The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 50

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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 50

Countess Unise covered her mouth with one hand, forgetting that her lip rouge was being smudged. She looked like she was about to scream.

Artizea was not surprised. She had known this would come.

Sophie and Emily extended their hands to help Artizea stand up.

The door opened.

Thud.

There was no way an actual footstep could have been heard.

However, Countess Unise felt the illusion of hearing such a sound. The Empress’s presence was that overwhelming.

This was the first time she had come outside the Imperial Palace in 18 years.

Countess Unise knew the Empress. In her childhood at the Imperial Palace, the Empress had been the person she feared most.

That’s why she could recognize her immediately.

Though she had aged, she remained unchanged in her cold and dignified appearance.

The Empress was wearing a black dress today as well.

Since the room was filled with decorations for the bride, the black dress that looked like mourning attire stood out even more.

“Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Artizea knelt respectfully with Sophie’s support. Her pure white dress rustled and wrinkled.

The Empress let out a snort.

“You already knew I would come.”

“I was only thinking that if such a thing were to happen, it would be the glory of a lifetime.”

“You know so well how to move people’s hearts, yet you don’t know the consequences. Does that make sense?”

The Empress said this and extended her hand. Artizea carefully took her hand and stood up.

The Empress looked around once and said.

“Marta, this attire is inappropriate for entering the wedding venue. Bring some flowers.”

Not removing her mourning attire meant she still didn’t fully believe Artizea’s words.

However, she had no intention of doing the ominous act of entering holding the bride’s hand while dressed in mourning.

Emily hurriedly stepped forward and selected large roses from those decorating the toilette room to adorn the Empress’s chest and hat.

That alone brightened the atmosphere considerably.

The Empress pulled and adjusted Artizea’s veil.

Then she placed a pure gold bead into the largest rose in the center of the bouquet.

Soon a messenger came up from the wedding venue to announce the start of the ceremony.

Cedric’s preparations were finished much faster than Artizea’s. All he had to do was put on a dark blue ceremonial uniform and attach insignia.

The servants helping with his attire wanted to attach all his medals as well.

However, Cedric omitted most of them, thinking the gold braiding and epaulettes on the uniform were already excessive decoration.

Instead of having many preparations, he had many duties. As the master of House of Evron, he had to greet guests.

Though Artizea was also the master of House of Rosan, she was exempted from almost all duties because she was the bride.

However, there was no case where the groom was exempted from duties on the wedding day.

Most of the guests were actually Cedric’s guests.

Artizea’s guests were only collateral relatives of House of Rosan. Her social circle was narrow, so there was no one who could be called a personal guest.

On the other hand, there were endless people seeking Cedric.

Military leaders and subordinates, knights who revered him, and even his father’s old friends – congratulations poured in like a tide.

“There are quite a few people sending separate letters from the Western Fortress asking what on earth happened. We never doubted you were a confirmed bachelor, but for Your Highness to marry for love, not through matchmaking.”

“It’s not just the west. The entire duchy is in an uproar. Everyone said they absolutely had to attend this wedding, they almost fought duels over it. I won because I have the fastest and strongest horse.”

Among the chattering knights, Cedric could only sigh.

“Didn’t I say I’d go there anyway after the wedding ends?”

“You’re really doing wrong, Your Highness. A honeymoon to your territory? And that territory being Evron Duchy? What complaints do you plan to hear from Her Highness later?”

Sounds of agreement saying “That’s right, that’s right” echoed from here and there.

Cedric had nothing to say.

In fact, he had also suggested going somewhere else would be better.

Since they had been moving so busily until now, he thought it would be fine to rest at a resort for a month or two.

But Artizea shook her head.

“There’s no time.”

“If you have so many things to do, wouldn’t it be better to stay in the capital instead?”

“Do you not want to take me to the duchy?”

“It’s not that, but the north is cold. It’s desolate with nothing to see.”

Cedric didn’t quite understand the strange and subtle expression Artizea made then.

She looked at Cedric silently for a moment, then smiled sadly.

“There’s someone I need to meet in the north.”

Artizea shouldn’t have any acquaintances in Evron Duchy. She had said with her own mouth that she had never left the capital.

“Who is that?”

Cedric asked. But Artizea firmly kept her mouth shut.

Remembering this made his heart feel a little heavy.

He knew that Artizea didn’t tell him everything.

Among those things, there would be matters that shouldn’t be known, and matters she didn’t want to reveal.

But he was too concerned about who that “person she needed to meet” was, someone who made her make such an expression just by thinking about them.

“It’s not too late even now.”

“No. I’ve been thinking, doesn’t Prince actually have some terrifying scheme in mind?”

At Prime Minister Lin’s words, Cedric asked back in disbelief.

“A scheme?”

“You say you’re in love, but when do you go to balls together, attend social gatherings, or go on picnics? No matter how I think about it, Your Highness is definitely trying to hide the bride and not show her to others. Such men instantly become criminals, Your Highness.”

“What nonsense.”

“That’s right. No matter how much you like her, you can’t lock her up at home.”

“Since you’ve been living in the same house before marriage, maybe you didn’t need to do things like dating?”

There was also someone who made an oblivious comment to what was meant to be teasing.

“Come to think of it, what happened to Ansgard?”

Prime Minister Lin asked, looking around.

“I thought he would definitely be the happiest person. Isn’t he someone who practically raised Your Highness?”

“That’s exactly it – he was so happy that he’s been crying since last night, and now his eyes are so swollen he can’t appear before the guests.”

Freil answered with an incredulous voice.

“We thought the old man would collapse, it was quite a commotion this morning.”

“What will he do, not being able to attend the wedding?”

While they were having this conversation, a shout was heard from outside.

“Gregor Aphanasy Nestor, Emperor of Cratese, Pillar of Cratese, who received the scepter and orb from the gods to become the sun on earth, has arrived.”

The cheerful atmosphere quickly disappeared.

Cedric steeled his mind and tensed his body.

He had never hesitated to charge alone with a spear on horseback into enemy lines.

However, facing the Emperor was frightening.

Cedric knew very well that he was clumsy at social battles and power struggles.

So he had to be a shield at least.

Artizea had volunteered to be a spear for him. Then he had to be an impenetrable shield to protect her.

Cedric took several deep breaths and went outside.

“Oh, Cedric. Seeing you dressed up like this makes it really hit me that you’re getting married.”

The Emperor embraced Cedric before he could even kneel and offer his greetings. His casually smiling face seemed genuinely delighted.

“I am deeply honored.”

“You only went around the borders, and far from starting a family, you showed no sign of even having a woman. The world has a way of pairing everyone up like this.”

“It’s because I came of age.”

Duke Loigar, who had followed behind the Emperor, said with a smile.

“Meeting the right match at the right age isn’t actually such a common occurrence. But truly, it’s a pair that suits each other so well it’s strange we never thought of it before.”

“I am deeply grateful.”

Cedric bowed his head respectfully.

“Tia is smart but timid and needs protection, and you’re someone who knows how to step back and guard her.”

The Emperor said.

“I’ve thought before that you would like a woman who is wise but doesn’t like to step forward, and as expected, you’ve met such a person.”

“Yes.”

Cedric answered mechanically.

The Emperor’s words felt strange to him.

Artizea wasn’t that kind of person. And he himself didn’t particularly dislike women who stepped forward or were the flashy type.

Had Artizea hidden herself so well in front of the Emperor?

Or had his judgment become clouded?

The Emperor would already know that the Empress had sent the Saint Olga statue to Artizea.

If so, he might be suspicious about what conversation had taken place between them, what kind of deal had been made.

But the Emperor showed no such signs at all.

He couldn’t clearly distinguish whether what he was saying now was truly his judgment of how things appeared, or a warning to continue living quietly without stepping forward.

People surrounded Cedric and went out to the garden where the main ceremony was prepared.

The weather was clear and the temperature was just right.

Unlike what one would expect from the House of Evron’s wedding, which was supposed to be modest—or in other words, rustic—the garden was elegant and the decorations were splendid.

On the round tables placed throughout were golden ornaments engraved with names. These nameplates were gifts for the attendees.

Cedric escorted the Emperor toward the table where he would be seated.

To the Emperor’s right, the Archbishop’s seat was prepared, and to the Archbishop’s right was Lawrence’s seat.

The left side was empty. Skipping one seat, Duke Loigar and his wife’s seats were prepared.

Duke Loigar seemed to find this strange.

“Why is there an empty seat?”

“Is something wrong, Uncle?”

“It’s a bit awkward for the Archbishop and me to sit at the same level.”

Duke Loigar created his own answer. Even so, he looked somewhat displeased. If the Emperor was at the head seat, then he would be sitting at the same level as Lawrence.

Cedric didn’t answer.

The owner of the empty seat was the Empress.

However, even at this moment, he couldn’t know whether the Empress would really attend the wedding or not.

That’s why no nameplate had been placed there.

“Why didn’t you arrange to inherit the Marquess title yourself? That would have been fine too.”

As he was about to go greet others, Duke Loigar followed and asked.

“If you were merging the families, that would have been more stable. Once you hold the title, no one would dare touch it.”

“We won’t be merging the families. Tia is still young and has never had anything of her own. So I intend to return everything to her.”

“Well, you do care about honor, so you wouldn’t want to hear talk about coveting the House of Rosan.”

Cedric didn’t bother to refute this.

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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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