The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 7

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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 7

The temple where the Archbishop resided was located in the outskirts, quite far from the capital.

This was partly due to the doctrine that required distance from worldly affairs, and also for the practical reason of establishing themselves in a place somewhat removed from the Emperor’s sphere of influence.

There were several small temples within the capital that commoners could visit.

However, when nobles had time, they preferred to make outings to this temple, which had beautiful scenery and landscapes.

For several important sacraments, even the Imperial Family had no choice but to come to this place.

Making people take such steps was one of the ways to confirm the temple’s authority.

Sedric was crossing through the forest where the temple was located, accompanied by several knights under his command.

There was a carriage standing at an odd angle on the path.

“Whoa!”

Freil, who was in the lead, pulled the reins in confusion. Sedric also stopped his horse following behind.

“What’s the matter?”

Freil asked. The coachman looked flustered as he removed his hat and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, knights. The carriage wheel came loose.”

“The wheel came loose?”

Freil glanced at Sedric once, and when he nodded, dismounted from his horse.

Since they were on horseback rather than in a carriage, they could have simply moved aside and passed by.

But neither Sedric nor the knights were the type to do such a thing. There was no particular reason to hurry either.

Sedric briefly assessed the situation.

For some reason, the wedge connecting the axle and wheel had become loose, causing the wheel to be on the verge of falling off.

“This wouldn’t normally happen. Just how have you been maintaining this carriage?”

Freil scolded the coachman in disbelief. The coachman frantically wiped his forehead with his hand.

“I’ve been maintaining it well, but I don’t know how this happened.”

“Can you fix it?”

Sedric dismounted and approached.

“It’s not a particularly difficult problem. We just need to fit the wheel properly and hammer the wedge back in. It just requires some strength, but it seems they couldn’t fix it because the passengers were ladies.”

Freil reported. Sedric nodded in understanding.

A young lady who had been standing in the shade of a tree some distance away approached him with her maid. She seemed to be the owner of the carriage.

“Thank you for helping us.”

“Think nothing of it.”

Sedric answered casually while looking at her. Then he froze.

It was the face he had seen in his dream.

She was younger and much more beautiful, but it was still that woman.

The young lady spoke gently.

“If no one suitable to carry a message had passed by, I was worried we might have to walk from here to the temple.”

“How could a lady walk from here to the temple? Don’t worry. We’ll have it fixed in no time.”

Freil interjected, thumping his chest confidently.

Though it wasn’t something he couldn’t guarantee, Sedric shot him a look. Raising his voice in front of a pretty woman was Freil’s bad habit.

The young lady smiled faintly. It seemed like a bitter smile, or perhaps she was trying to suppress a laugh that wanted to emerge.

Over that, the image of a tearful face overlapped.

Sedric felt an indescribable emotion and turned his head away from her face.

The carriage was quickly repaired.

The young lady gave thanks to each of the knights and said.

“I’m sorry for making you stop your journey.”

“Sorry? When someone is in trouble, it’s only right that we help. But you seem like a noble young lady – you shouldn’t be traveling around without any escort like this.”

Again, Freil spoke instead of Sedric. The young lady replied.

“It’s just a trip to the temple in broad daylight. It’s only because we’re on the road now – once we arrive at the temple, I’ll properly express my gratitude.”

“No, there’s no need to go that far.”

Though Freil answered that way, Sedric nodded at her words.

And he personally opened the carriage door for her. The young lady seemed flustered.

“Please get in.”

He spoke briefly and extended his hand to her.

The young lady hesitated, then blushed red beneath her eyes. And she got into the carriage.

Sedric’s mounted party split into two groups, with some riding slightly ahead and others following behind.

Artizea could tell this was meant to serve as an escort.

Where the temple gates came into view, Sedric’s party picked up speed and disappeared.

This was because they intended to visit the Archbishop’s residence privately rather than going to the temple.

Artizea’s carriage passed through the main gate of the temple. A priest came out to greet her.

“Welcome, Young Lady of Marquess Rosan.”

“Thank you for coming out to greet me despite my sudden visit.”

Artizea had Alice bring out a small box.

“These are beeswax candles. I’d like to offer them to the statue of the saint.”

“Please come this way. The saint will surely be truly pleased with Your Ladyship’s devotion.”

The priest was delighted.

The candles inside were nothing special, but the box was a valuable item made with a gold frame, covered in silk, and set with a ruby in the center.

This was much better than making a direct donation.

Even though the temple had been secularized long ago, they still wanted to maintain the pretense of poverty.

Artizea slowly carried the box and followed the priest.

The priest guided her not to the main hall, but to the small chapel with the statue of the saint.

Artizea respectfully knelt before the statue of the saint.

She opened the box and took out three candles. Then she placed them before the statue of the saint, lit them, and clasped her hands together.

When she was young, she had many things to pray for, but since turning sixteen, she had never sincerely prayed to God.

But now she prayed with genuine sincerity.

‘Though I used magic, the body burned for it was this body, so please forgive me. Even if a foolish and evil person has decided to serve him, Duke of Evron is a righteous man, so please watch over him. Please protect Lisia, who is your daughter.’

One candle could carry a prayer for one person’s well-being. So Artizea prayed accordingly.

After finishing her brief prayer and standing up, the priest respectfully asked her.

“Would you like to see the bishop before you go?”

“No. I’ll just have some tea, rest briefly, and return.”

“Then I’ll prepare the pavilion for you.”

“And I have one more favor to ask.”

Artizea gave Alice a look.

Alice quickly took out silver coins from her pocket and pressed them into the priest’s hand. The priest pretended not to notice while tucking them into his sleeve.

“On the way here, some knights helped us when our carriage wheel broke and we couldn’t go forward or back. I’d like to properly thank them – could you guide my maid to them?”

“You must be referring to His Grace Duke of Evron’s party. Of course.”

The priest called over an acolyte he had with him and told him to guide Alice.

And he himself guided Artizea.

Artizea slowly followed the priest across the temple.

Since the temple was located in a beautiful place, many people came to rest there.

Moreover, among the noble ladies with weak nerves and deep faith, some even lived nearby and visited daily.

So the temple had created several small pavilions on spacious grounds so that visitors could enjoy the beautiful natural scenery without encountering each other.

Sitting in the pavilion she was guided to by the priest, Artizea waited alone for a while. The stream flowing beside the pavilion made a gentle babbling sound.

Alice returned with the acolyte about thirty minutes later.

The acolyte was carrying a kettle with hot water and a basket, while Alice carried a tea set.

“I shared the lunch box as you instructed, Miss. They were pleased.”

“Well done.”

The meals provided by the temple didn’t include ingredients obtained through taking life. It would have been insufficient for the knights.

Artizea had packed plenty of substantial food because she had planned this from the beginning.

“I also invited His Grace the Duke. You should eat something too, Miss.”

Alice opened the tea set box she had brought and unpacked the basket as she spoke.

She didn’t have much of an appetite. But since she had extended an invitation, she had to set things up properly.

Alice took out plates and beautifully arranged bite-sized sandwiches, scones, and jam that had been cut into small pieces.

Meanwhile, Artizea personally prepared the tea. A refreshing citrus fragrance spread through the air.

It was when Artizea was pouring a cup of tea into her own teacup.

Finally, Sedric arrived at the pavilion.

Artizea rose from her seat. Her heart was pounding.

Even when she had first slandered that daughter before the Emperor, she hadn’t felt like this.

Artizea couldn’t clearly distinguish whether this was due to nervousness or not.

“Allow me to greet you again, Your Grace the Duke of Evron. I am Artizea of Rosan.”

She bowed her head politely.

Sedric spoke as if confirming.

“Of Marquess Rosan’s wife.”

“Yes. I am her daughter.”

“If you knew I was the Duke of Evron and still put on an act to create a connection, then you must also know that I dislike Marquess Rosan’s wife. Isn’t that right?”

“You knew.”

“I’m not that foolish. It wasn’t some poorly maintained stagecoach, so how could a noble family’s carriage wheel come off in such a manner?”

Sedric said.

“The same goes for preparing lunch portions for the knights as if there was someone to give them to.”

Artizea became somewhat embarrassed.

“Even so, I had something I needed to tell you. As you said, without even a small connection, you would have turned your back and left the moment you learned I was Milaire Rosan’s daughter.”

Sedric looked at her silently for a moment.

Connection or whatever, that would have been the case. If not for last night’s terrible dream.

Artizea met his gaze directly.

Sedric thought her blue-green eyes were like brilliant gems.

Unlike those melting, flowing eyes he had seen in his dream, they shone cool and clear like autumn waters.

So he sat down.

“I do hope the Young Lady’s business proves worthy enough not to waste my time.”

“Thank you.”

Artizea bowed politely again.

She emptied the hot water from the empty cup and poured warm tea into it.

Sedric hesitated for a moment.

Actually, he wasn’t in a good mood. He knew Artizea was trying to pull some scheme, but he had thought it would be some prank born from girlish thoughts at best.

But the daughter of Marquess Rosan’s wife.

However, he decided to at least finish one cup of tea. Getting up was something he could do at any time.

Artizea spoke with a composed attitude.

“Please propose to me.”

“Cough, cough!”

He choked on the hot tea.

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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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