The Villainess Lives Twice: Butterfly's Dream (IF Story) - Chapter 108

Artizea gazed at Milaira with a feeling she couldn’t quite name. All day, she’d been filled with nothing but happiness, but now, something like sorrow and maybe even pity nudged at her heart.

“Why did you do it?” 

She asked not with reproach, but with genuine curiosity. She knew better than anyone how much Milaira had longed for Lawrence’s return. 

Technically, Lawrence served as an officer, but in truth, it was a form of exile, and he hadn’t been able to come to the capital freely. 

Milaira, unable to leave the Emperor’s side, hadn’t seen her son in over five years. Even her letters to him went mostly unanswered. While the Emperor received regular reports from the west, which he would pass along to Milaira, it did nothing to fill the void of missing her child.

If not for his sister’s wedding, Lawrence never would have been granted permission to return. Artizea assumed the only reason Milaira had accepted the wedding preparations so calmly was because she’d been looking forward to seeing her son.

So why, then, had she told Lawrence not to come? Aside from the chance to appear together in public, it was a precious opportunity for Lawrence himself. 

He could have demonstrated how much he’d changed, met the Crown Princess and other royal heirs. Perhaps, if the Emperor thought well of him, or even if public opinion improved, there was a real chance his exile could have been lifted.

Lawrence would have known this too.

Milaira’s lips trembled, her eyes turning an even deeper shade of red as her emotions churned.

“Don’t ask foolish questions. There’s nothing good about letting people see your flaws.”

“Mother…”

“I don’t mean your brother is a flaw. But… your brother and the Grand Duke aren’t on good terms.”

That was all she said aloud, but Milaira knew as well as anyone that Lawrence was the last thing her daughter needed drawing scrutiny at this wedding. 

Not only was his relationship with Cedric strained, things were just as tense with Graham and Pavel. Even without that, there were already plenty of marks against her daughter when compared to the Grand Duke. 

There were the circumstances of her birth and succession to Rosan, the fact that she’d been raised in the Evron family. And, most of all, the reputation of her own mother.

But Milaira also knew Cedric had accepted all those flaws, and that knowledge filled her with a tangled mix of gratitude and anxiety. She couldn’t help feeling that such broad-mindedness would fade with time and passion.

All the more reason to want this wedding to be flawless. A blessed marriage would safeguard her daughter’s rightful place, and, someday, her children as well. 

Milaira thought about the future Ansgar had mentioned. The future children the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess will be blessed with, and her daughter who would bear them.

Artizea’s life wasn’t like Milaira’s own, and never would be. After eleven years, Milaira finally understood that. For a long time, she’d resented Cedric for ‘taking’ what was hers, but in the end, even if he hadn’t, this moment would have come eventually.

[In the end, when you finish raising them, you’re left alone.]

She found herself thinking, unexpectedly, of the grumpy old butler’s words.

She wasn’t sure she fully understood that way of thinking, but maybe Artizea, who now looked at her with calm, clear eyes, understood it better than she did.

“Thank you, Mother.” 

Artizea said softly. Milaira lowered her gaze.

“Enough with the nonsense. You’re not much to look at, so at least the wedding should go well.”

“But you just called me beautiful.”

“Beautiful. You’re the sort of girl makeup doesn’t quite suit.”

Milaira gave a wry little laugh. Artizea smiled.

Then Milaira pulled a small golden orb from her bag. Lysia hurried to fetch the bouquet and handed it to Artizea. 

But instead of tucking the orb into the bouquet herself, Milaira tried to pass it to Garnet.

“Oh! Marchioness Rosan.” 

Garnet protested, stepping back.

“I’ve been thinking. Rather than walk Tia down the aisle myself, I’d prefer to ask Grand Duchess Roygar. You had cared for Tia like a niece.”

“Mother…”

“It may seem strange, having someone else lead you down the aisle when your real mother is here, but it’ll help you far more in the future if the Grand Duchess does it, rather than me.”

“It’s all right.” 

Artizea replied gently, pressing Milaira’s hand back as she tried to give her the orb. 

“The Emperor and Empress won’t be attending the ceremony today.”

“What?” 

Milaira was startled. Was her daughter out of her mind? Having the Emperor and Empress present was a mark of legitimacy. Why would she refuse such an opportunity?

“I asked them if they could let today be just about me. They both agreed.”

Milaira’s eyes reddened again. Artizea slipped her arm through her mother’s.

“I’m just glad you came, Mother.”

And she meant it. 

She was old enough now that she no longer craved her mother’s love blindly. Her heart had already been filled by other forms of love. 

But she still loved her mother, and still hoped for her approval. She didn’t need to be as beautiful as Milaira. Being loved by Cedric was enough. 

Still, she had always wanted to be her mother’s lovely daughter, and today, that wish finally came true.

Wordlessly, Milaira tucked the golden orb into the bouquet. Artizea smiled, though her lips trembled a little.

“It’s time to go, Tia.” 

Skyla said, checking the clock.

Eloise and Garnet left first, heading back to the guest seats.

“Don’t forget to save me the biggest basket of flowers!”

“Congratulations, Tia!”

Their cheerful voices rang through the room.

Lysia led the way, and Artizea followed arm-in-arm with her mother. As they walked, she whispered.

“There’s one thing I really wish for, Mother.”

“Hm?”

“I hope my first child is a daughter. I want her to have your looks and Ced’s personality.”

Milaira, who had been at a loss for words, stared at her daughter in disbelief.

Artizea only grinned. Milaira retorted sharply.

“What did the Grand Duke do to make you so shameless? You used to be such a quiet child.”

“What’s wrong with what I said? It’s the truth. Mother, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Milaira’s face finally softened, and she snorted.

“Of course.”

Artizea smiled.

They stepped into the sunlit garden, where the air was full of the scent of flowers and music soared up to meet the sky.

Cedric was soon at her side. Pavel and Graham, his groomsmen, gave her warm nods of greeting.

Artizea looked at her handsome groom and felt a surge of happiness.

And then, together, they walked to the altar, ready to make their vows for eternity.