The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 79

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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 79

Sedric lifted Artizea in his arms and mounted his horse. He left the aftermath to his subordinates.

When they arrived at the mayor’s residence, the mayor and mayoress who had been waiting came pouring out with their servants.

“Your Grace, thank goodness you’re safe! Is Her Grace also uninjured…?”

“Where is the bedroom?”

The mayor hurriedly led the way, personally opening the door.

Sedric did not hand Artizea over to the maids but carried her himself as he quickly climbed the stairs.

“Lift the blockade of the port and inform the fortress that Her Grace is safe. Raise the beacon to end the alert.”

“Yes!”

The bedroom, which had been heated in advance before the operation began, was sufficiently warm.

Sedric set Artizea down in an armchair. Drained of energy, Artizea slumped into the armchair.

Her body had completely given out from the cold and exhaustion. Though she had briefly warmed herself at Cardriole’s lodging, her body had no strength left after being tormented for over a day in the freezing ship’s cabin.

In the midst of the fight, she hadn’t realized it due to excitement.

But now that she had come to her senses, the tension had released and she had no strength left in her body at all.

The mayoress said.

“Please leave the rest to us. Your Grace must also be tired…”

“No need. Withdraw.”

Sedric spoke without even looking at her.

The mayoress read the deep whirlpool of emotions beneath his voice. She hastily knelt on one knee in a bow.

Then she withdrew with the maids and closed the door.

Thud!

Sedric removed his steel gauntlets and threw them down. He also carelessly removed his cloak and sword, throwing them to the floor.

His boots, wet with snow, left stains on the carpet. Those dark stains were probably not just mud.

“Your Grace…”

He dragged the armchair where Artizea sat in front of the fireplace.

Artizea could smell the dust and faint scent of blood coming from his body.

“How did you… come all the way here?”

“How? Did you think I would be leisurely hunting after hearing news of your kidnapping?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. The fortress…”

The breach of the fortress’s defenses was no ordinary matter.

Since she had been unconscious at the time, Artizea didn’t fully understand how the situation had unfolded.

But she could easily guess that someone among the fortress’s retainers had conspired with Cardriole to reveal the secret passage.

Moreover, the guards had failed to find the blade and smoke bomb even after searching.

It was also certain that there had been casualties in the recent battle. People would have died and been injured at Evron fortress as well.

The biggest problem was that the ducal house’s trust would have been shattered.

Artizea bit her lower lip. She felt responsible.

It wasn’t directly Artizea’s fault. She wasn’t involved in the fortress’s defense, after all.

But she couldn’t deny that the fundamental reason lay with her.

If Artizea hadn’t been at the fortress, Cardriole would never have come this far.

Sedric gripped the armrests of the chair.

Trapped as if caged in the armchair, Artizea shrank back.

“Is that more important to you?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you have nothing else to say to me?”

Artizea hesitated.

Her thoughts weren’t working properly. She was exhausted both mentally and physically, and Sedric was too close.

When Sedric had appeared, she thought her heart would stop.

She had thought she could persuade Cardriole. But that didn’t mean she hadn’t been affected.

She wasn’t afraid of death. She was already someone who had died once.

But she didn’t want to die without seeing Sedric again. She was finally living like a human being for the first time, and she didn’t want to leave that life.

Even if she hadn’t died, being dragged to the Southern Sea would have made her as good as dead.

“You had feelings for the Duke of Evron from the beginning, so it wouldn’t be strange even if that were the case.”

Cardriole had said that.

Artizea had denied it. But those words had stuck in her heart like nails.

Enough that her heart had wavered, even momentarily, at his words about making her forget everything.

But could she say she was happy he came to rescue her? What he had lost was too great for that.

Sedric looked down at her.

Artizea saw the blazing fire in his dark eyes. And she also saw herself trembling within them.

Tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks.

“Tia.”

“I’m sorry.”

Artizea chose to apologize.

She could well imagine the anger and frustration he felt.

It wouldn’t have been easy to rush all the way here through snow and cold. The aftermath of the fortress being breached would also be considerable.

But he had prioritized her over all that. He had come to rescue her.

And then she had told him to let that enemy go.

If she truly felt sorry, she shouldn’t shed tears. She had no right to grieve any more than she had the right to rejoice.

But her body, pushed to its limits, wouldn’t obey her.

It was always like this.

Things like persuading Cardriole were actually easier. When speaking of grand schemes, she could be rational.

Even with a blade held to her throat as a threat, she could protect herself.

Even now. If Sedric had coldly asked why she told him to let Cardriole go, she could have given dozens of clever excuses mixed with explanations.

But in front of someone she cared for, she was always like a worm.

Sedric reached out his hand. Artizea reflexively squeezed her eyes shut and curled up.

But what touched her cheek was not violence, but a touch as careful as handling a thin glass.

Artizea opened her eyes in a daze.

Sedric’s face came close.

“Your… Grace…”

Artizea gasped and barely managed to place her hand on his chest.

She couldn’t tell whether she was clinging because she had nothing to support her, or trying to push him away.

“Don’t apologize. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me.”

“Then…”

Artizea unconsciously let out a moan.

“Do you know how I felt when I heard you had disappeared?”

Sedric said in a low voice.

“I thought all night as I rode across the snowy plains. That I cannot live without you.”

“Your Grace…”

“The fortress fell. I learned that Jordin betrayed us, and that the trust I believed in was an illusion. I should have felt like I’d lost everything…”

“It’s not an illusion.”

“But I could only think of you. Originally, I chose you for Evron’s sake, yet it was as if Evron meant nothing as long as you were safe.”

Artizea trembled. It was both from joy and from fear.

Sedric leaned closer.

His heart poured out. Artizea trembled as she clutched at Sedric’s clothes.

“And yet you threw yourself to protect that man.”

“I didn’t go that far. If Prince Cardriole died here…”

“I spared him because you told me to. That’s the limit of my patience. Don’t defend him, and you don’t need to give reasons. I don’t want to become any more of a mess in front of you.”

“Your Grace.”

“Don’t call me that.”

Sedric’s hand gently stroked her hair and wiped away the tears flowing down her cheeks.

Artizea lowered her eyes. The inside of her eyelids grew hot again.

Sedric touched her eyelids with his index finger. Even knowing that moisture was spreading, he did not tell Artizea not to cry.

“This isn’t right.”

“I think so too.”

She was still young, and he had married her to become her protector.

She was merely a contractual marriage partner who had promised protection for only 2 years. Though he had called her his wife in front of Cadriole, he was not Artizea’s real husband.

Nevertheless, or rather, because of that, his heart seemed to burn even more.

Even Sedric himself hadn’t known his feelings ran so deep.

Artizea shook his soul. After nearly losing her, he had discovered that there were emotions deeply melted and stuck to the depths of his being.

He wanted to hold her, to keep her warm.

And just as much, he felt angry and sad toward her. There were also feelings of resentment and hatred.

Sedric didn’t know himself where those feelings had come from.

But if she was going to shed tears, it was fine as long as it was in these arms.

He could no longer suppress his heart.

“I love you.”

“Ah…”

Artizea looked up at him and let out a sigh.

Now Sedric’s voice had become as small as a breath.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know. You avoided me because you knew, didn’t you?”

Artizea lowered her eyes. Sedric’s forehead touched her forehead. Then Artizea closed her eyes.

“Tia, I love you.”

“You can’t.”

“Say that you hate it.”

She couldn’t say that.

She had lived telling countless lies, but that was the one thing she couldn’t lie about.

“I love you.”

Artizea closed her eyes in dizziness. It felt like the ground was collapsing and she was falling into hell.

She knew it was a sinful thing.

But just once would be fine. She wanted to be loved with body and soul by the person she adored.

Artizea finally wrapped her arms weakly around his neck. Sedric held her tightly in his embrace.

“Don’t think about anything, just look at me, Tia.”

“…”

“Do you dislike it?”

“No… Lord Sedric.”

Artizea answered in a voice that seemed about to fade away.

The fireplace flames blazed red.

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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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