The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 46

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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 46

Sedric wore a thoughtful expression for a moment before speaking.

“Her Majesty the Empress is not a compassionate person.”

“Yes…”

“The last time I saw her was when I turned twenty and inherited the title of Grand Duke. His Majesty the Emperor probably last met with her then as well. I thought it was true that she was unwell.”

“Living such a life, she couldn’t possibly remain healthy.”

“Yes. I’m in no position to say anything since I haven’t visited her often.”

“You weren’t in a position to do so either. It’s not like you’re simply relatives. Both Her Majesty the Empress and you, Lord Sedric, have people under your command. You had to think of their safety.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Sedric let out a slightly amused sigh.

“Since I only saw her briefly, my impression from that time wouldn’t be much help. When I was young… when Brother Pavel was still alive, I used to visit occasionally.”

Pavel was the Empress’s third son who died 18 years ago. He was the last legitimate child of the imperial family.

Sedric spoke while recalling his memories.

“Her Majesty the Empress was cold even to Brother Pavel. As you know, I lost my mother early, so when I was young I had some kind of fantasy about having a birth mother, but I was shocked by how cold Her Majesty the Empress was.”

“I see.”

“It’s not that she didn’t have any loving feelings.”

“If that were the case, she wouldn’t still be immersed in grief until now.”

Artizea let out a small sigh.

“If all of Her Majesty the Empress’s children were still alive, Prince Pavel would have become the heir to House of Liagan, wouldn’t he?”

“That’s correct. Since Her Majesty the Empress was the only legitimate daughter of the ducal house, she wrote a contract with His Majesty the Emperor before marriage. It stated that the youngest among the children born between them would belong to House of Liagan. She did this to prevent House of Liagan from being merged into the imperial family.”

“She was quite aristocratic. And ambitious too. It’s not easy to attach such conditions when marrying into the imperial family.”

“Yes.”

Sedric answered and then closed his mouth for a moment. As Artizea fell into thought, the carriage became quiet.

She thought about the situation when the Empress drafted that contract.

Perhaps she chose marriage because at the time it was a convenient means to support Emperor Gregor while supplementing his legitimacy.

But she had no intention of merging House of Liagan into the imperial family.

If so, pride in House of Liagan would still hold the greatest weight in the Empress’s heart.

“The salt crystals that Sir Freil brought might play a more important role than expected.”

“…Are you close?”

“Pardon?”

Artizea tilted her head at Sedric’s sudden question.

Sedric stroked the corner of his mouth once. It was to hide his agitation.

“No, it’s nothing. You just seemed close…”

“We’re not close.”

Artizea answered immediately.

She had shown him part of her true nature and trusted his abilities. She could easily assign work to him without hiding anything.

But that was completely separate from being close.

Sedric’s face turned slightly red. He lowered his gaze.

“Yes. No, it’s nothing. I asked a strange question. Freil is perceptive and trustworthy.”

“Yes. I think so too.”

Artizea tilted her head. What he said was correct, but she couldn’t understand what he had said “no” to before that.

The carriage stopped in front of the main gate of the Empress’s Palace after passing through a small garden thick with trees.

Sedric got out of the carriage first and lifted Artizea down.

Countess Marta, the lady-in-waiting who came to greet them, bowed respectfully.

“Welcome, Your Highness Prince of Evron, Marquess of Rosan.”

“It’s a pleasure to see you, Countess Marta.”

“You’ve become even more handsome since I last saw you.”

Countess Marta smiled as she spoke to Sedric.

She also bowed politely to Artizea.

“Even while Her Majesty the Empress has been unwell, she has been eagerly awaiting the day to meet you, Marquess.”

“It’s an honor.”

Artizea signaled to Alice who had gotten out behind her.

Alice quickly took down the jewelry box as previously instructed and offered it to Countess Marta.

“Since I don’t have a personal lady-in-waiting, I had my maid carry the item I wish to present to Her Majesty the Empress. It’s presumptuous, but could I ask this favor?”

“I see. Then, I shall take care of it.”

Countess Marta accepted the box.

“Please come in. She is waiting in the audience chamber.”

Sedric offered his arm. Artizea took his escort and headed inside.

The ceiling was endlessly high, making their footsteps echo.

The floor was marble, and the pillars had decorations carved in gold.

Though the curtains were open making it bright, it somehow felt gloomy. Probably because there were no signs of people.

When they arrived at the audience chamber, Countess Marta respectfully announced.

“The Duke of Evron and the Marquess of Rosan have arrived.”

The door creaked open.

The Empress sat with only two ladies-in-waiting attending her.

Today she was also dressed in mourning clothes. The jewelry around her neck was black jet with no luster at all.

This place was a tomb the Empress had created for herself.

It was an appearance that made one realize this fact.

Sedric released Artizea’s arm. He then knelt on one knee before the Empress and bowed.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. I apologize for not visiting more often.”

“I know you’re not in such a comfortable position, and you can’t stay in the capital for long, so how could I be upset that you don’t come to greet me often? I’m grateful that you haven’t forgotten and came to visit like this.”

“Not at all.”

“That one over there is the Marquess of Rosan, I presume?”

“Yes. She is my fiancée.”

Sedric stood up and introduced her.

Artizea slowly approached and knelt before the Empress. She then kissed the hem of the black mourning dress.

“Artizea of Rosan pays her respects to the Moon of the Empire.”

“Raise your head.”

Artizea raised her head. The Empress looked down at her.

“You resemble Lord Michael.”

“I am honored.”

Artizea lowered her eyes.

“I am deeply grateful that you granted me an audience.”

“Though I am unwell and quietly recuperating in the palace, could I not even meet Sedric’s fiancée? I have been hearing news from outside from time to time. Even knowing this, I’m sorry I couldn’t call you to meet sooner.”

“I am honored. I should have been the one to visit and pay my respects, but being inadequate, I didn’t dare request an audience until you graciously called for me.”

“There have been various matters, haven’t there? Moving residences is no ordinary task. Managing a family is also a great undertaking. Sedric would help well, but House of Rosan isn’t exactly a small family, is it?”

The Empress spoke slowly. She didn’t seem to intend to hide that she kept her ears open and heard all the news from social circles.

Artizea spoke respectfully.

“His Majesty the Emperor graciously allowed my fiancé to become my guardian even before marriage, and the household’s long-time servants have also returned. I’m managing things smoothly.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“Since Her Majesty the Empress has also granted me an audience like this, all my worries seem to have been washed away and I feel at ease. As a token of gratitude, I have brought something I wish to present to Her Majesty the Empress.”

Countess Marta presented the jewelry box Artizea had brought to the Empress.

The Empress opened the lid of the box. A large diamond sparkled brilliantly in the morning sunlight.

“It’s been so long since I last saw it that I thought it would be different from my memory… Even made like this, it’s still beautiful.”

For a moment, the Empress couldn’t hide the tremor in her voice.

But soon that tremor sank beneath an expressionless dignity.

“However, I heard that Sedric gave this to the Marquess as a proposal gift.”

Instead of answering, Sedric looked at Artizea. Artizea bowed her head and spoke gently.

“How could I simply think of it as just a diamond and wear it around my neck after learning the history behind this jewel? I believe it is proper to return it to Your Majesty the Empress. We exchanged separate engagement gifts.”

“Even knowing that the original owner of this jewel committed suicide as a sinner who severed the imperial lineage, does the Young Marchioness still say such things?”

At the Empress’s sharp question, Cedric flinched as if to intervene. However, since Artizea didn’t move even slightly, he forced himself to hold back.

“If you regard the jewel as merely a jewel, that would be fine. Such a magnificent diamond would be more than adequate as a wedding gift for the Marquess Rosan or as a treasure for the Grand Ducal house.”

The Empress pressed more forcefully.

“But to speak of history while offering it to me—this is an act of contempt toward me. Do you understand that saying I should rightfully keep a sinner’s past means linking that sinner as one with me?”

“How can a connection once formed ever disappear?”

Artizea spoke with proper posture.

“The history attached to an object does not vanish. Do you think the noblewoman who possessed this jewel truly regarded it as merely a precious diamond? Have people forgotten that incident just because the jewel has been in someone else’s hands rather than Your Majesty’s all this time?”

“Young Marchioness. How dare you.”

“The heirloom of House Pesher can never become just a jewel.”

Artizea said this. Because that would be what the Empress wanted to hear.

The Empress needed someone to share her suffering with. She would only be with someone she trusted enough to risk their life for her.

If such a person did not appear, she would not open the doors of the Empress’s Palace and come out.

But Artizea could not give her that trust. The Empress was not someone who could be charmed with mere words in a short time.

Instead, she decided to hand over her own weakness.

This was something she could do because she was confident the Empress would not use that weakness.

Viscount and Viscountess Pesher committed suicide taking responsibility for the prince’s death. And the one who demanded that responsibility was not the Empress, but the Emperor.

In other words, praising Viscount and Viscountess Pesher was denying what the Emperor had done.

There was no way the Empress, who was wearing mourning clothes, would mention Countess Pesheur’s sins again from her own lips.

Artizea raised her blue eyes straight and spoke clearly.

“I understand that she took her own life because of the anguish of not being able to fully repay Your Majesty’s trust.”

“….”

“House Pesher was not executed as traitors. Their lineage was simply severed.”

A suffocating silence descended. The Empress tapped the armrest of her throne several times before speaking.

“Those who seek danger naturally desire compensation accordingly. What compensation does the Young Marchioness desire?”

“I only wish to serve Your Majesty closely.”

Artizea bowed her head and said.

“Please use me as you did Countess Pesheur.”

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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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