The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 52

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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 52

Milaire was just about to head to the manor.

Her dress was in subdued purple and beige colors, perfectly appropriate for a bride’s mother to wear.

Even her voluptuous chest, which she usually displayed proudly, was not exposed today.

Her hair was elegantly pinned up with gold accessories that had no jewels embedded.

She was still beautiful enough.

Milaire had acquired this dress and accessories specifically for today.

She had thought of doing so too late. Most of the famous seamstress workshops showed troubled expressions, saying they were fully booked.

If she had thrown a tantrum and wielded her authority as usual, there would have been places that would have yielded.

Milaire did not do that.

Clothes and jewelry were her pride. But what she needed this time was not an outfit to wear when linking arms with the Emperor, but clothes to wear as the bride’s mother.

She did not want to mar the wedding.

‘No matter what, it’s my daughter’s wedding after all.’

After spending days and nights angry, crying, and holed up in her room, when she finally came to her senses, that was the first thing she thought of.

Every time she thought of Artizea’s wedding, a hot ball of fire surged up in her chest.

Milaire struck her chest several times while lying on the bed. She wailed and raged as well.

She couldn’t bear the resentment. Just imagining it made her feel so wronged and bitter that she thought she would go mad.

Milaire believed that indignation was anger toward Cedric.

But since the Emperor had given his permission, there was nothing she could do.

If she wasn’t going to let her marry at all, that would be one thing, but if she had to let her marry anyway, it was better to do it properly.

Didn’t they say it would help Lawrence too?

‘How could that timid and stupid Tia properly marry and build a new life without my help?’

The reason there had been no contact until now must be because those around her had instigated it.

Perhaps she was practically confined by Cedric. There were plenty of men who would do such things with straight faces.

Thinking this way made her feel a bit better.

Artizea must surely be anxious right now because she couldn’t contact her.

They would be able to reconcile. Although Artizea had rebelled and thrown tantrums this time, it wouldn’t last long.

If she gave permission for the marriage, she would cry, be grateful, and beg for forgiveness. Just like she always had.

How happy would she be to know she had put so much care into this?

There had been no invitation, no contact. She had only received a short letter from Lawrence telling her not to come.

Milaire didn’t believe that was Artizea’s will. It must have been Cedric’s doing.

So she thought she just needed to arrive at the wedding venue.

No matter how much Cedric wanted to do as he pleased, he couldn’t possibly ignore his mother-in-law at the wedding venue.

The Emperor too, seeing how that bastard treated her, wouldn’t just tell her to endure it but would take her side.

So she had quietly come to find the wedding venue.

Artizea’s maid had been waiting outside and guided her to the back path that led directly to the manor.

Milaire thought, “See, I told you so.” Artizea had been waiting for her after all.

But Lawrence had blocked her way.

Milaire said with relief.

“You were here.”

“Go back, Mother. You are not someone who should attend this wedding.”

Lawrence said that.

Just as he said those words, Artizea came out of the manor.

Holding the Empress’s hand.

With pure gold beads in her bouquet.

Milaire let out a scream-like sound from shock. But that sound was drowned out by the cheers from the guests and hired staff.

Music played by the band could be heard from afar.

At some point, the maid had slipped away and disappeared.

Furious enough to make her hair stand on end, Milaire tried to run toward Artizea.

Lawrence had a servant block her.

“How, how can you do this? You’re Tia’s older brother, aren’t you? I’m Tia’s mother! Are you planning to make her look like a child with no parents at her wedding?”

“It was you who made Tia seem like a child without parents, Mother.”

“What?”

“You hit her and dragged her out by her hair in front of others for all to see. Tia leaving home and wanting to cut ties with you was because of that.”

“You, are you saying that’s okay?”

“I understand Tia. Even from my perspective, you were too harsh.”

Lawrence said coldly.

“And if you think about Tia’s position, you can’t come. Would she want to enter the wedding venue holding Mother’s hand? You know Mother’s situation, don’t you?”

“What are you talking about, really! I’m the wife of Marquess Rosan! Tia’s mother! What, what do I have to be ashamed of?”

“The other party is none other than the Duke of Evron. Mother herself is not respectable, so what meaning do titles or names on marriage certificates have?”

Lawrence said as if he found it pathetic.

Milaire looked at Lawrence with a shocked face.

“You, you, how can you say such things to your mother…”

“That’s why I told you not to come, didn’t I? Coming here wouldn’t be good for either of us.”

Lawrence’s face showed both irritation and annoyance.

“Tia is much smarter than Mother. She knows well what’s really needed and what should be done.”

Lawrence hadn’t known that Artizea would choose the method of becoming the Empress’s maid. Even if she had said she would do it, he wouldn’t have thought it was possible.

However, that was a method that perfectly solved Artizea’s problem.

Who could attack a woman whom the Empress personally held hands with and led to the altar for her wedding ceremony over issues of status or bloodline?

This wedding would be one lacking nothing for the Duke and Duchess of Evron.

Artizea had said that she would be fine without Milaire.

But Lawrence didn’t know how she intended to do it. So he thought she was just saying she would endure the gossip.

He never expected she would persuade the Empress.

When they met last time, Lawrence’s evaluation of Artizea had already begun to change.

And today it was completely overturned.

‘Though it’s a bit annoying that she didn’t tell me in advance.’

Still, Artizea was worth enough.

Just becoming the Duchess of Evron was sufficient for Lawrence, but to even become the Empress’s maid.

Artizea had given him the opportunity to build a friendship with the Empress. At the same time, she had shown that it was possible to become the Empress’s adopted son.

Now all that was needed was for Milaire not to interfere.

“Didn’t you say you wanted me to become Crown Prince, Mother?”

“What does that have to do with this?”

“Tia enlightened me. The only legal way for me to become Crown Prince is to become the Empress’s adopted son.”

“Do you think such a thing is possible? You, don’t you know what kind of relationship I have with the Empress?”

“Why wouldn’t it be possible? Tia has become the Empress’s maid. At least it means she doesn’t regard her children as enemies because of Mother.”

“Are you saying that because you think it will work, you and Tia are now joining hands to abandon me?”

Milaire trembled all over from anger.

“Did you plan this last time too, when you treated me that way and left home? You too? Are you also telling me now that you’re ashamed of your mother and don’t need me?”

“I didn’t say I would abandon you. Why are you being so irrational?”

Lawrence said irritably.

“I’m just telling you to stay quiet for a while. Just humor His Majesty and live comfortably by his side. Don’t deliberately compete with the Empress or provoke her anger.”

“Lawrence!”

“Then Tia and I will naturally take care of you, won’t we? Satisfying Mother’s pride can be postponed until later, can’t it? When I become Emperor, Mother will become the Emperor’s mother.”

Milaire’s face turned bright red. She felt dizzy.

“You’re making it sound like I go around causing trouble because of some useless pride…!”

“Aren’t you doing that right now?”

Lawrence said.

“The Empress is in the bride’s mother’s position, so what are you planning to do by going out there? Are you going to grab and shake the Empress’s hair? Or are you going to go next to His Majesty and play the role of the Duke of Evron’s mother?”

“Lawrence!”

“If mother intervenes, the wedding will be ruined. Nobody wants that. How do you plan to present yourself before the Empress? What will you do if the Emperor becomes angry?”

Meanwhile, over Lawrence’s shoulder, the wedding ceremony continued.

The Empress took Artizea’s hand and headed toward the altar. And when they returned, she came out holding the Emperor’s hand.

At the table, seats for the two were prepared side by side. The loud-voiced archbishop’s blessing could be heard.

Flowers were scattered, and swords were lowered. Young acolytes sang hymns.

The knights of the Evron Duchy followed along with booming voices, drowning out the acolytes’ voices.

Milaire was sobbing without knowing when it had started.

She wiped away her tears with her palm. Her makeup smeared, creating black and red stains.

“I never thought you would treat your mother like this.”

“Please go back. I’ll visit you after the wedding ends.”

Lawrence spoke while worrying that the wedding might end.

The Empress would probably leave immediately after the wedding ended.

He needed to make an impression before then. If possible, he wanted to do so while at the same table as the Emperor.

Since Artizea had once drawn the Empress out of the palace, there was a possibility of meeting the Empress again in the future.

However, there wouldn’t be many opportunities. Every minute and second was precious.

Milaire noticed that Lawrence was glancing at the wedding ceremony. She also realized why he was doing so.

She felt as if the entire world had turned its back on her.

“What have I ever done to you?”

“Please go back, mother.”

“What have I ever done to you… If only you succeed, what did I ever…”

“Then you should help me succeed.”

Lawrence said. His tone conveyed the sentiment that surely she should understand by now.

“Do you think you’ll succeed by acting like this?”

Milaire muttered in a dazed state.

“In the end, the only thing you can trust in this world is blood.”

“Yes. I believe that too.”

And for Lawrence, the Emperor was also blood.

Realizing this fact, Milaire couldn’t come to her senses.

Lawrence approached her and gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Then he spoke tenderly, as if comforting her.

“For now, go back and rest. Once you sleep, your reason will return.”

“Forget it.”

Milaire pushed Lawrence away sharply. Then she turned around.

Her stomach felt completely empty. A creeping sense of despair began to fill it.

“My lady!”

The maids who had accompanied her quickly supported Milaire as she was about to collapse.

Lawrence commanded his servant.

“Escort mother back to the residence.”

“Forget it.”

Milaire said in a cracked voice.

“You don’t need to watch me. I’ll go back quietly.”

She prided herself on knowing men better than anyone. A man who spoke in such a voice had already lost interest to the point where he didn’t even want to maintain the minimum pretense.

Even if it was her son, it was the same.

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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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