The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 70

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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 70

Following that, the retainers lined up to offer their New Year greetings. Those meeting Artizea for the first time congratulated her on her marriage and gave her gifts.

Kind words and laughter bloomed. Artizea smiled with a slightly unfamiliar feeling as she was part of it all.

She thought she understood why Cedric regarded the Evron Duchy as home and the retainers and people as family.

The Imperial Palace’s New Year banquet was an extension of politics and the social circle. It would have been the same for Milaire and Lawrence.

Surrounded by countless people, struggling to read the true intentions flowing beneath the surface, only fatigue remained after finishing the banquet.

Milaire would get completely drunk and wouldn’t wake up until evening on New Year’s Day. Lawrence was more often buried in debaucherous second parties at women’s houses.

That’s why the House of Rosan had no New Year banquet at all. There was no one to share greetings and kind words with.

This was probably what a family-like atmosphere looked like.

The fact that she naturally belonged within it felt strange and unfamiliar to Artizea. She had never once thought it was something that would be allowed for her.

It wasn’t truly hers.

But it wasn’t something forbidden to her either. Even after divorce and taking her place as a retainer, she would still be part of this.

Thinking that way made her both happy and feel a pang in her chest.

That’s when it happened.

She felt the atmosphere in the banquet hall change. Artizea turned to look in that direction.

Lisia was just entering the banquet hall.

As if she had rushed here, she was clutching the hem of her skirt. Her dress was simple but a lovely violet color.

Perhaps she hadn’t had time to fix her hair, as it was simply braided and let down to one side. There wasn’t a trace of makeup on her face either.

But she was more beautiful than anyone else in this place. An overflowing light seemed to shimmer around her.

Lisia’s beauty was different from Milaire’s beauty.

If asked to pinpoint exactly what was pretty about her, it would be difficult to say. If pressed, one could say the light emanating from her heart and her lively movements were beautiful.

‘Your Majesty the Empress…’

Artizea held her breath as she called out to her in her heart.

Lisia immediately approached the two of them. Then she politely knelt on one knee.

“I apologize for being late, Your Highness the Prince. I’m relieved to see you looking as healthy as always.”

“It’s been a long time, Lisia. You’ve grown so much. But did you come alone? What about Baron Morthen?”

“Father has been having trouble with his legs during winter lately, so he’s been avoiding going out. In winter, I’ve been coming as the village representative instead.”

“I see. You’re eighteen now, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I celebrated my birthday last month.”

“Eighteen is certainly old enough for that.”

Cedric said this with complicated feelings.

Then he turned to Artizea and gently introduced her.

“Lisia is the daughter of the Morthen family. She’s from ‘that village’ you know about.”

“I am Baroness Lisia Morthen. It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness the Duchess. And though it’s late, congratulations on your marriage.”

Lisia stood up and turned toward Artizea. Then she politely knelt before Artizea again.

Lisia’s lips touched the duchess’s ring she was wearing. It was a sign of loyalty and obedience.

Artizea’s chest felt heavy and she couldn’t answer for a moment. The ring felt burning hot.

“It’s nice to meet you, Lisia.”

Her tongue felt heavy as she spoke the name.

“If there’s a next life and I could live once more, I would like you to call me Lisia then.”

It had truly come to pass.

But what kind of relationship had Lisia hoped for then?

Artizea stood up and took Lisia’s hand to help her up. She shouldn’t be kneeling before her.

“Bring a chair.”

A servant who had been waiting nearby heard this and quickly brought a chair, placing it next to Artizea.

Lisia was flustered.

“Thank you, Your Highness. But I couldn’t possibly sit in such a place…”

“Please sit. It’s fine. I need someone to talk to as well.”

Artizea said this in a quiet, calm voice.

It was difficult to speak to Lisia as if she were a subordinate. But she couldn’t appear strange to others.

Lisia’s cheeks flushed with joy.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

She felt guilty.

In her previous life, she had failed to protect Lisia. Cedric had asked her for the first and last favor, and she couldn’t grant him that one thing.

And she couldn’t even properly convey Lisia’s last words to Cedric.

Lisia had forgiven her. But Artizea couldn’t forgive herself.

What had she thought when she returned to the past and opened her eyes? What had she prayed for when she lit candles before the saint’s statue?

This time, she would protect her.

That’s what she had thought.

She had planned to return everything she had taken from her. She intended to restore the rights that Lisia rightfully deserved.

She had planned to make her a complete empress.

But she hadn’t done so this time either.

Actually, she had wanted to meet her earlier. It would have been proper to visit and apologize for her wrongs.

She couldn’t do so because Lisia lived in the village of the rebels.

She had told Cedric from the beginning that she knew about that place.

But she couldn’t easily visit. Even in Evron, which was closed to outsiders, it was the most sensitive area.

Rather than that, it was better to wait for a natural meeting like this and bring her close.

It was a rational conclusion.

But separately from that, Artizea knew her heart wasn’t entirely righteous.

Day by day, she delayed the day she would meet Lisia.

She could have had Margaret naturally summon her.

She had already said she would choose a maid from among the ducal house’s retainers. Margaret had prepared a list of young ladies Artizea’s age right after that.

So she could have chosen Lisia from among them and had her summoned.

But she didn’t do that.

Artizea realized anew her own baseness.

She simply wanted the time she could spend by Cedric’s side to last a little longer. She was surely delaying it with such an impure heart.

She had come to realize this fact about herself.

She couldn’t bear how foolish she felt for being unable to control her heart and being captivated by Cedric.

Her chest ached and hurt. Just thinking about losing the affection that wasn’t originally hers made her feel as if the whole world was darkening.

But that affection wasn’t originally her share. This seat wasn’t where she should be sitting either. It was Lisia’s place.

She should only sit there for just 2 years, briefly, then return it.

She knew this.

Yet she felt as if the time with him would continue forever. She hoped it would.

With Lisia, the New Year greetings came to an end.

The band began playing dance music. Cedric stood up and extended his hand to Artizea.

Artizea looked at that hand with a dazed feeling.

“What’s wrong?”

Everyone was watching them.

It was customary for the main guests or highest-ranking person to open the first dance.

She placed her trembling hand on top of Cedric’s. Cedric took her hand and led her with a gentle, natural touch.

This was the fourth time dancing.

Once at Lisia’s wedding, once at the Endar County ball, once at their wedding.

All three times, Cedric had maintained exactly the proper distance.

They conversed at a distance close enough to see the shadows cast by his eyelashes.

But he observed all the etiquette that should be maintained.

He never put strength into their clasped hands. Only his forearm supported Artizea’s body.

Even while leading the clumsy Artizea in dance, their bodies never touched, not even by accident.

But today was different. The hand around her back came deeper than its proper position.

Rather than politely placing his hand on her back for support, he naturally embraced her waist.

When Artizea placed her arm on his shoulder, it was as if she was being embraced.

And Artizea had to admit that just as she had grown accustomed to him holding her, her body had already become familiar with leaning into his arms.

She couldn’t dare dance like this in front of Lisia.

Cedric, misunderstanding the reason for Artizea’s hesitation, spoke with laughter in his voice.

“Don’t worry. Even if you make a mistake, I’ll cover for you. You know I’m a good dancer, don’t you?”

“That’s not what I’m worried about.”

Artizea murmured in a cracked voice.

“I’ll make you dance the most beautifully in the world.”

Cedric promised. Then he led Artizea and glided out to the center of the banquet hall.

Aubrey was near the banquet hall.

In the end, Margaret had failed to find Aubrey first.

Aubrey too had lived in the fortress since birth. Running away and hiding after quarreling with her mother wasn’t a one or two-day affair.

Aubrey went home and angrily urged her personal maid to change into the most splendid dress she owned.

It was a dress with voluminous skirts adorned with golden embroidered Ients patterns and a low-cut neckline.

Margaret disliked that dress, saying it was beyond her station. It had been made by calling in a designer from the capital, and the cost had been considerable. It was a dress that could only be made because Aaron doted on his youngest daughter and gave her everything.

She wore it and rummaged through her mother’s wardrobe to put on the most expensive ruby necklace among House Jordin’s jewels.

In her own opinion, she looked quite pretty today. And mature.

She thought this would be enough to draw attention in the banquet hall.

However, Aubrey couldn’t even enter the banquet hall.

“There are orders from Countess Jordin not to let you enter the banquet hall.”

The guard didn’t know the detailed circumstances. Since Aubrey causing small incidents was always happening, he just thought this was another such occasion.

“Please wait here for a moment, Lady Aubrey.”

Through the blocked door, Aubrey saw Artizea dancing a waltz while embraced in Cedric’s arms.

The heavy skirts with fur lining spread out like flowers each time they spun around.

‘Infuriating… Infuriating, infuriating, infuriating!’

Aubrey gritted her teeth. It felt as if Artizea had stolen her place.

She whirled around and ran outside.

“Ah, Lady Aubrey!”

The guard shouted. That shout was quite peaceful.

Orders had been given to detain Aubrey. But the guard thought this was just the usual mother-daughter quarrel.

What trouble could possibly arise? In Evron, the problems were always with Karam and the Empire’s mainland, never with people inside the castle.

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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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