The Villainess Lives Twice

Lawrence sat and stared into the air without turning on the lights in the study.

It had been three weeks since he was brought and imprisoned in his home.

The Guard soldiers guarded the inside and outside. Lawrence could speak to them, but by what order they had been given, there was no reply like a stone statue.

He was free to act in the house.

The meal came out as luxuriously as before. He was not disturbed wherever he went. He could be alone in the bedroom.

The management of the mansion was flawless, and in the morning the attendant came to change his clothes.

However, going out into the garden was also forbidden.

There were no visitors, and no one to carry the news.

The butler didn’t show up. Not just the butlers, but most of the senior employees.

They were probably taken away for investigation. Lawrence could have guessed.

Even if they are not charged, they will never come back. It also has a purpose of preventing him from communicating with the outside world.

Lawrence didn’t talk to maids or servants from the beginning.

However, as the attendant and butler to whom he spoke directly disappeared, he felt that fact anew.

When the soldiers didn’t say anything and there was no one to talk to, he didn’t open his mouth all day long.

“Whoo.”

Lawrence sighed as he poured his drink himself.

There must be some among the soldiers who observe him and report to the ones above.

However, he did not receive an answer to his request to call a superior who could speak to him.

Whether it’s Gayan or Keyshore, he’d have to meet any one of the Guards before he could do anything, but that possibility was blocked at the source.

‘Are you planning on killing me like this, Father?’

He wouldn’t have the guts to do that.

Lawrence snorted.

The Emperor had no other option than him.

One of the two half-brothers, fearing the capital’s political and social circles early on, fled to a distant provincial town.

Countess Eunice was greedy in her own way, but after regaining favor from her father and gaining some exclusive interests, she was satisfied there.

Grand Duke Roygar complained that his childhood was ruled by fear, and as he grew up he was deprived of his rightful rights. There was no way he could reconcile with the Emperor now.

So will he raise Cedric?

‘…….’

It felt like a possibility.

When the story of the Southern Conquest Army first came out, he remembered what the Emperor had said.

[“You are not qualified. Cedric, of course, but Roygar is worse.”]

If those words were sincere, it was true that the Emperor had high regard for Cedric.

Power comes from the tip of the sword. Cedric already has his sword.

Lawrence had a headache. He stopped thinking.

He couldn’t judge anything without communicating with the outside anyway.

But, like every day, his headache was severe. Lawrence couldn’t tell if it was the same migraine that Miraila suffered from, or if it was just stress.

That was then.

A servant quietly opened the door and entered without permission. And left the cheese plate behind.

Lawrence pulled the plate. There was a small note attached to the bottom of the plate.

[The Southern Conquest Army plans to attack Eimmel. Commander-in-Chief General Boyden. The special envoy is Grand Duke Roygar.]

Lawrence crumpled the note.

If so, it means that Cedric remains in the capital.

Whatever the case in the South is, one thing is certain; it will take a long time.

It takes months just to lead the army back and forth. Considering that negotiations with other countries would take place, it could take at least half a year, or at most a year or more.

In the meantime, Cedric can inflate enough of his own power in the capital.

‘If this is what Father is aiming for, then Grand Duke Roygar must have made a mistake in his judgment.’

The faithful are hard to obtain, but those who seek profit are everywhere.

So, it is unquestionably clear who can more easily usurp the opponent’s sphere of influence.

And Cedric has already begun to compromise.

Lawrence thought so and burned the note with the candle.

Despite the headache, he was quick to judge and changed the way he thought.

It was as if there was ice inside his head.

He wasn’t quite sure how it came to be. Maybe, it’s because he’s really in trouble.

But whether Grand Duke Roygar was at fault or not, or whatever Cedric did or not, now that Lawrence had lost his favor, he could not do anything.

According to the law, he is still not recognized as a bloodline of Krates.

It wasn’t until he couldn’t turn back that Lawrence realized it.

＊＊＊

After dinner, Artizea was resting comfortably in the living room.

Until something happened on Grand Duke Roygar’s part, Artizea’s side had nothing to do for the time being.

She was going to check the situation and make sure nothing unexpected happened.

Cedric was sitting with a headache over the homework Ansgar had brought him.

He first had to rewrite his will.

Since Artizea has no parents, he had to select several people, except for the nanny, who could act as patrons and guardians of the baby in case of emergency.

He had to ask not only the vassals of Grand Duchy Evron, but also the reliable great nobles of the capital.

She will give birth in the capital, so she must remain in the capital until the baby grows up to some extent.

“First of all, I will ask Chancellor Lin.”

“It’s a good appointment.”

“To Countess Martha.”

“Not bad. It is less burdensome than speaking directly to the Empress.”

“Next to General Ain and Sir Clancy.”

“If Lord Cedric thinks they are reliable, then they’re fine.”

“Aren’t you willing to think with me?”

Cedric asked lamentingly.

When he thought about choosing, most of them leaned toward the military.

He didn’t know if this was the right choice for the baby.

“I’ve never had a relationship with someone with mutual trust in each other like that. Even if there is, it’s just a friendship that shouldn’t be revealed to anyone.”

When Artizea said so, he had nothing else to say.

He also had to form a new guard force. Just because she had a baby, he couldn’t unconditionally let Artizea’s escort go.

It had to have several limbs so that it could continue to function even if one was cut off.

Remaining vassals of the Duchy also wanted to see the face of their young new Master, so they had to be allowed to come to the capital in turns.

“I know you decide on Hayley as a nanny, but wouldn’t it be better to leave it to someone older, even formally?”

“Because having someone else as a nanny, even formally, won’t let Hayley make decisions about important things.”

Artizea let out a small sigh.

Had nothing happened, Margaret would have naturally been called in to be the nanny.

It would have been nice to do so and ask Hayley to do several other things.

But he is now unable to do so.

Being in charge of nurturing an heir is a powerful position. If the position and real power were dualized, a dispute would arise if anything happened to Artizea herself.

“Let me think about it a little more. Hayley doesn’t seem to mind either.”

“Yes. I told Ansgar to tell me if there’s anyone he can recommend. I plan to add a couple more ladies-in-waiting.”

“Have you thought of anyone?”

“The Belmond family’s Hazel is smart, so I would recommend her. I think it would be fine to establish a formal relationship with Lady Mielle.”

“You’re thinking of Sir Keyshore.”

“It may seem a little complicated, but for a child, Sir Keyshore is a man worth noting.”

As she was talking like so, a maid knocked on the door.

“Lysia is here, Your Grace.”

Artizea, who was half lying comfortably on the sofa, got her body up.

Then she looked at Cedric involuntarily.

When she learned that he had his memories, she couldn’t help but be more conscious of Lysia.

Cedric didn’t realize why she was looking at him at first. But he only noticed that Artizea pretended to be okay and turned her eyes again.

“Ah.”

“Tell her to come in.”

Artizea spoke first.

Soon the door opened.

Lysia was dressed in simple trousers and a shirt with an evening shawl. There was depth in her face.

This was often the case.

For a while it seemed that she didn’t even have much of an appetite. She often went out to ride her horse alone, avoiding people.

Hayley was worried. She would have been mad that they had been disloyal if someone else had done so, but it was Lysia and she wasn’t the person who would be like that for no reason.

She was also concerned about Artizea, but she left it alone.

Artizea knew that Lysia had almost turned her heart to Lawrence.

She didn’t know why Lysia felt that way.

She didn’t even want to go into detail. She was afraid that she might touch Lysia’s memory.

Lysia may have been attracted to him for a moment because Lawrence is handsome. In fact, it was very common among the ladies.

But she didn’t even know that maybe it was Lysia’s old times, when she tried to love him, were subconsciously influencing her.

Artizea felt guilty for not doing anything.

It was because she couldn’t tell if it was right not to touch, or if she just wanted to avoid it.

Lysia politely greeted Cedric and Artizea in turn.

“What happened?”

Artizea asked cautiously.

Lysia had a soft smile on her pale lips. Artizea looked at her lips again and again.

She’s always had fair-toned lips, but she looked pale after a few weeks.

“I have something I want to ask you, Your Grace.”

“What is it?”

“I want to go back to the West.”

Artizea could not hide her surprise and looked at Lysia.

“You entrusted me with the Western Rebirth Project. I went back on my own…….”

“Lysia…….”

“His Grace has returned, so I think I can go. It’s time to start planning the harvest soon. I want to complete the job.”

Artizea was hesitant to answer.

There was a feeling of wanting Lysia to be by her side, a feeling of lingering behind, and a complicated feeling of whether this was because of Lawrence.

Then Cedric said.

“Tell her to do that.”

Artizea looked at Cedric in surprise.