The Villainess Lives Twice: Butterfly's Dream (IF Story) - Chapter 69
Until Cedric returned, Lysia sat quietly in the chair, not doing anything. Pavel tried to comfort her, offering her her favorite snacks, suggesting they play card games or darts, or even go for a walk, but she simply shook her head.
“I’m fine. I just don’t feel like doing anything.”
“Lysia…”
“You don’t have to stay with me. Really.”
Even though Lysia said that, Pavel couldn’t bring himself to leave her alone and go off to do his own things. He, too, was feeling conflicted.
It wasn’t just that Lawrence had done something so cruel that it had shaken even the normally steadfast Lysia, but he had also realized for the first time how powerless he felt.
It was natural that Lysia would rely on Cedric the most, but Pavel was still hurt that both Cedric and Graham had asked him to stay behind while they went out. Cedric had asked him to stay with Lysia, but Pavel didn’t feel like his presence would be of much help.
Even though he couldn’t really leave Lysia, he tried to distract himself by reading a book, but he kept flipping through the pages without really focusing. After a while, he sighed and turned to Lysia.
“It’ll be fine. Ced will take care of it, and Brother Graham went with him, too.”
“Yeah…”
Pavel sighed again, patting Lysia’s head, feeling helpless as he could do nothing else.
Cedric returned when the sky started to turn orange with the sunset. It took longer than expected, and Pavel was just about to send someone to find out what was happening.
“Lord Ced!”
Lysia jumped up and ran to him. Seeing how she was relieved to see Cedric, Pavel couldn’t help but feel a little melancholic, and asked him:
“How did it go?”
“It’s been resolved.”
Cedric spoke with his usual calm manner and added one more thing.
“Brother Graham hit Lawrence.”
“Ah!”
Both Lysia and Pavel were shocked. Lysia was surprised that Graham had used violence, but Pavel was surprised that Cedric was the one to mention that Graham had hit Lawrence first. It seemed like that was the most striking event of the day. Cedric even smiled while saying it.
“I knew it was going to happen one day.”
Pavel’s immediate reaction was that. Honestly, it was surprising that Graham had held back for this long.
He didn’t feel sorry for Lawrence. While he didn’t hate him as much as Graham did, he still hated him. Pavel didn’t hate Lawrence for being the Emperor’s illegitimate son, but because of the kind of people he associated with.
If they weren’t step-siblings, with such a complicated relationship, Pavel might have thrown a punch or two.
Cedric gently patted Lysia’s head, who was still anxious, and began explaining the rest of the situation to Pavel. When Pavel heard that Graham had confronted the Emperor, he was taken aback. While he knew his older brother was brave, he hadn’t expected him to go that far.
He quickly asked, “So, is the punishment just house arrest?”
“For now, yes. I don’t think there will be any further punishment.”
If the Emperor chose to make a big deal out of it, he could punish Graham for insulting the Emperor, but Gregor would not do that. Cedric knew Gregor, as Cedric himself was a father. Though he didn’t want to admit it, Cedric knew that Gregor would likely feel proud of his son’s boldness.
Cedric then mentioned that it was highly likely Lawrence would follow Graham to the West. Pavel fell into deep thought after hearing this. Lysia asked Cedric, confused and anxious.
“Then, is that the punishment Lord Lawrence will receive?”
“Do you think it’s unfair?”
“…No.”
Lysia shook her head.
She wasn’t naive enough to not understand that the law isn’t always fair, and that it could vary depending on social status, power, and favoritism. Although it was being handled more through royal discretion than the law, Lysia understood that, for the youngest son of the emperor, this was still a significant punishment.
But her heart didn’t quite agree with that logic. She rubbed her cheek with the back of her hand, trying to hold back tears, thankfully not shedding any.
“If this could make Lord Lawrence change…”
“…”
Cedric was pessimistic about that possibility. Human nature doesn’t change easily. He didn’t expect that sending Lawrence to the West would change him. Cedric didn’t believe it would awaken any sense of humanity in him even if he was swept up by the Monster Wave.
Still, Cedric spoke calmly.
“Brother Graham will teach him well. At least he’ll learn not to cause unnecessary pain to others.”
In the West, Lawrence would face fear. Cedric didn’t think of Lawrence as an idiot or a madman who couldn’t restrain his desires.
Cedric mentioned the West not just to push Lawrence onto Graham. The bandits and small military factions in the West were targets for subjugation, and there were times when harsh methods were necessary.
It was an unpleasant task to even consider finding a purpose for someone like Lawrence, but if he couldn’t be removed, it would be better to at least find a place for him.
However, if the situation remained unresolved, it would ultimately mean that the peaceful future Emperor Gregor had hoped for would never come.
Cedric didn’t want to tell this to young Lysia yet. He didn’t want her to feel disappointed or suffer in this life. He wanted her to live freely, doing what she wanted, without worrying about someone like Lawrence.
Lysia nodded.
“The injured servant will be taken care of at the residence. Treat him well.”
“Yes.”
Lysia replied eagerly nodding.
“Then, we’ll be heading back now, Pavel. Thank you.”
Pavel, who had been lost in thought until then, looked up in surprise. Cedric, thinking Pavel was worried about Graham, added,
“Don’t worry too much. Lady Eloise will mediate well.”
“Oh, no. That’s not what I meant…”
Pavel trailed off. Cedric tilted his head, sensing something was off. Pavel opened his mouth a couple of times, then eventually shook his head without saying more.
“No, never mind. Just head back. Tia will be waiting.”
“Oh. Thank you.”
“What’s there to thank me for? I’m the one who should be thanking you. See you again.”
After exchanging farewells, Cedric and Lysia left. Pavel’s words lingered in Cedric’s mind. What did Pavel mean by thanking him?
But Cedric didn’t dwell on it too much.
As they got into the carriage and left the Empress’s palace, Cedric noticed the carriage from Marquisate Rosan heading toward the palace. He let out a sigh.
It seemed like Milaira was on her way. The thought that the Emperor would have to handle this situation made Cedric feel a little bit sorry.
* * *
“You look like you have a lot on your mind.”
At the Empress’s dinner table, only Pavel and the Empress were seated together. Graham, who had been placed under house arrest, couldn’t come, and Eloise was attending a banquet at the Crown Princess’s residence.
The Empress knew that the banquet was actually a dinner appointment with the handsome Lord Ravens, yet she let it slide. Viscounty Ravens was from a wealthy and traditional noble family in the central region, but his status was too low to ever be considered as a potential husband for the future Emperor.
It was still unclear whether Eloise was seriously meeting with him or if it was just a playful romance. If it was the former, the Empress might have to intervene, but for now, she was content to watch.