The Villainess Lives Twice

Chapter 242

Proofreader: somnium

1. 1. 1. 1. Crown Prince’s Coronation Ceremony

The spring breeze blew gently over the deck.

The saltiness of the Capital sea and the Southern sea would be the same, but it seemed that the sea breeze was less salty because the strait was narrow.

The wind was gentle.

Cadriol even brought a bench to the deck and lay there.

In summer and winter, the maritime climate of the South is the best, but the Imperial spring is the best.

He said while humming,

“Long time no see, Imperial Capital.”

“Last year, no, you came once last year, didn’t you?”

“Shh.”

To the aide that was telling the secret, Cadriol made a gesture to keep his mouth shut.

It is a secret that he came to the Capital to inquire about Artizea and that he even visited Grand Duke Evron’s estate.

But the aide didn’t care at all.

On the deck in the middle of the sea, attendants were scattered here and there. There was no one to eavesdrop on the conversation.

“You mustn’t think of useless thoughts.”

“What useless thoughts?”

“What are you going to do with a married woman?”

“This rascal.”

“It’s okay to have an affair, but kidnapping is not allowed.”

“You rascal!”

“Come to think about it, you can’t even have an affair. If the new King is killed by the Empire’s Crown Prince in a duel right after the coronation ceremony, what kind of embarrassment is that? It’ll leave your name in history.”

“Shut up. Why would I lose? That battle-crazed bastard.”

“But you can’t just float a boat on the river and ask for a duel on it, right?”

“Why the hell is a duel a prerequisite?”

“If you chase after a married woman who doesn’t like it, it’s a natural result.”

“Are you talking about an affair? Aren’t we supposed to like each other? Why are you making the premise that she will hate it?”

Instead of answering logically, the aide lazily comforted him.

“Half the world is a woman. There must be a mate of Your Majesty somewhere.”

Cadriol threw the wooden canteen he was holding at the aide.

Instead of being quietly beaten, the aide grabbed it. Then, he drank the rum inside and sat comfortably on the floor.

The boat wobbled, but it wasn’t a concern for them at all.

Rather, it was sweet to take a break after a long time.

“I like the Empire’s land, it’s not wet.”

“The Empire is not an empire for nothing. You have to tear it into four pieces.”

“I’m serious, but what about an arranged marriage?”

“With whom?”

“Even if the Emperor holds both tax and judicial powers, if you marry a landowner who owns a lot of land, you will have the opportunity to intervene with Imperial Politics from there.”

“Ummm.”

“You need to welcome a queen soon, so we can be at ease?”

“After meddling with Imperial Politics, I’m going to live my life in peace.”

Cadriol replied.

“Besides, if I get involved in that way, I, the King of Eimmel, would be lowering myself to the position of being the concubine of the imperial noble. The Empire is such a country.”

“Well, yes, it is. Then pick one up in the Kingdom or…….”

“I am glad that Emperor Gregor did not have an older daughter.”

Cadriol, reluctant to listen to the aide’s words, turned the topic around with absurd words.

The sailor shouted from above the crow’s nest.

“I see the port!”

It’s time to get ready to get off.

It was the Empire.

＊＊＊

“Gaa! Ma! Ma! Ma!”

Thud!

“Princess!”

There was a thumping sound. The baby did not cry, but the nanny maids screamed.

Countess Eunice jumped to her feet as well, horrified.

Isn’t she the only baby of this Imperial Palace? She was a precious baby who would cause a riot to the temple if she was injured.

But Leticia didn’t seem very hurt. She was groaning as she struggled to get up again.

“It’s okay. I made the floor soft so she wouldn’t get hurt.”

Artizea said.

Countess Eunice sighed and took her seat again, sighing heavily.

Marcus gently grabbed Leticia and put her back near the table.

The table was newly made, with the height appropriate for the baby’s height. Leticia rested on the table, reached out her hand, picked up the dried fruit and brought it to her mouth.

Then she shouted in excitement.

“Ddaa! Bba! Dda dda dda! Ee…….”

“Ohh, are you having fun?”

“Mi! Ma!”

Leticia grabbed the toy in one hand and slammed it onto the table.

She then wiggled her butt and then she fell on her butt again.

This time, Marcus hugged her before she fell.

Seeing this, Countess Eunice laughed.

“It must be a good time to raise her.”

“I can’t take my eyes off her as she puts everything into her mouth.”

Artizea said. Countess Eunice expressed her sympathy.

“Well, it’s an important time.”

It has now been about a month since they entered the Prince’s Palace.

Around Leticia, she selected and placed people as trustworthy as possible.

However, she could not control everything from the cleaning maid to the attendant coming in and out of the Palace.

The area itself was not significantly different from that of Grand Duchy Evron. However, the amount of the people coming and going was different.

It could be said that it was a good thing that the work progressed quickly, but on the flip side, there was not enough time to prepare.

The fact that only Cedric and Leticia were left of the Emperor’s legitimate heirs did not reassure her.

Cedric is not without enemies.

There were not many people who felt burdened by him becoming emperor.

And even if he was involved in Central Politics as he became the Secretary of State, it was only recent.

In the Imperial Central Politics, he was more of an outsider. Above all, there was prejudice against the North.

‘Because I can’t help it.’

Artizea let out a sigh.

That doesn’t mean that Grand Duchy Evron’s dominion was not without problems.

When he entered the Prince’s Palace, there were quite a few conflicts.

Grand Duchy Evron’s dominion people seldom accepted that Cedric would become the Emperor’s heir.

There was no one who was relieved and pleased. Even though when Cedric became Emperor, the North would no longer be persecuted.

On the other hand, there were those who thought that their Master was being taken away.

They were so reluctant for him to even marry Artizea, a central noble.

How much more when he became the Emperor’s adopted son.

Artizea didn’t think the vassals would betray him. In particular, the loyalty of the vassals who followed even to the Capital was solidified.

Just because they were opposed, they weren’t the type who would betray or join hands with other nobles.

But the absence of an active backlash does not mean that there are no holes.

If they want to take advantage of a little passivity and anxiety, they can do anything.

In the Imperial Palace, her connection will be cut quickly.

‘But Leticia is fine. I will risk my life to protect her. His Majesty will protect her, too.’

So the biggest hole is herself.

The only Marquis Rosan. There was no family related to Marquis Rosan.

In fact, Leticia was in a situation where there was no outside relation.

It wouldn’t be surprising if all who yearned for power joined hands and tried to kill Artizea.

They first make the Crown Princess’ seat vacant, then compete amongst themselves to occupy it.

It was their chance to win the post of the next Empress and the divinely favored stepdaughter at the same time.

If that is possible, even a humble family can jump up to the number one family in the Empire at once.

It was a time when all the great noble families were exterminated or driven out because they were involved in treason, so the pressure to rise from the bottom was also strong.

‘Still, the Eastern affairs have turned upside down so badly, I won’t be able to do anything for a while. There are probably not many people who can use their hands even inside the Imperial Palace.’

Moreover, in Artizea’s memory, for several years thereafter, there was no natural disaster, and all harvests were above average.

So all she had to do was take care of Leticia’s and her own safety.

“Princess!”

Again the nanny maid shouted. It was because Leticia was deliberately trying to hit the bowl of her fruit and spill it under the table.

Countess Eunice said,

“She is no longer a princess, but the Crown Imperial Grandchild.”

“Not yet. Don’t say that, because I’m afraid of changing her name prematurely and causing misunderstandings with His Majesty.”

“It’s not long until the coronation Ceremony.”

Countess Eunice laughed.

Artizea let out a small sigh.

Since she entered the Prince’s Palace, it was only a matter of time before the Crown Prince’s coronation Ceremony.

She knew it from the first time they were told to come in. But she couldn’t help thinking that it was too early.

“Some say time is fair to everyone, but I don’t think the passage of time is always the same.”

said Countess Eunice.

“Two years passed like a storm.”

“I know.”

“By the way, the Southern Conquest Army will be withdrawn soon, right?”

“Yes, it will.”

“I heard that the salt business is going to reopen now.”

“Yes. We have several years’ worth of inventory, but we’ll still have to start as soon as possible.”

Artizea said while holding up her teacup.

“Come to think of it, I heard that Count Eunice also received a salt factory.”

“It’s thanks to Father for thinking of me.”

Countess Eunice grinned.

“Thanks to this, I was able to prepare a nice present for Your Grace’s birthday this year.”

“Birthday…….”

Artizea murmured, casting her gaze into the garden, far away.

Countess Eunice asked,

“You’re not going to say you forgot, are you?”

“Ah, no. I didn’t forget about it.”

Artizea remembered it not because of things like her birthday celebration, but because of the divorce.

She remembered that she had calculated that when she turned 20 she wouldn’t mind a divorce because she didn’t need a guardian.

Countess Eunice asked,

“Are you going to pass this year without a hitch? At this time last year, there were so many big things you had to do, but this year, you shouldn’t feel lonely.”

“Well. I don’t want to make a fuss before the coronation Ceremony.”

“I thought that might be the case.”

Countess Eunice sighed deeply.

“Then, let’s have dinner together with people close to us. I don’t think Father will feel lonely anymore.”

Countess Eunice said so.

The reason Artizea doesn’t celebrate her birthday is because she is wary of the Emperor.