The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 316

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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 (10)

Artizea finished her audience and headed to the study.

Hanna was waiting in the study. She was one of Evron’s retainers and had arrived with Mel this time.

Even in Evron, very few knew why Hanna specifically had been chosen and summoned. She was a commoner and did not hold a high position.

Those who knew the secrets assumed she would receive a reward this time for her work with the Karam crop, Melburn.

After Artizea brought Melburn to the world, Hanna had made considerable contributions to spreading it throughout the North.

The years she spent researching farming methods in the North had not been completely in vain.

Of course, that too was a cover. The first cover was the retainer group itself, the second cover was Mel, and the third cover was this Hanna.

The real ‘guests’ from the North who had been welcomed through all these layers were now waiting in the study with Hanna.

Artizea took a deep breath in front of the study door. Then she opened the door herself.

Those wearing long cloaks with hoods pulled over their heads were all large in stature.

Northerners were generally tall compared to mainlanders, but these people were a full head taller than even those Northerners.

Compared to them, Artizea looked like a young girl.

One person had his face uncovered. He too had his forehead covered with a hood.

Hanna and the hooded man knelt and bowed to Artizea. Behind them, the guests with their hoods pulled down awkwardly lowered their heads.

Before responding to Hanna’s bow, Artizea first spread her skirts, bent her knees, and greeted them politely.

“Ka elr paha quie.”

This meant “Come to my fire” in Karam, which was the same as saying welcome.

Upon hearing those words, the guests removed their cloaks. Their third eyes on their foreheads and thick fur extending to their necks were revealed.

Their upper arms that extended outside the cloaks moved in the air according to their customs.

“Thank you.”

The pronunciation was awkward, like a parrot mimicking human speech. Artizea’s pronunciation probably sounded the same to them.

Artizea smiled brightly without fear.

It is the unknown that is frightening. She too had been shocked when she first saw Karam, but now she knew Apua.

She had read together all the hundred or so letters he had exchanged with Cedric. In this year’s first letter, Apua had even sent a flower that bloomed first in the far northern lands untouched by human feet, enclosed in the envelope.

Artizea had learned the Karam language over the past two years. And now, even if she couldn’t speak Karam, she could understand it.

She had faster memorization skills than others and talent for languages. She had memorized all the scriptures of the temple and was well-versed in doctrine and history.

She had only used that talent for terrible things.

But this time, she was moving for the future without committing any sins.

Exchanging languages, determining diplomatic methods, and mutually acknowledging each other’s existence. Here, a foundation for official exchange would be established.

* * *

The Archbishop was being stubborn. Even after putting on his ceremonial robes, he still had no intention of departing.

“You go alone.”

“This is the Saintess’s command.”

Bishop Nicos sighed as he spoke.

“Tsk!”

The Archbishop made a sound like he was throwing a tantrum. Then he looked up at Bishop Nicos with a face full of complaints.

But his grievances ultimately could not come out of his mouth.

Artizea had given up almost all power when she became Empress.

She had long since disbanded her intelligence organization, and its know-how was merged into the Emperor’s Imperial Intelligence Service through Freil.

When she became Empress, she gave up the title of Marquess Rosan and froze her assets, entrusting them to the guardian of the heir.

She made no effort to form power as Empress.

As long as the Emperor’s love remained in the Empress’s Palace, she could start activities again at any time. However, it was true that she did not have it in her hands right now.

But she never let go of the temple. This remained true even after declaring that her duties as Saintess had ended.

The temple’s power was unofficial and of a kind that could not be controlled from outside. Religious devotion was deeper than ever, and the temple’s influence was strong.

Artizea herself was partly to blame for this. Because she had falsely recited the oracle that “the Saintess shall become Empress,” religious power had gained the strength to intervene in secular affairs.

After that, Lisia had consecutively healed the plague. That work continued even now. Many had witnessed her preventing floods as well.

Even those who had not believed in oracles could no longer say they did not believe in the Saintess. Atheists might think differently inwardly, but outwardly they did not deny it.

This temple, whose momentum had risen so high, could not be left unattended.

Artizea could not entrust the temple to Lisia. She loved and trusted Lisia, but she did not think Lisia had the ability to control the temple.

Especially considering the Karam matter.

The goal was not just to legally cultivate Melburn and prevent half-bloods from being branded as demons and killed.

To save the North, Karam was necessary.

Artizea remained unchanged in her opinion that humans should retreat to the Elia Fortress. If that was impossible, then at least up to the northern reaches of Evron Duchy, they should accept Karam immigration and exchange.

Over the past two years, as a result of making half-bloods visible, creating household registers, and actively accepting them, cultivation and labor had dramatically increased.

The North had finally moved beyond mere survival to see the possibility of developing industry.

The temple had to cooperate in this matter. If the temple continued to shout that Karam were demon spawn, the entire North would only be ostracized together again.

The first thing Artizea did was interfere with the bishops’ council to place the bishop of Evron’s main castle in an important position at the Grand Cathedral.

In that position, she again selected one of the Northern priests to be ordained as bishop and promoted.

Soon, for the first time, two Northerners would occupy seats in the bishops’ council.

Even up to this point, the Archbishop accepted it with a smiling face. Since an Emperor had come from the North, it was natural to accept that Northern influence would grow stronger.

But Artizea did not stop there.

She had the scholarly priests research from what point theological theory began to name Karam as demons of the scriptures.

Actually, she already knew the answer. The Archbishop was not a person lacking in learning either. Like Artizea, he too knew the answer.

It was during the great southern migration of Karam when the Evron Principality still existed as a principality.

The defense line was pushed almost to the central regions. The Evron Principality acknowledged that it lacked the capacity to maintain independence, and the Empire built the fortress.

At that time, the Empire’s mainlanders had faced Karam for the first time.

Their strange appearance and the unprecedented brutal war were enough to make them remember Karam as demons.

Artizea had them research records from the earlier period to prove that exchange with Karam did not go against the scriptures.

The Archbishop was a person who valued self-preservation, but he could not help but raise his voice about this.

“Empress, this is overturning all doctrine!”

“Archbishop, I did not command this as Empress.”

Artizea spoke with a face cold enough to freeze.

“Nowhere in the scriptures is there any direct mention of Karam. Even the term ‘demons of the North’ was something created jointly by the temple, the Imperial Palace, and House of Evron, wasn’t it?”

It was natural for fear to spread.

However, sustaining fear rather than understanding for hundreds of years was because it was an effective means of control.

“Since it’s doctrine created according to interests, it can be reinterpreted.”

“You cannot do it this way. Empress, I acknowledged Karam Half-bloods registering their names in the temple records. I am even turning a blind eye to current exchanges with Karam in the North.”

That was for political reasons. When the right time came, he could receive compensation from the Imperial Palace for the concessions he had made.

However, Artizea had no intention of playing politics with the temple.

“If you think that requires your consent, Archbishop, you are mistaken.”

“Empress!”

“I am the Saintess, Archbishop.”

“Empress, you have already finished your duties as Saintess…”

“Are you going to deny that I am the Saintess, Archbishop?”

“I did not say such a thing.”

“When I was Duchess Evron, I received an oracle as Saintess to become Empress.”

That oracle was probably a lie. The Archbishop knew it too. But he could not deny it.

It was he himself who had vouched before the late Emperor that Artizea had received an oracle.

“To me, this matter feels very much like something God has commanded me to do.”

Artizea looked down at him. The Archbishop was taller than Artizea, but he definitely felt that way.

“So I have no intention of compromising with the temple on this matter, Archbishop.”

There were too many weaknesses for that. If the temple was allowed to have a say, that alone could overturn the situation at any time.

Artizea thought she was fortunate to be the Saintess.

She was different from Lisia of the past. She was both Saintess and secular power itself. She had both the justification to present to believers and the practical power to suppress the temple.

Therefore, she coerced the Archbishop with a cold face.

“I hear Karam call themselves Ka Ersa, children of God. It would be quite theologically interesting to find out how the god they worship is related to our scriptures.”

In the end, the guest from Karam entered the Imperial Palace. The Saintess who became Empress sent an invitation to the Archbishop.

If he refused, it would mean rejecting the Saintess’s invitation, and if he accepted, he would meet Karam.

That’s why the Archbishop was being stubborn.

Bishop Nicos sighed and tried to persuade him.

“If the Saintess says this is a divine oracle, that alone would complete the justification. Even if the Temple opposes it, she will continue to push forward with her plans.”

If she established new doctrines through Father Colton or the Northern Cathedral, the balance of power within the Temple would completely shift.

It would be better to follow the Saintess’s will and be involved as her closest ally. Politics wasn’t just something to be done with the Imperial Court, but also within the Temple.

The Archbishop knew this too.

“Sigh… Well, yes. I can’t just let her do whatever she wants on her own.”

The Archbishop finally lifted his heavy body.

After all, he needed to remain safely seated in the Archbishop’s position. He didn’t want to become an Archbishop who was brought down by the Saintess.

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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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