The Villainess Lives Twice

Chapter 304

Proofreader: somnium

Artizea didn’t really care, but Sophie and Emily did.

Sophie wanted her to look a little prettier. Emily hoped to leave a mark on her career that she took the best care of the Empress’ dress at this Coronation.

Even at the Coronation Ceremony of the previous Emperor, not a single seamstress got to do this.

It was the work of the old noble ladies-in-waiting and the royal court servants. So, it was not something a commoner like Emily could dare to touch.

Unfortunately, none of Artizea’s ladies-in-waiting were versed in tradition or fashion.

Hazel and Mielle were holding the jewels respectfully. Hayley was no exception.

Artizea watched Sophie braid her white hair in front of the mirror.

“As expected, this would be good.”

Emily held out a gold piece.

The two did not reach an agreement until the very end, whether to sprinkle Artizea’s head with gold, silver, or pearls.

There was talk of trying to dye her hair blonde or pale crimson on this occasion, but Artizea refused.

Because she didn’t want to be crowned with too much makeup.

However, her gray hair, which had lost its luster, was also noticeable, so they decided to deceive it with colorful accessories.

Her face was put on makeup with all their might.

Artizea had thought it wasn’t worth doing. After all, the clothes are so majestic that no one will be able to see her.

And the person who walks into the Luminous Hall today is not a human named Artizea, but holder of the title of Empress.

‘I’ll definitely have to pay attention at the banquet.’

Rather than the Coronation or the celebration that followed, it would be a much more ceremonial time for Artizea to end the past by sitting quietly with Cedric in the evening with a candle in between.

Her hair, which had been braided with gold the size of her nails, was poked here and there, and it became radiant.

Artizea looked at herself for a moment.

“What do you think?”

Sophie asked. Artizea smiled.

Sophie smiled broadly.

“You don’t like it, do you?”

Shortly after she returned, she thought that there was a time when youth would be pretty on her face, just as when she was old.

Now, she didn’t look like a real twenty-year-old, even though Sophie and Emily had been obscuring it with desperate makeup.

But she didn’t think she hated seeing herself like that, though.

“I like it. Thank you.”

As Artizea tried to get up from the chair, Alice quickly clasped the cane in her hand.

Her ankles were uncomfortable and she could not stand for long.

A long jeweled sash was placed over her shoulders, down to her knees, and she wore a gown embroidered with jewels and gold and silver as well.

After all that, the dress or hair didn’t really look like the rags Emily complained about.

She didn’t wait long, and outside, the attendant announced that Cedric had arrived.

Artizea stood there quietly, waiting for Cedric to come.

The door opened.

Cedric looked at her with an awkward face and smiled.

Artizea asked,

“Why are you making that face?”

“It’s because the robes are too much. Isn’t it strange?”

said Cedric while looking down at his clothes.

He too wore a robe embroidered with gold and jewels over another white robe.

“Still, Lord Cedric is fine. You have a good physique.”

He didn’t look like a person who was buried in his clothes, he looked dignified.

His appearance now was almost in order, and the gray hair that was dyed black was no different from before.

The strength of youth and the weight of the years were brought together, and it was a figure full of military power.

She seemed to be able to tell what the people wanted at the time when this robe was made.

Cedric held out his hand.

“Then, shall we go?”

Artizea let go of her cane and crossed her arms with him.

It wasn’t against the rules. But she decided it would be better than carrying a cane.

Cedric walked slowly. Artizea leaned on his arm to follow.

On the road leading to the coronation hall of the Luminous Hall, servants and knights lined up and knelt down at once.

In a seat close to the altar, the Empress was seated.

She wasn’t wearing black mourning outfit today either. The Empress’ treasures were worn by Artizea, but as the former Empress, she now wore an imperial white robe embroidered with gold thread.

She was told that the Empress had prepared a blue dress for the celebration, which began this evening.

It may be a little calmer and darker than the one she wore when she was young, but that color was the color used as a symbol of Duchy Riagan.

The altar in the center of the hall had already been prepared. The Archbishop was waiting in front of him.

Cedric took a deep breath.

“Are you nervous?”

Artizea asked in a low voice. It was because she knew well what he was thinking at the time of the Crown Prince’s Coronation Ceremony.

But Cedric answered,

“I am not nervous. I am ready.”

It was a word to Artizea as well as a word of determination to himself.

“Then, keep an eye on it. The Emperor you made.”

Artizea nodded her head slightly.

She wasn’t worried in the first place. Because she was prepared through one lifetime.

Cedric knelt before the altar. Artizea grabbed Cedric’s arm and slowly knelt down on one of her knees.

The Archbishop, as a servant of God, lowered the Emperor’s Crown from the altar and handed it to Cedric.

He put the Crown on his own head. Then, he stood up and placed the Empress’ Crown on Artizea’s head.

Finally, the Archbishop handed him a scepter and an orb.

“In this way, I declare that God has sent a new sun to the Empire.”

The Archbishop declared.

And he knelt before Cedric to pay his respects.

The Empress Dowager then stood up and knelt down on one of her knees to pay her respects.

The nobles who were lined up knelt all at once to pay their respects.

Boom!

The sound of a salute vibrated all the way to the hall.

“Long live Your Majesty!”

“Long live the Sun of the Empire!”

Then, the shouts of hurrah swept out like waves.

Cedric smiled brightly. Then, he put his arms around Artizea and lifted her up, and headed out to show himself.

The Count Eunice couple, who were standing in the front row, shouted their cheers the most. Next to them were Countess Josiah, the younger sister of Countess Eunice, who had returned to the Capital for the first time after several years, and her husband.

The four people could not stand in the seat of the Imperial Family, but they were in the front row of the seat of the nobility.

Hayley was in the lady-in-waiting’s place, so she was close. With her head bowed down to her knees, she glanced in Freil’s direction, and asked in a low voice after Cedric and Artizea had passed,

“Who did that?”

“What do you mean?”

“County Eunice and County Josiah.”

It was against the rules for those two families to be seated in the front.

Nevertheless, having a place there was clearly a political sign. That he did not usurp the throne from Emperor Gregor, but he was abdicated, meaning that everything would end in a reconciliation.

Freil grunted.

“Then, will you put them in the back row?”

The rich skirt of the Empress Dowager passed, followed by the long robe worn by the Archbishop.

The two finally stood up. And they said with a face as if they were concentrating on applause and cheers.

“The Empress did not order this in advance, so I was curious as to who took care of it.”

“You can do that on your own now.”

“Oh, is it?”

Hayley retorted and joined the procession, sharing laughter with those around her.

Freil followed her swiftly.

“Hayley.”

“Why?”

“Why are you like this? What was wrong with you?”

“I think it’s Sir who is showing discontent.”

“That is unfair.”

“What?”

Freil bit his mouth. In fact, he didn’t even know what was wrong.

Except for the one-line reply.

The two exchanged greetings with the other for a moment. Meanwhile, the Emperor and his wife went out of the Luminous Hall.

Now, it was the turn of the aides to separate for the evening celebration.

Freil caught Hayley one more time there.

“What?”

Freil opened his mouth and then closed it. He didn’t even know what he was trying to say.

What was certain was that Hayley was needed. At the same time, Artizea said she wanted to rest from now on, so Hayley wouldn’t be as busy as before.

The time was now.

“Hayley, I need you,.”

He said in a determined manner.

“Hmph.”

Hayley snorted her nose.

“This is why I decided not to get married to Evron. There’s no answer.”

“What?”

“I looked at His Majesty and thought for a moment that there might be hope for an Evron man, but no answer appeared.”

“What?”

“Come back after clearly deciding what words to put before ‘need’.”

Hayley nodded coldly and turned around.

Behind them, Hazel and Mielle looked at each other’s faces and giggled as they passed.

Freil looked at only their backs with a puzzled face.

＊＊＊

Pop!

Pop!

Beeeep! Pop!

A loud noise was also heard in the old center of the Imperial Palace, where no one came in and out.

Gregor heard the sound as he was buried in bed.

He was half asleep.

He was left alive rather than being alive.

Since it was difficult to deal with him when Cedric was away, the Empress decided to leave him so.

His stomach swelled because of ascites, and his drinking water was restricted because his urine didn’t come out properly.

It was not that no one had come to his audience during that time.

Chancellor Lin and General Hoover, as well as his former subjects, had come.

The chief attendant covered his misery by putting another layer of veil over the bed.

Still, Gregor himself refused the audience.

The Emperor they remembered and respected was no longer him. Rather, he only realized that he was dying in an ugly form.

Yet, he was alive, but he smelled of the dead.

After Cedric’s return, the doctor took a strong drug and put him to sleep all day to relieve the pain.

Still, they didn’t kill him. Because he was not usurped, but abdicated, poisoning the Emperor was impossible.

When he was awake he would think of resentment and vanity.

The Empress once told him that it was pointless because he was a winner.

But even if he was now a loser, it was in vain. In the face of death, the ambitions, desires, anger and resentment that had driven him throughout his life meant nothing.

And now, even such a fragmentary thought seldom comes to mind.

“…… this…… what sound…… is it?”

Gregor asked in a fading voice.

The chief attendant answered with wet eyes,

“It is the sound of a salute to congratulate the new Emperor of the throne.”

“…… I see.”

After that, there were no more words.

The chief attendant got his body up and put a finger under Gregor’s nose. He did it dozens of times a day.

And this time, he knew that neither life nor death was coming out any more.

The chief attendant stayed still, then stroked Gregor’s hand.

“Don’t worry. Your Majesty has abdicated to your son. What Your Majesty most desired in all your life come true.”

And he politely kissed the back of his hand and covered his face with a sheet.

[END]

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