The Villainess Lives Twice

Artizea herself did not know how she had walked to the Crown Prince’s Palace.

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Her right hand, holding Cedric’s hand, trembled.
She couldn’t tell if it was because of her lack of stamina, or whether it was because he was giving strength to her hands to endure.

Her vision was blurry and her back was wet.

“Fall down.
I’ll take care of the mess.”

She heard Cedric’s voice.

Artizea already had no energy to judge.
So she fell as Cedric told her.

As soon as she relaxed herself, her consciousness went out.

Cedric held her steady and hugged her as she fainted.

Artizea doesn’t seem to realize, but he already called the doctor while she was coming back.
He also rearranged the boundaries of the Crown Prince’s Palace.

 

Cedric didn’t experience this the first time.

Artizea’s position was completely different from that of Lysia at the time.
The rumors about the forged oracle didn’t fall like a bolt out of the blue.

For Artizea, the religious circles and central politics were her domain.
She was also playing a leading role in encroaching on the Imperial Palace.

She will not be deprived of leadership or subjected to pressure by the temple.

Nevertheless, it was enough to guess what effect her oracle would have.

Cedric turned to the Archbishop and priests who were following them.

The Archbishop drew a cross.

“I don’t think this is the right time for conversation, Archbishop.
Because my wife looks very tired.”

“Is that so? We just want to stay by her side until she wakes up.”

“I understand the nervousness of the temple, but can she rest comfortably? Please go back first.
It seems to me that Brother Colton had spoken to Archbishop about this.”

The Archbishop didn’t answer, but only smiled slightly.

Cedric didn’t know if that was Artizea’s will or not, so he just said,

“Then, there must be a lot more for the two of you to share.
Go back and crack down on the temple.”

“That, what I’m saying…….”

“Not everyone believes and follows the oracle.
Don’t those who have authority often believe that they are heavenly?”

“I understand what you mean.”

The Emperor became completely expressionless when Artizea raised her divine powers.
It was a face without shock or embarrassment.

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The fact that he hid his emotions that much meant that he was just that angry.

The Archbishop had not seen the Emperor make such a face for decades.

It’s been a long time since the Emperor was in a position where he needed to manage his facial expressions.

There were cases where he showed exaggerated anger or was very pleased for political reasons.

Conversely, this time the Emperor was so agitated that he could not decide whether to display positive or negative emotions.

“I’ll let you know when my wife wakes up.
Until then, never make a fuss about this, not just an internal crackdown, but don’t let this oracle leak out.”

“Yes.”

“And please take the half-blood Karam, whom Count Eison brought as a witness and look after him.
There must be other mixed races other than those witnesses.”

At those words, the Archbishop made a troubled expression as if he felt repulsed.

It was obvious whose side he should take in the audience room.

Above all, he was not of such a decisive character that he arbitrarily overturned the decisions of the Council of Bishops of much earlier times.

However, taking Karam half-blood was another matter.

It was indirect and ideological to allow the priests of the North to show mercy and tolerance.

But would he really do it when asked to take care of them? Even he himself, knowing the decision of the Council of Bishops, felt so disgusted.

Cedric said as if he knew it,

“I will send someone to take care of them from my side.”

“However…….”

“It is my wife who has received the oracle, but it is me who will become the Emperor.
Be mindful, Archbishop.”

Cedric added softly, wondering if he was speaking too harshly.

“The one who takes them from the temple will be able to finish this job quietly.
At this point in time, we can’t drag the story back and forth in the audience room.”

“Understood.”

The Archbishop nodded his head.

Cedric wasn’t wrong.
There was not enough time to focus on the oracle that the Saintess would become the Empress.

Cedric said to the knights following him as he went holding Artizea,

“Secure the way.”

“I have already instructed them.
Can we not take action against the other accusers?”

“Leave them alone, they are little people.”

Cedric exhaled and went up to Artizea’s bedroom and laid her down on the bed.

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Her face was pale and she was sweating in a cold sweat.

Halyey said,

“She said in advance that if she falls down, she will get better if she rests well because it is a matter of divine powers.”

“Did you know?”

“I didn’t know the specifics.”

“I see.”

Cedric sighed.

After all, there was no way Artizea would have disclosed this to her husband.

“She said she didn’t have the power.”

She must have tried to keep it a secret alone until the very end.
Until a time like this, to use it at a crucial time.

Cedric stroked Artizea’s forehead once.

He didn’t know that there was a limit to physical strength in using the divine powers.
Lysia seemed to be unaffected, but he didn’t even know it was because she was originally healthy.

It wasn’t long after he laid her down on her bed that Artizea’s breathing eased.
She really looked like she collapsed from exhaustion without any other problems.

In a serious situation, she must have thought hard and alone about revealing that she was the Saintess.

What was the real oracle she received?

Even before seeing her divine powers, he didn’t doubt Artizea, but Cedric thought it was strange, too.

Lysia was a Saintess.
It must have been Lysia’s blessing that saved Artizea during the childbirth.

So, were there two Saintesses?

‘Aren’t the oracles and divine powers moving together? Or, has Lysia’s oracle been maintained and the oracle has been given to Tia again, separately?’

Cedric felt resentful.

If it was to save humans, it would be better for God to come directly.

Instead of giving power to a single, powerless human at best, and throwing them into the hardships of life.

Because the world was not something that could be changed by a single divine power.

Perhaps, Artizea is hiding her divine power because it was also meaningless.

‘There’s no way she wouldn’t have experimented with this personality…….
If she collapses every time she uses her power, it’s better to not have it.’

Artizea’s brain would be much more helpful than her helpless miracle.

In the end, Cedric regretted that he had acted wrong and made her throw such an unreasonable act.

Kissing her skinny fingers, Sophie and the maids had a nervous face.
Cedric left Artizea to them and had no choice but to back down.

Alice came to Cedric.
And she whispered softly,

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“A little while ago, news came from the main palace.
It is said that His Majesty the Emperor dined in the bed chamber.”

It was sunset time, but it was still too early to go to the bed chamber.
The Emperor must have gone to rest to organize his thoughts.

But anyway, it didn’t seem like anything was going to happen today.

“Good work.
Let me know as soon as you hear any news.”

“Yes.”

Alice withdrew.
Managing the network of the attendants and employees, she would have a lot to do today.

It was when Cedric had just left the bedroom.

A knight with a bad complexion approached him.
He raised a military salute with moderation and said:

“I would like to know what to do with Roun Jayden.”

“…….”

Cedric was in a subtle mood.

Ever since Aubrey betrayed him, he’s always thought that anyone could do it.
It was even more so after his memory returned.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t help feeling heartbroken.

“You don’t have to do anything unless he’s going to come back to Evron.
Since he is a capable person, he will be able to find another post elsewhere.”

“That…… He is now at the gates of the Crown Prince’s Palace.”

The knight said, embarrassed.

Cedric headed towards the front door.
It didn’t matter if Roun just left, but otherwise he needed to finish this.

* * *

Roun was standing in front of the main gate of the Crown Prince’s Palace.

Those who had been his associates until yesterday were swearing at him.

“Get out of here, bastard!”

The one who swung his fist was a senior who became a knight in the same year as his older sister.

“Are you still a knight of Evron!”

“You dare betray the Grand Duke?”

“With what kind of face are you trying to crawl in here after trying to sell the whole Evron!”

“Your sister must be weeping in her grave!”

Knights rushed out and surrounded him.

“Wait a minute! Let me in!”

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“Go away!”

A senior knight grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of the boundaries of the Crown Prince’s Palace.

It was then.
The commotion subsided.
The knights hurriedly straightened their posture and opened the way.

Cedric appeared.

Roun looked up at him with a face covered in blood and bruises.
Cedric didn’t bend over to make eye contact with him or reach out his hand to wipe the bloody wound.

“Grand Duke…….
I was wrong.”

Roun mumbled.

He felt like he was punched in the back of the head when Cedric said he would be able to hold hands with Karam too if it was for Evron.

He realized what he had done wrong.

If in doubt, he was free to just ask.
If he really trusted Cedric and was loyal, he could have gotten down on his knees before him and explained his heart.

If he believed Cedric wouldn’t throw him out like that.
If only he had earned the trust as one who should keep it confidential.

Cedric said,

“I understand you.”

Tears fell from Roun’s eyes.

“Unless you can get everyone’s consent by explaining everything to everyone, it’s natural for people to harbor distrust and to face opposition.”

First of all, it was Cedric himself who betrayed him.

“But, my understanding is no reason for Evron to forgive you.”

 

Cedric said,

“Deprive Roun Jayden of his position and banish him from Grand Duchy Evron’s dominion.
However, he did it personally, and in view of the achievements of the Jayden family, this punishment is only limited to Roun Jayden.”

“Grand Duke!”

“You have decided not to follow me, so go on your own way.”

Cedric just said that and turned around.

The knights who had been cursing Roun so far turned around.
The guards crossed the spears and blocked Roun.

There was no more punishment or anger.
Only vigilance remained, as if dealing with outsiders.

He had become completely unrelated to Evron.

Standing stunned in front of the main gate of the Crown Prince’s Palace, he realized what he had left behind.