The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 67

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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 67

She hurriedly mumbled while chewing and swallowing the cookie. Only then could she finally answer.

“I’ll eat it later.”

“Then I’ll wait until you finish eating everything.”

“You don’t need to do that… I can eat after finishing my work.”

“Then I’ll wait for that too. If you don’t keep your snack time, I’ll get scolded by Ansgard later.”

Sedric sat down next to Artizea and stroked the fox fur accessory.

“Is this the fur product you mentioned before?”

“Yes. Isn’t it nice?”

Artizea placed it on her shoulder to show him.

“It would be good to add gold decorations or something so it can be worn.”

“Yes. That’s a good idea.”

“It suits you.”

Artizea momentarily lost her words.

Sedric would casually throw out such comments without thinking. He seemed unaware that Artizea’s heart would skip a beat each time he did so.

Artizea deliberately turned her head away. And while trying to maintain a calm expression, she gestured for Aubrey to come over.

Aubrey, who came out with a jewelry box, hesitated when she saw Sedric.

Artizea kept her beside her and opened the box lid.

“Sapphires would look good for the fox’s eyes.”

Artizea picked up two small sapphires of the same size.

“And the rabbit should be more modest. Let’s use garnet and amber. Sophie, go get a pouch to hold these.”

Only then realizing that Artizea intended to give him those jewels, Jeiden waved his hands.

“This is too much, Your Highness. I really cannot accept this.”

“Keep them for three days, then discuss with your wife and dispose of them as you see fit. Having such things at home as royal gifts would be burdensome too.”

“Thank you.”

Jeiden knelt on one knee and bowed. Then with a moved expression, he also thanked Sedric.

Artizea said.

“Make 3 more fox fur pieces and 2 more rabbit fur pieces, all of the highest quality. Since they’ll all be sent to precious people, they must each have different designs. Don’t forget these are products making their debut.”

“Yes. I’ll do my best.”

“I’ll select suitable jewels for the eyes and decorations and leave them with Margaret. Use them generously.”

“Yes, understood.”

“I hope we can see results in a short time.”

“Since I’ve made one already, the second time will be faster. Thank you for trusting me with this.”

Jeiden bowed politely with a deep bend at the waist.

Then he received the jewel pouch from Sophie, carefully tucked it into his chest, and went outside carrying the two dolls.

“Are you finished with today’s work?”

Sedric asked while picking up a cookie and offering it. Artizea hesitated.

“Yes.”

Artizea carefully accepted the cookie from Sedric’s hand.

She became acutely aware of chewing something in front of him and felt very self-conscious. Even the crunching sound in her mouth bothered her.

Sedric asked.

“How does it taste?”

“Good. I’m learning for the first time how precious fruit can be.”

Due to food circumstances, the diet consisted mainly of preserved meat for storage.

This was a place where even grains were scarce. Vegetables were limited to pickled and preserved ones. Fruits were only available as jam or dried.

The kitchen paid special attention to Artizea’s meals. But there were inevitable limits.

The apple flavor was precious.

“Eat more. I’ll stay beside you until the plate is empty.”

“You don’t need to bring them personally like this. Even if you had a maid do it, I’d keep snack time properly.”

“I bring them because I want to come myself.”

Sedric corrected himself, seemingly forgetting his earlier comment about getting scolded by Ansgard if snack time wasn’t kept.

And he picked up another cookie and handed it to Artizea.

“If you keep doing this, I’ll develop bad habits.”

“Come to think of it, didn’t I mention my New Year’s goal?”

“You didn’t mention it. What is it?”

“To turn you into a spoiled person.”

Artizea covered her mouth with her hand and laughed out loud. She thought it was a joke.

But when Sedric looked at her with a deepening smile, her laughter faded. He didn’t seem to be joking.

Her mouth wouldn’t open easily. Even though she had decided what to say.

Sedric called her name.

“Tia.”

Artizea unconsciously turned her gaze and was once again captivated by his eyes.

Sedric smiled faintly. His face was so close that his breath mixed with Artizea’s.

Sedric lowered his head. Artizea unconsciously squeezed her eyes shut.

But his lips touched her cheek, not her lips.

Artizea let out a long, trembling breath to release the tension. She had thought he was going to kiss her.

Sedric gently brushed under her eyes and spoke in a low voice.

“I did tell them to pay attention to heating, but the Grand Hall is still cold. Dress warmly.”

“Yes…”

“See you later.”

Sedric stood up from his seat.

‘Why are you treating me like this?’

Every time she looked at his face, emotions surged as she wanted to ask that question.

But she didn’t really want to know his true feelings. She didn’t hope for the right answer either.

She just wanted permission to stay like this a little longer.

She shouldn’t feel this way, but she kept becoming happy.

She couldn’t deny being attracted to Sedric.

How could she not be attracted? To someone so kind, strong, and righteous.

She had finished one life. There was a time when she sat to the Emperor’s right.

She had seen and evaluated countless people. Like stirring the bottom of a river, she had disturbed the world and confirmed humanity’s filthiest depths.

Even then, it was the same. Sedric was the most upright and wonderful man among all the men she knew.

Even when her eyes were covered and hidden by the mud called family, she could recognize the light he emanated.

She had seen that even when dragged to the very bottom, he remained completely unchanged.

She couldn’t dare describe him with something like a jewel.

‘Back then…’

Even back then, it was the same.

She had simply pretended not to know because it was something she shouldn’t have known.

After returning to the past, it had been the same until now. It was impossible and shouldn’t happen.

So she pressed the feelings she felt deep into her stomach and tried to turn away from the hand Sedric extended.

How could someone like her dare to occupy the seat beside Sedric?

She had killed several people Sedric cherished. She had also taken Lisia away. The Evron Duchy had been destroyed.

Just because time had been reversed didn’t mean all those things disappeared. At least they remained clearly in Artizea’s memory.

Even after more than half a year had passed, she sometimes recalled the image of Sedric kneeling before her.

Each time, her chest ached as if pierced by a spear, making it difficult to even breathe.

Artizea sometimes thought it would have been better if she could have stayed beside Sedric in that punished state, working for him.

She knew it was a selfish thought. She knew the present, where the number of victims could be minimized, was much better.

But whenever Sedric smiled at her with a kind face, her chest ached and hurt so much that she couldn’t help thinking that way.

If it had been then, Sedric wouldn’t have smiled at her. He wouldn’t have treated her kindly without knowing anything.

That would have been proper.

Even just being by his side as a vassal was sinful, so how could she dare wish for anything more?

Sedric as a ruler was still acceptable. He had the capacity to embrace even someone as wicked as herself.

Because he had told her to devise strategies.

But him as a man was not her portion.

Even having greed was a sin. She knew she should refuse.

But when he smiled tenderly, her heart raced. When he held her hand, heat rose in her body.

When he reached out his hand, she couldn’t avoid it. She wanted to be held in his embrace.

Her lips, which had learned the joy of touching, trembled.

She wanted to walk just a little longer on sweet dreams rather than reality.

The sensation remaining on her cheek didn’t seem like it would disappear anytime soon.

* * *

Aubrey stood blankly while holding the jewelry box.

Tears came to her eyes.

She felt as if she had become an invisible person.

Artizea didn’t particularly ignore her, but she didn’t treat her only maid as a close confidant either.

The maids who had followed Artizea openly disliked her. The maids of the fortress weren’t the same as before either.

In the past, she had been the most precious young lady in the fortress. Since there were no women in the ducal house, naturally the daughters of Count Jordin had received precious treatment.

But now everyone knelt before Artizea. Aubrey was pushed to the background. They only saw her as Artizea’s maid.

But what hurt most was Sedric’s attitude.

‘How can His Highness not even glance at me once like that?’

If he would just look at her once, he would notice this unfair situation.

However, when Sedric was with Artizea, he rarely gave his attention anywhere other than to her.

His gentle gaze, affectionate gestures, and kind consideration sometimes even looked sweet.

Every time Aubrey saw this right before her eyes, she felt her own standing position was more miserable.

Artizea kept Aubrey close but never allowed her to sit.

A subordinate cannot sit until their superior permits it. That is court etiquette.

Artizea said she would teach her that.

Aubrey had to stand by Artizea’s side all day today as well. Even when the treasurer or maids were sitting.

It wasn’t as if she was given any important service to perform either.

The only thing entrusted to Aubrey was the jewelry box.

It was important work if you considered it important. No noblewoman would entrust a jewelry box to someone she didn’t trust.

But Aubrey thought she was just like a leg attached to the jewelry box.

Artizea would sometimes have her bring the jewelry box and make her stand right beside her for an hour while she looked through it and made selections.

To treat her so trivially like this. She was the daughter of Count Jordin, who could be called the first vassal of the ducal house, and the first maid.

Even Sedric valued her parents highly.

Sophie came out of the bathroom to prepare clothes for the banquet. Seeing that Aubrey was still standing until then, she carefully said.

“It must be tiring, right? My lady called for me, but I told her I needed to organize the jewelry box. Please sit and rest a bit. My lady is a kind person, so if Lady Aubrey would just…”

“Shut up. A maid dares to pity me?”

“Kyaah!”

Aubrey threw the jewelry box at her.

Sophie, struck by the heavy gold box, collapsed to the floor. Jewels scattered across the floor, sparkling brilliantly.

Blood trickled down from one side of Sophie’s head.

Aubrey was startled. She hadn’t intended to hurt Sophie.

But she soon gritted her teeth.

It was all because of Artizea. She didn’t care about some maid that Artizea had brought from her family home.

Aubrey knew very well that this was an act to break her spirit.

‘As if I would submit.’

She was the daughter of the Jordin family and a vassal of the Evron ducal house. Though she wasn’t a knight, she prided herself on being different from the weak noblewomen of the capital.

‘I’m not someone who should be treated like this!’

Aubrey ran outside.

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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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