The Villainess Lives Twice

Marchioness Camellia had been much more deliberately prepared to flee than she was before the meeting.

Although the investigators and the guards moved, it was not that there was no room for wiggling.

The bribes that have been sown so far and the networks that have been built up should be used in times like these.

Although they could not claim that Grand Duke Roygar did not rebel against the Emperor, or block the investigators seeking evidence, there were many who could close their eyes for a moment.

She prepared three camouflage carriages and knew in advance the soldiers patrolling on the way out.

She bribed a junior officer and hid the cash to spend on the way in several places in advance.

One lady-in-waiting and two maids will risk their lives.

The lady-in-waiting will wear Garnet’s clothes and veils and will stand in the mansion.

The maids would each disguise themselves as Garnet and ride in the carriages.

“Don’t worry, Madam. We are alive by Madam’s kindness.”

“We will hold out so that you can go as far as possible.”

The two maids bowed to Marchioness Camellia.

In order to use them at times like this, she selected two women with similar body types to Garnet in advance and was gracious to them.

Even knowing this, the maids said sincerely.

No matter how desperate they were, it was rare that they were paid their full money and lived a poor life.

One saved her family from sickness and starvation. One escaped from a hellish life.

And if they survived this time, real freedom would be waiting for them.

And Marchioness Camellia picked up children of a suitable age from the orphanage, which she had sponsored.

The children were not old enough to understand what had happened. They were thrilled by the fine clothes and the nice carriage.

These children would run away disguised as the Princesses and the Prince.

It was time to check all the final preparations and go to Garnet.

Garnet sat blankly by the window.

Marchioness Camellia approached her.

“Your Grace.”

When she called, Garnet didn’t respond.

Marchioness Camellia tilted her head slightly to find Garnet’s gaze.

“What are you watching?”

“The guardsmen.”

Garnet said as if muttering to herself.

She then continued her speech without giving a gaze to Marchioness Camellia.

“I was walking around the garden…….”

“Yes…….”

Marchioness Camelia had nothing else to say, so she mumbled like so.

Despite being the main accused for the treason charges, Grand Duke Roygar’s residence avoided a harsh search.

The charges were unconfirmed, and there was no Imperial order. It was burdensome for the guards and investigators to search indiscriminately in the mansion of an imperial family.

Besides, the only ones at home were Garnet and her children. They didn’t feel the need to threaten.

Grand Duke Roygar’s residence was surrounded. Entry of people was strictly controlled, but not prohibited.

It was a relief. Otherwise, Marchioness Camellia would have dressed in maid clothes and she would have had to go in and out through secret passages.

It is natural to take risks.

Of course, even now, it was not without risks. The Guardsmen who had followed Marchioness Camellia were watching from a reasonable distance.

“Your Grace.”

Marchioness Camellia took a deep breath and made her resolve.

And she said in a low voice,

“I prepared an escape.”

Garnet’s gaze first returned to Marchioness Camellia. Her eyes looked tired.

Marchioness Camellia whispered,

“You are going east to Marquisate Luden’s estate. Your mother will go with you. Maideline, too.”

“There is no…… hope, is there?”

“Your Grace.”

“So you’re telling me to run away? Sister knew everything was going to happen, so Brother-in-law, Skyla, and Luca had already run away.”

“No.”

Marchioness Camellia denied it.

It was Skyla who sent her husband and son. She had no intention of doing that far on her own.

But she made a guess.

When she learns that Skyla had disappeared somewhere alone the day the envoy’s ship called in, she had returned the following afternoon, as foreboding as when Artizea had returned from the North and threatened her.

It goes further when Artizea comes to her and asks for Olga’s heart.

She knew she would become a threat.

She couldn’t blame others. It was her own responsibility that she told Skyla to establish an acquaintance with Artizea, that she was still young and that she believed that Skyla would have to grow up at least ten more years to be her equal.

In any case, it was difficult to change the situation now.

Marchioness Camellia found it difficult to agree with those who said they should retreat to the East to shape the future.

She has already betrayed her future.

Prioritizing her own wishes over the prosperity of her family might be because she wasn’t a true noble.

“If Your Grace remains here, you will get in the way.”

“Sister.”

“If Your Grace is taken hostage as it is now, Grand Duke Roygar will find it difficult to act. You should go east and wait. As for the Grand Duke, I will somehow…….”

“I’m not going to get into Sister’s carriage.”

Garnet looked at her with radiant eyes.

Perhaps, it was because of the water in her eyes, Marchioness Camellia thought.

“I heard. Sister is a traitor.”

“No, Your Grace!”

Marchioness Camellia raised her voice in surprise.

The guardsman looked at her.

Garnet wiped the tear-soaked corners of her eyes with her fingers.

“They told me never to get into Sister’s carriage.”

“Count Brennan? What did she say about your sister…….”

“It’s not about my father. I told Skyla to throw the jewelry box into the sea.”

Garnet said in a hoarse voice. Then, she bowed her head.

Marchioness Camellia’s neck was choked for a moment.

It meant that Garnet already knew that she had a hand in the death of Marquis Luden.

What Skyla did.

Marchioness Camellia did not know how to make excuses from there.

Garnet rather said,

“Count Brennan doesn’t know. I didn’t tell.”

“Your Grace…….”

“Sister knew, right?”

Marchioness Camellia was silent again.

She already knew the story of the jewelry box. Because she had asked Viscountess Weave about all the affairs while they were in the South.

When she heard Ian Camellia had accused them of treason, she guessed that the jewelry box would be put out as evidence as well.

But Marchioness Camellia denied it,

“It’s not because of the jewelry box.”

What about the jewelry box? Garnet wasn’t really greedy.

While Grand Duke Roygar embraced the greed.

Although he did not publicly say that he would become emperor, he made the agreement on the premise that he would become the next emperor.

If he was guilty in the accusation, it was Grand Duke Roygar, not Garnet, who was the sinner.

That’s the truth. All responsibility rested with Grand Duke Roygar, as well as other nobles, and heads who decided the will of the family. Also she, herself.

Garnet was neither. Because she has not chosen anything on her own to get to this point.

Even if there is something she seems to have chosen, it is mostly driven by others.

Marchioness Camellia knew better than anyone.

But Garnet shook her head.

“I will not run away.”

“Your Grace!”

“I’m not going to even ride in Count Brennan’s carriage. If I run away, what will they do?”

Garnet said so.

Her heart was hot. Something big happened beyond her control, so it was emotional.

Her older sister helped kill her father.

Her nephew betrayed her.

It felt like the ground she had been standing on until now was collapsing.

There have been times when Garnet has been gripped by the feeling that her own life doesn’t seem to be hers.

She loved her husband, she loved her children, and her father and sister. Sometimes she is angry, desires something, and sometimes she is very happy or sad.

But even with all of that, her life was fuzzy and empty, like a cloud hanging in the air.

There were times when she felt like she could get out of her body when that feeling reached its extreme.

When she was kicked out of the comfortable mansion, she felt as if a different life was waiting for her somewhere.

Even if she couldn’t draw a concrete picture of that life, it was.

But now Garnet seemed to know that she had to take care of her own life.

Strangely, her heart hardened, and her head was clear as never before.

She comes to understand that this is not her duty, which has always seemed insignificant, but that this is her real responsibility.

“I don’t want to blame Sister for what happened to Father. Thinking about it, it was obvious….. Father hadn’t been so nice to Sister.”

“Your Grace…….”

“I’m sorry I never thought about it. I’m sorry that I’m the Marquis’ Lady……. Had Sister been in this position, you obviously wouldn’t have been like this. Father must have achieved what he wanted.”

Garnet said,

“Because I’m like this, maybe it’s because of that even Sister doesn’t have anyone to protect Skyla.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Still, I am his wife.”

Garnet tried not to struggle for wise choices. No matter how much she rolls her head, she won’t be as wise as Marchioness Camellia suggests.

But it’s her business, so she decides for herself.

“The children, take them.”

Garnet lowered her head enough and whispered in a low voice,

“I hope they don’t do anything dangerous, don’t be greedy, live just like ordinary people, meet people they like, start a family, and live happily.”

Marchioness Camellia took a deep breath.

“I know it’s difficult, but please. If I stay, it will be a little easier, though…….”

Garnet grabbed her hand once and then she let go and stood up.

“I will never see Sister again. I wouldn’t blame you, but that doesn’t mean I can forgive Sister.”

“Your Grace…….”

Marchioness Camellia couldn’t stop her.

Garnet looks like a person with little will, but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t stubborn at all.

Like when Marquis Luden said she couldn’t be Garnet’s lady-in-waiting, she cried and starved herself every day for the whole month.

She wished she would, so she purposely showed her the attic she was living in. But it was Garnet herself who made her will come true.

Even if it was a trivial and profitable matter for Marquis Luden.