The Villainess Lives Twice
Chapter as16: After Story 16

Proofreader: somnium

The most important thing to do in recent times was happening at the Empress’ Palace, but Cedric was quiet in the Main Palace’s conference room.

Externally, the vassals from the North did not come for political affairs, but for a courtesy call from Grand Duke Evron. It was more of a private matter.

However, it was difficult to concentrate on the meeting. The officials were concerned that the Emperor would split up important interests in their position and give it to the Northern nobles.

Behind them, there will be nobles whom they each have a connection to.

Or, they were concerned that some of the vassals from the days of Grand Duke Evron would be selected and given a high-ranking position with great political influence.

Cedric had no intention of doing so.

Even if he would have lived for 20 years without a problem, there would never be enough time.

It takes half a day to demolish a house, but it takes a long time to lay the foundation to build it.

It was unknown if it would be possible for one man to dedicate his entire life to rebuilding the foundations of the empire.

He wanted to save time. That way he won’t overburden Leticia.

In his generation, he must bring the trend of the times to the point where the power of a few cannot stop the change. Even if the later Emperor committed a tyranny, a system had to be put in place to prevent it.

He has already seen how quickly a single tyrant can destroy a country.

Such a thing should never have happened again.

So, even if there was affection and trust, he had no intention at all to give them an important position with that alone.

Even if he said so, not many people really believed it. The more they couldn’t believe him, the more untrustworthy he became.

It was a meeting about reestablishing the administrative system in the East, but it could not be completed because the mind was at the North.

Still, Cedric patiently finished all he had to say, and ordered the attendees to bring proper reports and suggestions at the next meeting.

By the time he left after the sloppy meeting that had lasted all afternoon, the sun was setting.

‘It’s not that there’s no result.’

Artizea’s purpose of turning the gaze was definitely achieved.

Few would now be interested in such things as priests going quietly to meet the Saintess.

Even if someone noticed, they would think it would be a matter of strengthening the voice of the priests from the North within the temple.

It was frustrating for Cedric. But he knew it would take too long to resolve it by persuasion.

There was no more time for Karam than for him now. Their lifespan would gradually increase, but there was no guarantee that someone with as much understanding and influence as Apua could emerge again in Cedric’s reign.

A guarantee that he will be able to meet the same conditions as he is now.

[“Now is the right time. Even without considering the influence of Prince Apua, there are now a lot of materials that can divert people’s attention without causing major problems to the people’s livelihood.”]

After his reign was completely stabilized, it would not be possible to blindly look at the fact that people came from the North as it is now.

And perhaps Artizea seemed to be thinking that she should do it while she was still alive.

In the end, the Karam problem had to be seen as a tie-up with the temple somehow.

Cedric felt bad, but he couldn’t help it.

[“You don’t have to worry. It’s not that I want to do practical work, it’s just that I’m asking for cooperation from the Archbishop. Once the Archbishop is brought in, he will work hard to make up for himself, even for his own sake.”]

[“Can I not worry about the amount of books you read?”]

[“That, too, is about half a hobby. I’m like Lord Cedric, who reads the paperwork until after midnight the previous day, gets up at 5 a.m. the next day and goes out to wield your sword.”]

[“…….”]

[“You are doing something that you can leave behind for the future generation. Do not worry. It’s not that I’m preparing to die, I’m just watching to the extent that interpreters and academic priests can’t do their tricks anymore.”]

She said so, but Cedric knew that Artizea couldn’t stop at that level according to her nature.

She promised to stop right away if it hurts her health or if she’s tired, but how reliable that will be is unknown.

He was aware of his high degree of dependence on Artizea. However, he does not have two such people in the world, and there is no guarantee that they can be trusted even if there is one somewhere, so he continued to rely on her with a heavy heart.

Cedric stopped by the Main Palace to change his clothes, but Leticia was there.

“Ticia, when did you come?”

However, the reaction was a little different from usual. Instead of running into his arms calling ‘Dad’, she put the chair in the middle of the living room and sat with her back from the door, there was no answer.

The servants kept their posture upright, but they couldn’t hold back their laughter and were having all kinds of conversations with their faces.

Mrs. Keshore bowed down to him without a word. Cedric closed his mouth and pointed to Leticia and asked what was going on with his face.

Mrs. Keshore spoke only with the shape of her mouth.

– Hide and seek.

– Ah.

Cedric lamented only with his mouth.

He had promised Leticia last night that he would play hide and seek with her after they finished the meal.

But Leticia fell asleep before dessert was even served. While he was talking to Artizea whether to wake her up or not, there was an urgent report from outside.

If she had been awake he would have given an explanation. But she just happened to be asleep, so he just put her to sleep and came out.

She seemed to be angry about it.

“Ticia.”

Cedric called Leticia in a friendly voice.

Leticia’s shoulders swayed. But she didn’t look back. It was as if she was saying, “Hng!” with her whole body.

“Are you angry?”

“HNG.”

This time she made a loud sound.

Cedric looked at Mrs. Keshore with a puzzled look. Mrs. Keshore shook her head. It was a signal to do as he wanted.

Cedric went in to change his clothes. The clothes he was wearing now had decorations with pointed corners. It was a piece of clothing to avoid when carrying a baby.

He had originally planned to take a leisurely bath and go to the Empress’ Palace. But now that Leticia is waiting, he simply washed his hands and face and changed into comfortable clothes.

Then, when he went back to the living room, Leticia was sitting again with her back turned.

The wardrobe was inside the bedroom, and the door leading to it was on the opposite side of the door leading to the hallway.

In short, while he went in to change his clothes, Leticia turned the chair over and sat with her back to him again.

He didn’t know if the smile would disappear from the lips of the servants.

Cedric wiped his lips with his palm. If he smiles, she will be angry.

In fact, when Leticia was angry, she was cute and he laughed so many times that he made her cry. He could never make that mistake today.

Cedric said solemnly, squeezing out the wrinkles of laughter that were about to form on his lips several times.

“Leticia Maureen, if there is anything wrong, come and tell me.”

Of course, Cedric had never used such a tone before. But the kings in the fairy tales that he read to Leticia always spoke like this.

Leticia flinched. Cedric also coughed once ‘Uhumm.’ Leticia rocked her butt out of the chair, this time startled.

Leticia’s attendants twisted their heads to contain their laughter. The servants of the Main Palace were accustomed to suppressing their emotions more than that, but they could not hold back the corners of their mouths.

Cedric walked over to Leticia, bent over to her and made eye contact.

“Why are you so upset?”

Leticia turned her annoyed face around. Cedric had to strain his facial muscles to pull the rising corners of his mouth down again.

“If you don’t tell me, Dad won’t know.”

The battle between Leticia and Cedric continued for a while. But in the end, Leticia lost.

“I hate Dad!”

Leticia sprang up to her feet and shoved the chair. Cedric took the chair with one hand and held Leticia with the other so she wouldn’t fall over.

Leticia burst into tears as he lifted her up. The small clenched fist hit Cedric’s shoulder.

“Yesterday, yesterday too, uhuuu, play hide-and-seek together, huwaaaa!”

“Sorry. It was because Dad had an urgent matter.”

“Huhhngg, always like that, uwaaa!”

Cedric patted Leticia on the back.

“I’m sorry.”

“Dad is bad. Huhu, when Mom breaks promise, hhngg, uwaahhh!”

Leticia couldn’t speak until the very end and began to cry.

“Sorry. I was going to explain, but Ticia was sleeping so well and I didn’t want to wake you up.”

“Then, then, morning?”

As Leticia teared up, she pulled Cedric’s collar.

“Why didn’t you say hello?”

Cedric got up three hours before Leticia’s time to wake up, and he couldn’t take the time to go to breakfast together.

But instead of making lame excuses to the child, he apologized frankly.

“Dad is sorry that I couldn’t keep my promise with Leticia. Please forgive me.”

Leticia doesn’t say he was forgiven, but she wraps her arms around Cedric’s neck and rubs her face between his collar.

Cedric patted Leticia on the back a few more times and said,

“Should we go to Mom?”

“Hmm.”

“Eat ice cream together?”

“Really?”

Leticia stopped crying and lifted her head. Cedric said,

“I heard from the cook this morning. Since the strawberries are in, he was going to put them in the ice storage.”

“Strawberry! Ice!”

Leticia exclaimed and struggled to go down. But when Cedric refused to put her down, she appealed with her words.

“I’m fast!”

“We’re going now, so I can’t give it to you yet.”

“Iiiicceeeecccrreeeaaaammm!”

It was not something that could be tasted at any time even for the Imperial Family.

Cedric was forced to drop Leticia down. Leticia took his hand and trotted with her feet.

Yes, it would have been much faster to go there if he held her. Anyway, Leticia still can’t get to the Empress’ Palace on her own feet.

‘I’m going to wear out my energy like this.’

Cedric grinned as he thought about it.