The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 332

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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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3. Summer Mountain (2)

Even in summer, the wind was cool. Artizea sat by the window, gazing at the distant mountains dyed green.

Last time, she had experienced the winter of the North.

Compared to that winter, which made one feel that human life was solely about enduring and persevering, that merely surviving in that terrifying nature was itself magnificent, summer was cold but not freezing.

Even so, the mountain’s hue appeared more dark blue than verdant green. The eternal snow of the precipitous Thold Mountains was so blindingly white that even the sunlight entering this place seemed to be reflected from there.

Artizea thought that this was why the people of the North were humble. There was too massive a barrier standing before them to become arrogant.

No one here would be foolish enough to think they could control everything according to their will.

‘It might be good to have the children come here often.’

This time, they had come specifically to pay respects at Evron’s Family Mausoleum and to introduce the children to the North. But she thought opportunities to come again would be rare.

However, when the children grew a bit older, it might be good to have them stay in the North for a while.

Artizea herself knew best how important it was to see with one’s own eyes the lands where people lived.

It would be good to visit not only the North but also the Western Regions and Southern Region.

In the Western Regions, they should tour the endless wheat fields and the fortresses built to prepare for monster waves, the castles and monasteries, and the villages scattered around them.

In the Southern Region, they should experience the blessed climate and the salt crystal coast of House of Liagan, and above all, the always vibrant and lively ports.

‘Since Lord Lisia is in the Western Regions, it would be fine to send them there early. It would also be good to ask Father Colton to look after their travels.’

For the Southern Region, it would be better for her to take them personally. Even young Yushis could go to the Southern Region.

The Empress Dowager would be pleased too. She had long wanted to have the children pay respects at House of Liagan’s Family Mausoleum.

Since the climate was good, it would be nice for her to recuperate there for a few months as well. She also wanted to see Natalia after a long time.

‘There’s no one I can trust to handle the Eastern Region.’

Artizea thought carefully, going through the list of names in her mind.

The Eastern Region was still a chaotic land. Although she had taken control of the eastern army and prevented war, the seeds of discord that she had proposed and Emperor Gregor had sown still remained.

‘It might be fine not to send them to the Eastern Region. Rather, I should worry about them leaning toward that side.’

Should they learn the pride that the Eastern Region had lost? She couldn’t be certain whether that was necessary for the future.

Dignity was something that came to those who lived their given lives to the fullest.

There was a place where a fleeting thought had crossed her mind. But before Artizea could confirm it, the door opened.

Sedric poked his head in.

“Tia, your clothes are too thin.”

That was the first thing he said. Artizea stood up. Hazel draped a thick cloak over her shoulders.

“It’s fine. It’s not cold yet.”

“Even if it’s fine here, the mountain wind is cold.”

The words about wearing thicker clothes apparently weren’t advice from the start. Sedric showed Artizea a coat made of fabric densely filled with short fur.

Artizea obediently approached him and put her arms through the coat as he helped her into it.

“What about the children? Are they playing well?”

“They seemed fine. Tisha makes friends quickly.”

“That’s a relief.”

Most of the children summoned to this castle now were the offspring of those who had been Sedric’s childhood playmates.

Although Sedric had declined, saying it wasn’t necessary, Artizea wanted to make those children into Leticia’s friends.

Just as they had been for Sedric, those children would become Leticia’s greatest asset in the future.

This wasn’t simply about gaining excellent retainers. It was about helping Leticia properly understand all kinds of people from distant lands even when she was in the depths of the palace.

Sedric offered his arm. Artizea linked arms with him and walked slowly.

When she mentioned what she had been thinking about earlier, Sedric asked back.

“In winter, retreating to the Southern Region?”

“Wouldn’t experiencing new environments be good for the children’s education? Yusi is still too young, but it would be good study for Tisha. It’s where the world is changing most rapidly.”

“I see. Well, the Southern Region has fairly stable security these days.”

“While we’re there, I’m thinking of meeting Natalia. Safely meeting foreign royalty would also be a great experience. But why do you sound somewhat reluctant?”

“I don’t.”

“You don’t?”

Sedric couldn’t possibly say that there were rumors about a certain still-unmarried king having a preference for affairs with married women.

It wasn’t that he was still concerned about it. Absolutely not.

It was because Countess Camellia was being mentioned as the subject of those rumors.

Completely misunderstanding his thoughts, Artizea said.

“I’m not saying this while thinking about the matter of having Yusi inherit House of Liagan. It’s still too early for that.”

“I know.”

Then what was the problem, Artizea wondered, tilting her head.

Sedric pretended not to know and changed the subject.

“I’ll be lonely by myself in winter.”

“You’ll have to work so busily that you won’t have time for that.”

Having nothing to say, Sedric closed his mouth and made a sad face.

Artizea smiled.

“It’s partly for Tisha’s education, but I also want to show Yusi the wide world.”

“I agree with that. But I’ve never been to the Southern Region either.”

“It’s too late for you, Lord Sedric. If you wanted to travel, you should have done it long ago. How could the Southern Region handle an imperial procession?”

“….”

“Unless you’re planning to create a multilateral summit.”

“Just thinking about it feels like a pile of work is pouring over my head, so please spare me that.”

Sedric sighed. Artizea said.

“The year after next or the year after that, I’d like to send them to the Western Regions once.”

“That’s good too. The Western Regions are a place where just seeing them broadens one’s perspective.”

“The North is like that too.”

“Is it?”

“For someone who had only lived in the Capital, it was scenery beyond imagination.”

Sedric fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. Artizea said, thinking he would know better than she did.

“First, make sure Tisha experiences the North well.”

“Is that an order?”

“An order? The North is too much for me, so naturally you must handle it well, Lord Sedric. Yusi probably won’t be able to go either.”

Sedric wore a sheepish smile.

“Actually, I was planning to take just Tisha around various places for a bit.”

“I see. But would Tisha be able to ride northern horses?”

“That’s still difficult. She’d need to be around twelve years old.”

“Since you’re finally resting, Lord Sedric, and we don’t know when we’ll come to the North again, take her around a lot.”

“Yes.”

Sedric smiled. Artizea added briefly.

“…It would also be good to have her meet people from the Eastern Region.”

“I’m thinking about that too.”

Both knew whom they were referring to, but neither spoke that name aloud.

Both children were waiting by the carriage. Yushis, made round by wool clothes and a knitted hat, raised both arms high while being held by Mel.

“Mother! Mother! I saw something amazing today!”

“Something amazing?”

“Some big brother had three eyes!”

Yushis said excitedly. What Yushis liked most was observing new objects and phenomena and organizing them in his own way.

Artizea smiled. Yushis stretched out his arms, struggling to be held by Artizea.

Sedric picked him up instead. Even though Yushis was still young and developing more slowly than Leticia, he was too much for Artizea’s arms.

“That big brother’s mother also has three eyes, and his aunt has four arms! She’s the strongest in the village!”

Then Yushis looked at Sedric and said.

“They said she’s bigger than Father.”

“That’s possible, why?”

“I don’t like it.”

Yushis began to sniffle. Sedric made a puzzled face.

Although he was quite tall, there were plenty of people in the North who were taller or bigger than him. Karam went without saying. There were some among the knights that Yushis knew too.

So Yushis’s reaction was quite refreshing.

“Does Yusi think that being small means being weak?”

Artizea asked with a smile. Yushis nodded while sucking on his finger.

“But then, is Mother weaker than Father?”

“Hmm….”

The child fell into contemplation as the meaning of the word “weak” became confusing.

He was smaller than Leticia, so he was weaker than Leticia. He had heard that Mother was also an adult but delicate and physically frail.

But when asked if that meant Mother was weaker than Father, that didn’t seem right.

“No, Father is stronger than that friend’s aunt.”

Sedric said with a serious expression.

Artizea looked dumbfounded. Even Mel, who rarely changed his expression, moved both his eyes and the corners of his mouth simultaneously.

Sedric cleared his throat. He knew it was childish himself.

“Mother! Father! Look at this! I discovered something amazing!”

Just then, Leticia, who had been crouching by the carriage wheel and fiddling with something she had discovered, came running over shouting.

Artizea looked at Leticia with puzzlement. Then she was horrified when she saw what Leticia was gently cupping in both hands.

“Tisha, don’t open your hands.”

“The shell is completely white but it’s rainbow-colored!”

Despite the warning, Leticia held out her hands in front of Artizea. A bug the size of a thumb fluttered up from her palm.

“Eek!”

Artizea reflexively screamed.

Before the bug could fly toward her face, Sedric caught it with one hand.

“Tisha, you know Mother doesn’t like these things.”

Sedric sighed.

Artizea glanced at his clenched fist. Leticia said in a sad voice.

“It was really pretty though.”

“Father will look at it for you.”

Sedric quietly glanced at both her and Leticia, then took Leticia’s hand with one hand and went over there.

Artizea secretly let out a sigh of relief and got into the carriage first with Yushis.

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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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