The Villainess Lives Twice

Chapter 239

Proofreader: somnium

Marquis Camellia and Skyla’s younger brother, Luca were present in the common room connected to the banquet hall.

Skyla was startled and didn’t know what to do. Ian was bewildered too, but he lightly tapped Skyla on the back of her hand to tell her to go.

Skyla hesitated. There were eyes of the servants.

“Sister.”

Luca approached her first.

Marquis Camellia couldn’t bear to do that. The image of his dead half-sister remained on Ian’s face, and he couldn’t even raise his head.

Ian looked at him for a moment and left without saying a word. And he told the attendant that he would use the bathroom.

Luca asked Skyla with a worried face.

“Did nothing happen? Is Sister okay?”

“Can you see? You and Father…… I told you to stay at the villa, but what happened?”

It was quite early when Skyla told the two of them to go. By the time the treason case occurred, they would have been quite far away.

But Luca shook his head.

“Father got ill on the way and our feet got tied up, and he was the first to be caught.”

“Father? Are you okay now?”

Skyla turned to look at Marquis Camellia, startled. Marquis Camellia lowered his gaze with an uncomfortable face.

Luca answered instead.

“I don’t think he was really that bad.”

“…… I’m sorry. It bothers me that we’re leaving you and your mother alone and going down to a safe place…….”

“Father.”

The words “why are you doing something useless” came up to her throat.

She was so caught up in her heart that they did not do as they were told, and actually came here to do something?

It wasn’t that she was mentally supportive of her mother.

But Skyla persevered. Marquis Camellia said without energy,

“I’m sorry.”

Skyla said to Luca,

“You should have done better.”

“Sister didn’t tell me anything.”

Luca said in a voice mixed with anger.

“So, is it that man with whom you choose to abandon your family?”

“Be careful what you say, Luca.”

“Sister must have had a grand purpose, but do I have to understand that, too? You can’t do this to Mother and Aunt. I know that Sister resented Maternal Grandfather, but …”

“Shut up. Unless, you’re an idiot who doesn’t even know that this is the Imperial Palace.”

Luca bit his lips with a gray face.

Marquis Camellia interrupted, “Stop it.” He had the face of a sinner.

Skyla sighed.

If she explains, will the two of them understand?

Before anything like the hatred for Marquis Luden or the desire for power, there was a judgment that Grand Duke Roygar would lose.

It was originally started by making a line that could be used when losing. She failed to walk the tightrope, nevertheless, she didn’t think she was wrong.

Would Grand Duke Roygar survive if she hadn’t stolen the treasure chest?

Skyla thought about it madly while she was in the Imperial Palace.

It was not. No matter what she thought, she could only think of the ending in which Grand Duke Roygar was defeated.

Wouldn’t it have been nice if she had helped her mother with all her might to raise him to the throne?

No, even then, she would have been in a miserable state.

The fates of Grand Duke Roygar and Marquis Luden were to be shared.

And since Marquis Luden had other options to put on the other side of the scale, Skyla had no choice but to beat him to survive.

She knew that Luca did not covet the Marquisate. But if the Marquis Luden had reached out to Luca because he wanted to round everything up, Luca wouldn’t have refused.

Because Luca doesn’t understand the despair and pressure she feels.

Ian’s appearance only made the situation visible by adding a more effective option to Marquis Luden.

But what’s different now?

It was as if she had lost her original right as the eldest daughter.

“Mother will be fine. She will make it and…….”

There was one other thing. She was not in a position to seek the mercy of an uncertain future power, her name was listed on the first line of the public record.

Ian is back.

“Ah, Ian.”

Marquis Camellia spoke to him.

But Ian turned his head coldly. And he said to Skyla,

“Let’s go over there.”

Skyla also nodded her head with a stiff face.

She knew well that Ian being in the same boat with her didn’t mean he had forgiven her father and mother.

This problem, too, had to be solved from now on.

“I’ll talk to you later, Father.”

Skyla said in a low voice.

Marquis Camellia nodded his head with a hard smile on his pale face. Luca comforted him, wrapping his shoulder and taking him to another seat.

As the four of them were each trying to calm themselves, the attendant opened the door.

“Pillar of Krates, who received the scepter and orb from the god and became the sun on the earth, His Majesty Emperor Gregor Avanasi Nestor has arrived!”

The four of them stood up in unison and knelt down.

The Emperor strode into the common room.

“Get up. Don’t be so uncomfortable.”

“I’m grateful.”

“It’s been a while, Marquis Camellia. Sometimes, you enter the Palace and don’t even attend my card games.”

“How can a person like me ever receive such grace?”

Marquis Camellia’s voice was trembling. The Emperor laughed happily.

He gave a light greeting to Luca and gave a greeting to Ian as well.

“You made a big contribution this time.”

“As a subject of Your Majesty, we have only done what is right.”

“But a secret marriage is not good. Isn’t that your father and your younger brother staring at you over there?”

The Emperor frowned, and finally reached out to Skyla.

Because the host of the dinner had to escort the noble lady among the guests.

Conversely, he had given the position to Skyla.

Skyla let out a nervous breath. And with her knees bent, she bowed her head deeply as if prostrated before the Emperor.

“Madam Camellia, raise your head. Don’t be like a sinner. I am well aware of Madam’s merits, and Marquisate Camellia will prosper with Madam’s power.”

“I am sorry, Your Majesty. If you think I have merit, please grant me one favor.”

The Emperor looked down at Skyla with a curious look.

It is the rank of inheritance that determines the head of the family, not the Emperor. However, at this point, the Emperor was able to prevent Skyla’s succession to the title by influencing the inheritance litigation.

She was a relative of the traitor, so she was in a situation where he could admit the merit, but downgrade her title by one or two.

He was looking forward to what this clever woman would ask for.

But Skyla didn’t talk about the title or family.

“Pardon my mother.”

“Sir Camellia and the Madam have already proven that you are both loyal to me, and the tribute is enough to cover the family, so that even Marquisate Camellia who was a relative of the traitor has been cleared of sin. Marchioness Camellia is no exception, so why are you begging her pardon again?”

“Because I am afraid. Because I knew that Your Majesty’s eyes covered the sky, and I dared not escape it.”

Skyla said.

The only sin the Emperor took away was for treason.

So, the work that Marchioness Camellia had done for Grand Duke Roygar remained still.

The evil deeds done for power are justified only while there was the power to protect it.

Just because the Emperor had no reason to attack could not reassure her.

Especially if Artizea is going to become a powerful person from now on.

“If Mother has committed any sins up until now, please forgive them all. All I want is not to receive an award from His Majesty, nor to give Marquisate Camellia the honor of being Your Majesty’s loyal vassal, but only that.”

Skyla said.

The Emperor looked down upon her. Skyla had the illusion that the sound of her own tense breathing could be heard all over the lounge

The Emperor smiled brightly.

“I had heard many stories of the Madam from Grand Duchess Evron, but I did not know that you are a filial daughter.”

“…….”

“Good. As of this time, the crimes committed by Marchioness Camellia, whatever they may be, will be absolved forever.”

“I am truly grateful!”

Luca quickly knelt down on his knees and thanked. Following that, Marquis Camellia, whose eyes were red, also knelt down on his knees.

Skyla let out a long, long breath, emptying her lungs.

It bothered her that the Emperor mentioned the name of Grand Duchess Evron.

However, this had incited Bishop Akim to assassinate Artizea and Princess Leticia once, it could not be officially brought up again.

The Emperor reached out to Skyla again.

Skyla grabbed his hand and stood up.

The door to the dining room was wide open. The sound of the band playing came in.

The other guests were the first to enter the banquet hall. The light was brightly lit.

It was not the path of glory.

＊＊＊

Artizea stayed awake until the darkness deepened and it was difficult to drive out with a single candle of hers.

“Isn’t it too dark?”

Cedric asked as he came in with a large five branched candlestick.

“Ah. That’s right.”

“What were you so focused on?”

“I just did some tidying up. Because a lot of things have been done.”

She placed one of the sealed envelopes on a copper plate and greased it with oil. And she set it on fire.

The thin envelope will burn quickly.

“What did you burn?”

“I have a debt to pay.”

Artizea answered only like that.

She had several more similar envelopes. Inside was a piece of paper with only one number written on it.

It was a method used to aid her memory.

“Has the date of Grand Duchess Roygar’s exile been decided?”

“After three days, they will depart quietly. We have decided to cooperate with the escorts.”

“Even so, Sir Keshore would say something to the investigation organization.”

“It looks like they are going to move on quietly now. It’s better to leave a little bit more of the Guards in the Capital. Also, when I told him that I wanted to take care of her even on the way to exile, he understood.”

“Don’t take it easy. There must be a group of people who are hostile to Lord Cedric, while loyal to the Emperor.”

“I know. It’s not yet time to relax. But the remnant of Marchioness Camellia’s power alone would fail without having planted an insider.”

Cedric said,

“Don’t worry too much. If they think they won’t have to use their hands, of course they won’t move.”

“Yes.”

Artizea answered.

Cedric reached out and stroked her hair lightly. Artizea closed her eyes and rested her cheek against his hand.