The Villainess Lives Twice

Eventually, Marchioness Camellia informed Count Brennan the location of the safe house.

It was to match the information Count Brennan knew with what was actually happening.

The fact that Marquis Luden abducts Ian and returns him safely suggests several things.

‘It’s not easy to kidnap without a trace. He can’t do it twice.’

If he decides to remove Ian, it makes the most sense to remove him this time.

The decision not to do so means that Marquis Luden decided to use Ian, and in that case, the only opponent is Marchioness Camellia herself.

“Have you made up your mind?”

Count Brennan asked.

Marchioness Camellia looked at her with blank eyes.

“I need to check some more.”

She could not rely solely on Count Brennan for information. Cross-validation was mandatory.

Even if Lawrence was ousted, the succession structure was not established for Grand Duke Roygar.

Cedric is different from Lawrence, who has a big weakness. He was rather difficult to push out in the sense that he had popular and military support.

The prospect of Cedric becoming a new competitor might have been a sensitive concern for Marchioness Camellia.

It was clear that the Emperor would lift him up and contain Grand Duke Roygar. But Cedric himself has never expressed such greed.

But in the last few days, the position has changed dramatically. Because of what happened at the Harvest Festival.

Now, even if Cedric isn’t greedy, the world won’t let him do that.

To make a princess blessed by God the future emperor.

“Now is not the time to stir up a strife.”

“You seem to have forgotten which one is urgent, Marchioness.”

Count Brennan responded to the words of Marchioness Camellia.

“Count…….”

“There is no reason to fight Marquis Luden now. However, if I had to choose between Marquisate Camellia and Marquisate Luden, I would only help Marquisate Camellia because I think that the one whose survival will benefit the Grand Duke.”

Count Brennan smiled as Marchioness Camellia grabbed the hem of her shawl.

＊＊＊

Artizea was very ill for three days.

The place for the surgery was quickly healed. But the stomach pain was unavoidable. When she was in extreme pain, she screamed in pain.

Cedric hardly slept during those three days.

The baby is taken care of by Ansgar and its wet nurse, and a doctor and a midwife are next to Artizea.

In fact, all he could do was rub her stomach as the midwife told him to do.

However, the baby cries frequently in the nursery, and Artizea’s pain did not stop at night.

So Colton, who visited ten days after that, could not help but be surprised.

“You are emaciated, Grand Duke.”

“It seems like I haven’t slept in a few days. Thank you for your concern.”

Cedric patted the baby on the back and thanked him.

Brother Colton was invited to the nursery.

It was still a little too early. However, it was not uncommon for a child to be blessed by a trusted priest.

That was not the purpose of Brother Colton’s visit, but it served as an appropriate excuse for the outside world.

The baby burped. Cedric put the towel on his shoulder and put the baby in a more comfortable position.

Brother Colton looked at the baby’s face and smiled.

“She looks like Grand Duke.”

“Really?”

He himself didn’t know very well, so Cedric answered awkwardly, stroking his cheek.

“If she’s as healthy as I am, I can’t ask for anything.”

“There is nothing more precious than good health. How is the Grand Duchess?”

Cedric sighed.

“She’s a little bit better now. But just two or three days ago, it was a big deal. I thought the pains only existed during labor.”

“It is about cutting one’s own body and bringing a new life into the world. Could it be easy?”

Cedric nodded at Brother Colton’s words.

“You want to have a naming ceremony next week.”

“That’s right.”

Cedric stood up, holding the baby in one arm. And he handed the card he had prepared in advance to Brother Colton himself.

Brother Colton pulled out a card from the envelope with a dark blue seal.

The baby’s name was written inside.

[“Leticia Maureen Evron”]

It was just last night that Cedric finally decided on a name for the baby. There was still a pile of papers with names of candidates on the desk.

Brother Colton said with a soft smile.

“It means happiness and love. It’s a good name.”

“It was not easy to coin it without taking the name of our ancestors and avoiding excessive expectations from those around us.”

“But isn’t next week too soon? The naming ceremony can be done as long as it’s within a month, so it would be better to prepare a little more. The princess is in good health, and Her Grace’s body must not be in a good condition, so she will not be able to hold a big event.”

“There is an opinion that it would be better to finalize the will as soon as possible. And if it’s late, there will be people who will give me a name instead.”

Cedric smiled bitterly.

Brother Colton looked embarrassed when he understood whom he was talking about.

While they were talking like that, the door opened slightly. There was no sound in the nursery. He was afraid that something like a knock or a screech would make the baby cry, so a cloth was padded over the door.

Alice checked inside, looked silently on Cedric and Brother Colton, and opened the door wide.

Artizea, with a cane and support from Sophie, walked in cautiously.

Brother Colton stood up from his seat, made a cross toward her and greeted her.

“It’s nice to see you in good health, Her Grace.”

“Thank you for coming, Brother Colton. As you can see, I can’t move my body at will, so please forgive me if I act against etiquette.”

“No. You are not feeling well, but thank you for meeting me like this.”

“It was nothing. I asked for it.”

Cedric walked over to Artizea.

“Are you okay? We’re just going to go to your living room.”

“It is said that the person who walks recovers faster. And we have to look at the blessings the monk has given us.”

Artizea said, lightly stroking Leticia’s cheek with her index finger.

The mistress’ bedroom and the nursery room were in the same hallway, but even that level of walking was not yet easy.

Sophie and Alice supported Artizea by her sides and leaned her back in the comfy chair.

Cedric tried to put the baby in Artizea’s arms.

Her eyelids trembled and her mouth babbled. Cedric quickly grabbed the baby again and patted her.

Then the baby smiled. Artizea smiled unknowingly.

“Now, you are holding her well.”

“I am still a little anxious. I thought she might break if I held her wrong.”

As he said that, Cedric again placed Leticia on his arm and shook her lightly like a cradle.

Just because he had a baby, he was not able to take a break from work. During the day he had to work as the Secretary of State, and in his spare time he had to watch Grand Duchy Evron’s work.

He never knew when an emergency might arise, so he was trying to hold her a lot when he had time.

Still, perhaps the effort was worth it, the baby showed a good response to Cedric’s voice.

Leticia fell asleep not long after. Cedric carefully placed the baby in the cradle.

Brother Colton took holy oil from his arms and walked over.

“I don’t think the Princess will need such a blessing, but…….”

“No. Please.”

Neither Artizea nor Cedric believe in the sacredness of the temple’s sacraments. But there was nothing bad about it.

One way or another, it is a wish for the health and happiness of the child. They would be happy to receive anything.

Brother Colton anointed the baby’s forehead and cheeks with oil. As he put his hands together, the wet nurse and the maids fell to their knees.

Cedric and Artizea also joined hands.

The prayer for the newborn baby ended briefly.

Cedric looked into the cradle for a moment and said.

“Then let us move.”

He didn’t know when she would wake up and start crying again, so they shouldn’t discuss it in the nursery.

Leaving the baby to the wet nurse, Cedric personally supported Artizea.

The three returned to Artizea’s living room.

Artizea leaned her body against the cushioned sofa, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

Alice brought her water.

“Make sure the door is locked, and keep the front door. There is no need for refreshments.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Alice closed the door one last time and went out.

Artizea asked only then.

“How is the temple these days? All I heard was that they were holding a special service several times.”

“We are still holding worship services for believers who are purely rejoicing that a miracle has been revealed. There was talk of raising the thanksgiving ceremony, but I suggested that we postpone it for now.”

Brother Colton said. And made excuses for the temple instead.

“There are very few instances in which miracles have been so clearly manifested in rituals. The temple does not know the actual facts, and they are only doing what they know.”

“Brother…….”

Cedric hesitated.

It was because they thought that the “actual facts” that Brother Colton said was that Lysia was a saintess.

If so, does Brother Colton have any memories?

If that was true, Brother Colton couldn’t have acted out in favor of Artizea, considering their old relationship. Cooperation was even more absurd.

Brother Colton looked at Artizea. Artizea hesitated a little.

But it was time for her to speak.

“I had an oracle.”

Cedric didn’t immediately understand what that meant.

Brother Colton thought it was because Cedric didn’t believe her, so he added.

“It is true. Through this body, God has called the Grand Duchess directly.”

“No, I don’t mean that I don’t believe it.”

Cedric looked at Artizea with a confused face.

“Is that possible?”

“Since it actually happened, I don’t think it can be said that it is impossible. However, it wasn’t my ability that appeared at the Harvest Festival. I want to make that clear to Brother Colton as well.”

“Then…….”

“Don’t make assumptions. Because I can assure you that any thoughts Brother has just come up with are not true. God does not protect the saint.”

Brother Colton bit his mouth.

Artizea looked at Cedric and said.

“I have no power. The contents of the oracle also do not seem to be significant. For now.”

Artizea took a deep breath without speaking.

“Why I’ve been hiding it so far is because I don’t want to waste energy and increase risk on issues that I have practically no role to play.”

“Tia…….”

“However, this has to be fixed. I am going to announce that I am a saintess.”

It was better to risk herself than for Leticia to be in danger.