The Villainess Lives Twice: Butterfly's Dream (IF Story) - Chapter 67

As Cedric’s gaze dropped immediately after meeting the Emperor’s, Gregor sighed inwardly.

‘Everything Lawrence did is true, then.’

A sigh came out naturally. If Cedric had been able to stop him from reaching this point, he wouldn’t have brought Lawrence here in such a state.

In some ways, it was inevitable.

The person who had loved and respected his father the most in his childhood was none other than Graham. 

Eloise, with her independent nature and inherent mistrust of people, had understood the ways of the world from a young age, and Pavel, though innocent, had heard many stories, especially since Lawrence had been born around the same time.

So, when Emperor Gregor had shown any flaws, it was always Graham who was most hurt.

Considering Graham’s position, he could have easily turned into a wild, carefree noble, but he had never done so, never even casually courting a woman. It was because of the deep respect and love he had for his father.

Gregor wasn’t unaware of this. He had a sense of guilt, not that he had fallen out of favor with his rebellious son, but because he understood that this rebellion had come from the love and trust that Graham had for him.

The look of admiration Graham had given him as a child, purely because he was his father, still remained in his heart like a precious treasure.

Graham was nothing like Gregor. He would often grumble, wondering who the child took after, being so direct and simple. But deep down, he appreciated that innocence. Graham was proving that he hadn’t passed on any weaknesses to his children.

Parents don’t love all their children equally. The weight and direction of their love are different for each.

Without a doubt, Gregor’s fondest child was the youngest, Lawrence, but the one he cherished most was Eloise, who would complete his reign with legitimacy. And the one he was most proud of was Graham.

Graham’s confidence came from never having faltered, something Gregor himself had once longed for in his youth but had found it hard to even speak aloud, let alone live by. He knew how satisfying that life must have been.

In short, while Eloise was the heir who would carry on his legacy and open the future, Graham was the child who comforted his past.

And so, Gregor didn’t want to disappoint Graham again. If he did this time, his son would truly no longer see him as a father.

“Haa.”

Emperor Gregor placed his hand on his forehead. As he thought about it calmly, he realized that cutting ties with a grown child wouldn’t cause any significant issues. Even if his son was disappointed with him, Graham wouldn’t go so far as to commit treason.

On the other hand, the idea of punishing Lawrence wasn’t an issue either.

“Lawrence, is what Graham said true?”

“Father?”

Lawrence was surprised by the Emperor’s stern tone and widened his eyes. The Emperor spoke again in a cold voice.

“Answer me, Lawrence.”

Though Lawrence was the youngest, who he would sit on his lap and kiss, Gregor knew he had a violent streak.

Having a hostile relationship with Graham wasn’t good for Lawrence either. Even without Graham, there were already large problems, and adding Eloise and Pavel’s contempt would only complicate matters further.

Gregor also had to consider what would happen after his death. While it might be difficult for the half-siblings to get along, Lawrence couldn’t afford to fall out of favor.

He needed to address this before Graham’s feelings grew worse. Lawrence needed to learn fear, for Gregor wouldn’t always be there to protect him. 

Given that the Emperor had already decided punishment was alright, it would be an easier decision for Eloise.

Lawrence’s face hardened.

“It’s true that I punished a servant.”

The Emperor’s gaze shifted to Cedric. Cedric sighed inside, then replied.

“The servant is now under protection at Grand Duke Evron’s residence. It’s true he suffered permanent injury and repeated abuse over the years.”

“I see.”

The Emperor’s voice was subdued as he called for the chief attendant.

“Willy, take Lawrence and ensure he receives treatment. Cedric, bring the doctor who treated the victim and the servant.”

“As you command.”

The chief attendant bowed respectfully and looked at Lawrence. Lawrence glared at Graham for a moment, but then quickly turned with a rough attitude and followed him out.

Graham sneered.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“Go back and reflect on your actions.”

“Your Majesty—”

“I told you to go back and reflect! Otherwise, repeat what you just said right here, and I’ll make you do it!”

Graham shut his mouth. He didn’t believe he had said anything wrong, but he was fully aware he had spoken disrespectfully to the Emperor.

He clenched his fist, bowed to the Emperor, and turned sharply to leave the room. Cedric was about to follow him when the Emperor called him back.

“Ced.”

Feeling awkward, he turned back to face the Emperor. The Emperor sighed deeply, then gestured for him to sit down.

“Sit down and wait for a moment. I want to ask for your opinion.”

“Yes.”

Cedric replied politely, but he felt truly uncomfortable. While he had things to say about Lawrence’s behavior, he didn’t want to get involved in a father-son emotional conflict.

‘This is what they mean by feeling like a shrimp with its back broken.’ 

He sat down on the sofa and sent a message to Grand Duke Evron’s residence, requesting the doctor and the servant. 

While he waited, the servant brought tea and snacks. Meanwhile, the Emperor continued working at his desk, occasionally sighing and muttering in pain, as though he had a headache.

Before long, the door to the office opened again, and Eloise entered.

“I heard you called for me, Your Majesty. Oh, Cedric?”

Eloise was a little surprised to see Cedric. He stood awkwardly and greeted her with a smile.

The Emperor spoke.

“Sit down. You’ve heard the news, haven’t you, Eloise?”

“I’ve heard that Graham finally managed to break Lawrence’s cheekbone.”

“That’s not exactly what happened.”

Cedric corrected her, feeling flustered. Nevertheless, the news spread quickly. It had already reached Eloise, even though she must have been in her office.

“So he did hit him, then?” 

Cedric answered with silence. Eloise smiled. She wanted to tease him and ask if he hadn’t tried to stop it, but she knew she couldn’t afford to anger Cedric in front of the Emperor.

“There was a reason.”

“Even so, it’s not right to hit a younger brother, especially when you’re already seventeen.”

As Eloise spoke, she bit into a cookie and swallowed it. Soon, a cup of tea was brought to her, and the Emperor also stood from his desk and walked toward the sofa.

It might seem like a pleasant tea time, but in reality, the atmosphere was anything but.

The Emperor sighed again. A fresh teacup was placed before him, and tea was poured into it. He tossed a sugar cube into his cup and spoke.

“It’s true that Lawrence has a tendency to take pleasure in seeing blood.”

“That’s a rather surprising statement. I thought you didn’t think it was a big deal.”