The Villainess Lives Twice

Chapter 276

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Proofreader: somnium

It was three days later that the riot broke out in the slum.

It was sudden.
During dinner at the temple’s canteen, someone brought up the story of the Saint.

It was said that some of those who attended the canteen died of disease, and that not a small number fell ill.

It happened every year.
In fact, it was not uncommon for the person who was there yesterday to not be seen today in the slums.

However, the situation changed when the agitator intervened.

“If there was a saint here, this wouldn’t have happened.”

There were several people who claimed that.

“They said she was healing the plague in the West.
Why did she leave the Capital and go there?”

“It’s all the temple’s fault.”

“The Western Plague was brought in by the Westerners.
Why was she taking care of them first?”

“It is said that the nobles chased the Saintess away to frame the Crown Prince as an apostate.”

It was a story that was wrong considering the chronological order.
Artizea revealed that she was a saint when he was accused of being an apostate.

But there was no one in the slums who could ascertain the truth even with a twist.

Up to that point, it wasn’t a big deal.
It was common to despise and condemn the West and the North.

And not long has passed since the Crown Prince’s Coronation Ceremony.

The memories of scattering flowers and lighting candles and blessings were still vivid in the minds of the citizens of the Capital.

The enormous wealth that was sown for that time and the festival full of joy.

It was only natural that their love for the Crown Princess, a Saintess, still remained fervent.

Of course, that alone couldn’t make a difference.

“Let’s ask the temple to bring her back.”

Until someone says so.

Thanks to the atmosphere, those who had been standing at the free canteen rushed to the temple.

As usual at the temple, they reacted to this with vigilance.

In the meantime, it was not clear who started using violence first.
When a priest was injured, the public security came.

By that time, those who had first led it were the first to get out of the riot and disappear into darkness.

* * *

The undercover investigators were bewildered.
It was the same with Cobb and 5 who were actually working in the slums.

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In the first place, working in the slum itself was not an agreed upon thing.

5 was holding hands with Count Brennan.
And the slum’s work was just one of the many seeds sown at the request of Count Brennan to challenge the Crown Prince’s political power,

“I didn’t know there was going to be a riot so suddenly.”

5 spoke in an apologetic tone,

“It’s true that there were some rumors, but it wasn’t even a real Western Plague in the first place, so I could have just ended it with a bit more dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince than usual.”

“What good is it now to think that way? There was actually a riot.”

6 rebuked.

The riot, which began in a temple close to the slum, was turning into a petition to bring back the Saintess with a slogan to hang the nobles who had expelled her.

In fact, considering that Artizea had never personally done any charity work herself, it was even ridiculous.

7 said,

“Well, there is nothing wrong with thinking about it, so please stop.
It would be advantageous to think that the security forces would be divided anyway.”

“What is the possibility of early suppression by the public security?”

“It’s just that they’re blocking it with batons and shields, so it’s not that great.
The riots seem to have destroyed a few temples and houses.”

“The Chief of the public security must be keeping an eye on Grand Duke Evron, and aren’t the mobs still so agitated? Is that also because of Grand Duke Evron?”

3 murmured.

5 said cautiously,

“There seems to be someone controlling the mob.”

“That’s not a bad conjecture.”

said Cobb.

“Isn’t there a purpose for those who deliberately start a riot? If that’s the case, I think we might be able to make a suitable offer from this side and recruit them.”

“What are you going to do with it?”

“It would be nice if the security forces could be divided like 7 said.
If we can get a little work done…….”

It was then.

There was an urgent knock on the door.
5 put on a mask and came back in with a note from outside the door.

“This is for 3.”

He opened the note, read it, and handed it to Cobb.

Cobb scans the note with his quick eyes.

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“It seems that Grand Duke Evron has gone out of the Palace.”

“Is he going to the slums?”

“I think he’ll go out and convince them himself.
He’s still the same.”

Cobb snorted.

7 said,

“Then, isn’t this the right time?”

The public security forces are armed only with batons and shields.
The Crown Prince would have gone out with only a few guards.

It didn’t make sense to take a heavily armed army to give an appeasement to the mob.

Cobb paused for a moment.

He was careful about the plan going awry.
But 7 was not wrong.

Taking Cedric outside the Imperial Palace and holding him there was a prerequisite for this event.

In any case, the key to this feat was to get rid of Cedric.

But assassination is impossible.
Most of those involved, not just the undercover investigators, were contemplating an assassination, but Cobb knew it was impossible.

The assassin couldn’t kill him.
Considering the numerous attempts made in the West in the past, even a surprise attack by a small force was impossible.

The Knights of Evron will protect him until the last one dies.
Even if the tides turned, it was possible for Cedric to pull out and escape.

He was also difficult to poison.
Knowing that it was a vulnerability, the Crown Prince’s Palace was also taking good care of it.

All the food and drinks were tasted on the spot.
That said, he wasn’t weak enough to kill without using an instant-acting and severe poison.

In the end, the only way to prevent an escape was to surround him with a large army and annihilate him.

Even if the imperial order fell, it was difficult inside the Imperial Palace.
While Cedric was in the Imperial Palace, infiltrating the Emperor’s quarter was the primary problem.

Even if they infiltrated and received the imperial order, the army could not enter the Imperial Palace.

If Cedric regained control over the Emperor, there was a high probability that the imperial order would become useless.

As long as the Emperor and the Crown Prince were together, no matter what cause they came out with, they would only become treasonous.

Then the loyal central army, which took up the majority force, would move under Cedric’s orders.

“Now is the right time.”

Cobb admitted.

The preparation was not enough.
But it was also something that had to be done when Cedric was out.

He sprang to his feet.
Other undercover investigators also moved to do what they had promised in advance.

＊＊＊

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The torch was burning brightly.

Cedric arrived at the slum with only about twenty knights.

“There will be no coercion.
This disturbance will soon subside.”

“Pardon me, Your Highness.
A few rounds would be enough to disarm them.”

“Then what if there really is a riot?”

The Chief of public security thought what was the big deal.

Fighting and looting within the slums was always the case.
As long as the anger didn’t spill out of the street, nobody cared.

If the temple had not been damaged, they would not have been dispatched with such care.
All they had to do was wait until morning and call in more support to push them away.

After that, grab a few guys who act as the mastermind and hit them in the necks, and it’s over.

Cedric got off his horse.
And he went into the street.

When the Crown Prince appeared, the rioters flinched.

They shouted a slogan to hang the nobility, but it was someone shouting to provoke his anger.

He didn’t do it because he really thought it was possible even when he came out with a stick.

Therefore, the anger did not reach to a higher level, but was directed at relatively close powers—that is, the security guards, loan sharks, and landlords.

Cedric was still loved as the Saintess’ husband and as the main character of the Crown Prince’s Coronation Ceremony that was full of hope.

The news that the Crown Prince was here spread far and wide.

People put down the oil barrels they had brought to start the fire.
Both the club and the knife pointed towards the floor.

Cedric watched it with a calm face.
The street was now completely quiet.

Eyes shining with anxiety and anticipation looked at Cedric.

“I promise food and doctors.
The patient will receive appropriate treatment, and maintenance of the wells and sewers will begin in the fall of this year.”

Cedric said.
Then someone fell to their knees, startled, as if realizing.

Then everyone was startled and knelt after him.

“I’ll leave tonight’s incident unquestioned, so please go back.”

Cedric said so, and the first thing he looked at was the kneeling man.
It was a big man.

“Come on, get up.”

He stood up hesitantly.
Cedric’s gaze scanned his surroundings.

‘Damn, don’t look at me.’

Rye Fidget shook his head and thought only to himself.

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To create an ending atmosphere, he poked the person in front of him in the back and made him kneel, but it did nothing.

But Cedric would have recognized him.

His face was unfamiliar now, but it was not difficult to guess the face he had seen when he was middle-aged.

“And you after that.”

Rye was forced to stand up.
Cedric almost correctly pointed out Rye’s group and lifted him up.

“I will guide you to the temple.”

Rye bowed his head and started walking, hoping to look like one who got caught out of luck.

His return to the Capital was after Grand Duke Roygar’s ousting.

The story of the necromancer, Miraila’s favourite, had long since left no trace.

Grand Duke Roygar died and the incident with Marquisate Camellia ended.
So when he returned to the Capital, no one would recognize him.

Artizea told him to retire and return to his hometown to live with his family.
She even gave him enough money to start a new life.

But Rye didn’t stay there long.

He has gone through too many things to live a leisurely life and enjoys a quiet farm life.

He experienced twice, even though it wasn’t his own business, the situation that what he had touched overturned imperial politics.

A person who has had such an experience can never go back.
Rye thought so.

He did not contact Artizea again.
Even though he thought of her almost every day.

Then he was contacted by Freil.

He ended up getting caught up in something he shouldn’t have intervened in.
While looking up at the Imperial Palace, he knew that cursing it was the most fun.

“Dissolve them as soon as possible.”

Cedric said in a low voice.

“Is it that easy to gather people and toss them through? I’m not ruling this group, I’m just spreading rumors and chanting a few slogans.”

It would only be in the Crown Prince’s meeting room that he caused a riot and calmed it down, as simple as a joke.

But Cedric didn’t say it lightly.

“Then, guide me to an alley where there are no people.
As soon as possible.”

Rye glanced at him.
Cedric pulled on his gloves and tightened them.

Rye understood in the next moment why he was doing it.

Bang!

A building exploded.