The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 58

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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 58

Margaret didn’t know what to do with herself.

As a retainer of the House of Evron, she should have been delighted that the new Grand Duchess wanted to select her maids only from within the House of Evron.

It meant she had no intention of bringing in forces from her family or creating new factions.

Moreover, she wanted to take her daughter as her first maid. This showed deep trust in House of Jordin while strengthening their bond even further. It was also a glorious honor.

If Artizea conceived an heir, it would have even greater significance.

Any child born would naturally become close to their mother’s maids while under their mother’s care.

Nannies and first tutors were usually chosen from among the maids as well.

However, Margaret couldn’t lift her head.

“Aubrey is… she may have grown in body, but she’s still an immature child. She lacks proper manners and could never serve Your Grace.”

Margaret could feel Artizea’s eyes slowly moving to examine her.

Even if Artizea hadn’t met Aubrey, she would have been anxious. But she had already seen Aubrey.

She had seen Aubrey’s blatant hostility toward her. She probably already knew the reason as well.

In truth, Margaret had expected Artizea to be angry. Since there was no room for excuses, she had planned to apologize deeply first, then scold Aubrey severely until she came to her senses.

But to speak so gracefully about making her a maid… It sent chills down her spine.

It was either for appeasement, or to keep her close and make it clear who was in charge.

Either way, it wasn’t something someone of Artizea’s age should be able to think of.

Margaret admired her new mistress’s wisdom. At the same time, as a mother with a foolish daughter of the same age, she felt afraid.

Artizea spoke slowly.

“Since we’re in the same castle anyway, do you think hiding her would actually work?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“If she lacks manners, shouldn’t she learn proper etiquette all the more? His Grace told me that House of Jordin is a trustworthy family, and I want to take a daughter from that house as my first maid. But now you’re telling me you can’t give me your daughter. This puts me in a difficult position.”

Margaret had nothing to say and could only bow her head deeply.

“That doesn’t mean I doubt your loyalty to Evron.”

“No, please retract those frightening words. Your Grace is the very mistress of Evron, so how could you say such things? I’m deeply sorry.”

And she finally said this:

“It’s an honor beyond my station that Your Grace would take in my foolish daughter. She will make many mistakes and errors, so please scold her often.”

Artizea slowly nodded.

Contrary to Margaret’s thoughts, she wasn’t angry at Aubrey. She didn’t think she had the right to be angry either.

Her intention to discipline Aubrey in advance was for the future.

Artizea was the Marquess Rosan, and had held the Empress’s hand instead of her mother’s during the wedding ceremony.

Aubrey had rushed into Cedric’s arms without showing any awareness even in front of such a person.

Cedric had probably been affectionately indulgent with her until now. He naturally liked children and treated the people of the ducal house like family. He probably thought of her like a little sister.

But he could only do so because his subordinates maintained proper boundaries and never forgot their loyalty.

If there was someone like Aubrey who didn’t know their place, it would surely become a problem someday. It was better for the House of Evron to nip it in the bud and make her aware of her position.

For when Lisia would become Grand Duchess in the future as well.

‘Really?’

Such a question suddenly pierced through her chest and raised its head.

‘Aren’t you angry? Really? Doesn’t it matter emotionally?’

Artizea cast her gaze toward the fireplace and quietly fell into thought.

She unconsciously placed her hand over her chest. Her heart felt heavy as if a stone had been placed on it.

However, Artizea didn’t try to identify what was weighing on her heart.

She instinctively realized that she shouldn’t.

Cedric, who was supposed to come for dinner, appeared earlier than expected. Behind him, a servant followed pushing a trolley loaded with food.

Alice, who carefully opened the door, looked troubled. She hadn’t expected the visitor to be Cedric.

“My lady is sleeping.”

“Is she?”

Cedric hesitated for a moment.

If this were the capital, he would have said he’d come back later and left. But this time, Cedric didn’t do that.

They had slept in the same cabin for over a month. Moreover, they were officially married now, so there was no need to be so formal about it.

Alice had informed her, but she didn’t try to stop him from entering.

Cedric stepped into the warm bedroom.

Artizea was sitting in front of the fireplace, asleep.

He had thought she had rested well enough on the ship. But she must have been tired as Cedric had said. Once her feet and knees warmed up, drowsiness had overcome her.

Although the Evron Duchy was said to be cold, this room wasn’t. It was actually warmer than Artizea’s bedroom at the Rosan Estate.

This was thanks to the room being heated so much that it glowed red. The fur was warm and cozy.

Cedric approached her and set plates on the table. Artizea’s cheeks were beautifully flushed from the warmth of the fire.

“…”

Should he not wake her?

Cedric had this thought as he approached Artizea.

The servant left the trolley and quietly departed. Alice followed behind and carefully closed the door.

Cedric pulled up a chair and sat beside Artizea, gazing at her sleeping face for a moment.

But he should probably wake her after all. Sleep was important, but so was eating.

After months of effort to help her gain weight, she was back to being too thin.

Cedric slowly reached out his hand. If she woke up, that would be good; if not, that was fine too. With such thoughts, he was about to gently cup her cheek.

“Ah.”

At the sensation of his palm brushing against the fine hair on her cheek, Artizea opened her eyes in surprise.

Cedric, who hadn’t even properly touched her, awkwardly lowered his hand.

He unnecessarily clenched and unclenched his fist several times. Saying he was trying to touch her cheek to see if it was warm would be too lame an excuse.

While he couldn’t speak, Artizea blinked several times and made another “Ah” sound. She looked as if she didn’t know that Cedric had been trying to touch her cheek.

“I thought I was dreaming.”

“Was I in your dream?”

“…I wonder.”

A bitter smile formed on Artizea’s lips.

“Was it a bad dream?”

“No.”

Artizea replied briefly.

Since she hadn’t been dreaming, saying it was a bad dream would be inappropriate.

Rather, this moment with him looking at her so tenderly felt like a vain dream.

Artizea tried to get up. But after sleeping briefly, her arms and legs felt even heavier, as if weights had been attached, making it difficult to move.

“Keep resting.”

“Isn’t it dinner time?”

“You seemed tired, so I thought there was no need to go down to the dining room and brought it here.”

“But I should greet the retainers…”

“We decided to skip today. We’re planning to hold a proper banquet the day after tomorrow evening. We’ll receive congratulations then too. Would that be alright?”

“Of course.”

Artizea let out a short sigh and settled into the armchair. If she could rest one more day, that would be appreciated.

Cedric stood up. He pushed the trolley over beside the armchair.

He opened the soup warmer lid and transferred soup into a bowl.

“It smells delicious.”

Artizea, who had been sitting dazedly against the armchair until then, straightened up.

“I’ll feed you, so don’t get up.”

“Ah, I should do it myself…”

Cedric was faster. Before Artizea could fully sit up, he had placed the soup bowl and spoon in her hands.

“Eat while sitting in the warm spot.”

“…Thank you.”

Artizea awkwardly expressed her gratitude.

Cedric skipped the soup for himself and piled meat and mushrooms like a mountain on his plate. Then he poured melted cheese over it and even placed bread in the narrow space.

He returned with that plate and Cedric sat down again. Artizea unconsciously widened her eyes. Wasn’t that too much?

Cedric picked up his fork with a calm expression. Then he asked casually.

“Is the room satisfactory?”

“Yes, it’s warm. The bathroom was very warm too.”

“I was worried since these rooms haven’t been used for a long time, but I’m glad.”

“This was the room Lord Cedric’s mother used, wasn’t it?”

Artizea asked carefully.

“It’s the room that duchesses have used for generations. Since the merger with the Empire, there have been almost no northern duchesses, so they must have put a lot of care into it. If a duchess who came through a political marriage fell ill from the cold, it could cause major problems.”

“That makes sense.”

Artizea took a sip of the steaming hot soup.

The soup, made by slowly simmering rich bone broth, had a different density from what she usually ate in the capital. Her stomach quickly warmed up.

“Has there been nothing unusual in the duchy during this time? Three years isn’t a short period…”

“It’s not like I received no reports during that time. And Evron Duchy isn’t a region where much changes. Except for wars with Karam.”

“I see. The last war was five years ago. That’s when Lord Cedric came to be praised as a hero.”

Cedric’s face turned red.

“It’s an undeserved reputation.”

“You rebuilt the Western Army that was practically in ruins and stopped the monster wave. You’ve proven it’s not undeserved.”

Artizea smiled. However, Cedric became serious.

“It wasn’t because I did well, but because the Evron Knight Order was by my side.”

And he sighed.

“The population hardly grows, and most trade stops when winter comes… Industry has fallen behind too. Even if it’s not a big fight worthy of being called war, there are countless small conflicts at Told Gate. Everything we do in this land is preparation for war.”

Cedric shook his head.

“So being skilled at war is only natural.”

The Empire calls Evron the Northern Evron and praises it outwardly.

The Duke of Evron officially held the status second only to the Emperor and Empress.

Excluding the Emperor, only the Duke of Evron could knight people and command a knight order. His territorial governing rights were also completely guaranteed.

The Duke of Evron had the authority to collect taxes, conscript soldiers, and requisition supplies. Some of these authorities applied even beyond the duchy’s boundaries.

However, Cedric didn’t consider that to be power or honor.

All those authorities were granted to defend against Karam. And defending against Karam required too many sacrifices.

What was gained through such sacrifices couldn’t be called honor. Power created to force sacrifices wasn’t needed.

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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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