The Villainess Lives Twice: Butterfly's Dream (IF Story) - Chapter 101

Artizea always had grand ambitions, but putting them into action was never easy. Real life was different from books, and knowing something was not the same as doing it. 

In short, despite being engaged for six months, they hadn’t gone any further than a kiss. She’d assumed three months would be plenty of time before the wedding, but she’d been completely mistaken.

Honestly, there were times Artizea wanted to throw caution to the wind and pounce on Cedric, but she was simply too busy for that. 

Restoring the family was anything but simple. Unlike Grand Duchy Evron, Marquisate Rosan no longer held its old lands in one piece. The scattered estates and mines took time to inspect. Meeting vassals and searching for trustworthy allies wasn’t something that could be done in a day or two.

Just the trip to the east to visit the Hanson family took almost three months.

Still, she didn’t consider it a waste of time. She remembered the tears on the dignified, aging face of Marcus Hanson. In front of his skeptical children and wary granddaughter, Artizea apologized on behalf of Milaira for past wrongs, and handed over a signed oath promising never to drag the Hansons to court over Marquisate Rosan’s family affairs. 

She even settled financial compensation right then and there.

In truth, Artizea never had a particular attachment to Marquisate Rosan itself. She would have been content to leave it as a mere formality rather than rebuilding it. It didn’t matter much to her, either way. 

But since her mother had ruined Rosan, she felt compelled to make things right. In Crates, after all, a parent’s sins became the child’s burden.

She’d never considered herself privileged just for growing up in Marquisate Rosan. Looking back, nothing Milaira did had ever benefited her. She’d been raised by Evron, and inheriting Rosan would make little difference in her life.

But she’d lived as ‘Artizea of Rosan’ until now, and with the Marquis title soon to be hers, she felt obligated to shoulder the full responsibility.

That’s what Cedric had taught her.

That’s why she had to restore Marcus Hanson’s pride and honor, return the livelihood of the old vassals and retainers, and look after the collateral branches of the family.

She’d spent quite a bit of time talking to Marcus about all this. He’d been surprised, sometimes delighted, and finally said with a bittersweet look.

“The Young Marquis take after neither your grandparents nor your parents.”

Even though he’d told her she looked just like the young Michael Rosan, he said so.

“Lord Michael was clever, but he measured everything as numbers in his ledger. Profit or loss, plus or minus. He never considered invisible gains.”

“Is that so?”

Artizea answered, but honestly, she wasn’t surprised. If he had cared about honor, he would never have given the Marchioness’s seat to the Emperor’s mistress

Marcus continued, tears in his eyes.

“Still, I liked him. He did many shameful things and was sometimes reckless, but he wasn’t a tyrant. He treated his vassals and servants well, those were tangible gains to him, after all. He always said it cost more to replace people….”

“I see.”

“He used to say, ‘You’ll be fetching my cane till the day I die, old man.’”

He knew he wouldn’t outlive Marcus, and smiled as he said so. Artizea felt a strange unease. To her it didn’t sound especially kind, but perhaps there was a kind of friendship Marcus could understand.

It was a long journey. Longer than Artizea had expected. Throughout, she wrote Cedric long letters every three days.

[To Lord Cedric Evron,

How have you been? I suppose ‘it’s been a while’ isn’t accurate since my last letter was just three days ago, but your latest reply is from three weeks back. Even with the post, messages don’t travel as fast as I wish.

I’m doing well. Yesterday I toured Rosan Castle. Most of the surrounding land has been sold off, so it hardly counts as a domain anymore, but at least the castle remains. It’s been sixteen years since it was last maintained and it’s practically a ruin.

I was able to contact the family who once managed the estate and they’ll return soon. I’ve arranged for them to use a house in the nearby village until the castle is livable again.

Tomorrow, I’ll head back to the manor. I thought about visiting the sapphire mines, but they’re too far and there’s no real reason to go.

At first I was disappointed you didn’t come with me, but now I’m glad. If you were here, we wouldn’t have been able to take our time, and Lord Ced’s schedule would have kept us rushing. Lately, I keep getting invited to social gatherings, which eats up so much time, but it’s hard to turn down invitations from Lady Garnet’s relations.

I’m used to being called Young Marquis Rosan now. I understand Lord Ced’s plan. You wanted people in eastern society to recognize me not as Lord Ced’s fiance, but as the head of Marquisate Rosan.

Realizing that, I feel a little sad again. Is Marquisate Rosan more important to you than seeing me?

I still don’t think I need Marquis Rosan’s title, but I feel my responsibility every day. Now I understand how restoring the family feels like reclaiming a lost homeland for the people.

Still, even if travel has its pleasures, it can’t compare to the feeling of longing. We’ve spent months apart before, but somehow it’s different this time.

And this is all Lord Ced’s fault! Who gets engaged, then pushes their fiance out the door for a solo journey less than a month later?

I suppose I’m contradicting myself, but I just miss you.

Please give my regards to Ansgar. Tell him not to overwork himself, he’ll be busy once I’m back.]

Artizea spent ages debating how to sign the letter. She thought about writing “Yours, Artizea,” but got too embarrassed. Just “Artizea” felt too plain. 

After writing her name, she thought maybe she should write something like “Missing you”? Wasn’t that what love letters were supposed to be like? Maybe she should read one of the books Sophie recommended. 

For now, she just pressed her blotting paper to the letter and waved it dry in the air.

Knock, knock, knock.

Suddenly, a sharp knock sounded at the door. It wasn’t a harsh pounding, but there was something urgent about it.

“What is it?” 

Artizea called out in confusion.

From outside, Alice’s voice rang out loudly,

“The Grand Duke is here!”

For a moment, Artizea thought she must have misheard. But no, she heard.

She rushed over and grabbed the doorknob, but before she could open it, the door swung inward.

There stood Cedric, hair tousled, smiling at her.

“Hope I’m not interrupting, Tia?”

Artizea’s eyes widened in surprise. Behind Cedric, Alice was trying to muffle her laughter with her hands.