The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 34

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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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Chapter 34

The incident at the Rosan Marquess Estate quickly spread beyond high society circles and became major news outside as well.

The protagonist of the story was none other than Milaire.

The Emperor’s mistress had abused her daughter and tried to prevent her marriage because of money.

It was a story mixing three scandals: beauty, wealth, and violence. With romance and a hint of political intrigue sprinkled on top, it couldn’t help but be entertaining.

When a newspaper published the story of someone claiming to have worked as a maid at the Rosan Marquess Estate, the rumors blazed like wildfire.

This made Cedric a hero who had saved people twice. One of them was saving a pitiful young lady.

And that young lady would now become the Marquess Rosan and hold a wedding ceremony with him.

People also paid attention to how the Emperor would react.

Neither side was confident that this incident would diminish the favor Milaire was receiving.

The Emperor’s attitude of favoring Milaire was somewhat similar to cherishing a naughty cat.

Sometimes he would get angry and scold her frighteningly.

However, no matter what she did, his anger wouldn’t last long, and he would embrace her with a bitter smile, saying it couldn’t be helped since she was a foolish woman.

But Artizea was a different matter.

Many people speculated that he would be angry since Artizea, who wasn’t even his daughter, had caused a scandal with Milaire and created an uproar.

The Emperor did not do so. He simply responded to Cedric’s petition letter with an official attitude.

That petition letter contained Cedric’s request for permission to manage the Rosan Marquess Estate as her fiancé and guardian.

The letter made no mention of Milaire whatsoever. There was also no discussion about the relationship between Milaire and Artizea.

Originally, it would be the parents who would act as legal representatives for a young heir until marriage.

So normally, it would have been impossible to become a fiancée’s representative while her mother was still alive.

But the Emperor stamped his seal on the permission document without a word.

And in private settings, he spoke with an attitude of pitying Artizea.

“Tia is a kind and timid child. She’s also extremely filial. If Milaire had just been a little affectionate to her, she’s a child who would have repaid it ten or twenty times over. She’s completely different from the spoiled children these days. How could that fragile girl not be shocked when treated that way? This is Milaire going too far.”

And about Milaire, he said this:

“Milaire has an impulsive temperament, so when she gets angry, she can’t see what’s in front of her. She’s even come at me with her claws out, so how much worse must it have been? It’s all my oversight. If I had truly treated Tia like a daughter, would she have gone that far? Even though I told her there was no need to do so. I suppose misunderstandings accumulated between mother and daughter until things reached this point.”

This wasn’t a reaction he showed in public places, but intimate feelings he confided while alone with his daughter, Countess Unise.

『When Father said the Young Lady was fragile, I almost said that wasn’t true without thinking.

But I thought staying silent would be better for the Young Lady, so I did that. I believe this served as repayment for your previous advice.

Father said that although the Young Lady is still young, someday she’ll be able to understand Marchioness Rosan’s true feelings.

He pities both of them, and is rather angry at Lawrence instead. For failing to mediate well between the Young Lady and the Marchioness and letting things reach this point.

I have things I’d like to add about that too, but I’ll save them for the day I meet the Young Lady.

Anyway, Marchioness Rosan has done something foolish. If this incident hadn’t happened, Cedric wouldn’t have bothered to step forward and manage the Rosan Marquess Estate’s territory and assets himself.

His Majesty the Emperor says not to worry since you’ll fill Marchioness Rosan’s wardrobe and jewelry box, but how can money received from a husband be the same as money from one’s own purse? The Young Lady will soon understand once she’s married too.

After being scolded about Count Eison’s matter, Lawrence hasn’t been seen around here for a while. Has he perhaps returned to the capital?

Since scolding Lawrence, Father has been showing deeper and more affectionate love to me and my children than before.

If Marchioness Rosan hadn’t disliked going together and hadn’t followed to the separate palace, there wouldn’t have been such an opportunity.

A few days ago, he even granted the fishing rights permit that my husband desperately wanted. I was very surprised and delighted, as it was permission he wouldn’t give me even after 3 years of pleading.

Next week we return to the capital following His Majesty’s procession. I believe we’ll have time then for quiet, long, proper fellowship.

Since we’ll soon be cousins.

May you have endless peace until we meet again.

Charlotte Yunis.』

Artizea showed that letter to Cedric.

Cedric spoke with a subtle expression.

“I thought Charlotte disliked me. I can understand her wanting to be friendly with you, but I never thought she’d bring up the word cousin.”

“Wasn’t I just a cousin you neither disliked nor liked? What Countess Unise disliked was Mother and Lawrence, not you, Prince.”

Artizea said this with a smile.

“Anyway, with this we don’t need to worry much about problems from His Majesty’s side. I want to finish the Rosan Marquess Estate matter before he returns to the palace.”

“Please don’t overwork yourself too late into the night. I heard you looked at documents until the candles burned out last night too. Rizhe told me.”

“That child has developed a habit of tattling to Your Highness whenever something small happens.”

“Isn’t she doing it out of concern for you? More than anything else, you need to gain some weight. You’ve only eaten two even now.”

“Ah, yes.”

Artizea looked flustered and took a bite-sized baked wheat pancake crispy from the snack plate and put it in her mouth.

The crispy shell crumbled and the warm meat filling burst with juices. Artizea covered her mouth with her hand, worried about spilling crumbs.

“Ansgard and Marcus are extremely worried that you leave food at every meal. Today I received orders to make you eat snacks too. It doesn’t taste bad, does it?”

“No, it’s delicious.”

“You’re not forcing yourself to eat either?”

Artizea shook her head. It wasn’t particularly that she wasn’t eating because she was full.

“Watching you these past few days, it seems like you keep forgetting to eat snacks even when they’re right next to you.”

“Yes… I’m not used to it.”

“How much can you eat?”

Cedric pointed to the plate.

After thinking, Artizea pointed to about half of the abundant plate.

Then Cedric separated that much and grabbed the rest in a handful, tossing it all into his mouth.

“Now you just need to finish the rest to reassure the cook.”

“You’re eating all of that at once?”

“It’s just snacks anyway, isn’t it?”

He seemed to mean it wasn’t about the type of food but that the quantity was only that much.

Artizea stared at him with her mouth slightly open. Then she soon laughed a little and put one in her mouth too.

Cedric refilled her teacup with fresh herbal tea.

“Come to think of it, where is Lawrence and what is he doing?”

“He returned to Rosan Manor today.”

Artizea answered. Cedric was a little surprised.

“You were keeping track of his whereabouts. Did you let him in?”

“It’s the house he lived in. I can’t prevent him from entering. Mother is there too… I plan to continue doing so. I’ll only remove the safe and my belongings, but maintain the manor itself as is. The servants too. I can’t drive out family.”

“Tia, I don’t think that’s necessary. Lawrence has sufficient assets too…”

“Things need to stay as they are now.”

Artizea prevented Cedric from finishing his opinion. With her index finger pressed to her lips, she smiled by lifting the corners of her mouth.

“I think I’m starting to understand that when you smile like that, you’re thinking scary thoughts.”

Cedric sighed.

“Don’t overdo it. Understood?”

“Yes. I understand.”

“If something happens, or seems like it will happen, be sure to discuss it with me.”

“I understand that too.”

Artizea answered with a smile.

Then a maid knocked on the door and carefully poked her head in.

“Miss Artizea.”

“Yes?”

“Master Lawrence has come to see you. He says to come out slowly, and that he’ll wait in the drawing room.”

The maid’s face was pale.

Cedric stood up from his seat. Artizea grabbed his sleeve.

“I want to meet him alone.”

“Tia.”

“It’s fine. We’re inside the Grand Duke’s residence. I’ll scream if something happens.”

Cedric looked at her with a worried expression. Artizea smiled.

She left Cedric behind and went outside. As she entered the corridor, Alice, who had been waiting in the adjacent room, hurriedly followed.

“Miss, what should we do? Master Lawrence has come…”

“I knew I’d have to meet him eventually, didn’t I? Don’t worry.”

“Please look in the mirror before you go, miss. I’ll touch up your makeup.”

Artizea hesitated for just a brief moment.

She had light makeup on her face. It was to make her scars and bruises appear fainter.

“Don’t do that. Bring me a hot towel instead.”

“Pardon?”

“I need to wipe off my makeup.”

“Yes.”

Alice answered with a tense expression and hurriedly left the corridor.

Artizea returned to her room with slow steps.

Soon Alice came back with a basin of hot water and towels.

Alice dipped the towel in water and held it out to Artizea. Artizea covered her face with the towel.

After wiping once, she carefully washed her face again. Then she looked in the mirror once more and meticulously wiped away the remaining makeup.

The maiden with a spring-like face was no longer in the mirror.

In the past, the image of herself in her mind had been something like a withered, white-haired witch.

Her hands would have bones protruding grotesquely, her complexion pale and death-like in appearance.

Having returned to the past, she learned for the first time that there had been a time when she too had rosy cheeks.

Sometimes she would look in the mirror and be surprised that she had such a pleasant appearance. They say the goddess of the underworld applies youth as makeup, and she thought it was true.

But now she had completely returned to her past appearance.

Artizea smiled faintly at her familiar self in the mirror.

Indeed, when facing Lawrence, it had to be this face and no other.

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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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