely to happen. Artizea thought with her eyes closed.

‘How strange. What does it matter to me.’

“Are you wondering why I appeared in your thoughts when you’re trying to sort things out?”

Artizea sat up. The Empress had a young face she had never seen before. She had never looked closely, but it seemed the portrait from her youth had remained in her memory more than expected.

“Nothing will happen in the Southern Region.”

“What Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is saying now has no meaning. It’s my dream anyway.”

Then was she having this dream because she had something weighing on her mind about the Southern Region?

Artizea didn’t believe that dreams contained things like future prophecy. What appeared in dreams was merely things that had left a strong impression on her or extensions of what she had thought about just before falling asleep.

The Empress Dowager smiled faintly.

“You’re right. Actually, I wasn’t planning to talk about the Southern Region.”

“Pardon?”

“What you’re concerned about isn’t this, is it?”

The Empress Dowager held out something she had been clutching in her fist.

Artizea realized she was holding a bouquet. It was truly a peculiar dream.

The Empress Dowager placed the golden orb she had been holding into a white rosebud inserted in the center of the bouquet.

“What meaning does this have? You say I’m concerned about it?”

“It’s your dream, so you would know. Not me.”

The Empress Dowager said that and turned back toward the sea. The water’s color had now changed to resemble the jewel she had received as a gift from Natalia.

“It’s a place with very good climate. Come visit once. I have a truly beautiful villa here.”

That was a phrase written in the letter the Empress Dowager had sent recently. Artizea muttered to herself.

“There are many enemies in the Southern Sea…”

Then something lightly touched her lips.

Artizea realized that this whooshing sound wasn’t the sound of waves, but the sound of tree branches swaying in the wind.

‘Ah…’

She had thought her body was cold from earlier, but now it became genuinely cold. Artizea curled up her body and closed her eyes.

“Wake up now.”

She heard Cedric calling.

Artizea realized she was curled up lying on the sofa. As she suddenly woke up, heat rushed through her body.

“Ah…”

A hoarse voice echoed in reality. Cedric lightly brushed up her hair and asked.

“What dream were you having?”

“A dream?”

The memory was already becoming hazy.

“Something… I think I had a good dream.”

The gentle wave-like breeze that had brushed past her nape was still vivid. The last image remaining in her memory was turquoise waves that didn’t seem of this world.

“A good dream?”

Cedric’s brow furrowed slightly. Artizea looked up at him questioningly.

A kiss came down before an answer. Artizea closed her eyes in confusion.

“Mm, mmm…”

Her breathing quickly became labored. Cedric buried his fingers in Artizea’s hair.

He supported her nape and laid Artizea deeper into the soft sofa. She grabbed Cedric’s collar tightly in surprise.

Though she should be used to it by now, Artizea was still surprised every time and didn’t know what to do each time. When he didn’t miss the gaps where their touching lips exhaled short breaths trying to relax and pushed in, a small moan escaped.

But they couldn’t go further than that. Cedric heard the sound of footsteps running quickly from behind.

“Haa.”

He couldn’t do that in front of the child. Cedric reluctantly pulled away his lips, suppressing his regret.

When he rubbed Artizea’s wet lower lip with his thumb, her face belatedly turned red.

Leticia charged straight into Cedric’s thigh. Cedric made an “ugh” sound and pretended to fall over.

“Don’t bully Mother!”

Leticia pushed Cedric away with all her might and climbed up over Artizea. Then she pushed Cedric away with all her strength.

“Mother is sick, so you can’t do that!”

“…I wasn’t bullying her. I was kissing her.”

“That’s not how you kiss!”

Leticia kissed Artizea’s cheek as if to show an example. Cedric laughed as if dumbfounded.

Artizea looked embarrassed.

“So don’t do this outside.”

“It’s not like I did anything bad.”

“It’s not because it’s bad.”

“Mother.”

Leticia grabbed Artizea’s hair.

“Does it not hurt anymore?”

“It wasn’t hurting.”

“But Father was.”

“Kissing.”

Artizea said while slightly red. Leticia tilted her head.

“Really?”

Father sometimes evaded or lied or didn’t keep promises, but Mother absolutely never did. Leticia nodded with a face full of trust.

“Then me too.”

“Kiss?”

“Kiss!”

Leticia kissed Artizea’s lips with a smacking sound. Cedric put his hands under Leticia’s armpits and lifted her up.

“To Father too.”

“No.”

Leticia’s cheeks puffed up with dissatisfaction. She still didn’t seem convinced.

“Then since Mother is sick, shall just the two of us go see the puppy?”

Leticia made a face like her heart had dropped.

Artizea combed through her disheveled hair with her fingers and said.

“You shouldn’t tease the baby.”

“I wasn’t particularly teasing. If you’re sick, I’ll have to take her alone.”

“I’m not sick. Let’s go together.”

When Artizea said that, Leticia smiled brightly, forgetting she had been sulking just moments before.

And she gave Cedric’s cheek a kiss too. Cedric’s face melted.

“But you’re going to see a puppy?”

“There’s a puppy at the Rosan Estate.”

“Ah, the dog the gardener was raising.”

Artizea shook her head. For three days since the day they came back from seeing the puppy, Leticia had been throwing tantrums about wanting to raise a puppy.

That itself wasn’t a difficult task. There was enough space, and there were hands to care for it. It wouldn’t be bad for the child to grow up with a puppy either.

However, she was contemplating whether immediately giving in to wheedling might be problematic.

Cedric held Leticia with one arm as if seating her on his forearm, and extended his hand to Artizea.

Artizea took his hand and stood up.

“But you finished your official duties early today.”

“I only scheduled one appointment ceremony in the morning. I plan to rest in the afternoon.”

“Ah… Come to think of it, you did mention that.”

Artizea sighed, saying her memory wasn’t what it used to be. Cedric thought that was a good thing.

Now she no longer felt the need to remember, utilize, and manipulate everything. So she would let things pass by one ear, or hear and forget them.

“Please change into something lighter. And leave Tisha with Alice.”

“Mm, it would be awkward to go like this.”

“It’s not just about going, but you shouldn’t hold Tisha like that. Not in those clothes.”

Cedric looked down at his own attire. Before coming to the Empress’s Palace, he had removed all the ornaments out of concern that Leticia might get hurt. However, he was wearing ceremonial robes due to the morning’s appointment ceremony.

The Emperor’s ceremonial robes were precious. Strictly speaking, they shouldn’t be wrinkled like this.

“I’ll change into something comfortable. You should also dress more warmly. We’ll return in the evening.”

“Yes.”

Even while saying this, Cedric didn’t know how to put Leticia down.

Alice spoke.

“I’ll take care of Lady Tisha. Sand has gotten into your clothes.”

“Yes. Please dress her in play clothes.”

“Yes.”

Cedric put Leticia down. Leticia grabbed Cedric’s sleeve.

“Daddy will come back first.”

“Mm…”

Leticia nodded her head. But her hand didn’t easily let go.

“Today I’m not going because of urgent business. Really.”

“Do you have to keep your promise to read books with Mommy in the evening too?”

Leticia asked in an ambiguous tone, whether questioning or confirming. Cedric said he would definitely keep his promise and gently pushed Leticia’s back.

Leticia soon took Alice’s hand and toddled toward the baby’s room. Cedric escorted Artizea to the front of the toilette room.

The attendants who managed clothes were already prepared. This was thanks to Lady Kishwar having conveyed in advance that the imperial couple would be going out.

Sophie smiled brightly and bowed to the two of them. Three dresses were already laid out in the toilette room.

Artizea let out a small sigh.

She wondered if her making and wearing clothes these days was becoming closer to Sophie’s hobby.

‘Should I gradually assign her other work?’

Just because you cherish someone doesn’t mean keeping them by your side until death is the best solution. It would be better for her to have opportunities to pursue her own aspirations rather than serving her in the Empress’s Palace.

‘Sending her away doesn’t mean our relationship would be severed either.’

She was thinking to herself when it happened.

Cedric asked.

“What dream were you having?”

“Pardon?”

Artizea tilted her head and looked up at him, momentarily not understanding what he was saying.

Cedric averted his eyes with an uncomfortable expression.

“I think I did have some dream. I don’t remember though. Why do you ask?”

“The climate of the Southern Sea is nice.”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind.”

Cedric shook his head, let go of Artizea’s hand, and left the spot.

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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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