The Villainess Lives Twice

Cedric paused. He did not know the chief attendant’s intentions.

Until now, the chief attendant had only belonged to the Emperor.

He is the second son of a Barony, and has served Emperor Gregor since the days when he had not yet obtained the title of prince.

Now, he could hand over difficult tasks to his subordinates and enjoy wealth and glory. However, he still delivered medicine and water by the Emperor’s side.

If he wished to enjoy the power, he could do so, but he did not. Because he knew well where the Emperor’s trust and favor came from.

Such an attendant gave the information.

It was impossible for the Emperor to order him so. He doesn’t know if it’s about Grand Duke Roygar, but it’s about Lawrence.

But before Cedric could ask, the chief attendant went inside.

Cedric headed out as if nothing had happened.

There was a saying that there are eyes and ears everywhere inside the walls of the Imperial Palace. Even the forgotten caretakers and dusty rooms were no exception.

‘Lord Bellon is giving Lawrence information. Does His Majesty know?’

Cedric thought, keeping his expressionless expression.

It was the Emperor’s Guard that was imprisoning Lawrence. And perhaps among the employees, the Emperor’s secret investigators were mixed in and were monitoring.

If Bellon had secretly tried to work with Lawrence, he would have done his best to avoid the Emperor’s eyes.

The chief attendant knows that.

Does this mean that Bellon is moving according to the will of the Emperor? Or, does it mean that the Emperor knows and is acquiescing?

If not, then did he secretly whisper as he passed by so as not to inform the Emperor and only to Cedric?

The chief attendant is not an easy person in the first place.

When he came out, Freil was waiting.

Cedric beckoned him to go back.

And he said it only when he went out to the palace garden.

“Lord Bellon is passing information onto Lawrence.”

“You mean Sir Bellon of the Treasury? Then what of His Majesty?”

“I don’t know. The chief attendant passed it to me in secret.”

“The chief attendant?”

Freil widened his eyes.

Cedric asked.

“Did Tia use her hand?”

“As far as I know, she probably didn’t do anything more than the display of sincerity. But I’m not sure. There are a lot of things I don’t know about what Her Grace is doing.”

Freil replied.

“Didn’t His Majesty know that Your Grace was informed through the chief attendant?”

“Information about Lawrence? I don’t think that’s possible.”

“But the chief attendant is not one to act hastily. Maybe something has changed in His Majesty’s mind, and he thinks it’s advantageous to make a string for Your Grace.”

“He’s not a quick-witted person.”

It was like that in the past as well.

He was in a position to move power within the Imperial Palace. However, as soon as the Emperor died, he was defeated. This was even before Lawrence’s coronation.

Cedric felt remorseful. Had the chaplain not put a line on Lawrence then?

Freil said.

“Anyway, let’s talk about Sir Bellon. If His Majesty secretly leaves Sir Lawrence to organize things, he will not be doing it alone.”

“Yes.”

Many of the high-ranking officials who had been leaning towards Lawrence have changed their minds about this.

Some, including Amalie, are secretly contacting Cedric themselves.

However, there are those who have invested in Lawrence enough to not be able to change his position.

Or, there may be some who have reasons not to support Grand Duke Roygar or Cedric.

Cedric could think of a few such people.

It’s likely a rivalry with the important faction of Grand Duke Roygar, and the case of corruption with Cedric.

But now what can they do?

Without legitimacy, the future cannot be promised unless the Emperor’s favor is restored.

Freil asked.

“Can I tell Her Grace?”

“Whoo.”

Cedric sighed.

He promised her a rest, and he didn’t want her to be distracted by complicated problems again.

But that doesn’t mean he could stop talking about these important things.

Artizea’s opinion was also needed.

“I guess so. You go back first and tell Tia.”

“Where are you going, Your Grace?”

“I’m going to stop by the Chancellor’s Office and meet Chancellor Lin.”

He was going to ask about the role of guardian of the child.

He was also planning to find out about Bellon as well.

＊＊＊

When Skyla returned from her outing, Marquis Luden visited Marquisate Camellia.

From the maids, she could guess so, because they had an anxious face like a criminal.

In front of the middle door leading to the inner room, Marquis Camellia stood there with a look of restlessness.

“Father.”

As Skyla called, Marquis Camellia looked back at her with a startled face.

“Ah, Skyla. You’re back. How was the meeting with your friends? Shall we go and have a cup of tea together?”

“Did maternal grandfather come again?”

“Skyla.”

Marquis Camellia called Skyla with a perplexed face. He had a face that could not hide all his signs of weakness.

Skyla sighed a little.

Marquis Camellia loved his children. She thinks he was a good father.

But he was not someone to depend on.

Skyla sometimes thought that if her father had been a stronger person, her mother would have been better off than she is now.

Well, that’s why Marquis Luden chose such a person.

“It’s okay. Father, please go to the sunroom first.”

“Skyla.”

“My maternal grandfather is here and I have to say hello. You will tell me to do so. After I say my greeting, I’ll go there. Father, please make me some tea.”

Skyla said so, and she opened the door.

After a little hesitation Marquis Camellia followed after Skyla. Skyla didn’t bother to stop him.

The living room of Marchioness Camellia was also closed. Skyla formally knocked and opened the door.

Marquis Luden sat at the top. Marchioness Camellia was standing beside him, not in front of him, with her hands folded.

She was not a mistress serving guests, but rather the servant.

Marquis Luden turned to Skyla. He had eyes as cold as a snake.

“What rudeness.”

The voice was as cold as ice. But Skyla didn’t care and walked over to the sofa and she sat down.

And she grabbed the arm of Marchioness Camellia.

“I am so glad that my maternal grandfather is here.”

“Skyla.”

Marchioness Camellia sat down next to her, stumbling over, as she cautiously called out Skyla’s name.

“What are you doing here at a time like this? Is your aunt being stubborn again?”

Marquis Luden stared at Skyla.

Skyla pretended she didn’t know, and said, ignoring the gaze.

“When I told her that it would be difficult for my mother to go with her because of the lawsuit, she was about to cry. Even though she insisted on going to the South, she must have been anxious because she thought that she might go alone.”

“The cheeky thing.”

Marquis Luden looked at Skyla with a cold face.

He was about to rebuke Marchioness Camellia for problems with the inheritance lawsuit.

She was instructed several times at the time to get rid of the repercussions by killing them to be sure.

Still, Marchioness promised that he would have to do nothing, and she would take good care of it, so he wouldn’t worry.

So he trusted her.

Had he known she would handle things this way, he wouldn’t have done so.

It was hard for him to forgive her for not listening to what she had been told to do and for messing things up. However, he even suffered serious damage to his reputation.

At the time, the case did not come to the surface. Because it was only a fight between the children of the ex-wife and the children of the second wife.

And it was not uncommon for a spouse’s family to lend a hand for their son-in-law or their daughter-in-law.

It was not uncommon for assassinations to intervene in the inheritance process of the great nobles.

But now it is treated like a different matter than it was then.

Ian Camellia claimed that Marquis Luden, a noble, unilaterally killed and persecuted the descendants of the previous Marquis Camellia.

The argument worked convincingly, since Marquisate Camellia now had no power.

First of all, it was brought to trial. It was as if he had given permission to anyone to discuss.

At the time, it was a story that was only passed around quietly among the most powerful in the social world. In that conversation, Marquis Luden was victorious and a cunning victor.

But now, the nobles who are not related were making a fuss. Even the newspapers treated it as a scandal.

Intellectuals argued that it was normal to have such a brutal fight despite the fact that there was an inheritance lawsuit.

Even the lowly people that were curious about the inheritance of the noble family were mixed in and talked about it.

The name of Marquis Luden was tattered as if it had been lying on the street.

Because of the trial, he was not able to retaliate harshly against a few as an example.

Grand Duchess Roygar was also in trouble.

[“Is the rumor true, Father? Did father really kill the people of his family to make brother-in-law the marquis?”]

Grand Duchess Roygar asked, with her eyes wide open in disbelief.

His daughter was the only one who believed it was a false rumor no matter what scandal circulates in the social world.

But maybe she was saying that she is an adult now, so she listened to the outside rumors and immersed herself in useless thoughts.

Marquis Luden could not arbitrarily say anything to Grand Duchess Roygar, unlike anyone else.

As the future Empress, isn’t she a jewel that was carefully cultivated by Marquis Luden?

He managed to calm her down, but when Skyla tried to threaten him with her, he couldn’t tolerate it.

Even as Marquis Luden stared at her coldly, Skyla smiled.

“I can’t help it. My aunt was around mother almost all her life. She’s not just going on a trip to the South, she’s going on an important political campaign, and how anxious she must be if I say that my mother can’t go with her.”

Skyla’s intonation was as soft and graceful as singing.

She was the perfect lady figure enough to compliment her as usual. Of course he couldn’t do that now.

Marquis Luden looked at Skyla fiercely. But he could not rebuke her any further and stood up from his seat.

“I’ll just go back. Make sure you take good care of it.”

“Yes, father. Don’t worry.”

Marchioness Camellia answered with an uncomfortable face.

Marchioness Camellia went out to see Marquis Luden off.

Then, Marchioness Camellia looked at Skyla and sighed.

“What rude behavior is this?”

“It’s my grandfather’s side who is rude.”

Skyla said sharply.