The Villainess Lives Twice

Chapter 284

Proofreader: somnium

On the way back to the Imperial Palace after leaving the cleaning to General Boyden, Cedric received a report from a messenger sent by Freil.

[“Central Army 4th Corps Commander Stephanie and 7th Corps Commander Hassel moved the army without hesitation, and we found it early and subdued them. We have arrested Dinsky Cobb.”]

With this, only three of the secret investigators could not be caught.

Cedric said to the messenger.

“Tell him there is no need to rush. The first thing to do is to calm down and comfort the junior officers and soldiers.”

General Hoover will do such a thing on his own.

Cedric sighed. General Hoover would have been surprised.

He did not believe that there would be a rebellion until the very end.

He agreed that there may be forces against the Crown Prince among military personnel.

But he said there’s no way that every name he came up with will cause trouble.

All of those names, including the commanders of the 4th and 7th Corps, who he thought were actually working, were all loyal servants of the Emperor and imperial soldiers.

Even if there was something they didn’t like about the Crown Prince, how was it possible that the army would target the Imperial Palace?

[“Even if there is a secret order to kill me?”]

Cedric asked. General Hoover answered with certainty.

[“I will not say that His Majesty the Emperor is a man that will go down in history as a benevolent ruler. There was a time when his private life was debauched, and he did terrible things to the Empress that cannot be described in words. But he was the one who worked hard all his life to set the throne right.”]

General Hoover said.

[“When the Crown Prince dies, the next heir to the throne will be Princess Leticia. Then the Empire would be in jeopardy, and there is no way.”]

Cedric couldn’t wonder if the Gregor that General Hoover was looking at was the Emperor.

In any case, his faith was strong. So Cedric felt like he had deceived him.

Because it was clear that the Emperor would give a secret order.

And General Hoover would believe Cedric’s words that it was a forgery.

Anyway, this is the end of tonight’s work.

‘In terms of the total amount of sacrifice, this is right.’

If he hadn’t thrown the bait from this side, he’d be better off thinking that nothing might have happened.

He stopped by the military before returning to the Imperial Palace. He was going to get the job done in secret.

Four people were waiting.

Count Brennan was the first to bend at an angle.

“Congratulations on your victory.”

“…….”

It was then an elderly Supply Department officer who bowed his head.

He was 5.

Cedric knew the face. This is because he was a working-level official who managed the goods going to the North.

It was no surprise that the undercover investigator was there.

The Emperor always tried to create an intelligence network in the North. So, it is natural to have a secret investigator in the position that sends people and supplies to the North.

Noticing Cedric’s gaze, 5 politely bowed his head.

“I didn’t know you were acquainted with Count Brennan.”

“I’m honored. I only agreed that the Crown Prince had already inherited the decree from His Majesty.”

Cedric let the words slip. Hearing the flattery of such a woman darkens both his eyes and his ears.

However, this achievement was not small.

Cobb had no doubts that Count Brennan and 5 were part of the anti-Crown Prince faction.

Both were greedy and ambitious.

However, it is much easier to satisfy those who depend on their greed, ambition, and existing power.

Count Brennan realized that the tide had already turned when Grand Duke Roygar had failed.

So when Ferguson contacted 5, he was the first to betray the Emperor.

The fact that the 5’s organization was first captured and disbanded by Ferguson was also a great way to avoid suspicion of being a double agent.

Cedric said,

“The secret investigation organization will be disbanded. No one will know what you have done.”

5 bowed his head deeply to express his gratitude.

Cedric will cover all 5’s organization. The wealth he accumulated while receiving the funds for his activities as a secret investigator will remain.

That was enough for 5. He was able to safely face the new Emperor’s era while serving as the old Emperor’s secret investigator all throughout his life.

Cedric also told Count Brennan,

“I haven’t made any promises to you yet. There’s work to do. You probably know, right?”

“I will return to the East soon. No one would think more of this than nonsense.”

Count Brennan said politely. Cedric nodded his head.

If the useless battles between the Eastern nobles continued, the damage to the people was bound to increase.

So he decided to negotiate with Count Brennan as a liaison.

Instead of maintaining the family, he intended to take away any interest they had in land or mines and return it to the state.

Cedric finally turned to the old cello player of the Emperor and Countess Endar*.

Those two were 1 and 2. Each was in charge of collecting information from employees of noble families and social circles.

“It’s the same with the promises I can make to the two of you. The secret investigation organization will be disbanded, and the secret will be kept forever.”

“I am honored.”

The cello player got down on his knees and answered.

Countess Endar smiled.

“When Your highness first attended my banquet, I never thought that something like today would happen.”

“…… So am I.”

“Now that I knew the Crown Princess was smart, I should have been a little more kind.”

Cedric looked at her quietly. Countess Endar flinched and bit her mouth.

Cedric turned his gaze away from her. Then he nodded his head lightly to say goodbye.

The remaining work for them will now be handled by the officials.

As he was about to go out, the cello player said,

“I have something urgent to tell you.”

Cedric heard what he had to say. And clenched his fist.

＊＊＊

The surroundings were quiet.

The Emperor listened to the outside voice with his weary eyes half-open.

But whether it was because the bedroom was in the depths, or whether the incident was really over, there was no sound.

A few dozen minutes had passed since Bertholdt went out. The chief attendant brought lukewarm water and moistened his mouth.

“Can’t you sleep?”

“Willie.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What is going on outside?”

“They said there was a fire in the Crown Prince’s Palace, but it won’t be a problem, Your Majesty. Don’t put your heart into it, and sleep well.”

In response, the Emperor trembled convulsively.

“Your Majesty.”

The chief attendant hugged him tightly so he wouldn’t fall off the bed.

The Emperor hesitated for a while. But his body didn’t listen to him.

He was gasping for a long time after the convulsions had stopped.

The chief attendant carefully wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck. The Emperor took a deep breath and laid back down.

And he let out a smirk several times towards the void.

“Why?”

“…….”

“It was you. You…….”

The Emperor never once doubted the chief attendant.

They met when he was nothing at the age of 20 and have been together for forty years.

If trust in Cedric was trust in character, and trust in Artizea was trust in the situation, trust in the chief attendant was trust in accumulated time.

The chief attendant was the last bastion to protect him.

In the days when bitter food was recommended to hide the poisonous smell, when he had to go through the clothes with thick gloves every time he changed clothes to find the thorn-like needles, the chief attendant smelt all the food for him and groped all his clothes barehanded.

So, even when doubts arose, he never doubted the chief attendant.

Even if he had a feeling of insecurity, he would have ignored it.

Because he can’t live his life doubting everyone.

But now he had to admit it.

If the chief attendant had not intentionally opened the way, how could Cobb and others have come to this deep place?

He repeatedly ordered that Lawrence be contacted. He also ordered to find out where Lawrence was and what he is doing these days.

He sent letters from time to time. He did the same to Miraila.

If it didn’t reach any of them, the chief attendant must have been blocking them in the middle.

What about the secret investigator problem?

Cobb was fired, and the cello player was changed.

After lying down ill, he relied on the chief attendant for most of his work.

If the Empress had fired them, the chief attendant could have informed the Emperor in advance. In fact, he could have challenged that order himself.

How many things would he have been able to hide if he made up his mind like that?

And how many things he could have done but didn’t?

He could go out and find a loyal person and report this.

“Haa……. You, how could you…….”

He didn’t wield any authority, but he could have as much power as he wanted.

The Emperor favored him more and more and bestowed on him wealth and power.

In return for his long service, he left a posthumous title in his will.

Although it would be difficult to marry and have children, he also wrote a separate will so that he could inherit the title of count if he wanted to pass on an heir via an adopted child.

He wrote a separate line to give him a beautiful mansion and silver mine, enough to live happily in old age, and to look after Cedric’s.

By the way,

“It is harmful to the body, Your Majesty.”

Even in the same situation as now, the chief attendant does not try to inform the outside affairs with an unchanging face.

The Emperor’s suspicions were questioned, and now he was completely convinced.

There were so many things that couldn’t have happened without the chief attendant.

The sudden worsening of illness convinced him that this work was done in the chief attendant’s hands.

He never had any doubts about eating and drinking what the chief attendant gave him.

He carefully managed his diet as advised by the doctor. He didn’t do it himself, but by the chief attendant.

He thought that if there were any loopholes in the management, it was because he had not listened to the chief attendant.

“Why did you do that?”

The Emperor shouted. The pain spread deep, like a knife stabbed in his heart, and he grabbed his chest and took a breath.

The chief attendant laid him flat on his back and spoke softly,

“Because Sir Lawrence beat the attendant to death.”

*In case nobody remembers, Countess Endar appeared in Chapter 13 way back when our Cedric decided to marry Tia.

on another note: did you guys see this coming?