The Villainess Lives Twice

Chapter 223

Proofreader: somnium

The banquet hall was filled with silence. Even King Eimmel held his breath.

The Emperor slowly opened his mouth,

“Yes, can you take responsibility for that?”

The Emperor’s wrath was vividly transmitted to Ian, who knelt down with his head bowed down the stairs.

Ian felt his spine cool.

He was several dozen times more afraid than when he faced Marquis Luden.

Emperor Gregor ruled the Empire for twenty years. From the time Ian grew up, he was the Emperor.

And although he lived far from the Capital and lived like a commoner, Ian was a citizen.

The ingrained dignity and reflex fear made Ian tremble.

Ian was thinking of the possibility that he might not be able to overcome this fear and conduct himself wisely.

The Emperor glanced at Ian with cold eyes and said to King Eimmel,

“I prepared a banquet for the first time in a long time, but I’m sorry that something like this happened.”

“No.”

King Eimmel lowered his head with a pale face.

There was no place where he felt that the Emperor had welcomed him and made him feel better. He didn’t think it was a coincidence that this had happened less than a few days after he had arrived.

The Emperor stood up and spoke,

“Proceed with the banquet. You follow me.”

So, he turned his body and went inside. Gayan followed him.

Ian stood up as if being pulled up by the guards.

Ian had to walk on his own feet. However, as the guards from both sides followed closely, the pressure was enormous.

He followed right up to the Emperor’s lounge.

The Emperor sat down on the sofa. Ian knelt on one knee in front of him.

The guards then pressed him on the shoulder, causing him to kneel on both knees.

The Emperor said,

“You’re arrogant. If there is anything to accuse, it is to be reported quietly, to tarnish my face like this in the presence of King Eimmel.”

Ian couldn’t move and bowed his head.

“Tell me in detail what your status is and who plotted the treason.”

“My name is Ian, son of Camellia. The accused is Grand Duke Roygar.”

“What nonsense!”

The Emperor slammed down his armrests and shouted at him.

Even though Ian was prepared, he flinched. The servants hurriedly knelt on their knees.

“Roygar is my younger brother and holds the title of Grand Duke. He is also the first heir to the throne. How could you do something like this!”

The Emperor waved his hand.

“How dare you try to accuse the imperial family! Was it because you were blinded by a grudge against Luden and Camellia? Take him away and charge him with blasphemy!”

“There is proof!”

Ian screamed and put his hand to his arm.

The guards quickly grabbed him from both sides, immobilizing his hands.

And they took his things directly from Ian’s chest.

It was a jewelry box.

He couldn’t entrust it to anyone, and he couldn’t bring it in openly, so he put it in his arms at the risk of his clothes looking weird.

The servant took the jewelry box from the guard’s hand, showed it to the Emperor once, and checked it.

The Emperor’s anger subsided. After examining it, the guards released Ian.

Ian said,

“My wife followed to the South as the lady-in-waiting of Grand Duchess Roygar, and, knowing that she could not handle it by herself, she secretly entrusted me with the evidence of treason.”

“Who is your wife?”

“Skyla of the Camellia family.”

At these words, the Emperor could do nothing but keep his mouth shut.

He didn’t know Skyla closely. He had, at best, only met her when he was greeted by her with her parents at a few banquets.

Other than that, he only knew that she had visited several times to prepare for the celebration at the Empress’ Palace, that she had an acquaintance with Artizea, and although rumored to be clever she was still under the influence of her mother.

However, she is the Heir Apparent of Marquisate Camellia.

She would be in opposition to Ian, who filed an inheritance lawsuit.

“Is that true?”

“You can tell right away if you check it, what would I lie about?”

“In which temple did you sign your marriage vows?”

Without hesitation, Ian stated the location of the temple.

The oath was written before Skyla headed for the South.

Rather than taking effect immediately, certain conditions must be met to be registered in the temple’s marriage register.

In addition, some restrictions were placed on the marriage contract to be canceled by either party if the mutual promise was violated.

Therefore, they deliberately left the Capital and chose a temple in a small suburban village and left it there.

However, when Skyla returned and she spent the night in the same room as he, the marriage was fully legal.

The Emperor laughed as if it was ridiculous.

“The Marquis Camellia couple would be very stunned if they found out.”

“It’s between people who have already come of age. We decided this was a way to fix the fight without making it bigger.”

Ian said so, because the Emperor didn’t seem to like a person who would believe him if he said he was in love.

It was the words he had matched with Skyla.

Meanwhile, the servant confirmed that there was no device in the jewelry box. He then presented it to the Emperor.

The Emperor opened the lid of the jewelry box and clicked his tongue.

“Who did you say you got it from?”

“It is said to be a personal gift from the official of the Kingdom of Iantz, who signed the agreement on behalf of the king.”

“…….”

If there was only this one thing, Roygar would have been able to make excuses somehow.

It could have been argued that the Grand Duchess received the gift as she was immature, or that she had never opened it.

However, looking at the agreement as well, it was impossible to do so.

He really didn’t like it.

He was unaware of what was in the heart of Grand Duke Roygar. If given the chance, he would have wanted to assassinate him.

There must be a lot of resentment, but more than that, it was unavoidable in order not to lose his position.

However, the Emperor could not get rid of Grand Duke Roygar now. Then, there will be only Cedric left in the imperial family to be the heir.

To say that he was the only successor would mean he was the second-in-command, and it also meant that he was a being who could stand up to the Emperor.

How many monarchs in history have had a positive relationship with their eldest son.

Moreover, if there was only one successor, it could not even be eliminated.

‘Even if Leticia is there, it’s still early.’

The Emperor closed the lid of the jewel box.

Ian made a wise choice. If Ian had gone through a covert channel, the Emperor would have removed Ian, leaving only the jewel box.

So that he can use this evidence whenever he wants.

“…… Pretty clever.”

The Emperor muttered in a hoarse voice.

It was annoying. Ian and Grand Duke Roygar.

But there was nothing he could do.

Ian filed a treason charge at an official banquet. This thing cannot be covered.

The word is treason, so it is impossible to pass by with his eyes closed. Even more so if it is entangled with other countries.

He had to check even the smallest things that were really insignificant.

The Emperor put down the jewelry box and ordered his servant.

“Give Ian Camellia a guest room in the Imperial Palace.”

“Ah, I have a place…….”

“Go.”

The servant interrupted him with a friendly face. Ian realized that this meant that he would take custody of him, not providing accommodation for the convenience of the procedure.

“Ah…….”

Anxiety surged.

But he endured. He did not think that he would be able to return without incident after making these accusations.

“Call the Chancellor and Ferguson. No need to make a fuss……. They must have got their ears up anyway. Tell those two to come in.”

“Yes.”

The Emperor looked at Gayan this time and said,

“You take the guards and besiege Grand Duke Roygar’s residence and Marquis Luden’s residence. Don’t let a single rat escape.”

The Emperor ordered,

“A traitor who dared to go abroad and claim to be the Emperor. I will personally interrogate him.”

“I take the orders.”

Gayan bowed his head, greeted, and walked away.

The Emperor rubbed the back of his neck. The servant who remained by his side asked quickly,

“Shall I call a masseuse?”

“That would be great.”

The Emperor closed his eyes and stood up. He needed to quietly clear his head by himself.

The chaos that occurred that night was beyond words.

The Emperor ordered the banquet to continue, but there was no way the banquet could continue properly.

The musicians continued to play awkwardly, but no one was dancing. Everyone gathered together with people they knew and murmured about what was going on.

Grand Duke Roygar was gripped with an ominous foreboding. It was even more so after hearing that it was Ian of Camellia who accused him of treason.

Up until now, he had not been as concerned as Marchioness Camellia.

Once the first hurdle has been crossed. He made impeccable excuses for the salt incident and the agreement issue.

If King Eimmel was also a thoughtful man, he wouldn’t say nonsense. Since the pact had been signed with his own hands, King Eimmel could not accuse Grand Duke Roygar.

Unless Cedric and someone in the dark are conspiring.

The Emperor wouldn’t let it all go like this. However, the investigation was conducted only under the water.

Grand Duke Roygar, being careful not to touch the investigation, cracked down on his subordinates.

The Emperor could not kill him.

What Count Brennan had done was unforgivable, but her judgment of the situation was right.

Now, it was Leticia who was supported by the temple and the people. Not only Count Brennan, but also the Emperor would be concerned about the power Cedric would hold as Leticia’s biological father.

But what does he mean by treason?

There’s no way Ian Camellia would have had access to important information.

So, the treason was something that had nothing to do with him.

Count Brennan came up to him and said,

“It is said that the information has not come through my aide at all. But considering Ian Camellia’s past, this is a story from Grand Duchy Evron.”

“What?”

“He is now under the protection of Grand Duchess Evron.”

Grand Duke Roygar hesitated.

As the two of them lowered their voices, Garnet interrupted,

“Is this serious?”

“You don’t have to worry about it. No, you’d rather go home. Today’s banquet will probably be canceled as it is.”

“What about you?”

“I have to stay here and look at the situation.”

The Chancellor and Ferguson were called inside.

Some people went back knowing that the banquet had become a big sensation, while others stayed to exchange information while murmuring.

And the guards moved.

“You are here, Grand Duke Roygar.”

Gayan bowed his head politely to him and said,

“His Majesty is calling.”

“Ah.”

“Grand Duchess, it would be better for you to return.”

And he spoke kindly to Garnet, who was anxious.