The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 39

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 39

The second destination was a restaurant located on a busy street.

《Baroness Oeri’s Salon Cuisine》

Such a sign hung on the rather elegant restaurant.

Freil had never heard of this noble before. Unless it was a baron’s house so poor that they would lend their name to such signs for money, it would be a courtesan who had succeeded in marrying a noble.

This type of restaurant was not meant for nobles.

It was used by the middle class who were wealthy in their own way but couldn’t interact with nobles, the knight class who couldn’t afford to hire cooks, and those at the bottom of the noble class who had no inherited titles or wealth.

It wasn’t a place where the Young Marquess of Rosan would frequent.

Artizea got out in front of the building without hesitation. Freil hesitated a little.

Artizea was wearing a veil. Her identity would not be revealed.

However, there was no guarantee that no one in this shop would recognize his face.

Artizea asked.

“Would you like to wear a mask?”

“…You’re joking, right?”

It wasn’t a joke. A real mask was prepared in the carriage.

It was nothing more than simple black cloth with eye holes cut out. Freil could easily imagine how he would look wearing it.

He was already carrying a sword as an escort knight. It would be like playing a hero role on a theater stage.

“I don’t think anyone will recognize you, but if you’re really worried.”

Artizea said that. Freil sighed.

“I’m not Alphonse after all.”

Artizea smiled as if she had expected that. Freil got out of the carriage, feeling the misery of a man with no popularity or fame.

The two entered through the restaurant’s back door. Unlike the front door where many people came and went, that side led directly to the VIP room.

“Is this your shop, Young Marquess?”

“Rather than a shop, it would be a building.”

Freil rolled his eyes.

“When did you buy it?”

“When I got my hands on the key to the Rosan Manor’s vault.”

Artizea answered peacefully.

Freil became curious about just how many buildings she owned in the capital.

As far as he knew, there were 8 mansions in the capital that were publicly owned by the House of Rosan. There would also be villas and land besides those.

He didn’t know she was also buying up buildings on busy streets.

“Having many buildings isn’t bad. They’re necessary for creating safe houses or conducting secret business, but real estate in the capital never loses money. As an investment too.”

Of course, Freil knew that very well too. He just couldn’t buy any because he had no money.

“Could you give that advice to our lord as well? He was worried about you, Young Marquess, but actually it’s our lord who should be receiving the worry.”

The assets of the House of Rosan were enormous.

Normally, they would have been divided among several descendants for inheritance. However, now there was only one heir to the House of Rosan: Artizea.

It was different from typical noble families with many blood relatives.

There were many families that maintained an inheritance system of concentrating wealth on one heir.

Even so, it was rare for an inheritance to be concentrated on one person to this extent.

The three largest gold mines and six silver mines in the Empire belonged to the House of Rosan. There were diamond mines too.

The iron and copper mines that Michael’s siblings had inherited were also returned to the main house.

The profitable sapphire mine received in exchange for giving Milaire the title of Marchioness Rosan still generated large income.

The property managers the Emperor had hired in place of Milaire had exercised enormous influence over iron and copper smelting businesses in the process of increasing wealth. It was used as a policy to increase the Imperial Court’s control over the economy.

It was natural that this couldn’t be returned to Artizea as is.

The Emperor decided to absorb the smelting business into the Imperial Court and give Artizea appropriate money in return.

The amount wasn’t calculated including the potential influence on the Empire’s economy.

Even so, it was true that Artizea was one of the wealthiest nobles in the Empire.

Cedric was somewhat worried about this.

「I have no intention of touching the House of Rosan’s wealth, but is it right to leave it all to Tia like this? After all, she’s only 18 now…」

「Shouldn’t you be told to manage Evron properly first?」

Freil had said that with a half-sarcastic feeling. Cedric had smiled bitterly.

「Right. There’s Marcus too…」

Excluding the iron mines, copper mines, and smelting business that the Emperor would take back, most of the House of Rosan’s wealth came from income from mines and forests.

And land-based businesses don’t flourish greatly, but conversely, they don’t easily decline even after decades.

Cedric said that a loyal old butler would keep things well until Artizea became accustomed to them.

Thinking about it now, it was unclear who was worrying about whom.

Upon entering the VIP room, simple refreshments were prepared. Judging by the number of cups, it seemed three guests were expected.

Artizea sat down and said.

“It looks like we have some time. Ask if you have any questions.”

Freil hesitated.

He had many questions. However, he couldn’t judge what he could ask and to what extent.

The other party was his lord’s fiancée, but he couldn’t accept her as just that.

With someone like Artizea, even questions would end up giving away information from his side.

How could he guarantee that she wasn’t an enemy?

“Do you do many secret things?”

That was about all Freil asked.

“The people of the House of Evron probably aren’t used to such secrets. But there will be some from now on.”

“Is it because you’re planning to enter society in earnest, Young Marquess?”

“I’m not interested in society. But if you ask whether secrets will arise because of me, the answer is yes, that’s right. The House of Evron has been too honest until now. Someone has to handle the secrets.”

“Honesty is right. The Prince is an honest person.”

Artizea smiled from behind her veil.

“I know that too. Until now, Evron didn’t even have the capacity to hide anything. For a force like Evron, it would be normal for various factions to split within it, but they were suppressed by His Majesty to the point where even that was impossible.”

He couldn’t deny it.

“The result is the current state. The Prince’s words have credibility, and Evron has honor. But in reality, the Prince is merely in a position of being driven to battlefields.”

“I didn’t know you thought of His Highness that way.”

“The truth always hurts. Sir Freil, do you really think His Majesty the Emperor sent the Prince to the Western Front hoping he would achieve military merit?”

Freil had several things he wanted to say.

However, the conversation couldn’t continue. The first guest had arrived.

Some commotion could be heard from beyond the thick wooden door. Artizea lowered her hand under the table.

Her atmosphere changed completely. Freil closed his mouth. He knew that the original purpose of coming here had begun.

The door burst open.

What rushed in was a middle-aged man.

“It’s troublesome if you cause such a commotion, Lord Lexen.”

“I’m not trying to do anything bad! I just want to talk with the lady first!”

Two young men who had been restraining his arms became flustered when they saw Artizea.

Artizea looked at the middle-aged man expressionlessly. The young men quickly bowed their heads and withdrew.

Lexen straightened his collar and stood in a proper posture. Then he said.

“I finally get to meet you, my lady. I kept saying I wanted to consult directly with you, but your agent wouldn’t listen at all, so in my desperation I committed this rudeness.”

“Don’t get excited and sit down, Lord Lexen. And have a sip of water.”

Artizea gestured to offer him a seat.

Lexen plopped down in the chair and gulped down cold water. Then he said.

“Of course, my lady must have entrusted the work because you thought your agent was trustworthy, but that person seems to be missing something important, my lady.”

“I wonder. All the conditions I requested should have been conveyed accurately.”

“Demanding a divorce in exchange for taking over the farmland!”

He tried his best to maintain composure, but failed and ended up raising his voice.

Artizea looked at him with cold eyes. Even through the veil, Lexen could feel that gaze.

“It’s your fault for making foolish investments repeatedly that you’ve incurred debts you cannot repay. Have you forgotten the amount written on the promissory note?”

“That’s why I said I would give you all the farmland, forests, mansion, and even the grain business!”

Lexen answered stammering.

“You don’t really think the farmland in the Western Regions is worth this price, do you?”

Artizea tapped the table. Lexen’s face turned pale.

“It’s a farm with sufficient investment value. The land is fertile. This year we harvested nearly 10,000 geun of wheat per hectare, and the pastures are perfectly suited for raising sheep.”

“I’m not questioning that your land is fertile.”

Artizea said.

“This year’s harvest was good. Next year looks promising too. What about the year after that? Will harvesting even be possible?”

Lexen’s complexion grew ashen.

“Do you really think there’s anyone who would buy land that could be swept away by a monster wave at any moment for such a high price, Lord Lexen? With this money, it would be much safer to buy wheat and wool rather than land. I’m not someone rooted in the Western Regions, after all.”

Even when land prices in the safe Eastern Region soar sky-high, land prices in the Western Regions never budge. Because no one knows when a monster wave might strike.

Ironically, this was why independent farming persisted. Landlords and businessmen never bought land in the Western Regions.

“This money is the price set for your title. I thought you understood that.”

Artizea said expressionlessly.

“If you think the amount is insufficient, we can cancel the contract even now. We haven’t signed any documents yet.”

“Madam, even when monster waves occur at short intervals, it takes at least three years. My farm has sufficient potential…”

“In that case, you should find investors who believe in that potential.”

“Aren’t you nobility as well, Madam? I believe you could understand my circumstances to some degree.”

Lexen appealed with a pitiful expression.

“My wife is of commoner origin. If she divorces me, she’ll have no place at all in high society. We’ve been married for 35 years already…”

“I’m already being as generous as a philanthropist, Lord Lexen.”

Artizea cut off his words.

“All I’m asking for is a marriage certificate that gives me the name Lady Lexen, and for you to move to the Eastern Region and live quietly so this transaction doesn’t become known.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————