The Villainess Lives Twice

Cedric called Brother Colton to meet him before he left.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t trust the temple very much. I believe in the character and sincerity of Brother, but in the end, it is believing in Brother’s individual personality.”

“You don’t have to apologize to me. You’ve been through enough. Rather, I should apologize.”

Brother Colton bowed his head and apologized.

Cedric looked at him bitterly.

Contrary to what Brother Colton thinks, he was not referring to Bishop Akim’s attempt to weave Artizea into heretic.

It was personally very disappointing and upsetting. However, it was not to the point of disappointment to the entire organization of the temple.

Artizea was close to an unbeliever. She built a deep relationship with the temple, but that relationship was built on bribes in the name of donations and patronage.

She was involved in politics outside the temple as well as inside the temple, so she could be attacked by the opposing faction.

But they shouldn’t be like that to a saint.

Cedric knew all too well how the temple treated the saint. He vividly remembered how those who worshiped gods treated oracles and saints.

Had it not been for safety issues, Cedric would have asked her not to reveal herself, even if Artizea had powers over the skies.

“I don’t care how this happened. I don’t really care about God’s will. I don’t even want to know what role has been assigned to my wife.”

“Your Grace, the oracle cannot be disobeyed.”

“It is my wife who has heard the oracle that decides it.”

Cedric said softly but firmly.

“I hope the temple never takes any interest in my wife.”

“Grand Duke.”

“As Brother believes, an oracle cannot be disobeyed, and if God protects my wife, then my wife will follow it by her own will.”

Brother Colton could not deny Cedric’s words.

“Until then, do not even think about using the manifestation of the saint in the temple, or interpret the fate of the oracle as you like, and bring it to earth to make it come true. I believe Brother will understand what I mean.”

Brother Colton had to bow his head and promise that he would.

Cedric said that Artizea would follow her own fate if it was a fate that cannot be disobeyed, but he sincerely hoped she would not to.

God does not protect the saint.

If the oracle is the fate of a saint, isn’t it too harsh?

Perhaps it is because the life of a single human is not important from God’s point of view.

“What kind of oracle did you receive?”

Cedric asked. Artizea sat on the sofa and read a letter that was pushed back as she looked at him.

And she was silent for a moment.

“If you don’t want to talk, that’s okay.”

“No. It’s not that I don’t want to say it, it’s that it’s hard to explain.”

Artizea gathered her thoughts in her mind without saying a word again.

“To put it bluntly, ‘Return’. It was like that.”

“What is that, what do you mean?”

Cedric asked.

Artizea hesitated again, and then she answered.

“I do not know.”

To undo the sins she has committed, that was certainly not what it meant.

If that had been the case, Artizea would not have been dumbfounded or surprised. She would have accepted the fact that it was her fate.

That didn’t mean she was going to turn the time back on.

“If Brother Colton is right, we will know when the time comes.”

Cedric spoke slowly, immersed in his thoughts.

“If Lysia’s blessing was given after the return, then she can still use her holy powers, but what happened? Do two saints appear in the same era?”

“There is no recorded precedent.”

Artizea confirmed.

“But not everything is recorded. There is no guarantee that the divinity will only run from the past to the future.”

It was clear that the previous future did not disappear even after time had turned. The memory of ‘the returners’ proved it.

Maybe God simply bestowed the oracle twice.

“To Lysia…….”

Cedric was about to speak.

The closest person to God at this point would be Lysia. It would have been her who knew best about oracles and saints.

Artizea guessed what Cedric had swallowed, but didn’t ask.

It is too harsh to ask Lysia for advice.

“Not yet…… It’s not important yet.”

Artizea murmured.

She was curious. The meaning of the oracle and how the divinity works in the passage of time.

But that doesn’t mean it was threatening Artizea right now. It has nothing to do with the current reality.

To only solve her doubts, she didn’t want to remind Lysia of her painful memories.

Get her advice when she really needs it. Until then, she wished for Lysia to forget all about the affairs and live freely and at ease. There was nothing more important than that.

Cedric nodded his head. And he asked.

“Come to think of it, you said you had no holy powers, so what happened to Lady Keyshore?”

Artizea looked perplexed. She didn’t think Cedric would remember that.

“There is. It’s just too weak and undirected to have any effect.”

“I know that it doesn’t necessarily come with healing power, so……. Maybe it’s the kind of thing you haven’t considered necessary yet.”

Artizea didn’t think so. But she didn’t bother to object.

“Don’t worry. I know what the temple is like, and I have no intention of sacrificing myself for the oracle.”

If she makes a sacrifice, it’s for Cedric or for Lysia. Or even for Leticia.

It wasn’t for God.

Cedric kissed her forehead once.

Artizea reached out again to the pile of letters.

“Any important news?”

“On the surface, it’s all just congratulations.”

Some more secret stories were hidden between the lines.

Artizea read it and decided to pretend she didn’t know for the most part. Leticia’s birth could not be without political significance. But she didn’t want to use it as an opportunity to devise other schemes.

“If there is nothing urgent, shall we go see Leticia for a moment?”

Cedric held out his hand.

Artizea grabbed his hand and stood up.

“If it’s hard, I’ll take her here with me.”

“I like to walk.”

Artizea, supported by him, slowly walked towards the nursery.

“I will postpone showing Leticia to the guests until after the naming ceremony.”

“Let’s do that.”

“Can the people from Evron arrive before the naming ceremony?”

“We got a report that they had arrived at the port the other day. It looks like they can get there by a hair’s breadth.”

“You could delay it for a few days.”

“There are a lot of things coming out, so I want to finish it quickly.”

The naming ceremony was a ceremony to announce the existence of the baby to the world and establish a legal relationship.

And at this time, the relatives and other adults made various promises about the future.

Thanks to that, many people’s eyes were focused.

Cedric was determined not to make an exception. He didn’t mean to show a ceremony where the vassals of Grand Duchy Evron gathered to swear allegiance.

He was going to do it the same as everyone else, making nothing as special as possible.

“Because we can face each other at home.”

“There may be people who feel upset.”

Artizea was not interested in such a glamorous and special ceremony. It was best not to be noticed.

However, it would be a disappointment for the vassals who had long hoped for the stability of Grand Duchy Evron’s family while carrying the old wounds.

Cedric smiled.

“Everyone will be delighted that Leticia was born.”

“…… Yes.”

Artizea bowed her head and replied.

Cedric probably didn’t know how strange, special, and reassuring it was to Artizea.

Aside from the political risks, so many people are celebrating Leticia’s birth with pure joy.

She knew it would be. But knowing it and actually experiencing it are two different things.

Artizea felt joy and gratitude as if she had been blessed.

The nursery door opened slightly and the wet nurse stood up. Leticia was lying in her cradle.

Artizea looked into the cradle. Leticia rolled her black eyes. Her nose pricked up.

Artizea murmured as she watched her mouth rattling.

“Is she hungry?”

“She ate a while ago. She’s just like that.”

The wet nurse said politely. Artizea nodded her head.

Her milk eventually turned little.

Everyone advised her not to try too hard.

It was not common for a lady to breastfeed and raise a baby herself, so Artizea didn’t even bother trying.

A healthy wet nurse would be better than the unhealthy mother.

“It must be difficult, but you did a great job.”

At Artizea’s words, the wet nurse smiled.

“She is a very sweet baby. I have four children, and I have taken care of many babies, but this is the first time I have seen someone so gentle.”

“After the naming ceremony, we will decide on a nanny. It will lighten your burden a little.”

“Yes.”

“Hayley came to complain to me.”

Cedric said.

Artizea groaned, “Ummm.” It is true that she has no intention of entrusting her with a job she does not want, but it is also true that it is difficult to think of a suitable person otherwise.

Leticia opened her little mouth and yawned.

Artizea put her hand into the cradle and stroked the chubby cheek with her finger.

Leticia grimaced at something uncomfortable. As she was about to burst into tears, Artizea looked around her, restless and anxious.

Cedric hugged Leticia up. Then the baby groaned and grumbled.

It was very lovely to see the father holding the daughter who looks just like him.

It was too complicated when she was pregnant and she didn’t realize it when she just gave birth.

She could only now understand that Leticia was her baby and Cedric’s daughter.

And that she was born into the hopes and blessings of Evron.

That fact seeped into her heart, like water.