The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 99

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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 99

The first place Artizea showed her face in the capital was the Empress’s Palace. As the Empress’s maid, it was naturally the proper thing to do.

The atmosphere in the Empress’s Palace had changed somewhat from before.

There hadn’t been any major physical changes. The palace garden had been beautiful when the Empress had turned it into a tomb for the living, and it still was now.

But the atmosphere was quite different. When Countess Marta’s salon was held, part of the garden was also opened to the salon guests.

New buds had sprouted on the branches that had been bare all winter, and the garden was beginning to turn light green. The magnolia buds that had formed early seemed more vibrant than last year after breathing the outside air.

The Empress took Artizea out to the garden. It served two purposes: to get some sun, and to show who the Duchess of Evron had visited first in the capital.

Of course, the actual conversation that took place could hardly be called affectionately warm.

“There was quite a commotion about a war in the Evron Duchy, so is it alright for you to return alone like this?”

The Empress’s voice was stiff and cold. It wasn’t because she was worried about the Evron Duchy.

To the Empress in the Imperial Palace in the capital, the war in the Evron Duchy was nothing more than a distant affair. Even if they were defeated, she didn’t think the entire Evron Duchy would be breached.

Even if it were breached, there was the Allia Wall after that. The possibility of the capital being in danger was slim.

In fact, she wouldn’t care much even if the Allia Wall was breached and the Empire fell into crisis.

So her question was asked as an investor. Not as the Empress.

Artizea answered gently.

“I’m not particularly useful in military matters. Even if I sat in the fortress and shared fate with the people of the Evron Duchy, it would mean nothing more than wasting resources by creating one more person they’d have to protect.”

“Well, your purpose isn’t to become an excellent duchess.”

The Empress muttered this while fingering the fox fur stole draped over her shoulders.

This stole, which realistically reproduced an almost complete fox face like a lifelike doll, was very long. Even with the head resting on the Empress’s nape, it was so long that it ran down her back to her hips.

It could be used as a scarf when cold, but today’s weather wasn’t cold enough to warrant wearing a fur stole.

The Empress fingered the fox fur. The texture against her hand was excellent. When she touched around the ears, it felt like touching a real fox or puppy.

Of course, it was a tribute gift that Artizea had brought from the Evron Duchy.

Part of Artizea’s purpose in requesting the walk was to make it visible to others.

“Is it true though?”

“It’s true that Karam crossed the Thold Mountains, and that siege weapons appeared. His Majesty’s spies probably reported it too. Others must be busy trying to verify the truth.”

Artizea answered leisurely. Since there were no lies, there was nothing to feel guilty about or to scheme separately.

The Evron Ducal Residence appeared quiet on the surface, but underneath it was very busy right now. There were more than a few people trying to intercept or steal the employees’ letters.

When coming here, Artizea had brought quite a few letters that those in the Evron Duchy had entrusted to her to deliver to employees or knights in the capital.

She couldn’t bring items due to the weight burden on the hurried schedule, but she could handle letters.

Artizea had opened and checked all of them without leaving a trace. She was concerned that secrets might leak out.

It would be better if no rumors at all spread about the Karam crop problem or what Cadriole had done.

However, she didn’t interfere with the incident where Karam had crossed the mountains and launched attacks without passing through the Thold Gate, or about the siege weapons. She also didn’t stop the ducal residence employees from worrying and whispering about it.

“I see.”

The Empress replied and put down the hand that had been fingering the fox fur.

People could be seen beyond the garden where warm sunlight was shining.

They must be curious about what conversation was taking place here. However, no one could approach.

“Aren’t you anxious?”

“About Lord Sedric being defeated?”

“Yes.”

The Empress glanced at Artizea.

“No matter how much he’s called the Empire’s Shield or an undefeated general, he’s still human in the end. Since Sedric tends to take the lead, couldn’t something unexpected happen if he goes to the front lines?”

“That’s true.”

Artizea murmured as if talking to herself.

The Empress was right. But strangely, Artizea wasn’t worried.

Was it because the current war situation wasn’t actually a full-scale war? Or was it because she knew he had faced enemies in even more difficult situations without losing?

Artizea said.

“But even if you told him not to do that and stay in the rear, he’s not someone who would listen. It’s not simply because of youthful vigor or impulse, but because Lord Sedric believes that doing so is his duty.”

“Hmm….”

“Taking the lead, protecting his people and subjects even at the cost of his life, not retreating in battle and fulfilling his responsibilities—that’s the reason Lord Sedric receives loyalty and gathers popular support, and it’s also the image he wants to show his subordinates, so I have no intention of interfering.”

To Artizea’s answer, the Empress gave no reply and only continued walking.

For a while, the two simply walked in the sunlight. The neatly maintained path was covered with soft earth.

Artizea looked at the Empress’s profile from half a step behind. The Empress had a lonely expression.

But that look soon disappeared too.

“I heard you brought several maids from the Evron Duchy?”

“Yes. I don’t have any trustworthy people from my family otherwise. I don’t have friends either.”

“….”

The Empress stared blankly into space for a moment.

“If my daughter had been alive, I would have made her your friend.”

“If Her Imperial Highness the Princess had been alive, Your Majesty the Empress would never have allowed someone like me to set foot on the palace grounds.”

“That’s also true.”

The Empress smiled bitterly.

In the Empress’s heart, the Princess remained forever fifteen years old. But if she had been alive, she would have been much older than Artizea, making friendship difficult.

And even if Artizea hadn’t been born as Milaire’s daughter, it was unknowable whether she would have decided to be loyal to the dead Princess.

“I’ll visit you soon with my maids. They’re not of high status, nor are they particularly witty, but they’re excellent ladies with proper conduct and kind hearts, so Your Majesty will surely find them endearing.”

Artizea said this respectfully.

Lisia would surely be able to comfort the Empress’s heart sufficiently. Setting aside profit and such things, she would treat her warmly with a pure heart.

“If they’re retainers of the Evron Duchy, they must be trustworthy. Unlike you.”

Artizea smiled.

The Empress asked.

“Now that you’ve even been on your honeymoon, you can officially be active in society as the Duchess of Evron. What do you plan to do first?”

That question wasn’t about matters they both already knew about, such as extracting supplies.

It also wasn’t about matters Artizea would handle personally or duchy affairs like the grain merchant alliance problem.

The Empress was asking how she would use the power structure she had laid out through Countess Marta’s salon over the winter.

It was also a demand to pay the price for her moving according to Artizea’s thoughts.

Artizea answered gently.

“I’m thinking of preparing Your Majesty the Empress’s birthday celebration.”

The Empress wasn’t surprised. She had thought that might be why Artizea returned before March.

Her birthday was around the end of March. If they started preparing now, it would be tight but not impossible.

“It would be a birthday party after 19 years.”

The Empress answered thus.

At that time, Lisia was at Countess Marta’s salon.

Artizea had tried to leave her behind when coming to the Empress’s Palace. Lisia couldn’t allow that.

Hailey had gone elsewhere on an errand, but she had no other assigned duties. So naturally, she had to perform basic attendance as Artizea’s maid.

There was also what Sedric had said about not leaving her side. Lisia was somehow very concerned about those words.

So she followed. But she wasn’t permitted to have an audience with the Empress together.

Her mistress was having a private meeting with the Empress. There was no reason to feel hurt that she wasn’t taken along.

In fact, Lisia was also a little relieved. She wasn’t very confident in court etiquette.

Countess Marta, the Empress’s maid, guided Lisia to the salon. Then she immediately returned to attend to the Empress.

Lisia was left alone in the salon where she knew no one.

‘Ugh… This is difficult…’

The social circle in the Evron Duchy consisted of retainers gathering to greet each other and build friendships among similar age groups.

They would dance and be introduced to people newly appointed as knights or officials, but rather than a social circle, it felt more like a family gathering or hometown association.

This was her first time in a place with only strangers.

Moreover, everyone was so beautiful and elegant that it was dazzling. It was exciting, but difficult.

A girl around Lisia’s age was playing piano. Several people stood beside her, conversing together.

On one side, they were enthusiastically debating poetry. On another side, they had opened a large book and were sharing their impressions.

Lisia couldn’t participate in anything and stood against the wall, unnecessarily examining her own appearance.

When first preparing to go out, she had worried whether her day dress was too fancy. She had confirmed with Sophie four times whether it was appropriate.

But coming here, it was neither too fancy nor too modest, just about right in the middle.

‘I should thank Sophie when I get home.’

She made up her mind and moved toward the table where refreshments were prepared.

It seemed like eating something would look better than doing nothing at all.

‘Ah, this is delicious!’

When she bit into the cookie, it had a fragrant fruit flavor she had never tasted in her entire life.

Would it be embarrassing to take one or two of these? But she wanted Artizea to taste them too.

What if she took just two, gave one to Artizea, and if she said it was delicious, asked the kitchen to make the rest exactly the same?

No, she should take three. She had to give one to Sophie too.

She discreetly pulled out her handkerchief so no one would notice.

“Excuse me.”

A young man who approached the table to pick up a water bottle looked at Lisia.

Lisia fumbled to cover up her action of wrapping cookies in her handkerchief and unconsciously gave him her attention. Then she unknowingly forgot to breathe.

The man had delicate yet splendid beauty. He was like a lovely statue of a boy god placed in a garden.

It was Lawrence.

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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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