The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 327

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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 (21)

Next, the two discussed the marriage of Viscount Pesher’s daughter, Celine.

The Empress Dowager had originally planned to find a spouse from a prestigious family for the Viscount Pesher’s daughter.

Forming new marriage alliances and strengthening exchanges with noble families. It was absolutely necessary work to rebuild a family that had once fallen.

“But now that I think about it, I wonder if that’s really necessary.”

“Are there no suitable families in the Southern Region?”

“To say there aren’t any feels like spitting in my own face.”

The Empress Dowager smiled bitterly.

“If I only think of her as a viscount’s daughter, there would be plenty of suitable matches, but my heart doesn’t feel that way. And if I bring in someone ambitious, the children will suffer emotionally.”

“Yes.”

“It’s awkward to say this, but Gregor really chose people well. No matter how much I think about it, it’s hard to find people like Count Eunice or Count Josiah.”

“I’ll think about it too.”

Artizea said.

“If we don’t consider family traditions, it would be much easier to find someone. Someone who needs the prestige of the Pesher family, or even better, a commoner with no title at all.”

The Empress Dowager made a subtle expression and then sighed. Even knowing the world was changing, her heart didn’t change easily.

Accepting someone of low status as a subject was different from accepting them as her adopted daughter’s husband.

“I understand what you mean. After all, people are what matter. The family will be inherited by that child anyway, so that’s enough.”

“And Celine’s life is more important.”

“Yes… That’s right.”

The Empress Dowager briefly lowered her gaze to hide her tender look.

What the Empress Dowager held in the end was too miserable to call victory. However, she was no longer trampled by anyone.

All doors were open, and only the door to the mausoleum where the dead were buried was closed.

So now she could say that when everything flows away, it becomes nothing, and since life is futile, living happily in the given time is most important.

“Grandma, Grandma.”

As soon as the adults stopped talking, Leticia tugged at her collar.

“Can’t I unwrap my present?”

“Hm? Oh no, you can unwrap it, of course.”

The Empress Dowager smiled and picked up one of the items on the table, placing it in Leticia’s hands.

“It’s a present for Tisha.”

“Thank you.”

Artizea spoke on her behalf. The Empress Dowager shook her head.

“The souvenirs I brought are stored separately. Nothing special anyway. This was sent by Crown Princess Ients.”

Leticia pulled at the ribbon attached to the gift and ended up tearing the paper flower decoration.

“Grandma, I, *sob*, this, *sob*, it was pretty.”

Leticia began to sniffle. The Empress Dowager took the gift box and quickly finished unwrapping it, hoping something pretty enough to make her forget the ribbon would come out.

What came out of the box was a fist-sized stone that shone with rainbow colors.

“Wow!”

Leticia fell in love with that stone at first sight.

The Empress Dowager gauged its weight and placed it in Leticia’s hands as she begged with outstretched arms.

“Wow! Mommy, this is a snail! A snail shell!”

Leticia excitedly showed it to Artizea. It was an opalized fossil.

It wasn’t particularly expensive, but one with such perfect shape and beautiful colors would not be common.

It was exactly the kind of thing a child would love.

“You have to be careful when playing with it because it might break if you drop it.”

“Okay!”

Leticia shouted excitedly.

“Mommy, I want to go show this to Ken.”

“Alright.”

Leticia jumped down from the Empress Dowager’s lap while holding the fossil. Worried she might hit her forehead on the table, the Empress Dowager quickly caught her.

Leticia ran out regardless. The Empress Dowager sighed.

Artizea unwrapped another gift box on the table. Inside was a small jeweled hair ornament.

Artizea smiled. The pin was the same shape as the hair ornament Natalia had given her long ago, but this was a child’s version.

There was a letter inside.

『To my dear Empress.

I recently received several stones as gifts from Mother and thought of the Princess, so I made this to send. She must have grown a lot by now? These days in Ients, it’s fashionable for mothers and daughters to wear matching accessories like this.

I hope you stay healthy. I pray there will be a day when we meet again.

Natalia.』

Typical of Natalia, it was a simple letter with just the essentials and no flowery language. Artizea smiled, seeing that she must have agonized over writing even this several times.

Besides that, there was another box containing a necklace made of the finest South-Western Sea tourmaline. That one came in Bernart’s name, not Natalia’s.

Of course, the accompanying letter was also splendid.

“This jewel is quite excellent. Not enough to be a national treasure, but certainly worthy of passing down to a daughter.”

“I can hardly imagine the day when Tisha will wear such a necklace.”

“She’ll grow up much faster than you think, in the blink of an eye.”

“Yes.”

Artizea smiled.

Knock knock.

There was a knocking sound at the door. Artizea thought something must have happened with Leticia again and told them to come in.

The Viscount Pesher’s daughter entered carrying a tray herself. It was neatly arranged with bite-sized sandwiches and thumb-sized baked ravioli.

“Her Majesty the Empress barely ate lunch today, so the kitchen prepared this to send up.”

The Viscount Pesher’s daughter spoke respectfully and set the refreshments on the table.

The Empress Dowager watched with a pleased expression. There had been many aspects she couldn’t attend to while raising her almost in hiding, but it was good to see her acting with such dignity as a proper lady.

Artizea’s complexion worsened. The Empress Dowager was about to pick up a sandwich when she noticed this and looked at Artizea.

“Ah, I’m sorry. The smell of the ravioli. Ugh.”

Artizea dry heaved. The Empress Dowager had the tray removed. The Viscount Pesher’s daughter, not knowing what to do, handed the tray to a servant and apologized.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty the Empress. But yesterday you did eat a little simple food.”

“It’s fine. You may withdraw. Ugh.”

The nausea wouldn’t subside easily, so Artizea spoke with difficulty. Then she stood up unsteadily.

Alice quickly came to support her. Artizea spoke while enduring dizziness.

“I apologize, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. I haven’t been able to keep food down lately. I’ll withdraw first.”

“Tia, you…”

The Empress Dowager looked at Artizea’s pale face and the dark shadows under her eyes and realized something. Come to think of it, she seemed to have lost some weight too.

“Call Celine to attend to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

The servant answered respectfully. The Empress Dowager didn’t stop Artizea as she hurriedly withdrew.

She glanced around at the atmosphere, but no one seemed to think anything special of it. The Viscount Pesher’s daughter said worriedly.

“She hasn’t been eating well at all lately.”

“And the Emperor says nothing?”

“There are orders to keep quiet from His Majesty the Emperor. The court physician seems to be paying attention though.”

The Viscount Pesher’s daughter wasn’t in a position to be involved in important matters, so she only said that much.

“She’s always had stomach problems. Though it has been quite severe lately.”

“I see.”

The Empress Dowager leaned back comfortably on the sofa.

Even though Artizea not eating well was always an issue, this was the first time she couldn’t hide her condition and left like that in front of her, unable to bear the nausea just from smelling food.

Perhaps good news might come soon.

“I should prepare a gift.”

The Empress Dowager spoke in a pleased mood. The Viscount Pesher’s daughter tilted her head, wondering why she would prepare a gift when someone was sick.

Even when she tried to vomit, there was nothing in her stomach, so only bile came up.

After suffering for a while, Artizea finally calmed down and lay on the bed. Alice wiped her pale lips with a cloth dipped in warm water.

The Empress Dowager had returned to the capital, and she couldn’t avoid meeting her, but she really didn’t want to get out of bed unless absolutely necessary.

“When you were carrying Lady Leticia, you ate well and slept well.”

Alice lamented. Artizea forced a smile.

“Back then… I was comfortable until my belly got big.”

“You complained that Lady Leticia was hogging all the nutrients by herself, but this baby seems to take after Your Majesty the Empress.”

“I can’t even resent the baby.”

Still, it had been a bit better until two or three days ago. She felt a little nauseous, but food still went down somehow. She could even pretend to be fine in front of Sedric.

But now it seemed like she wouldn’t be able to pretend nothing was wrong anymore.

Sophie said as she put candied lemon in warm water.

“Won’t you tell His Majesty?”

“I will. After I’m more certain.”

“What more is there to be certain about?”

“Whether I’ll be able to give birth to this baby or not.”

Artizea murmured with her eyes closed.

She had first confirmed her pregnancy 3 weeks ago. Since there were still more months without menstruation, even she had been doubtful.

But since this was her second time, she could suspect it a little herself. Since she saw a doctor almost every week anyway, the diagnosis was quick.

The court physician advised cautiously.

“Childbirth could be dangerous.”

Artizea didn’t make a hasty decision. Since she knew early, there was plenty of time.

Alice and Sophie secretly exchanged glances with each other. They couldn’t say it was a bad idea.

Not because they weren’t in a position to say such things to Artizea. It was because the reason she was troubled wasn’t something like there being too few members of the Imperial Family.

There was a soft knocking sound at the door. Sophie, who had given Artizea the lemon water and was standing by the door, opened it slightly.

Mielle poked her head in and whispered.

“Is Her Majesty the Empress sleeping?”

“No.”

“Oh, good. Lady Lisia has arrived.”

Sophie turned her gaze toward the bed and said.

“Lady Lisia has come.”

Artizea handed the water cup to Alice and sat up.

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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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