The Villainess Lives Twice

Chapter 122

Proofreader: somnium

Empress’s Birthday Celebration

Sir Keshore’s return was two weeks after Mielle opened her eyes.

The Emperor looked at Sir Keshore with a slightly puzzled and quite curious face.

“Did Mielle get up from the sick bed? Congratulations.”

“I am grateful. There is no way I can repay you for sending your precious medicine and doctor.”

“It didn’t really help much, it was nothing. I’m so glad. Congratulations.”

Sir Keshore silently bowed his head to express his gratitude. The Emperor chuckled and laughed.

“But it was a bit surprising.”

“Yes?”

“I thought you would get some more rest. Although you say that Mielle is recovering, she hasn’t fully recovered yet? I thought you were going to stay by her side until she was completely healed.”

“Doctors say there is no cure anyway. Now, she can get up and walk around comfortably in the mansion.”

Said Sir Keshore.

“It seems uncomfortable with her father staying at home all day, now that her friends can come to visit her.”

“You must be sad.”

At the Emperor’s words, Sir Keshore smiled bitterly and faintly.

“It has been my lifelong wish for my kid to be healthy and to be able to play with her friends. I can’t sincerely say no when it comes to being sad, but she’ll be an adult soon.”

“Hmm.”

“Some of her friends are already married, and it wouldn’t be good for her parents to keep looking after her and keep nagging.”

“You are old enough.”

The Emperor shook his head.

“I still thought you might retire. It would be better for Mielle’s health to go to the east or the south for treatment rather than the bustling capital city.”

“I am thinking about it. I can’t repay Your Majesty’s grace, but it may be better..….”

“It’s only natural that you are more worried about Mielle than me.”

Noticing the mischief mixed in the Emperor’s words, the servants held their breath and bowed their heads.

Formally, it could be said that parental love takes precedence, but in reality, it implies that the love of children takes precedence over loyalty.

But Sir Keshore lowered his head knowingly and calmly. He had never succumbed to such a prank-like test from the Emperor.

“It’s thanks to Your Majesty’s grace that I can take care of my daughter.”

“Well. Since you are such a person, Tia must have gone to visit her, even lending Saintess Olga’s statue.”

Again, the king knew everything. As expected, Sir Keshore answered with his head slightly bowed so that a bitter smile would not be noticed.

“I decided to make a new statue of Saintess Olga with gold and precious stones, engraved with the prayer for the health of Artizea and my daughter and dedicate it to the temple.”

“Oh.”

“It wasn’t like a miracle of healing, but ….… I think there may have been a little bit of a blessing.”

Sir Keshore said in a low voice.

“I really hope that the statue of the saintess retains its protection. It is also a meaningful way to thank Artizea for her kindness.”

Even if he lied, it wouldn’t work with the Emperor.

It was clear that Artizea had lent Mielle the wedding gift from the Empress, not because of their friendship, but because of Sir Keshore’s status.

So Sir Keshore drew the line.

He thanked God for the miraculous awakening of his daughter, and prayed to God for the person who granted the opportunity for the miracle.

It fits well, and it doesn’t go too far.

Dedicating a golden statue of a saintess to the temple and putting Artizea’s name at the same time could be an indirect bribe sent on behalf of Artizea to the temple.

The Emperor lowered his eyelids in a thoughtful manner for a moment.

Even Sir Keshore would know that.

The Emperor thought it was a proper reward, even if it was that much. Anyway, there was nothing wrong with paying a bribe to the temple.

Artizea took charge of the Western Rebirth project. It is a task that can be done smoothly only with the support of the employees.

At the same time as he is expressing his gratitude for her, he also sets a limit of his help to only indirect means.

The Emperor immediately smiled and looked at Sir Keshore.

“Right. But it will be a bit of a financial burden on you, the Golden Saintess statue.”

“Mielle woke up, why would that be a problem? If Saintess Olga’s statue really does work the miracle and cures her, I will gladly dedicate all my fortunes and enter the monastery with bare feet.”

“You can’t do that. Shouldn’t you leave your wife and child something to live on?”

The Emperor laughed as he joked. And he had the servant bring two gold bars.

“Before you go barefoot, I need to give you some congratulatory gifts. Use it in addition to your wealth in order to make a new statue of the saintess.”

“Your generosity is immeasurable.”

Sir Keshore knelt down on his knees and politely accepted it with both hands.

***

The Empress’s birthday party was prepared step by step without any hindrance.

The location was decided to be the Luminous Hall. The three-story building in front of the Imperial Palace was small but very dignified and beautiful.

It was the first part of the Imperial Palace, built in the early days of the empire, and now only the most important events were held there.

Such things as coronation ceremonies, ceremonies for the crown prince, national marriage, funeral ceremonies, and triumph ceremonies.

Other than that, handing out almanacs on New Year’s Eve envoys to each country every year, and the ordination ceremony of knights were held in the Luminous Hall according to the customs.

Even the Emperor’s birthday party did not use the Luminous Hall unless it was also a special occasion to commemorate.

However, the Emperor did not prevent the opening of the Luminous Hall as excessive. This is because he had no justification to pressure the Empress who opened her palace after 18 years.

It was even more so because the Empress was in a tug of war with Lawrence.

To oppressing his wife for the sake of his beloved illegitimate son and doing it for his mistress are completely different things.

Artizea carefully selected everything from the decoration of the banquet hall to the Empress’ clothes and ornaments.

Since it was the season of uncertain weather, both the furnace and ice were prepared in case it was cold or hot. Luxurious gifts piled up like a mountain.

The Iantz Kingdom decided to postpone the release of the new fabric until that day.

It was chosen to be used as the Empress’ birthday celebratory dress, and it could even be said that it was the day the Empress practically took off her mourning robe for the first time in 18 years. It was the perfect place for the debut

New, beautiful, and expensive are always popular.

There was no greater publicity than the fact that the Empress made her new dress out of it and went to the Luminous Hall.

Every lady with money gets new clothes made. Because it is against the proper manners, even if you cannot acquire clothes, small items such as fans and gloves would be fine.

Men were no exception. A colorful fabric that shines like a jewel can be used as a handkerchief or as a decoration for a collar. You can make a shirt or cravat with a simple fabric that is soft and shiny.

However, the Empress’ dressing room vehemently refused.

The young ladies Artizea had gathered were thorough in this matter. And their parents also helped with the work, regardless of the faction.

With much effort, their daughters were given an important job in the Empress’ palace, and there was no need to upset the Empress over clothes or accessories.

The opponent was an older Empress who had the same authority as the Crown Prince.

Moreover, it would not be common for clothes to have such deep meaning as this time.

Even Grand Duchess Roygar said with a slightly jealous expression, “I wanted to wear it, too.”

Of course, not everyone was unwilling to compete for power with the Empress.

“Is it unreasonable to ask you to bring some more fabrics, at most?

Clink!

Miraila threw the teacup.

Fortunately, no one was hit head-on by the teacup. But hot water was sprinkled everywhere.

An apprentice seamstress, tea-drenched on her thighs, sat down screaming.

The maid and the seamstress were frightened and fell to their knees.

There were by no means a few ladies who played the devil’s advocate in the dressing room. If you look at what they do to the mansion maid and the dressing room staff, there have been times when it was so severe that it was hard to believe that they were the same person as someone who was rumored to be elegant and classy.

Miraila was the worst among them.

She was extremely moody. When she liked the clothes, she even bought mother-of-pearl buttons one by one, down to the maid at the end.

However, when there was something she didn’t like, she tore up all the fabrics on display and cut off other people’s hair.

So, when Miraila came, everyone was scurrying to hide needles and cutting scissors.

Madame Emily quickly motioned for her burnt seamstress to come quickly.

As the face of the new male apprentice complied, she gave an explanation, hoping that it might help Miraila quell her wrath in the slightest.

But it seemed like she couldn’t stand it.

“I am sorry, Dowager Marchioness Rosan. However, the Empress Palace is not the problem, the Iantz Kingdom does not provide the supply.”

“How could you ask me to do something about it? Who am I? You mean to say that I can’t wear a single piece of clothing? I said I would give you the money!”

Miraila yelled at her. Emily spoke as if she was a sinner.

“From the beginning, the Iantz didn’t send me enough fabric to complete any dress until it was first released. At most, we only got one handkerchief as a sample.”

“Are you ignoring me now?”

“I’ve already contacted other dressing rooms and fabric dealers. If you want, I can make it by using it on the chest side of the dress or part of the skirt.”

Emily said in a trembling voice.

“You’re beautiful enough to do that. If you put it on the collar, it’s so bright that you don’t have to wear a jewel necklace…….”

Miraila must have been much more beautiful than the old Empress wearing all new fabrics.

But it was unlikely that Miraila would calm down if she said so. Because she is not trying to compete with the Empress for beauty.

She was so frightened that she could not even bring out the name of the Empress.

“Emily, are you making fun of me now?”

Miraila roared at her in a sharp voice and stomped her feet.

“Who do you think I am?”

She was on the verge of going crazy in anger.

She heard yesterday that Lawrence made two jewels cut into the shape of petals and dedicated them to the Emperor and the Empress respectively. And the fact that Artizea ordered it.

Miraila ran out in anger and ran to Lawrence’s mansion on Sabellin Street.

But Lawrence never even met her. Lawrence’s butler gave a dismissal order in an embarrassing yet respectful manner.

[“I’m sorry, Dowager, the master is very busy these days. If you go back and have a quiet stay at the Rosan mansion, he will visit you when he has time.”]

Miraila had no one to complain to.

Artizea, who protects her no matter what, is no longer at home.

Grand Duchy’s servants never told Artizea that Miraila had visited.

Miraila didn’t even hear the dismissal order from the butler in that house. Because the knights in front of the gate pointed their sword and told her to go back.

She couldn’t even speak to the Emperor.

But if Lawrence really does go wrong, then whom should she depend her life on?