The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 37

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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 37

5.

As Artizea moved in, the previously desolate Evron Ducal Residence began to change.

For Cedric, ‘home’ meant the people of the ducal house.

He had rarely stayed anywhere long enough to grow attached to mansions or castles themselves. By nature, he wasn’t one to pay careful attention to furnishings or atmosphere.

Ansgard, who should have overseen and cared for the manor, was always traveling back and forth to the military camp following Cedric.

With no one staying at home, the manor naturally became desolate. The ducal palace in the capital was closer to a space where Cedric and his knights would sleep for just a month or two out of the year.

Artizea completely transformed that atmosphere.

“Thanks to the young marchioness, the whole house has come to life.”

The faces of the butler and head maid bloomed like flowers.

For the House of Evron, this was the first time in nearly 25 years they had welcomed a lady of the house.

New maids were hired for her, and flowers were arranged as decorations. The dining room was furnished with fine new dishes instead of the antique-like old silverware.

Wardrobes were filled to capacity and the chambers came alive with activity.

Servants opened the doors of empty rooms and stored away old furniture. Simple construction work was undertaken in several places, including the drawing room and bedrooms.

The true purpose of that construction was to create secret passages and install listening devices, transforming the manor into a schemer’s house.

But on the surface, it appeared to be work like installing decorations or changing wallpaper for the new lady of the house.

Cedric readily agreed when Artizea asked for permission.

“Do whatever you wish. You may use the manor’s budget as you please. Don’t just think about what’s necessary for work, but also prepare whatever you need to live comfortably.”

“Thank you.”

“If you need me for anything, please let me know anytime. I’m not particularly useful for such matters, but I’ll do my best.”

And he added, looking slightly embarrassed:

“This will become your home now, won’t it?”

Artizea wanted to say thank you for being so considerate. But somehow the words wouldn’t flow smoothly off her tongue.

Your home, he said. She had never thought of it that way. For Artizea, this was simply relocating for the sake of the operation.

But Cedric spoke as if this place would truly become her home.

Even though it was merely a contract with a two-year term, as if it were a real marriage.

Heat rose to her face.

That marriage meant nothing. It was simply to naturally stay by Cedric’s side and exert influence over the ducal house.

Yet she couldn’t understand why her face grew hot and her heart fluttered every time he spoke like this.

Seeing Artizea’s expression, Cedric looked awkward.

He glanced at Artizea several times like someone with something to say, then cleared his throat and simply left the room.

Artizea lowered her head behind him and rubbed her cheeks with her hands. She worried whether she had acted strangely.

Head Maid Roa took a long, nervous breath in front of Artizea’s study.

“Young Marchioness, this is Roa.”

Artizea rarely called the ducal residence’s employees directly to assign them work.

What could this be about?

Artizea was a generous master.

Perhaps she didn’t interfere with routine, trivial matters like laundry or cleaning because they weren’t married yet.

But she also rarely interfered with the items being made for her in the chambers.

There were no attempts to control the manor’s maids. She didn’t directly involve herself in hiring new maids to select people to her liking.

Initially, Roa had been greatly worried when she heard Cedric’s fiancée was the daughter of Marquess Rosan. She had arbitrarily imagined she would be discerning and extravagant.

It would have been the same even if she were from another central noble family rather than House Rosan.

She had thought the noble daughters of the capital wouldn’t suit the simple and modest temperament of the House of Evron.

But Artizea showed none of those traits.

Her standards were high, but she didn’t interfere. She didn’t waste money on herself, but was generous with the maids, and left most matters to them.

So Roa became anxious instead. She had never served a lady of the house before.

Just because she didn’t interfere, had Roa handled too many things on her own?

Being summoned to the study made her even more worried.

When she knocked, the study door clicked open.

“Please come in.”

Alice greeted Roa with a bright smile. Roa carefully entered.

Artizea was sitting comfortably on the study’s sofa.

Roa politely bowed to her. Artizea gestured to Alice.

Alice opened a box that had been placed in front of Artizea and handed Roa a pouch from inside.

“Use this to help with replacing the curtains and bedding. And make some lace too.”

“This, this is too much.”

Roa was startled to realize the pouch contained gold coins, not silver ones.

“Even half of this would be enough to do everything.”

“I’m deliberately giving you plenty.”

If they were employees of another noble house, they would have understood the meaning of a generous budget and handled it well on their own.

But the employees of the House of Evron had no such experience.

Artizea spoke gently.

“There’s a lot of work to do, and wouldn’t it take too much time to go through the butler for everything? If needed, use this money to hire temporary help, and so no one feels slighted, divide any remaining money well among the workers.”

“But, but this is still too generous. We haven’t even used all the money you gave us last time to buy new clothes and shoes for all the maids.”

Roa said in a trembling voice.

Artizea already knew this.

And she also already knew that Roa hadn’t taken a separate share for herself from that money.

“Then, how about hiring more people or buying some nice tea sets to use during break time?”

“But…”

“When I’ve taken out money for my subordinates, it’s unthinkable for that money to return to the treasury.”

With this said, Roa couldn’t dare refuse again as a subordinate.

“Thank you.”

“Since I’m young and still unfamiliar with the ducal house’s circumstances, I’ll be relying on you greatly in the future.”

Roa was moved by this trust. She carefully took the gold pouch and left.

After the door closed, Alice let out a sigh. Then she tilted her head and asked.

“Do you need to test her again?”

“Why do you think it’s a test?”

Artizea asked with a smile.

“You’re going to see what she does after receiving excessive authority. Last time you said it would be fine as long as the head maid didn’t skim off more than 10 percent.”

“Since she didn’t put any in her own pocket, don’t I need to know more about what values drive such a person?”

“She might just be an honest person.”

“Then that would be even better since I could entrust everything to her. I don’t have time to waste managing maids and servants. It’s easier to give great authority and quickly replace them if they do wrong. It’s not like anything terrible will happen if the head maid makes some mistakes.”

“Still. Miss, you worked so hard to reclaim the Rosan Marquess Estate’s wealth… It’s such a waste to spend it.”

Alice grumbled. Artizea couldn’t help but smile.

“Don’t worry. Money is just a tool. Besides, it’s pocket change anyway.”

“Yes.”

“If any stories circulate among the maids, let me know.”

“Yes, don’t worry! That’s my job after all.”

Alice said energetically. She had already bribed nearly half of the ducal house’s maids.

That was what Artizea had told Alice to prioritize above all else.

Collecting rumors circulating among the ducal residence’s employees was necessary work in itself.

And she needed to find out just how far bribery would work.

“I should prepare to go out.”

“Ah, yes! I’ll go tell Sophie right away!”

Alice jumped up and went outside.

Artizea spent some leisurely time drinking tea.

It was time to welcome her second guest.

Knock knock.

The person she had been waiting for arrived.

“Come in.”

Artizea answered calmly.

The one who opened the door and entered was Freil.

He bowed politely to Artizea and spoke in a stiff voice.

“I am Freil, serving as aide-de-camp to Prince Evron.”

“It’s been a while, Sir Freil. This is the first time since we met at Rosan Manor, isn’t it?”

“You remember even though it was such a chaotic time.”

Freil bowed his head slightly with gratitude.

“Of course. We also met at the temple, didn’t we?”

“Yes. We did meet then as well.”

And more than he could imagine, Artizea knew him far better.

In her previous life, it was Artizea who had assassinated Freil.

Freil didn’t possess outstanding talent in strategy or intrigue. However, he had broad vision and strong vigilance.

When Artizea plotted something against Cedric, Freil was always the first to notice.

She had killed Freil because he was bothersome.

It was one of the reasons why the people of House Evron cursed and hated her.

Conversely, he could also become a very powerful ally.

Artizea needed other comrades within House Evron who could work alongside her, besides Cedric’s support.

Someone who could keep secrets and risk their life for Cedric regardless of personal gain.

And Freil was someone who could do that.

Artizea felt a slight emotion.

But she couldn’t tell Freil that she was glad to be able to converse with him while he was alive.

As she lowered her eyes, she felt Freil’s observing gaze upon her.

“I heard that you personally designated me as the escort knight for today’s outing. You yourself, Young Marchioness.”

“Yes.”

“Though it’s not something I can proudly say myself, my skills are inferior compared to other knights of House Evron. Naturally, I can’t even compare to Alphonse.”

“What kind of great danger could there be within the capital? Count Alphonse would be somewhat inappropriate to accompany me for this matter.”

Artizea raised her eyes.

“You must want to know what kind of person I am. That’s why you readily agreed to the request, isn’t it?”

“You are the mistress chosen by Prince Evron. I wouldn’t dare presume to judge.”

When their eyes met, this time it was Freil who lowered his gaze. And as if reading Artizea’s mind, he said.

“What I know is exactly the same as what Prince Evron knows.”

Freil had tactfully expressed that anything she wouldn’t tell Cedric shouldn’t be told to him either. But Artizea smiled.

“Decide that after the task is finished.”

Freil bowed his head without saying anything.

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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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