The Villainess Lives Twice: Butterfly's Dream (IF Story) - Chapter 85

Pavel glanced at Cadriol, then looked down at his own hand of cards, hesitated for a moment, and spoke.

“I don’t think I’ve ever described him in enough detail. Besides, people don’t usually talk about others’ appearances like that, except maybe Lawrence.”

“Didn’t you bring him this time? I heard he’s under the Grand Duke’s command.”

Cadriol, having heard rumors about the appearance of the Emperor’s beloved illegitimate youngest son through various sources, asked Graham with curiosity. Graham replied with a sour expression.

“I’m not the kind of guy who brings people along. If he needed to come, he’d take leave himself.”

Actually, he had called him and asked him once. After all, Artizea was Lawrence’s sister. But Lawrence had bluntly said with an expressionless face that “this isn’t a place for me”. 

Graham thought, “At least he knows what’s going on.” and “Still, she is his sister.”.

Lawrence had been adjusting fairly well in the West. Though the first two years were so rebellious that he was never out of sight. After steady discipline, he was now capable enough to be assigned to an independent unit.

Still, Graham kept a close eye on him. Eloise had made a special request to him:

[Given Lawrence’s temperament, just because he’s behaving well now doesn’t mean he’s really been broken.]

[But recently, he’s been getting along well with the troops. Quite a few of the soldiers follow him.]

[Lawrence is our father’s son too, right? He’s not the type who can’t hide himself when necessary.]

[That may be so… But do you think Lawrence is planning some trick, sister?]

[At this point, it seems likely that Lawrence’s goal is to become an independent lord in the West. He won’t stay under someone else forever, and he’s no idle man.]

[What you said is right, Sister. If Lawrence acquires even a small castle with his own hands, Father will surely acknowledge him.]

[I have no intention of letting any thorny rival plant themselves in my land. Better to cause trouble in the capital.]

[Understood.]

Considering this outcome, it was clear Lawrence was gathering troops around him. 

Naturally handsome and not clueless about how to recruit people, his efforts were effective. He had proven himself capable at commanding a small unit.

But it was undeniably troublesome. Half of it was the original sin of sharing the same blood.

Strangely, that guy hardly cared about his sister who shared half that blood. Graham also knew that Milaira felt the same. She often sent letters, but Lawrence rarely replied.

As someone who cared about family, Graham simply couldn’t understand Lawrence’s motives.

Pavel thought for a long moment, then tossed a silver coin onto the pile in front of him and declared.

“Raise.”

“Oh? Looks like you have a good hand.”

“Raise.”

Cadriol added more silver coins, the clinking sound echoing.

Freil, who had been silently turning his cards over and over, finally gathered all his silver coins in front of him and added them to the pile.

“I’m all in.”

The Grand Duke, the Duke, and the prince all focused their attention on him. Freil broke out in a cold sweat. He wasn’t supposed to be at this table. He had been sent on a task for Cedric and was told to sit in place of his absent lord, trembling as he held his cards.

But losing wasn’t an option. Even if he lost, the stakes were money Graham had put up, and he was allowed to keep any winnings.

Plus, as Cedric’s strategist, he needed to keep an ear on what the three men were discussing.

Graham thought for quite a while.

“Looks like that guy has a fantastic hand.”

“Are you not confident?”

Cadriol smiled slyly and asked. Though it was clearly a bluff, Graham glanced at him briefly before folding his cards.

“Fold.”

The decision now fell to Pavel. He pondered for a long moment before finally folding his cards as well.

“Fold.”

Now it was Cadriol’s turn. He glanced nervously at Freil’s face, which had been sweating and tense since earlier, but couldn’t tell whether it was the hand or being out of place.

Either way, he couldn’t simply fold here. Whether he won or lost, conceding mid-game wasn’t his style. His hand was decent, and even if he lost, it was just pocket change.

“Check.”

At his declaration, Freil trembled. Unable to raise the stakes any further, the two revealed their cards. As soon as Freil saw Cadriol’s, he sprang up, raised both hands, and clenched his fists. Thankfully, he didn’t shout.

Pavel looked at Cadriol’s cards and grumbled.

“What? They’re lower than mine?”

“I considered the possibility of a bluff, but apparently not.”

Cadriol said lightly. Freil, as if he had never broken out in a cold sweat, smiled broadly and dragged the silver pile toward him.

“Thank you, thank you.”

For these men, it was pocket change, but for Freil, it was almost a month’s salary. Such a reward was worth sweating over the card game more than ten times over.

“How about one more round? The stakes are getting pretty high.”

Cadriol asked with a grin. Freil shook his head seriously.

“I’ll pass. I’m just a commoner.”

“Then how about a drink?”

“Huh?”

Freil’s eyes went to his barely touched glass. It didn’t look like a toast for the winner.

Cadriol stretched and said.

“I don’t mean now, I mean when we move somewhere else.”

“Huh?”

Freil asked again, dazed.

“I admire your boldness, so I want to buy you a drink.”

“Oh.”

Only then did Freil realize Cadriol’s meaning. Basically, it was an invitation to an interview.

“Cadriol, how many times do I have to tell you to stop trying to recruit others’ subordinates whenever you like?”

Pavel sighed. Cadriol shrugged. What could he do with an eye for talent?

***

Two days later, Cadriol met Artizea again.

As thanks for introducing him to Grand Duke Roygar and cheering him on during the yacht race, he invited her for a boat ride. Although hesitant at first, Artizea eventually agreed.

Since several guests were invited, the burden was lighter. Pavel, Graham, Lysia and Skyla were all on the guest list, and Skyla’s cousin from the east, who had arrived last winter, would also attend.

Artizea didn’t tell Cedric she would attend. Sharing their daily plans over breakfast had been their habit, but in recent days, she hadn’t done so.

It wasn’t Cedric avoiding her, it was Artizea avoiding him.

“Maybe it’s just the springtime restlessness.” 

Marie said, but Artizea thought otherwise.

She felt both anger and sadness, but at the same time, she felt there was no real reason to be mad at Cedric.