The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 64

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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 64

9.

That winter, what struck the social circle was the story of the Empress.

“I heard there was a prophet who knew that Her Majesty the Empress would end her reclusive life and step outside the palace?”

“No, you shouldn’t say such things carelessly. What if the Temple hears about it?”

The noble ladies murmured and covered their mouths with fans.

“They say it wasn’t a prophet but a necromancer. I heard he’s from some slum background…”

“He prophesied that the doors of the Empress’s Palace would open?”

“It wasn’t exactly a prophecy. There was a séance held at the Grayson Viscount’s house, and a ghost that appeared there said that a woman of the highest noble status would determine the future emperor.”

“Oh, anyone could say such things. It’s not like we don’t know that Lord Lawrence’s qualifications would primarily depend on Her Majesty the Empress’s will.”

“But at that time, no one could have imagined that Her Majesty the Empress would truly open the doors of the Empress’s Palace and come out.”

“That’s true. Prince Evron would occasionally have audiences with Her Majesty the Empress as a relative, of course. Just attending the wedding was surprising enough, but even that…”

The noble ladies whispered in amazement that she had taken Milaire’s daughter as a maid and stood in the mother’s place.

“I heard she even gave her a pure gold ornament. It does happen when a maid has no mother, but…”

“I can understand Her Majesty the Empress’s feelings a little. How much did the Grand Duchess Rosan boast about her children all this time?”

“Young ladies these days might not know, but before Her Majesty the Empress went into seclusion, when she was grieving after losing the Princess and Prince one after another, the Grand Duchess would ostentatiously carry Lord Lawrence around and say that mothers who couldn’t protect their children didn’t deserve to live.”

“But now that daughter has become Her Majesty the Empress’s maid, and Lord Lawrence visits the Empress’s Palace so often that he’s wearing down the threshold…”

“But isn’t it a bit much to say that Her Majesty the Empress has ended her seclusion? The doors of the Empress’s Palace have opened, but she’s not actually meeting anyone.”

“At least she’s made it clear that she intends to be involved in matters of succession.”

People were watching the doors of the Empress’s Palace with tense attitudes.

Separately from that, the topic of the necromancer also greatly captured people’s interest.

“But that necromancer seems to be real.”

Someone said in a lowered voice.

“Baroness Landen found her son too.”

“Didn’t Baroness Landen’s son leave home two years ago after falling for a maid?”

“Yes. But without that son, the Baroness’s situation was rather… difficult. Baron Landen has been bedridden and shows no signs of recovery, and her relationship with her predecessor’s daughter was terrible. She had no news after her son left home, but this time the necromancer told her where to find him.”

“Amazing. Necromancers and fortune tellers appear from time to time, but I think this is the first time I’ve heard stories of them actually finding something or getting predictions right like this.”

“Speaking of which, the Landen Baron family is in quite a situation. Surely they didn’t accept that maid?”

“Why wouldn’t they?”

The person who first brought up the topic said with great interest.

* * *

The rumored necromancer was at the mansion of Henry Kishower, captain of the Imperial Guard.

It was Kishower’s daughter Mielle and her maternal cousin Hazel who had invited him.

Mielle was very hesitant at first. Hazel eagerly coaxed her.

“It’s just for fun. It’s no different from reading coffee grounds. You don’t need to think about it so seriously.”

“But if father finds out, I’ll be in trouble.”

“Aren’t you curious? What could it be like that has the social circle in such an uproar? You heard too, right? Recently he correctly predicted that Lord Noah would propose to Countess Atiya. Until then, no one had even guessed that Lord Noah liked Countess Atiya.”

Mielle was intrigued. Hazel said cheerfully.

“What if the necromancer just comes and tells lies? We have nothing to lose.”

“That’s true.”

“I want to write an article about it.”

“Really? Did aunt give permission?”

“If the newspaper sells well with my article, mother won’t say anything more. Help me, Mielle. I want to keep it secret until I finish the article.”

Mielle gave in.

Mielle provided the venue, and Hazel prepared everything else.

Several noble young ladies who were interested in séances immediately expressed their intention to attend.

The invited necromancer appeared wearing a purple hood pulled down to his eyes.

“A perfectly round table, 9 people, red candles equal to the number of people, white tablecloth… Good. You have everything needed.”

The necromancer said seriously. Then he took out a knife from his chest.

He pricked his finger to draw blood. With that blood, a magic circle was drawn in the center of the white tablecloth.

Next, he turned off the lights and drew the curtains to darken the room. This created quite a mystical atmosphere.

“Everyone, please lower your hands under the table and hold hands with the people on either side of you. This is called the circle of life. It serves to prevent spirits from escaping outside.”

The necromancer said with a deliberately serious face.

“You must never let go of hands. Even good spirits can do unpredictable things if they get out of control. Most importantly, these joined hands serve to protect each other. Spirits seep through the palms of living people, so please make sure to hold hands palm to palm.”

Hazel giggled. The necromancer’s words sounded too absurd.

The necromancer muttered and chanted incomprehensible incantations.

The guests were all prepared to enjoy this ridiculous game in their own way. But when blue flames began to spark from the magic circle drawn in blood, they couldn’t. Even Hazel, who had been giggling, stopped laughing.

Tension filled the room.

Flash!

The magic circle emitted such a brilliant flash that they couldn’t see for a moment.

“Kyaah!”

Startled, Mielle screamed.

Heavy footsteps came running from outside. Henry Kishower, who had just returned home, heard Mielle’s scream and came running.

“What’s wrong, Mielle!”

The door flew open wide, and light poured in. The startled guests panicked. Some screamed that if they let go of hands, the spirits would escape.

Henry Kishower pulled the glowing tablecloth and threw it on the floor.

As the candles fell over, fire spread to the carpet. Henry Kishower struck it down with the tablecloth and put it out.

Then Henry Kishower threw open the curtains wide.

He looked once at Mielle, who was clutching her chest and panting in her chair, then turned his incredulous face to Hazel.

“What is the meaning of this, Hazel?”

“Ah, well. We were just having a little séance… Don’t be angry, uncle. We just did it for fun. Mielle screamed just because she was startled…”

“A séance? Is this fellow the famous fraud everyone’s talking about these days?”

He grabbed the necromancer by the collar.

“Heh, hehe…”

The necromancer let out an awkward laugh.

Henry Kishower dragged the necromancer to the study. Then he threw him on the floor.

The hood he had been wearing for effect came off. Underneath was an unremarkable young man with no mystery or anything else about him.

“What do you do?”

Henry Kishower asked fiercely. The necromancer said timidly.

“I, I’m just a performer.”

“I’ve been hearing ridiculous rumors about you. A performer?”

“Well, you know… I provide small entertainment to rich people who like such things and receive a little compensation…”

“I heard widespread rumors that you actually summon souls and make prophecies.”

“Come on, who would seriously believe such things? If I must say, I do research the guests beforehand to give realistic performances.”

The necromancer rubbed his palms together with a grin.

“I just gather social gossip and package it into plausible stories. Your marriage partner is the very person who seems to hate you now. Someone with attractive eyes… That sort of thing.”

“How did you create the light?”

“Th-that’s something I picked up and learned somewhere – ancient characters. They said it means ‘shine.’ If you draw it with blood and wait a little while, it glows.”

Henry Kishower held his forehead.

It was absurd that such a fraud was becoming such a topic of conversation in the social circle. He felt ashamed himself.

“Get lost. Don’t ever show up again.”

He shouted loudly.

The necromancer made a frightened face, stepped backward, slipped and fell. Then he spun around and ran outside.

Outside the study, Hazel and Mielle peered in with frightened faces. Henry Kishower said in a stern voice.

“Both of you, come in.”

“S-sorry, father.”

Mielle hung her head low. Hazel did the same.

Kishower let out a sigh.

“You should be curious about things worth being curious about. I thought you were intelligent young ladies and didn’t say anything, but what kind of foolish behavior is this?”

“It was just like a game. I know it’s fraud too. I was just curious about the methods…”

“Hazel!”

Kishower shouted angrily.

“Does it make sense for children not even twenty years old to bring a con artist into the house for fun? Whether it’s fraud or not, either way it’s a big problem! What will people think? And what about the Church!”

“Oh come on, it’s trendy everywhere, why go that far…”

Hazel flinched while trying to make excuses. It was because Kishower had a frightening expression.

The expelled necromancer straightened his shoulders and let out a long sigh as he emerged from the Kishwar Estate. Intelligence returned to his previously foolish-looking face.

After turning one corner in the alley, a black covered carriage was waiting.

The necromancer lamented as he climbed into the carriage.

“What a truly unlucky day this is.”

“Did something happen? Lai?”

Freil, who was sitting in the carriage, asked.

“Didn’t I say to call me Watt, not Lai? And since when do you just call me by my name like that?”

The necromancer, Lai Pijett, grumbled. Freil chuckled.

“How was Count Kishower?”

“I was treated like a ridiculous fraud and thrown out.”

“You are a ridiculous fraud though?”

“A ridiculous conspiracy…”

Saying that, Lai saw Freil’s mocking face and corrected himself.

“…minion, let’s say.”

Lai let out a sigh.

“Anyway, even though I did as instructed, I didn’t know the ripple effects would really become this big. From what I could see, Count Kishower already seemed to know about me.”

“You didn’t mention your name, did you?”

“Don’t worry. I know that being just some worthless con artist necromancer is my lifeline.”

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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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