The Villainess Lives Twice

Chapter 198

Proofreader: somnium

Skyla finished her meal early.

Despite her position as Marquisate Camellia Heir Apparent, Skyla was not one of the ladies-in-waiting in a very important position.

She was Garnet’s niece, though she was a favorite. She, however, was young and it is not long since she came in as the lady-in-waiting.

She also blamed Marchioness Camellia for Garnet being harsh on her because she didn’t want her to be said to be favored as the lady-in-waiting.

Marchioness Camellia asked the other maids, including Viscountess Weave, to do the same.

Thanks to that, no one bothered holding her even if Skyla stood up first. Only the secretary of the Duke of Riagan, who was sitting next to her, asked,

“Where are you going?”

“I’m worried about the luggage I haven’t sorted out yet.”

Even if the maid was left to organize the luggage, the superiors could not let go of their hands.

The secretary didn’t even think about it as an unfitting chore because the youngest was supposed to do these chores. Lady Delaway, who was sitting across from her, also nodded her head.

Skyla walked out of the dinner hall. She went into Garnet’s toilet room, and then she came out again in a modest shawl.

To accentuate Garnet, she deliberately wore a rustic-grey, modest dress, and her skirt didn’t swell either.

Thanks to that, she would be able to cover her identity with a ruffled top.

Skyla took an undecorated bonnet and went out again.

The guard guarding the hallway tilted his head slightly.

“Where are you going, Marquisate Camellia Heir Apparent?”

“To get some air.”

Skyla replied only like that, and she went out of the hallway.

As she moved away from Garnet’s quarters, Skyla put on the bonnet.

Now, in the Duchy of Riagan, Grand Duke Roygar’s party and Prince Cadriol’s party were mixed.

It was crowded as there were people who came from other cities for the announcement of the news and then sat down.

So, even if a strange woman passed by, she raised no suspicions. Glancing at Skyla’s modest bonnet and dress, they only thought that she was the attendant of someone unimportant.

Skyla headed to the top of the mansion. Then she looked around a few times in front of the wooden door and then put the key in.

As if it was well greased, the key turned without a sound.

Skyla went inside. It was a warehouse for small items. Some of the chairs were laid out as if the employees would rest there.

An old maid was sitting and she stood up, startled to see Skyla.

“You don’t have to act.”

Skyla gave the key to the maid.

It’s a warehouse, so the key is only worked on the outside. Had it not been for being bullied and detained, an accomplice would have locked her in.

It meant that she was waiting for Skyla to come. In the first place, the maid wasn’t even that good at acting skills.

The maid bowed her head politely and she took the key from Skyla’s hand.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Marquisate Camellia Heir Apparent.”

“Reveal your identity.”

“I am Felona of the Iantz.”

Skyla knew the name. The Felona Firm was a famous textile dealer that even Skyla knew.

“Are you saying you are the owner of the Felona Firm?”

“That’s right.”

Felona showed her identity card.

There was no way for Skyla to confirm the identity of the Iantz at this place. She later had to find out about it.

Apart from that, at least the other party would cooperate in the identification and there was no hostile intention. As such, it’s probably true that she’s an Iantz.

Skyla sighed deeply inside.

It wasn’t that she wasn’t worried as she took the note and sneaked out on her own.

Of course, if Garnet’s nephew and daughter of Marquisate Camellia herself were to be killed in such a complicated situation, it would become a huge diplomatic problem.

There was no guarantee that no one would be aiming for her. Even if the chances are low, Skyla has only one life.

Luckily, it didn’t seem like that was her intention.

“Why did you call me?”

“I would like to make a petition to His Majesty Grand Duchess Roygar.”

“I am just the youngest lady-in-waiting. If you are trying to influence the Grand Duchess through me, I want to tell you that is a bad idea.”

“But Lady is the niece of Grand Duchess Roygar. You are also the daughter of Marquisate Camellia.”

Felona said kindly. Her attitude was to the point of being servile.

It was Marchioness Camellia that the Kingdom of Iantz first tried to target.

Considering her influence on Grand Duchess Roygar, and considering her position as an adviser to Grand Duke Roygar.

Their initial plans were thwarted when Marquisate Camellia’s problems abruptly removed the Marchioness from the entourage.

Contacting Skyla was the inevitable choice. Not enough information was available.

So, first of all, she decided not to offend.

Skyla noticed it.

If it was the Felona Firm owner, she was like a noble in the Iantz Kingdom. Even if it was Marchioness Camellia herself here, she would probably have shown some respect.

It was not unusual for such a person to approach so cautiously.

“Tell me what you want. If it’s something worthy of Her Grace’s hearing, I’ll arrange a meeting for you.”

“Thank you.”

Felona bowed her head. and she said

“We, the Kingdom of Iantz, have not involved in the assassination of Her Majesty Queen Eimmel.”

“That is the external position of the Kingdom of Iantz.”

Skyla said coldly.

“The assassin was the imperial citizen, and she was also an imperial noblewoman. But the money spent on buying her title came from Iantz. It would be more accurate to say that it was the intention of the one behind the money, rather than the powerless low-ranking nobleman doing such a big thing on her own.”

“I know that is the position of the Empire. But what would it bring the Kingdom of Iantz to attract the Empire and assassinate the Queen? There’s no reason to do it, but if, for a reason, it had to be done, it would be far better to deal with the Southerners without bringing in the Empire.”

Felona said quietly.

The first thing that was revealed about Mrs. Lexen’s identity was that she was a merchant from the Kingdom of Iantz.

Naturally, from then on, in the Iantz, all efforts were made to trace Mrs. Lexen’s career.

The money that Mrs. Lexen spent to buy her title in the Krates Empire and to build her business was certainly moved right through the Iantz Kingdom.

But her origins go back to the Krates Empire. She went through a number of routes, as the Merchant Association of the Kingdom of Iantz traced it.

No more could be traced. It was because it was decided that it was too dangerous to search the inside of the Empire now.

In the end, the conclusion of the Kingdom of Iantz was as follows.

The assassination of Queen Eimmel was due to a power struggle within the Krates Empire.

If so, the culprit would be either the Duke Riagan, as Prince Cadriol claims, or one who could profit from ruining the Duchy of Riagan’s coarse salt business.

But it was difficult to think that it was the former. Mrs. Lexen met Queen Eimmel through the introduction of Duchess Riagan too openly.

If it’s the latter, it would be too difficult.

No matter how much they thought, Grand Duke Roygar was the only one who could intervene in such a huge interest as the coarse salt business.

If it were not by Grand Duke Roygar himself, it would be one of his entourages.

Either way, it was equally difficult.

He was an opponent the Kingdom of Iantz couldn’t even dare to touch. In addition, he was even entrusted with the handling of this matter by the Emperor.

In the eyes of the Kingdom of Iantz, the investigation was entrusted to the criminal. Even so, they could not plead with Emperor Gregor.

It was like driving out a wolf and summoning a tiger.

In the end, they could not do anything more than assert their country’s innocence from the standpoint of the Iantz Kingdom.

“We want Her Grace to pass on our plea to the Grand Duke.”

“Why don’t you visit the Grand Duke in person? It goes without saying if that is really the will of the Kingdom of Iantz, you will be able to communicate directly with the Grand Duke as a Firm owner or a person with high status.”

Felona then smiled. Because she knew that Skyla had tried.

“There’s Prince Cadriol, how constructive can we have a conversation if we go out?”

Even the Iantz Merchants Association did not understand Prince Cadriol’s actions.

Was it because he took the death of the Queen as an opportunity, or was it a conspiracy from the beginning?

There was a reason for wanting to meet the Grand Duchess first. At least the Grand Duchess certainly wouldn’t be a conspirator.

Skyla thought for a moment.

She understood the intention of the Kingdom of Iantz to make a secret transaction.

It didn’t matter in the slightest to anyone that Queen Eimmel died.

It was a question of who and who would join hands, and who would devour whom.

‘My uncle is the one who eats it from either side, but…….’

Holes arise in complex transactions.

Skyla became dizzy.

She decided to bet on Artizea. When she thinks of her mother, there were many times when she hated Garnet blindly.

But when she thought of making a hole with her own hand, it felt like her heart was rolling in her stomach like grains of sand.

But in the end Skyla said.

“I’m going to tell Her Grace about you.”

“Thank you.”

“How do I contact you?”

“Put a blank piece of paper between the pillowcases in the morning and we will come to you.”

“I see.”

Skyla nodded her head.

She returned the key and walked out of the warehouse.

And as she originally said to get some fresh air and arrange the luggage, she went back to the Grand Duchess’ room.

＊＊＊

The dinner continued in a light atmosphere from beginning to end.

From the point of view of the Duke and Duchess of Riagan, it would seem that they are at the tip of a precarious needle.

Cadriol spoke with Grand Duke Roygar in an interesting mood.

In his previous life, he had contributed to the downfall of Grand Duke Roygar. But he had never actually mixed words with the Grand Duke.

He didn’t know who had ruined him, and it felt ironic to give him an intimate laugh and a drink.

‘This time, let’s see.’

Cadriol has yet to make a decision.

He knew that it was dangerous to fight against Artizea; so well that he would never forget it even if his head was cut off.

It also meant that it would be dangerous for a long time to come by putting Artizea in the center of the Empire.

But thinking differently, Cedric is based in the North and West. It will take some time to reach out to the South.

If Grand Duke Roygar becomes Emperor, like hyenas, the great nobles and giants of the eastern part of the Empire will infiltrate the South.

But politically, it was more plausible.

In the end, the problem is Artizea.

Artizea is right. Cadriol didn’t trust her.

For a brief moment, there was a mutual agreement of interests, and there was an implied cooperation. But the moment she judged it to be a detriment to her Master, she would try to tear Cadriol apart.

‘But I don’t want to be allied with Evron.’

As he was thinking about it, he heard Grand Duchess Roygar speaking to Duchess Riagan.

“Grand Duchess Evron will soon be giving birth. Still, because I’m a relative, I wanted to take care of them, but I couldn’t…….”

“Is that true?”

Cadriol intervened and asked without realizing it.