The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 74

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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 74

Sedric, who remained behind, sat for a moment without being able to say anything.

Lisia stood up from her seat, not knowing what to do with herself. Sedric asked her.

“Did I do something wrong again?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

She didn’t know how many times this had happened.

Sedric didn’t feel like he had properly talked with Artizea these past few days.

Was it because there was now a maid to pass things off to? Sedric rubbed his brow with his index finger as he thought.

Or perhaps, without his knowing, he had done something that would disappoint her.

Lisia said.

“Rather than worrying about it, wouldn’t it be better to follow her?”

“I suppose so.”

Sedric stood up from his seat.

Lisia briefly wondered if it might be because of her.

“No way.”

No matter how much she thought about it, there was nothing that could cause misunderstanding. Thinking it was excessive self-consciousness, she forgot about it.

Artizea was in the study.

It was true that there were several documents she needed to write. She wanted to organize all her plans before winter ended.

She had thought it would be appropriate rest time, but it wasn’t. Her heart was anxious because there was too much work to do when she returned.

She had no appetite at all. They were just a few pieces of sweet cookies, but even those wouldn’t go down easily. Artizea put one down without finishing it.

Artizea had recently begun to picture concretely what would happen after everything was finished.

If she was fortunate enough not to die by then, it would be good to build a villa somewhere in the quiet countryside of the east.

How about gathering all the books she wanted to have there? It would be nice to live taking daily walks, reading books, and writing letters that could never be sent.

While she was having such thoughts, the door opened.

Rizhe said carefully.

“My lady, the master is…”

Sedric entered the room without permission and stood there asking.

“Am I disturbing you?”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that.”

Artizea let out a small sigh and turned around.

Knowing that Artizea had permitted his entry, Sedric strode inside.

“Tia.”

“Do you have something to say?”

“If I have nothing to talk about, may I not join your tea time?”

“There’s no particular need for you to do so.”

“Tia.”

“If you have nothing to say, I need to do my work.”

“Tia.”

He called her with a strong voice. Artizea raised her eyes.

Sedric thought it felt like a very long time since he had made eye contact with her.

But even making eye contact like this wasn’t much different from when they hadn’t.

Her eyes, which had always held deep colors, had now changed to be emotionless like sparkling blue gems.

Artizea lowered her eyes again.

“If you have business, please speak. I’ll listen.”

Sedric finally let out a small sigh.

“I just wanted to have a conversation with you.”

“Let’s do it later when we have time. You don’t need to spoil me. Lisia has been taking good care of snacks lately.”

When she turned away and spoke like this, Sedric couldn’t continue the conversation any further.

“I understand. I won’t disturb you anymore.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’ll be going hunting early tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, I know. You said it was something like a New Year event.”

Winter hunting had continued since the time when food was scarce in the depths of winter. It was for supplementing food supplies.

But since winter hunting was dangerous, when knights gathered together, a custom developed of taking the initiative to go hunting.

Naturally, there was always large-scale hunting right after the New Year banquet. This time too, a hunting plan was scheduled for several days for unity.

“It will probably be about a week to ten days. If the weather conditions are good, it might be longer.”

Artizea nodded at Sedric’s words.

“It seems like it will be very dangerous since it’s right after snow has fallen, so be careful.”

“Tia.”

“Though Your Highness and the knights would know much better than I do.”

Sedric reached out his hand. However, his hand couldn’t reach Artizea’s hand. Because Artizea had pulled her hand away first.

“…Is there nothing else you’d like to say to me?”

Sedric asked.

There couldn’t be nothing. But Artizea couldn’t do it.

Sedric looked at her fingertips. So Artizea clasped her hands together to hide her cold fingertips.

“I understand.”

“Yes.”

“Since I’ll be departing at dawn tomorrow, there probably won’t be time to say goodbye separately. Though it’s an absence of several days, please take good care of the castle.”

“Yes. Don’t worry and have a safe trip.”

Sedric couldn’t even hold her hand or kiss the back of her hand in the end.

He turned his back and went outside.

Artizea watched his back for a long time, then lowered her head when the door closed.

Dawn was noisy. The butler tried to send off the hunting procession quietly, but that couldn’t be possible.

Excited dogs barked, and knights raised their voices to arrange the troops.

Artizea had barely slept that night.

Her heart felt restless. The sound of cold wind came as if an awl had made holes deep into her heart.

She kept thinking of the hand Sedric had extended.

She knew that his heart was inclined toward her to no small degree. She knew that if she reached out her hand, he would take it.

That was what tormented her most. Because she felt like she would succumb to temptation.

But she couldn’t do that.

Artizea got out of bed. She slipped her feet into the soft fur slippers placed on the floor and looked for her robe.

“Mmm? My lady?”

Alice, who had been sleeping curled up on the sofa, spoke as if talking in her sleep, then was startled and tried to get up.

Artizea shook her head.

“It’s fine.”

“Shall I bring you water? Or…”

“Just sleep.”

Finding her robe to put over her nightgown, she opened the door connecting to Sedric’s bedroom.

Sedric never locked this door from his side. If Artizea wanted to open it, she could do so anytime.

The room was cold since its owner had left long ago. The servants had finished tidying everything up.

Still, it wasn’t without traces of human presence. Artizea looked around the room briefly and sat on the bed.

The sound of a horn could be heard in the distance.

Artizea stood up and approached the window. When she opened the shutters slightly, the torches of the hunting procession were already far away.

The wind was too cold, so she quickly closed the window. Then she returned toward her own room.

What would it have been like if she had opened this door when he was here?

Even thinking about it was meaningless.

She was a wicked woman. She was generally so to everyone, but she was particularly vicious to Evron.

She must not forget that fact.

Artizea locked the door again. Then she crawled into bed.

Her body temperature must have dropped in the meantime, as her hands and feet felt cold. She pulled the blanket over her head, but her breath condensed like dew on her hands and feet, only making them feel colder.

Artizea suddenly realized she was still wearing the diamond bracelet.

‘Oh no…’

She had been wearing it constantly since accepting the proposal, so she had forgotten about it.

She took it off and placed it on the nightstand.

Sleep didn’t seem likely to return.

* * *

The guest arrived two days later.

“From the Southern Sea, a leather merchant?”

Artizea asked in considerable surprise at the steward’s words.

“Yes. They say it’s a small merchant caravan from the Kingdom of Aemel. It took too long to verify their identification papers, so I’m only reporting this now.”

The steward spoke with an apologetic expression.

“In this season?”

“It seems they came up not knowing the sea would freeze and got stranded. Occasionally fishing boats from the mainland face the same situation.”

“Where are they staying now?”

“At first they stayed at an inn, but inns also stop operating in winter… They’re currently being looked after at the temple. There are plenty of empty rooms there.”

It wasn’t a common occurrence, but it wasn’t unprecedented either, so the steward spoke without suspicion.

“They say they’ve been receiving Evron leather through mainland merchants until now. The middlemen have raised prices beyond what they can handle, so they want to establish direct trade now.”

“I see.”

“Previously, His Highness said he would meet with leather merchants directly if negotiations didn’t go well, so I’m reporting this to you.”

“Understood. I think it’s a reasonable possibility. Let’s meet with them.”

Artizea nodded. It would also be an opportunity to learn how much profit the middlemen had been taking.

Since there was no reason to delay, the merchants were summoned that very afternoon.

Artizea decided to meet them in the Duchess’s audience chamber.

Internally, Cedric had already entrusted her with full authority. However, she didn’t want to give outsiders the impression that a newly married duchess was occupying the official office.

Lisia sat beside her, and Alphonse stood behind. Four stewards took positions on either side.

The entrance to the audience chamber became bustling. The merchants, having been searched, entered the audience chamber.

“I heard they’re all sailors, but their builds are quite…”

One steward muttered.

Artizea wasn’t listening to those words.

She looked at the red-haired man who entered first and shot up in shock.

“Ah…!”

But she couldn’t speak that name aloud. At this point in time, he was someone she shouldn’t normally know.

The man smiled broadly.

“It’s been a while, Marquess Rosan. How long has it been? Surely you haven’t forgotten me already?”

Those familiar eyes, that familiar expression.

Artizea realized he already knew who she was.

“Prince Cardriole of Aemel.”

“I’m relieved you remember. The back of my head still stings from the blow you gave me.”

Alphonse sensed something was wrong and moved. But Cardriole’s retainers were faster.

One man spat out a knife as thin as a finger joint from his throat. He stabbed a colleague beside him in the stomach with it and pulled out something round from his abdomen.

Alphonse, who had noticed the strange signs, was already rushing toward that man.

Lisia screamed.

“No, Count Alphonse! Get to His Highness’s side!”

But both were already too late.

A smoke bomb exploded, filling the room with thick purple smoke. That smoke bomb was a close-combat weapon that Aemel’s navy took pride in.

Cardriole’s retainers were all elite among the elite of the Kingdom of Aemel, and could see through it as clearly as daylight.

But there was only one Evron knight in this place – Alphonse.

Guards rushed into the room but couldn’t find their way in the pitch-black smoke.

Cardriole lunged at Artizea and seized her.

Alphonse followed behind him using only his senses. Six blades blocked his path.

He broke and shattered the blades blocking him and cut down his opponents’ throats. But he couldn’t retrieve Artizea from Cardriole’s grasp.

Lisia felt along the wall with her hands and went outside.

Smoke bombs exploded in succession. Soon the corridor was also filled with smoke.

“Call the knights! Seal all gates of the fortress!”

Lisia shouted at the top of her lungs.

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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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