The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 97

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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 97

Freil said.

“Instead, Countess Marta has opened a salon. Everyone who wishes to get close to Her Majesty the Empress is gathering there.”

Countess Marta had made her salon thoroughly into a dignified cultural gathering. It bore no political coloring whatsoever.

Writers gathered to discuss, and poor poets visited to borrow ink and paper. Young ladies who had just debuted would sometimes recite poetry.

It was entirely about spreading literary tastes to young ladies according to the preferences of the hostess, Countess Marta.

Such salons were generally very small-scale gatherings where only friends would meet.

Nevertheless, due to the authority of the Empress’s Palace, Countess Marta’s salon quickly gained fame.

“The social circle has been divided into three parts.”

Artizea said quietly.

Until now, the social gatherings that had divided the Empire’s capital social circle were Milaire’s imperial palace banquets and Countess Camellia’s salon.

Of course, the one with the greatest power was Milaire’s imperial palace banquet.

First of all, the Emperor attended here. If the purpose was to meet the Emperor and win his favor, receiving an invitation to this banquet was the fastest way.

However, this banquet was entirely focused on debaucherous entertainment.

In comparison, those who gathered at Countess Camellia’s salon were all high nobles or wealthy merchants.

The most important information and the flow of money that controlled the Empire’s economy passed back and forth casually as small talk.

It wasn’t necessarily only people from Loigar’s faction who frequented that salon.

Those who wanted to handle big money, those who had new ideas and wanted to gather investors, those who wanted to show their talents and wisdom all lingered around Countess Camellia’s salon.

That was also Countess Camellia’s pride. In her salon, power and talent held as much value as bloodline and status.

She prided herself on being different from other gatherings where nobles would gather to discuss who to marry to whom and what property to send as dowry.

But now Countess Marta’s salon had become a powerful competitor.

The salon that promoted literature was of course different in nature from Countess Camellia’s salon.

However, if young and vibrant talents were gathering there, Countess Camellia’s pride must have been hurt in various ways.

“Countess Camellia showed no particular reaction.”

“Even if she wanted to react, it would be awkward to do so. Although Countess Marta is Her Majesty the Empress’s lady-in-waiting, her position is too ambiguous for Countess Camellia to confront directly.”

Artizea said while organizing the information she heard from Freil in her mind.

“Since Her Majesty the Empress is not actively entering the social circle but is staying in seclusion, which is not much different from the current situation, Countess Marta probably isn’t trying to exercise influence through her salon either.”

“Yes. It really feels like she’s just opened up a space. Of course, even so, many people frequent it, seeing it as almost the only channel to communicate with Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Like Brother Lawrence.”

“Yes. Thanks to that, many young men and women have gathered. Among Lord Lawrence’s friends are many noble youths from influential families, and there are also many marriageable young ladies who admire Lord Lawrence.”

Since there were no people engaging in debaucherous entertainment or rash behavior within the Empress’s Palace, it became famous as a place where one could freely converse in a dignified and cultured atmosphere.

As young men and women gathered, the salon’s atmosphere naturally became bright. No matter how much gold-inlaid porcelain braziers reflected light and jeweled harps emitted brilliant light, such an atmosphere could never be created by those alone.

“It seems they’re now trying to win over the ladies-in-waiting…”

“That’s also not something that can be done in a short time.”

Artizea fell into thought. Everyone kept their mouths shut so as not to disturb her.

“How is Mother?”

“Banquets are held more frequently at the palace than before. These days, they seem to be held almost once a week. His Majesty the Emperor is spending enormous budgets to comfort the Grand Duchess of Rosan.”

Freil carefully pronounced the words “Grand Duchess of Rosan.”

He couldn’t call her Milaire in front of Artizea, and the title Grand Duchess of Rosan also felt awkward as it seemed to reveal that the relationship with Artizea hadn’t been severed.

Artizea showed no reaction to the title issue. Freil spoke quickly.

“But when you actually go to the banquets, it feels like the Grand Duchess is holding them to seduce His Majesty. Every time, the Grand Duchess personally brings new young women to His Majesty’s bedroom.”

“I see.”

Artizea was a little surprised.

She hadn’t expected that Milaire would go so far as to employ the method of bringing in other women.

Being absorbed in banquets was within her expectations.

After establishing herself as the Marchioness of Rosan and aging, she didn’t hold banquets so frequently. Her relationship with the Emperor had stabilized enough that she didn’t need to, and she had gained confidence that Milaire’s own position was solid.

Artizea also remembered the days when Milaire would dress up and hold banquets almost daily.

Although she was young and didn’t really understand what banquets were, and understood even less the meanings hidden within them.

However, she admired her gorgeously dressed mother because she was so beautiful. Artizea could still vividly recall how enchanted she felt when touching her sparkling skirt hem.

“I’m doing all this for you children.”

Milaire would say this without really thinking her words would be properly understood.

Young Artizea would nod her head earnestly. She believed it was true, and to some extent, it was also fact.

She had earned the Emperor’s anger by her very birth. If Milaire hadn’t used all her strength to recapture the Emperor’s heart at that time, she might have died before she even started walking.

Although it wasn’t something done solely for Artizea, that didn’t change the fact that she survived thanks to it.

In any case, Milaire had returned to those days.

No, she thought her position was even more dangerous than back then. Even then, she never thought to bring in other women to please the Emperor and gain favor through that.

Milaire lost the House of Rosan when she lost Artizea, and her position as the Emperor’s actual wife became precarious when she lost Lawrence.

Now the only things she could trust were her own beauty and her position as the woman favored by the Emperor.

And both of those didn’t have much time left on their expiration dates.

Artizea asked.

“What about Brother Lawrence?”

“He has never attended the palace banquets.”

“Has he never visited Mother?”

“That hasn’t happened either. Rather, the Grand Duchess has visited Lord Lawrence’s residence several times, but they don’t seem to have been very good meetings. After returning, she would drink and sleep all day, then seek out a necromancer.”

“…I see.”

As Artizea quietly fell into thought, Lisia carefully called to her.

“Your Highness.”

She assumed Artizea’s heart must be aching from her mother’s miserable situation and her brother’s cold attitude.

However, Artizea shook her head with a cold attitude.

“It’s for the best.”

“Your Highness…”

“There are no signs of His Majesty’s favor being withdrawn from the Grand Duchess.”

Freil said.

“Actually, when the Grand Duchess first started bringing in other women, there were reportedly several attempts from Countess Camellia’s side.”

If they could drive out Milaire and place their own person in her position instead, it would be an incredibly great achievement.

Even if they couldn’t succeed to that extent, it would be profitable if they could just share some of the favor poured on her.

“It wouldn’t have worked. His Majesty pities Mother.”

Sympathy is one of the most intense emotions that can be drawn from an Emperor.

For someone at the Emperor’s level, pleasure was the same no matter who provided it.

He could get any woman he wanted, and pleasure was something he didn’t even need to refuse.

Since it was about enjoying his own senses, the other party wasn’t important.

However, feeling pity was directed toward a specific target.

Milaire would know this too. No one was better at reading the Emperor’s heart than her. It was almost at an instinctual level.

But she wouldn’t be able to use the Emperor’s sympathy. Being seen as pitiful by others was what she hated most.

When Milaire became anxious, she would dress up gorgeously. Beauty was Milaire’s pride, her power, and her strongest weapon.

Dressing up was her armor. Whenever she felt shabby, she would adorn herself with jewels and wear expensive clothes. She would grit her teeth and present her most gorgeous appearance to avoid being looked down upon.

The Emperor found this lovely and also pitiful. No matter how much Milaire dressed up, she was ultimately nothing before the Emperor.

“His Majesty probably continues to hold banquets and let Mother reign like a queen because he knows it’s a way to ease Mother’s anxiety.”

There was nothing to worry about. Rather, the more pitiful Milaire became, the more the Emperor would dislike Lawrence.

And when she sensed that feeling, Milaire would become anxious again.

‘The necromancy must have fueled her anxiety.’

Milaire needed someone to depend on. But superstition could never truly play a role in stabilizing the mind.

Milaire knew that the place where she reigned was nothing but a castle of sand.

She had the anxiety that if that castle collapsed, she would tumble back into the gutter she had barely escaped. She also felt fear that she might face revenge.

And that anxiety took concrete form after meeting the necromancer.

Milaire was possessed by evil spirits she had created in her own mind. She would be somewhat relieved even while struggling so desperately.

Because it wasn’t her fault, but evil spirits cursing her that made the situation worse.

Once caught in such thoughts, she couldn’t escape on her own. Because both the anxiety and fear were created by Milaire herself.

“Anyway, let’s observe for a while. There’s no need to rush.”

“Actually, there’s something I need to tell you about that. It’s about the swindler…”

Since there were other people present, Freil spoke in a roundabout way.

“I understand.”

Without needing to hear the detailed circumstances, Artizea seemed to roughly understand and cut off his words.

Lai’s story wasn’t something that should be discussed in front of others.

Freil nodded his head.

Lai’s arrival happened immediately after that. He had been waiting nearby and came upon receiving Freil’s signal.

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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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