The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 65

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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 65

Lai said.

“The Summoning Guild is ruined, and I didn’t get paid, but it’s no trouble at all. By tomorrow, you’ll even forget my face.”

“Do you need more compensation?”

“If you give it, I won’t refuse.”

“His Highness should have given you enough.”

Freil looked exasperated as he pulled out a pouch containing silver coins from his chest and gave it to Lai.

Lai received it, put it in his inner pocket, and looked satisfied.

“Side income is important too.”

The second time Artizea sought out Lai was two weeks before the wedding.

“What brings someone about to have such a precious wedding to a place like this again?”

Lai asked grumblingly.

“I did the last job perfectly for you.”

“If there had been any complaints about that job, your head would have already rolled.”

“How could I live in such fear?”

Lai shook his head back and forth.

However, he wasn’t in such a bad mood.

Artizea clearly indicated that she was his superior while completely ignoring his rude manner of speaking. That attitude was somehow comfortable.

And recently, he had received contact from his sister again. It was news that the old doctor who had come from the capital to treat the youngest had settled in the village.

That doctor had hired her as a nurse, he was told. He also taught letters and arithmetic to the other siblings and village children for free.

As the youngest’s treatment costs decreased, the household had some breathing room. Mother had also begun receiving treatment for her constantly aching wrist.

Honestly, he was grateful. Instead of just throwing a fortune at him as payment for his life, it meant she was continuously caring for his family without them noticing.

Even if she gave 10,000 gold at once, his family wouldn’t have the ability to protect it well.

He was worried about what kind of work she intended to make him do to go this far.

As if reading such inner thoughts, Artizea said.

“Even if you die, I’ll take care of your family for life, so you don’t need to worry.”

“My goodness. Have you already mortgaged someone else’s life?”

“I don’t intend to demand your life yet.”

Artizea smiled faintly.

“I need a young man who is eloquent, excellent at quick thinking, has good memory, knows little shame, and has an appearance that doesn’t stand out. Being tight-lipped is naturally a necessary condition.”

“That’s me, except for the appearance. I’m a bit too handsome…”

Lai briefly searched through his mental network of contacts and answered.

Artizea snorted at the appearance comment.

“I chose you including your appearance.”

And the job she assigned him was this necromancer role.

“It’s work that puts you at the center of social circles. The side income will be quite substantial too. But you mustn’t waver or get excited. Don’t forget that approaching the target is the first priority.”

Lai told Kishower that he gathered social gossip and packaged it plausibly.

But in fact, all the information he shared came from Artizea’s hands.

Artizea had compiled useful information from what she remembered into a small booklet in advance. And she entrusted it to Freil.

It wasn’t important information. It was just simple information interesting enough to discuss and forget in social circles.

Most of it was things like a certain count having an affair or where a certain viscount’s wife’s lost jeweled fan would be found.

Then at the time, he would be treated as a fortune teller who made good predictions.

On the other hand, when important topics arose, there would be more people who would look down on him like Kishower.

To build interest and credibility, Artizea created a magic circle.

The magic circle with the single word “Shine” written on it looked elegant because of the ancient characters.

However, its structure was very simple. When activated by incantation, it would emit dazzling light for about 15 seconds and automatically turn off.

Since it was such small magic, human sacrifice wasn’t necessary. The life force from freshly spilled blood was sufficient.

Of course, Lai complained while memorizing the difficult ancient characters.

“If I accidentally get caught by the Church, won’t I be the only one screwed?”

“That’s why you need to act like a good con artist.”

Things like necromancy and ancient magic were all forbidden by the Church. Getting caught meant burning at the stake.

However, there were always people interested in fortune telling, summoning ghosts, or examining constellations for prophecy. There were always con artists too.

The Church wouldn’t be interested in such trivial matters. Wouldn’t it be more undignified to be fooled by con artists and act as if real magicians had appeared?

“If you get caught as a con artist, I’ll bail you out with money, so don’t worry.”

“Really, you make me anxious.”

“If you’re really anxious, just use it only when it seems absolutely necessary.”

Artizea said that, but Lai couldn’t do so.

At first, he didn’t do it because he disliked drawing blood.

But when the atmosphere intensified and invitations from various noble houses began coming, things changed.

Without realizing it, he started babbling and used magic quite properly to heighten the mystique.

Thanks to that, his fingers, arms, and various places were now covered in wounds.

Lai finally understood why Artizea had sought someone who could approach the target without getting excited.

He had gained enough popularity to be invited to respectable houses like the Kishower Estate. As a result, even he, with his firm goal of money, was getting this excited.

If it had been an ordinary man, he would likely have forgotten the original goal, become absorbed in social attention, and run wild thinking himself great.

But Lai still didn’t know what Artizea’s final goal was.

He had only been told that he would naturally learn when the target approached.

The carriage began to roll. Lai received the booklet from Freil’s hands and began memorizing the information needed for the next summoning session.

The reason the booklet wasn’t given to Lai entirely was that it contained too much noble information and was dangerous for him to keep.

So Freil had to come personally each time to have Lai memorize the booklet.

“The Marquess seems to operate a separate information organization?”

“Don’t try to dig too deep.”

Freil said briefly.

But in fact, Freil was curious too.

Freil classified the information there into three categories.

First was information that could be discovered through investigation, second was new information that could be inferred from gathered intelligence.

But the third could only be thought of as prophecy.

Above all, it was amazing that such a volume of information could be gathered and used all at once.

Artizea had begun forming her information network in earnest around the time she met Cedric.

Considering the scale of the information network created now, that timing was exactly right.

The size of that information network still wouldn’t be able to discover this much information all at once.

‘Am I also taking too much interest in things I don’t need to dig into?’

Freil shook his head.

If he wasn’t going to believe, that was one thing, but if he had decided to believe, there was no need to think other thoughts.

Lai, who had memorized all the necessary content, returned the booklet.

The carriage happened to arrive near Lai’s residence.

Lai jumped down from the carriage.

And after going into the house, he came running back out before Freil could start the carriage.

Freil was surprised and gestured to the coachman to wait. Lai jumped into the carriage.

“It’s here. This must be the Marquess’s target.”

Lai held out an invitation envelope.

That envelope bore the crest of House Rosan.

Only Artizea and Milaire could use the crest of House Rosan.

And since Artizea wasn’t in the capital, this was from Milaire.

“How thorough, that Marquess too. With such a pretty face. To take revenge so completely.”

“Don’t act rashly. Watch your mouth.”

Freil said in a low voice.

He knew the target.

However, he didn’t know Artizea’s ultimate purpose for this play-like performance either.

“Mother is always anxious.”

Artizea said this as she completed the booklet and handed it to him.

“But she can’t rely on the temple. Mother’s very life goes against the temple’s teachings, yet she can’t escape from that situation either.”

Artizea laughed bitterly with a self-deprecating tone.

“Wouldn’t the Emperor’s mistress sincerely devoting herself to the temple become another source of mockery in social circles? She can offer bribes, but she can’t pray.”

“Yes.”

“Then the only thing left to rely on is superstition. If a necromancer rumored to be spiritually powerful appears, she’ll definitely take interest.”

Artizea also said this:

“The reason I specifically chose a young man is because Mother trusts men’s words much more easily. A young man could also serve as a substitute for her brother.”

“Aren’t you placing too heavy a burden on Lai Pijett?”

“Lai will do well. He’s a man with good adaptability.”

Artizea said this.

“Since there’s a high probability I won’t be in the capital, you’ll advise Lai in my place.”

“Yes.”

“He must not hand over control of the relationship to Mother. There’s no need to actually get close to her. He should thoroughly pretend to be a mysterious necromancer and focus on extracting money.”

“Yes.”

“Draw many people into the summoning guild to reduce one-on-one meetings, and mainly torment her by giving prophecies or information to other people. Mother will be anxious just knowing the summoning guild is real, so that should be fine.”

“Will His Majesty the Emperor remain idle?”

“It’s important to make His Majesty think that necromancy is just a game. If he thinks she’s indulging in a somewhat unusual pastime, he’ll generously overlook it. The most important thing is not letting Lai’s identity be discovered.”

“Yes.”

“Mother never shows any sign of relying on superstition in front of His Majesty, so don’t worry too much. I’ve also given advice to Countess Unise.”

“Yes.”

“So I think the possibility is low, but if His Majesty intervenes while you can’t contact me, or if any other emergency situation arises, you must protect Lai. Prepare so you can abandon everything and make him disappear at any time.”

“Understood. But even if sufficient trust is built before you return, won’t you proceed with the plan in advance?”

He could only guess what she was planning to do.

However, if she was going to trap Milaire in a conspiracy, wouldn’t it be better when neither Artizea nor Cedric were in the capital? Freil asked this.

“I think I’d feel more at ease controlling it directly. It’s something that could entangle even me if things go wrong. I alone would be fine, but it would be troublesome if the Evron Duchy got dragged into it.”

Artizea said this with a cold expression.

But soon she erased her cold expression and let out a small sigh with a gloomy face.

Freil quietly withdrew without disturbing her further.

This was not revenge. He could only be certain of that much.

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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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