The Villainess Lives Twice
chapter-217

Chapter 217

Proofreader: somnium

As soon as Skyla heard the news that Marquis Luden had died, she escaped from the envoy.

She was sorry for the collapsed Garnet. But the situation was so dire that she couldn’t afford to think about it.

The Emperor’s investigators would not be able to suddenly attack the special envoys. But since she returned to the vicinity of the Capital, she had to think she was within the Emperor’s sight.

‘You have to hide it before it’s too late.’

Fortunately, Skyla was good at horseback riding. From the port to the Capital, it could be reached in less than half a day by a skilled rider on horseback.

Skyla barely reached the Capital before the gates were closed.

She headed straight for the house.

As expected, Ian had left a letter in the house. He briefly wrote about the things that had been done to him, and it was written that he went to Grand Duchy Evron.

‘Haa.’

Skyla was exhausted and sat there for a moment.

She herself advised Ian so. Ian will be safe, but by putting Ian in Grand Duke Evron’s residence, she intends to keep the ties with Artizea.

But she didn’t know back then that Marquis Luden would be dead.

The coarse salt crisis is progressing too quickly. The death of Marquis Luden also had an effect on this.

It was reckless. Marquis Luden knew that Grand Duke Roygar had decided to take over the coarse salt business. Had he been alive, he would have defended the Duchy of Riagan in advance.

But he died. Grand Duke Roygar’s faction was fragmented. They were trying to not let their own family get entangled, far from working together to protect the Duchy of Riagan.

Her mind went round and round.

Marquis Luden was like a huge wall that had been there since Skyla’s birth.

Skyla used to dream of breaking it down. She also thought that if only Marquis Luden died, her mother would be liberated.

But Skyla had no intention of assassinating Marquis Luden. She wasn’t really prepared for that.

If Marquis Luden were to collapse, she thought it would be the result of a complete defeat in a dispute.

He was either defeated and purged in the succession battle, or he was purged after Grand Duke Roygar ascended to the throne.

Conversely, Marquis Luden had to be alive until a conclusion was reached.

What the hell was her mother thinking?

‘I need information.’

Skyla did not yet have a personal information network. If she has any questions, she has been using the information network created by Marchioness Camellia.

She couldn’t decide now. And she has no information, so whatever she thinks is just speculation.

It is dangerous to act on baseless reasoning. Right now, Skyla was as good as standing on a single wooden bridge.

She felt her arms getting hot. Of course it couldn’t be, but she was overly sensitive, so it bothered her.

Eventually, Skyla went to Grand Duke Evron’s residence.

“You’re back so early, Miss Skyla? I thought you went as a special envoy.”

Having received a contact from the secret contact line, Alice came out to greet her with a bewildered face.

“No outsiders are allowed to enter the mansion. Madam doesn’t go out of the mansion anymore. I’m sorry, but if you have something to say, write it down and I’ll deliver it to her.”

“No. I didn’t come to see Her Grace. Sir Ian Camellia. He must be staying at this Grand Duke’s residence, please tell him of my visit.”

Alice also had a slightly awkward face this time.

She knew that Ian had come to Artizea because of Skyla’s advice.

But it was not in her authority to bring people into the mansion. She also knew that Artizea was advising Ian not to meet people.

“I’ll tell him right away.”

“…… I hope it doesn’t take too long.”

Skyla bit her lower lip and held back her energy. It wasn’t good.

Suspicions grew and spread.

She didn’t want anyone to know that she was meeting Ian, if possible. Ian was the last card she held.

But since she had to go to Grand Duke Evron’s residence, she couldn’t hide it from Artizea no matter what.

‘It would have been the same if I had made another contact. I do not have time.’

This issue must be resolved tonight.

Skyla waited quite a long time in the warehouse where she met Alice. It was already dark when Alice returned.

“Follow me.”

Skyla wore her hood up to her head and followed Alice’s footstep into Grand Duke Evron’s residence.

Each stone lantern in the garden was lit up brightly. She didn’t even need to light her way with a lamp.

Instead of guards everywhere, knights were standing with guns. It wasn’t about patrolling, it was about having people’s eyes stay in all places.

Even when Artizea collapsed in the great temple and the treason charges were mentioned, the guards weren’t this tight.

Along the way, the knights held Alice several times and confirmed her identity. There were also several guards in the annex where Ian was staying.

“Don’t worry, there aren’t that many people inside.”

Alice said so.

As she said, the inside of the annex was quiet and dark. They were only cleaning near Ian’s place because they had sent out all the employees, leaving only the trusted ones.

Ian was waiting in the living room. He had a look of relief when he looked at Skyla. His face was a little thinner than before.

“Miss Skyla, when are you back……, ugh!”

Before Ian could finish his words, Skyla ran to him and hugged him.

Ian was shocked. He almost reflexively put his arm around Skyla’s waist, but before that he could barely stop his hand.

Skyla spoke quickly in a low voice.

“Pretend to be happy.”

Being between a man and a woman is convenient at times like this. There was no more convenient excuse for them to be alone than this.

Alice won’t be fooled anyway, though.

Ian hesitated and finally embraced Skyla. The escort knight averted his gaze.

“Would you mind leaving the room?”

Ian asked awkwardly. The escort knight was a little hesitant.

“Because she’s my fiance.”

Ian spoke again. Until then, Skyla was still burying her face in Ian’s chest. Ian’s embarrassment was getting bigger and bigger.

The escort knight smiled with a slightly red face. Even Ian could roughly guess what he was thinking.

Ian, who was about to lose his life at the hands of Marquis Luden after fighting Marquisate Camellia, is secretly meeting with Lady of Marquisate Camellia.

For an escort knight who did not know the circumstances, that alone would have been romantic enough.

“I will leave the door open.”

“Please.”

The knight opened the door and went out into the hallway. He couldn’t hear a small voice, but his figure was in a position where he could see whenever he lifted his head.

Of course, the knight was a polite person, so he wouldn’t deliberately keep an eye on the lovers.

Alice would not have been deceived, but she withdrew with the knight. Perhaps she went to report to Artizea.

Skyla then lowered her arm around Ian’s neck. Ian let out a tense breath.

And he tried to clear his blushing face.

Skyla took off her cloak and sat down on the sofa. She then grabbed Ian and sat him next to her.

“You can talk in a lower voice. There will probably be a sound collector. The Grand Duchess may be listening directly.”

“It seems that I have outlived my usefulness for Grand Duchess Evron.”

“Not yet. Even if she decides she doesn’t need you anymore, she’ll wonder why I’ve come to see you in such a hurry.”

Ian nodded his head to signify that he understood. Skyla could only speak then.

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Thanks to Lady, you saved my life. I regret that I did not take the advice sufficiently.”

Ian bowed his head. Skyla let out a small sigh.

“Did nothing happen in the Grand Duke’s residence?”

“Yes. There is no discomfort in food, clothing, and shelter, and there is no restriction in actions. Outings and guest visits are restricted, but that is unavoidable because of the Grand Princess.”

“The cost was substantial.”

“It’s not overdone. I wonder if it was because of the Grand Princess that Marquis Luden was assassinated.”

Skyla looked at Ian in surprise.

Ian was also surprised. It was because he thought Skyla would have known what happened at the Harvest Festival.

He told Skyla about this because he wanted to see if his guess was convincing.

“Tell that story in detail. No news reached the South. After leaving that, while I was coming here, I was on the ship of the Eimmel Kingdom the whole time.”

It was the first time she heard the news that a girl was born.

Why is the birth of the Grand Princess related to the assassination of Marquis Luden?

If it weren’t for a real accident, Skyla thought that it was caused by the faction’s infighting with the absence of Grand Duke Roygar.

If not, someone has a grudge. There was not one or two people who harbored resentment on Marquis Luden.

Either way, something happened.

Ian lost in thought for a moment.

Skyla thought that he was measuring, just as she had measured him the last time.

She got goosebumps. Skyla also had a plan, but the plan was built on the premise that she could lead Ian to the end.

Ironically, the plan is meaningful while there is power in Grand Duke Roygar.

Marquis Luden died. Grand Duke Roygar is entangled in a smuggling case. Ian established a relationship with Artizea.

Ian may have decided that he would betray her in a situation like this.

For a moment, Skyla regretted it, even though she had advised him, she knew that Ian had nothing to do with her if he wanted to survive.

But before she was completely engulfed in anxiety, Ian said,

“The Grand Duchess told me that I should learn to be more mean.”

“…… So, did you decide to learn?”

“No.”

Ian looked down at his hand for a moment.

His hand was rough. He was born of the bloodline of the great nobles, but it seemed that he could not have even the heart of a nobleman.

“I don’t feel like I want to be a person like Marquis Luden.”

“…….”

“If that’s a real noble, then I wouldn’t be a noble.”

“Sir Ian… … .”

“You saved my life, Miss Skyla. This time, it is my turn to help you.”

Ian said so and looked into Skyla’s eyes.

“I am now under the protection of Grand Duchess Evron, but that was also by your arrangement. I am in your boat.”

Strength slowly drained from Skyla’s body.

She rested her head on Ian’s shoulder as if collapsing. Ian cautiously placed his hand on Skyla’s shoulder and leaned forward.

“Did you have a hard time in the South?”

“I thought I was going to die. I don’t think it’s the worst, though.”

Skyla closed her eyes and mumbled in reply.