The Villainess Lives Twice

Cedric comforted her.

“Lysia is fine. Do not worry. I said this because I thought you should know. I didn’t mean for you to worry.”

Cedric said, gently caressing Artizea’s cheek.

“I will write her a letter. You and the baby are healthy. She will be delighted.”

“Yes…….”

“If Lysia had blessed you without your knowledge, it would have been because she wanted you to be healthy. Do you understand?”

Artizea laboriously nodded her head.

And as she walked through her thoughts about Lysia, this time real concerns came to mind.

“Please find and let me know where Brother Colton is.”

“I have already contacted him. Because he knew you, and got you help last time.”

For Cedric and Artizea themselves, it was clear that the blessing of healing had only moved to save Artizea, who was in critical condition.

But what about others?

It was not yet the time when Lysia received the oracle and appeared as the Saintess. The miracle that appeared after 200 years, even though it happened at the altar of the Harvest Festival, could not be overlooked at the temple.

Even the gentle and neutral Archbishop had twinkling in his eyes.

Cedric had no intention of letting Artizea and the baby be exploited in any way.

“Don’t worry. Akim’s problem has just ended. Even the temple won’t come out to the extreme.”

They were going to try to use it for propaganda, but he left that out on purpose.

Fortunately, Grand Duke Roygar is in the South. The Emperor would certainly take this as a political matter, but he did not say that either.

Anyway, from the moment the heir was born, he was at risk. The Emperor already knew very well that children were very effective as hostages.

But there is nothing urgent to think about.

“I will protect you and my daughter. So, think about getting a good rest and recovering your body.”

“Yes…….”

Cedric lightly kissed Artizea’s dry lips.

＊＊＊

The great temple recorded the story of the divine blessing descending on the altar of the harvest festival as an official document, and sent messages to the temples and monasteries to inform them.

Word of mouth was faster than that. More than a thousand people witnessed it firsthand. In less than a day, it had spread throughout the capital.

And in about a month, it would have spread all over the central region.

Aside from major ceremonies such as the New Year’s Festival and the Harvest Festival, other worship services were not normally held at the great temple.

But this year was different. From that evening onwards, small-scale ceremonies and services were held continuously.

Other temples also held worship services in gratitude for the grace, and chant continued throughout the day and night in the monastery.

Devotees prayed in the temple all night long.

Even those who were not active believers, even those who were not particularly ardent, light candles with reverence.

Donations lined up. Offerings skyrocketed, and treasures were offered. In the hope that the blessings of the Harvest Festival would fall on their land, they also dedicated a portion of the annual produce.

At the same time, praise for Grand Duchy Evron continued.

“Is the child born with grace the next Grand Duke Evron?”

“The Grand Duke did not lose his upright and straight character even after he lost his parents when he was young, so God is also blessing him.”

“It is said that not only in the North, but in the West as well, Grand Duke Evron is served as a pillar.”

“He is a hero who has protected humans from both Karam and monsters, so there is no one more faithful to God’s will than that.”

“So is the Grand Duchess. She donated the huge farmland she had in the West to the temple and used it to help the poor.”

“It is because of her that the western part of the country has had a good harvest this year.”

As these stories were told and retold, excitement and anticipation spread together.

And the expectation at the end was this.

“How great will a baby born with such grace be?”

There were people who couldn’t talk about it like other people.

Gayan said worriedly to Amalie.

“It’s too early. Will His Majesty not be vigilant? Do you not know how much Evron will respond?”

“It’s only been two days now, isn’t it?”

“Is the temple burning with this?”

“Because they can’t bury what actually happened.”

Amalie sighed.

“Besides, isn’t Her Grace still ill?”

“My wife gave birth and she was already well on the second day, even though it’s her first childbirth. Her Grace was still kept in her sickbed.”

“Don’t say it so easily. Will your wife say she can attend the meeting on the second day?”

At Amalie’s words, Gayan bit his lips. Amalie spoke again.

“Isn’t Her Grace weak by nature? Besides, they said she had an open surgery.”

It was by no means common to have a baby removed by surgery. It was only done when it was decided that the mother was in danger of dying if they did not do so.

It came to such a situation. Even if the wounds in the incisions were well closed and healing, they would have suffered serious damage to the body.

Gayan said, surprised.

“That I didn’t know. Is Her Grace safe?”

“It’s fortunate that the recovery is going smoothly.”

Amalie answered.

She received no further information. Now, the Grand Duke’s residence was guarded without a leak.

People were also banned from entering. Merchants who supplied food were also prohibited from entering, so the servants went to the store in the morning.

There was not one or two people snooping around saying they wanted to see the Blessed Grand Duchess and the princess.

It was only a little noisy, but it’s not a big deal.

But there was no guarantee that there would not be a fanatical believer.

It was a bigger problem when someone pretending to be a fanatic and trying to work a trick appeared.

“Because it became a burden for Grand Duke Roygar.”

It wasn’t strange that he had made the decision to get rid of her in one day.

The right to succession to the throne is not governed by public opinion.

But the grace of God goes beyond customs and laws. What more legitimacy than God’s choice?

Even more so if they were blessed as a fruit at birth.

Amalie said with a serious face.

“To be honest, I am not concerned about Grand Duke Roygar. Grand Duke Roygar is in the South, and even if someone from that faction decides to act, it will be difficult to break through the defense of the mansion now and harm the princess.”

“Well, that’s right.”

But the two didn’t talk about issues that really bothered them.

It was because they did not dare to speak of doubts about the Emperor.

* * *

Marquis Luden thought the rumors were nonsense.

[“I know you want to think of it as a scam or a play. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it.”]

But he couldn’t help but believe what Marchioness Camellia said to him. There was no way she could have been swept away by petty delusions or by collective hallucinations.

But if it’s God’s grace, it just sounded crazy.

The last saint appeared 200 years ago. People’s memories were overlaid with the colors of legend. Enough time had passed for what was said to be evidence to lose credibility.

It was an era of atheism. There were not a few people who thought that sincere religious faith was something that only the elderly had.

So did Marquis Luden. He was not an active atheist. He also didn’t think that he was worthy of faith.

Now, at the Harvest Festival, a divinity has appeared? He couldn’t understand it, and that shouldn’t be the case.

‘It’s troublesome.’

But it has already happened. Marquis Luden had no intention of questioning the authenticity.

It will just put the temple at the center of the debate and inflate the rumors even more.

The inflated rumors will strengthen the temple and cause the devotees to attack Marquis Luden.

Rather than doing such meaningless work, it was more productive to just reduce the aftermath and think about the future.

“His Majesty the Emperor Gregor Avanasi Nestor, who became the sun of the earth with the pillar of Krates, the scepter and orb from the gods, enters.”

Even knowing that Marquis Luden was alone, the reception room attendant spoke loudly.

Marquis Luden struggled to straighten the small wrinkles between his brow and stood up from his seat.

It goes without saying that the official title is to be shouted at official events or for the suppression of the audience at such a simple interview.

The Emperor strode into the reception room. Marquis Luden knelt down and bowed politely.

“Luden’s Pavel is here for an audience with the Imperial Sun.”

“Get up. Aren’t Sir and my knees in danger?”

Said the Emperor with a smirk.

It didn’t sound very pleasant, but Marquis Luden stood up immediately. In fact, his knees hurt.

The Emperor offered a seat. Marquis Luden sat down cautiously and asked politely.

“What did you call me for?”

It’s been a really long time since he’s been alone with the Emperor.

The Emperor picked up the teacup and took a sip. Although there was little change in his expression on the surface, Marquis Luden could see that he was preoccupied with complex thoughts.

Finally, said the Emperor.

“About what happened at the Harvest Festival.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t do anything.”

Marquis Luden had to try hard not to frown.

“What was I going to do? It is the temple side that is doing something.”

“I witnessed the manifestation of a miracle in front of me that day.”

“No way that Grand Duke Evron’s daughter was truly chosen by God. You don’t mean to say that, are you?”

“You are exaggerating, Marquis. There is nothing to be wary of already.”

“Your Majesty.”

“It means don’t deny what happened in front of my eyes. While I was watching from the altar during the Harvest Festival, God’s favor was bestowed upon the newly born imperial family’s member. A grace that has never been bestowed in two hundred years.”

Marquis Luden could not directly counter that statement.

After 200 years, blessing was bestowed on the rites the Emperor held. If he denied it, he could be denying the reign of the Emperor.

Of course neither the Emperor nor Marquis Luden knew whether or not God had blessed the Emperor’s reign.

But he couldn’t say that outright.

Marquis Luden reluctantly bowed his head.

＊＊＊

“You have a bad complexion, Marquis.”

Marquis Luden’s secretary, who was waiting at the entrance of the Imperial Palace, asked with a cautious face.

“Damn it.”

Marquis Luden spit out swear words and walked out quickly.

There was another meaning when the Emperor said “the imperial family’s member” who had been blessed with grace. Marquis Luden sniffed a conspiracy.

But there was nothing to be done there.

“What about him?”

“He’s here.”

Saying so, the secretary opened the carriage door.

The carriage waiting was different from the one he was riding on when he came. To the floor higher than the normal carriage, Marquis Luden stepped on the small footstool and climbed into it with all his might.

The secretary got on and closed the door.

Then he turned over the carpet on the floor of the carriage and put his finger into the hole in the board and pulled it as hard as possible.

“Upph! Heupp!”

Ian Camellia tied tightly in an empty space created under the floor of the carriage.