The Villainess Lives Twice

Chapter 174

Proofreader: somnium

As Grand Duke Roygar entered the parlor, the guest stood up. He was a man who looked to be in his thirties.

“It is an honor to meet you, Grand Duke Roygar. I am Boertz from Riagan.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Duke Riagan is my uncle. My father is the fourth younger brother of Duke Riagan. I am now the mayor of Meld.”

Boertz introduced himself like that.

He has been living in the South since birth. In the South, he had a fairly good name due to the fact that he was from the background of the Duchy of Riagan’s family, but Grand Duke Roygar did not know about it.

“If it’s the city of Meld, isn’t it a transportation hub in the South? It’s surprising that a young man like you is the mayor. I can see how capable you are.”

At Grand Duke Roygar’s words, Boertz was astonished.

The city of Meld was a transportation city that could be said to be quite well-known in the South. However, it was not a large city that would have been known to other regions.

It would be known to business or those who travel all the way to the South to trade, but it was surprising that someone in a high position like Grand Duke Roygar knew it.

As Mayor of Meld, Boertz became a little proud. And a little respect for Grand Duke Roygar also developed.

“Thanks to my uncle for trusting me and giving me the opportunity.”

“You must be very grateful to Duke Riagan.”

“Yes.”

Boertz replied with his head slightly bowed.

Usually, such a career was possible only for the relatives of the great nobles, unless it was a very outstanding person.

And Boertz was the most capable among the nephews of Duke Riagan, and was trusted by the Duke.

Therefore, Boertz knew how important it was to him that the Ducal couple remained in the position of Duke Riagan.

If in the past the Riagan Ducal couple had betrayed their predecessor and did not attach themselves to the Emperor, he would have been at best a distant relative of the Riagan Ducal couple.

The boundaries also vary. Although they continued to interact and sometimes maintain relationships by sending in children as servants or maids, this was not the case with the Boertz’s family.

Even if Boertz were actively seeking out and coming and going to greet, he wouldn’t have been any better than the rest of the guests.

But Boertz is now the nephew of Duke Riagan.

Duke Riagan adored his capable nephew, giving him a great opportunity and has his back.

He certainly deserved to devote himself to.

Therefore, when the Duchy of Riagan was surrounded by the Eimmel Kingdom Army, Boertz immediately abandoned the city administration and headed to the Duke’s House.

And he took the risk, staying nearby and trying to get in touch with the inside.

And he managed to get in touch with the duke.

The Duke wrote to Boertz:

[I’m worried that the response is coming too late from the capital. It’s been a long time since the Southern Conquest Army went out, but don’t tell me they turned around.

His Majesty may be halting it, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to believe in the cause of the Eimmel Kingdom.]

Boertz knew that the Southern Conquest Army had not returned, but that they had stopped en route.

But he had no way of telling the Duke about it.

He goes to the capital and appeals to His Majesty. He wrote a letter, but that alone is unsettling.

If there is a war, they will be able to protect the face of the Empire. However, the Duchy of Riagan would be destroyed, so only war must be stopped.

If the Empire declares war, Prince Cadriol will start by burning and plundering the Duchy of Riagan.

Therefore, he must persuade the peace and reconciliation faction, but he must not allow the Duchy of Riagan to admit their faults and conclude that they will reconcile with the Eimmel Kingdom by paying a reasonable level of compensation.

If that happens, the Ducal couple will be responsible for all the sins.

If that happens, even if the name of the Duchy of Riagan may be preserved, it will no longer be entrusted to the present Ducal couple.

And if the current Duchy of Riagan falls, Boertz’s family will also fall. It was not simply a matter of blocking the path to success, but they could also become the family of a sinner.

First of all, it is most important to convince His Majesty.

His Majesty may again want to turn people around and strengthen his influence.

It wouldn’t be strange to think that the Ducal couple had covered His Majesty’s eyes and acted however they wanted in the South.

He has to tell His Majesty that the Ducal couple did not have any genuine disloyalty, but that they were only greedy for a little wealth because they were a small person.

As long as His Majesty forgives the Ducal couple, the subjects and aides will plan the rest.

The Duke sent his seal and power of attorney together to make sure Boertz could draw as much money and personal connections as he needed from the businesses of the capital.

So Boertz ran to the capital.

But he did not want to meet the Emperor, as Duke Riagan said.

Instead of entering as Duke Riagan’s agent, he quietly entered the capital.

Duke Riagan insisted on persuading the Emperor, but Boertz didn’t think it would be possible.

As soon as he entered the central region, the first news he heard was about the Southern Conquest Army.

Lawrence’s involvement in the assassination of Queen Eimmel left the Southern Conquest Army in a state of unable to move.

If so, it would not be easy to convince the Emperor.

Even though Duke Riagan had not intervened in the central power struggle and was not in a position to do so, it was not that he was not interested in the future of the Empire’s heirs.

How far will the Emperor cover his son’s mistake in trying to make him his heir? The central problem was neither Queen Eimmel nor the war, but that.

Lawrence did something worthy of questioning, even if it was the Emperor’s deficit. Therefore, no matter how much the Emperor loved him, he could not easily turn it into something that had never happened.

If the Emperor was determined to protect Lawrence, he would completely deny the claims of the Eimmel Kingdom and wage war.

Otherwise, everything will be dealt with by Duke Riagan.

If the Emperor had decided to save the Duchy of Riagan, then something would have already been done when he received the petition written by Duke Riagan.

If not, it is likely to be thrown away. Boertz interpreted it that way.

In that case, it is not the Emperor who he has to convince. He had to force the Emperor to decide to save the Duchy of Riagan.

The first thing that came to mind for Boertz was the Empress’ Palace.

The butler of Duke Riagan’s residence in the capital informed the news about the Empress.

[“Her Majesty the Empress has softened.”]

[“What do you mean she has softened?”]

[“She opened the door to the Empress’ Palace and had her lady-in-waiting open a salon. At the wedding of Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Evron, she attended as the elder of the Grand Duchess, and she was escorted by His Majesty the Emperor.”]

Boertz listened to what happened after that, and considered it carefully.

If that were the case, rather than fighting for the Duchy of Riagan now, he could have revoked the old feelings and chose to protect the name of the family.

The Empress was a proud member of the Duchy of Riagan.

So she would not want the Emperor’s will to control the fate of the Duchy of Riagan twice.

If he had known that the Riagan Ducal couple were involved in the assassination of the predecessor Ducal couple, Boertz would not have thought so foolishly.

But he didn’t know. So it felt like a win-win.

Boertz placed a huge bribe in the Empress’ Palace. It was because he hoped that the people around the Empress would even add a single word to the good words.

However, it was not the Empress, but her lady-in-waiting, Countess Martha, who appeared in the difficulty accepted audience.

[“I am Martha.”]

The old, faithful lady-in-waiting replied briefly.

Boertz had no complaints. Because he knew Countess Martha was from the South and has served the Empress since her unmarried days

He thought there was a possibility, but Countess Martha was apathetic even when she saw the seal and power of attorney of Duke Riagan that Boertz showed.

[“Her Majesty has decided not to engage in any political affairs anymore.”]

[“However, the Duchy of Riagan will go extinct if she doesn’t do it.”]

[“If it is the result of a mistake, it would be unavoidable.”]

[“The Riagan Ducal couple are thinking of preserving the family. If Her Majesty the Empress saves them, they will return the things that belong to Her Majesty to Her Majesty’s hands and apologize.”]

Bohrtz said earnestly.

[“Please arrange an opportunity for an audience. I will prove to Her Majesty the sincerity of the Duchy of Riagan.”]

He opened the gift box dedicated to the Empress.

It contained a necklace and earring set made by dividing a fist-sized sapphire into three pieces.

Such noble items were not common in the Empire.

When it was mined in a certain sapphire mine in the South, Duke Riagan bought it secretly and made it.

He later had ambitions to debut his granddaughter in the capital as Riagan’s legitimate descendant. It was saved for use at the time.

Aside from that, a carriage full of artworks Duke Riagan had prepared in the capital was waiting outside.

In addition, Boertz bribed Countess Martha with a box full of polished gems.

Still, Countess Martha remained with a pitiful face.

[“I’ll take the gift. However, the Empress will not accept the audience.”]

[“Countess, please…….”]

[“I’ll give you some advice with sincerity.”]

Boertz cleared his mind.

It was advice given by a lady who lived her whole life as a lady-in-waiting of the Empress in the imperial palace in return for the treasure. She deserved to be listened to.

Countess Martha said,

[“Of the remaining assets of the Duchy of Riagan, none of them will be able to convince other influential people on the issues that concern the capital most.”]

It meant that he was not in a position to express his support for the next Emperor and be treated as a great noble.

She was right. If not, the Duchy of Riagan would immediately come to the capital and play a part in the succession battle.

[“But the management of the huge business that supports the imperial treasury is still entrusted to the name of Riagan. Think about who will covet it.”]

Boertz wasn’t foolish, so he quickly understood what she was saying.

The Duchy of Riagan has no rights or powers as a great noble. Therefore, it is impossible to enter a faction and receive its protection.

However, they were in charge of several national projects in the southern provinces, from shipbuilding to trade of salt and mines.

And some of them were irreplaceable in other regions.

Who will covet it? Who can recognize its value?

Who can accept this issue as a transactional issue rather than a political one?

There was no room to think.

So Boertz headed straight to the mansion of Grand Duke Roygar.

“I have come to appeal to Grand Duke Roygar.”

Boertz said in an earnest tone.

Grand Duke Roygar stroked his chin once.

“The Empress did not listen to you?”

Boertz cleared his mind in surprise. Grand Duke Roygar was the first heir to the Empire and a powerful man in the capital.

It shouldn’t be difficult to figure out where Boertz came from.