The Villainess Lives Twice

Chapter 245

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Proofreader: somnium

The arrival of Crown Prince Iantz and his wife was more than ten days after Cadriol had settled in the Capital’s guesthouse.

The question of whether or not the Iantz Kingdom is a vassal of the Empire ends by saying ‘of course, it’s a vassal state of the Empire.’ However, on the side of the Kingdom of Iantz, the situation was different.

There was seldom any interference in internal affairs.
The people of the Iantz Kingdom considered themselves a sovereign nation.

Giving tribute to the Empire was the result of rational judgment to the last.

The abundance of the Iantz Kingdom was completely subordinated to the Empire.

Gold and silver flow from the Empire to the Kingdom of Iantz.
The most expensive items worn by the Imperial nobles are all from Iantz.

Nevertheless, it was the side of the Iantz Kingdom that was subordinated.

The Empire can survive without the Iantz product.
However, if the Kingdom of Iantz cut off ties with the Empire, it was very difficult to survive.

Neither the wealth enjoyed by the Kingdom of Iantz nor the superior position it enjoys in relations with other countries can be said to have nothing to do with the Empire.

The people of the Iantz Kingdom did not feel ashamed of it.

It is developing the country with all the wisdom that a small country can do.

However, the failure of diplomacy with the Empire to such an extent directly led to failure in domestic politics.

For that reason, the position of Crown Prince Iantz was very difficult.

He was the first in more than a hundred years to be asked by the Empire to be sent as a hostage.
In addition, the Crown Prince couple.

 

[“Sorry.”]

Crown Prince Bernat bowed his head and apologized to his wife Natalia.

Maybe he will be deposed while he is a hostage, and his younger brother may take the throne.

As he was the Master, he could not bow down to his subordinates.
But he had to apologize to his wife and his biggest supporter, Natalia.

[“I already knew that it would be dangerous to meddle with the issue of succession within the Empire.
I didn’t mean to put you in this situation, I’m sorry.”]

[“You did your best, but you failed.”]

No one expected that Grand Duke Roygar would fall so suddenly in such a short period of time.

The Crown Prince regretted several issues, and looking back, there were many things that he thought were hasty.

The gift that could be interpreted as treason was given to Grand Duchess Roygar in order to find weakness.

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On the other hand, it was also a case of giving a weakness.

He was forced to do something akin to signing a joint petition.

The Emperor will rule the Empire for a long time to come.

Then it would be dangerous to cooperate with Grand Duke Roygar under the water.
The Iantz, whose position is weak, needed coercion to continue mutual cooperation.

In the future, after he ascended to the throne, the Iantz supported him, and it would serve as evidence to prove his achievements.

Because Grand Duchess Roygar wasn’t the one to lie that she didn’t get things after getting them.

 

But without even having time to really support, Grand Duke Roygar fell.

Bernat had this conversation with his entourage.

[“Even when Miraila was cast down due to the treason, and in the case of coarse salt, I feel a bit unsettled.”]

There were things that could have happened.

Although the coincidence overlapped enough to believe in the hand of God.
But it was not without suspicion.

A few things happened that preceded it, so it wasn’t just a coincidence.

[“However, my suspicions have grown since I was directly involved.”]

[“What do you mean?”]

[“Don’t you think that all of this is going too far in the favor of one person?”]

Bernat said so.

Grand Duke Evron, whom no one could have imagined just two years ago, became Crown Prince.

The move of the Iantz Kingdom was decided by Bernat himself.
He himself adopted Albert’s thesis and devised a strategy based on it.

However, he kept thinking that even that must be in someone’s big scheme.

[“There is nothing strange in itself.
Because there are few legal blood relatives in the Krates’ imperial family.”]

But, rather, that’s what he thought.

[“Did Grand Duke Evron really have no desire for the throne? He was so close?”]

It was also a suspicion he could have because he was a foreigner and a southerner physically far from the Empire.

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[“He has a reputation for being honest, righteous and loving people.
But could he have been trying to build that kind of reputation?”]

For power, people can use hypocrisy endlessly.

Reputation can be created with images.
Trust can also be built with lies.

It may not have been entirely hypocritical.
Perhaps, it is true that people cherish Grand Duke Evron.

But isn’t it more likely that they moved with reputation and the Emperor’s trust in mind?

If Grand Duke Evron was cautious enough to maintain that level of reputation, it was something he had to be on guard against.

Even if not all of the current situation was intentional, it was the same.

He doesn’t know if Grand Duke Evron would have considered the events his luck.

But if it was all a coincidence, then the hand of God was at work.

‘It means that he is a dangerous opponent as it is.’

He cannot compete with the one whom God cares for, and the one with great fortune.

Bernat did not believe that God would intervene in human power relations.
It was a different matter than letting a saint or a saintess go down.

But there was also the blessing at the Harvest Festival, so it was unknown.

That’s why Bernat said to Natalia,

[“If Grand Duke Evron becomes the Emperor of the Empire, I want to go and see him with my own eyes.”]

That’s why he suggested that he personally visit the Emperor and beg for the sin.

It was too demanding to come with the Crown Princess.
However, as he was a vassal of the Empire and involved in treason, there was no way he could deny the command.

And before Natalia was the Crown Princess, she was a knight protecting Bernat.

It bothered him to leave the babies behind, but he couldn’t leave a skilled knight who was closest to the Crown Prince.

Even more so if the Empire would not count the number of guards.

[“Of course, I have to go to protect His Highness.
It’s just that I’m not good at socializing, so I’m not sure if I can help.”]

Natalia was really worried about that.

She heard that the social circle of the Imperial Capital was completely different from the court of the Iantz Kingdom.

The splendor of their attire may be similar to each other, but in the Kingdom of Iantz, it was rare to talk about it.

There was no way to trust the character of others enough to risk honor and family name on important things.
Instead, there were clear sentences and contracts.

Still, she was determined to do well.

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Grand Duchess Evron was five years younger than Natalia, and she gave birth to and is raising a baby.

That being said, she was relatively close in age, and there was a common topic.

Even though she’s going to be a hostage, Natalia was still Crown Princess of Iantz.

She will have the opportunity to get acquainted with Grand Duchess Evron.
Her own role was very important.

Bernat collected all the rumors and the hidden information about her.

Evaluations were extremely divided.

Many people regarded her as a pitiful girl who was saved by Grand Duke Evron while growing up being abused by her wretched mother.

On the other hand, many people saw her as the Emperor’s favorite lady and the new power.
She was the one who at least was capable of taking the place.

[“If Grand Duke Evron can’t be a man according to his reputation, I think it’s better to think that the Grand Duchess is also like that.”]

If all of this had been a conspiracy by Grand Duke Evron, the starting point would certainly have been his marriage to the Grand Duchess, Bernat said,

[“He was careful at first, but it is better to say he’s a good person.
Rather than approaching it prematurely, and being an insurmountable authority figure.”]

Natalia was very nervous about it.

And now, Natalia was in a different kind of embarrassment than she had thought.

Cedric said,

“Blue purple is good.”

Cadriol replied,

“In this case, wouldn’t it make sense to save the guest’s face?”

It was the story of the silk flower that would decorate Artizea’s hair.

Bernat, who was sitting next to the two men, said to Natalia,

“I’ll do it with orange opal.”

It had nothing to do with Natalia anyway.
Because she wasn’t a subject to compete.

Her husband was the only one who gave her jewelry.

“Blue purple.”

“Abandon the misconception that a cold color would look good with platinum blonde hair, Grand Duke Evron.”

Cadriol scoffed at Cedric.

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Artizea’s complexion was filled with fatigue.
Even so, her pale complexion grew even paler.

Suddenly, she met Natalia’s gaze.

Natalia tried her best to smile at her.
At that moment, a consensus was formed between the two.

‘I really don’t want to do the toilette.’

There was no social activity called toilette in the Kingdom of Iantz.
Natalia was not ashamed with her physical strength, but it was awkward for her to complete the dress up in front of others, so it was difficult for her to bear it.

Artizea’s position itself, centered on showing her appearance in front of others, was stressful.
It was no exaggeration to say that the toilette is the essence among them.

But the wives from both countries gathered.
As the wives of the successor, they were able to represent each country.

Besides, she was a young woman, so the social circle had high expectations.

Ahead of the welcome banquet, she had to open the toilette room and stand next to each other.

‘It’s difficult by itself.’

She had no idea that such an unexpected stress would arise.

“Blue purple.”

Cedric spoke again.

“A yellow butterfly decoration.”

Cadriol continued.

Sophie looked at Artizea with an awkward look.
Artizea saw the faces of other guests who were intrigued.

The successors of the three countries were sitting side by side, attracting people’s attention.

Of course, the wise Bernat didn’t even care about what was going on next to him.
Perhaps in his mind, he was gathering information and judging people.

‘If you are doing this on purpose to make a frivolous impression, then you have accomplished your purpose.’

It was so obvious that no one thought it was suspicious.

What made her sigh was Cedric sitting next to him and doing stupid things together.

Up to that point, she didn’t know what Cadriol was aiming for.

‘I’m just being used as a topic of discussion.’

Artizea lamented.

Sophie offered a compromise.

“I think the blue-purple flowers and yellow butterflies look great together.”