The Villainess Lives Twice

It was no longer necessary to think now that the healing powers were exposed to the eyes of so many people on the altar of the Harvest Festival.

It has already happened

Without it, Artizea would have died. In all likelihood, Leticia would not have seen the light of the world.

However, a risk has arisen.

Attracting attention carries its own risks.

The saint was granted nothing else, but God’s grace.

Even Lysia, who was Baron Morten’s Heir Apparent, had to go through numerous checks and dangers after becoming a saint. Even before Artizea forged the oracle.

It is known that Grand Princess Evron received the equivalent.

From the moment she was born, she already assumed both political significance and danger.

Even while in the womb, the Emperor made it clear from his mouth that she was an imperial family.

It is true that the main culprit died abruptly, but it is also true that those who put them in danger were defined as treason.

Whatever the cause, in the end, it all imprinted on the people that Leticia was an imperial family.

It was fine up until that point. It was also an opportunity to let people know that Cedric has the right to the throne.

However, it was too dangerous to add to that with being blessed as a fruit in the Harvest Festival.

The opinion that the imperial family’s member, who had been favored by God, should be made the next emperor was bound to arise.

The temple will fuel there. Although not as aggressive and outspoken as Bishop Akim was, this opportunity could not be missed.

Cedric looked at Brother Colton and said.

“I’m sorry, Brother. Could you please allow me and my wife to talk for a while?”

“Of course. You two can talk.”

Brother Colton stood up. If Cedric had only now found out that Artizea was a saintess, it was natural for him to be surprised and bewildered.

He went out of the living room. Cedric then let out a long sigh and rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand.

Artizea forced her worries down. Even if Cedric was angry, she couldn’t help it.

Cedric let out a long sigh once more.

“You are in danger. Do you know that this is not normal?”

“Yes, I know. How well I know, Lord Cedric knows.”

Artizea was more in danger than the past Lysia.

In the past, when Lysia first appeared as a saintess, she was no one’s enemy. All those who tried to take advantage of Lysia coveted her.

But Artizea already had many enemies. She is Grand Duchess Evron, and there is no other means to take her.

Above all, her powers were so weak that it was unclear whether she would even receive the respect worthy of the title.

Like Brother Colton, there must have been people within the temple who could think that a saint was simply an oracle recipient, not one who wielded healing powers or miracles.

There will be many who want to kill her. Still, it was the best way.

“I have no idea what God was thinking, oracles are meaningless, and I can’t do anything as a saintess.”

Artizea took a deep breath.

“But I can make excuses for this.”

“…….”

“If I become the interested party, not Leticia, I am the one who has been blessed by God. It’s also about getting attention.”

“You are the target for the assassination instead of Leticia.”

“Yes. That’s what I want. Leticia is a newborn baby. Even if she dies suddenly, it’s not easy to even tell if she’s murdered or not.”

Artizea gave strength to her lower jaw.

It is difficult to protect a newborn child from assassination. Artizea knew it to the point she got tired of it.

No matter how hard she tried, even when she was the Emperor’s most important servant, she couldn’t protect the prince from the depths of the imperial palace.

Artizea felt that she smelled blood from the inside of her molars.

“It’s not that I don’t trust the vassals. But objectively speaking, it is true that the people of Evron are vulnerable to intrigue.”

“…….”

“Even if you entrust it to someone trustworthy, it is not enough. Not because I can’t believe in their loyalty and character, but because I’m not sure whether they will be able to make timely judgments in urgent situations, or whether they will have the right authority to make those decisions.”

In comparison, Artizea was able to protect herself.

She could use all the resources she had at her discretion.

Including herself.

Basically, a spear is stronger than a shield for this kind of thing.

The attacker only needs to find one gap, but the defender must have none.

It’s almost impossible.

In order for the defense to work properly, when the spear blade pierces the gap in the shield, it must be caught and the attacker itself must be knocked down.

For that, it was much more efficient and stable for Artizea herself to be the target.

“No can do. I will not use you as bait.”

“I am at risk anyway. What if His Majesty wants Leticia as his heir.”

The successor of a powerful person does not simply mean a bloodline that will inherit material and human assets.

It was meaningful that they taught a philosophy of governance and should allow them to maintain and develop what they had accomplished throughout their life.

To do that, they have to take the baby from their parents when they are young.

Nor would they allow the biological parents to live and influence their successors.

Consequently, if the Emperor decided to make Leticia his successor, killing the parents was an essential step.

Thinking like that, even if Artizea didn’t announce that she was a saintess, the risk was always there.

However, announcing that she is a saintess leaves Leticia at least out of the interest of the Emperor and Grand Duke Roygar.

Conversely, if Leticia is known to have received a favor at the Harvest Festival, it only puts her at an additional risk.

Cedric interlocked his fingers and looked at Artizea with shady eyes.

“I am aware of the danger. Yet, it is the opposite.”

“Lord Cedric.”

“I understand your heart. If I, and not you, could act as bait, I might be willing to do so.”

Cedric raised his interlaced hand and wiped his face once.

“But that shouldn’t be the case. I think I’ve talked about my hopes before, Tia.”

Cedric said.

“I don’t want Leticia to live like me.”

“Lord Cedric…….”

“Losing my parents at a young age, knowing from an early age that my life was in the hands of the Emperor, struggling between revenge and safety, putting many lives on my shoulders from an early age, and taking a sense of duty to protect Evron……, I hope to prevent it.”

Artizea didn’t say anything.

“It is enough to have that kind of responsibility from the age of becoming an adult. When she becomes an adult, she will bear that burden until she dies.”

“Yes…….”

“For that to happen, we must live. Do you understand?”

“…….”

Artizea didn’t answer.

Deep inside her was aching. She couldn’t tell if the pain was physical in her stomach or psychological in her chest.

Cedric spoke again.

“To be clear, I don’t want you to sacrifice yourself to give me a justification.”

“However…….”

“If you do that, I will regret it for the rest of my life.”

Artizea couldn’t answer this time.

“No, I didn’t really have a plan like that.”

“I know. And I can imagine that you think that all you can do for Leticia is to protect her from the outside.”

Artizea bit her mouth again.

Cedric held out his hand. Artizea hesitantly stood up.

It was right not to do anything that shakes her heart when he says things like this.

But what to do when her heart is already shaken?

Cedric pulled her back and hugged her and put her on his lap. And he said kindly.

“You don’t have to try to do anything for me.”

“…… It’s not like that.”

“It would be happier to give her a hug once while alive than to hear that you risked your life to protect her. If it were me, it would have been. Don’t you know?”

Artizea took in her breath.

From the time she gave birth, her emotions, which had been constantly unstable, fluctuated.

As if Cedric knew, he buried her face in his shoulder and patted her head.

His shoulder got wet without a sound. Feeling it, Cedric said softly.

“A few years will be fine. His Majesty knows well that it is more secure to bring up the baby under their parents than to take the newborn baby. At least, it will be okay until then.”

“Yes…….”

“There is no way to be framed for something like treason. He cannot make the daughter of a traitor, the heir to the imperial family. And if His Majesty really wants Leticia to be his successor, he doesn’t want to incite a grudge either.”

That was one of Cedric’s wishes.

He knew it was a selfish hope. But even if Evron had a new grudge, he didn’t want Leticia to inherit it.

Still, he thought it would be a nice thing to do.

Artizea finally answered with a voice the size of an ant.

“Yes…….”

Cedric gently stroked her hair further.

Artizea struggled to raise her head. Her eyes were red. Cedric ran his thumb around her eyes.

And he said in a bright voice.

“Aren’t you going to draw conclusions about it anyway?”

“Umm…….”

“I thought you were suggesting a two-year contract marriage to finish the plot in two years and run away?”

“…… no way. Just… … I was just trying to give Lord Cedric some time to understand.”

In two years, she was confident that even if she failed several times and was delayed, she could push Miraila away.

Artizea licked her lips, and said.

“Just because you get a divorce, you don’t necessarily have to end the master-servant relationship.”

“It was a stupid idea.”

Cedric touched Artizea’s lips.

“If it was a relationship that was really only for profit, it cannot be between you and me.”

“I, I know…….”

Artizea knew it by now.

So she meekly closed her eyes. His lips touched gently.