The Villainess Lives Twice: Butterfly's Dream (IF Story) - Chapter 89
Artizea was startled and quickly waved her hand.
“No, it’s me who was rude to His Highness Cadriol…”
“Is that so? Then it’s His Highness Cadriol who’s at fault.”
“Duke Pavel!”
Cadriol shouted in disbelief. Pavel laughed as if joking but then grew serious.
“Don’t just let whatever His Highness Cadriol says slide. He has a habit of throwing sweet words at anyone who looks capable.”
“Do I seem that way?”
Cadriol looked genuinely struck by Artizea’s reply and stared at her. Feeling a bit sorry, she sneaked a glance at him and added.
“It’s only natural for a future ruler to want competent retainers under his command…”
“Stop, you’re just going to tear my heart apart.”
Cadriol sighed. Artizea shrank her neck.
Lysia asked cautiously.
“So it really was nothing?”
“Yes. I said I was rude to His Highness. I apologize.”
“Well, with that said, how could I not forgive you?”
Normally, Cadriol would have used this as an excuse to meet her again, but this wasn’t the time. He smiled vainly.
Thinking of another man and immediately being surrounded by a defensive wall, and realizing she probably wouldn’t understand anyway. It was doomed from the start.
Pulled along by Lysia, who still looked at him with hostility, Artizea left the scene. Pavel, perhaps sensing the complicated emotions, patted his shoulder as he followed.
Graham approached with two glasses in hand, smiling.
“You seem disappointed, Your Highness Cadriol.”
“I never realized I was such an unappealing man before.”
“Haha. You only speak to difficult opponents.”
“I almost envy Grand Duke Evron.”
“People say Northerners are loyal. Cedric is very popular. But regardless, Artizea won’t be swayed.”
Cadriol tilted his head, and Graham laughed.
“My sister won’t let her go. We can’t afford to lose such a clever asset of the Empire to another country.”
Though Graham spoke lightly, unlike the gentle Pavel who treated Artizea like a real sister, Graham had heard more serious stories from Eloise.
[You’re not very close to her, so you might not know, but I’m actually quite wary of Tia…. You look confused.]
[Artizea is rather innocent, isn’t she? Well, she doesn’t know much about the world, so she might cause some serious trouble.]
[That’s not what I mean… how to explain it… Tia can’t clearly distinguish right from wrong. When talking, she sometimes crosses the line unexpectedly. Oh, you’re probably thinking how that’s not different from me, right?]
[Sister! Those are my new shoes!]
Kicked under the table, Graham complained, but Eloise managed to leave a small bruise on his calf. Graham tried to step on her foot in revenge but stopped himself.
[To me, you’re no different, Sister. You do things others can’t even imagine, completely unbothered.]
[There’s a difference. I do it knowingly, but Tia just doesn’t even recognize the existence of ‘good’.]
[Huh?]
[You and Pavel wouldn’t understand. You have a strong instinctive dislike and discomfort for wrongdoings. But she’s the opposite. Her moral compass isn’t internal but external. Simply put, it matters whether Ced thinks it’s right or wrong. I thought at first she prioritized his judgment over her own, but watching longer, it seems she’s just lacking in moral sentiment.]
[Ah…]
[She’s broken in some way. Whether because of childhood or nature, I don’t know.]
Thinking about Lawrence and the late Michael Rosan, Eloise added that it could be innate issues.
[But I’m not worried because her standard is Ced.]
[I understand what you mean, Sister. So you insist on making her a lady-in-waiting for that reason.]
Eloise just smiled.
Artizea Rosan could be a sharp blade. As long as Cedric is her standard, there’s no need to worry, but if someone else takes her, it could be dangerous.
Eloise told him this because he’s not very close to Artizea. Just in case.
Graham thought it was borderline crossing the line to warn him like this while being close and fond of her, but it was something he had to pay attention to.
Still, he wasn’t very worried.
‘Artizea wouldn’t betray Ced, and if by any chance Ced betrayed Sister… well, that’d obviously be her fault.’
Graham almost hoped Eloise would get the upper hand.
***
Cadriol’s boat drifted down the river and then back upstream. By the time they reached the dock, dusk was falling.
Mentally exhausted, Cadriol still gave his guests an enjoyable boat ride.
Six-year-old Agnesa, excited to be on a boat for the first time in her life, stepped lively onto the gangplank, followed by Countess Martha. Other guests disembarked happily.
Skyla’s expression had relaxed considerably. Presenting Ian for the first time in a small gathering was a good move. With two Dukes attending, the dignity was fitting, and Ian had no way to avoid talking with people on the boat, so he did his best.
Artizea and Lysia got off together as they had come.
Then they were surprised. Cedric was waiting to greet them at the dock.
“Lord Ced!”
Lysia called cheerfully. Their relationship had been strained lately, and she’d been worried about the prince constantly encroaching on Artizea, but now Cedric even came out to meet them in person.
Cedric smiled peacefully and waved to both of them.
“Did you enjoy the boat ride?”
“How did you know we’d be here?”
Artizea asked in a sulky voice. She hadn’t informed him she was coming.
Of course, with servants and guards in the know, Cedric could easily find out. But if she didn’t tell him, shouldn’t he pretend not to know?
Cedric looked embarrassed.
“Are you mad at me?”
“I didn’t say that. I just asked how you knew I was coming without telling you.”
Cedric had no answer. He’d heard from Ansgar but Artizea’s question wasn’t a straightforward question to ask him about his source of information.
So he scratched his cheek awkwardly and said,
“I had time, so I thought it’d be nice to come greet you… Did I mess up?”
“…”
Artizea pursed her lips. Though blushing, it was clear she wasn’t embarrassed.
Lysia tried to sneak away with an excuse to greet Pavel, but before she could leave, Artizea grabbed her arm firmly as if to tell her not to go. Lysia looked upset.
After seeing off all the other guests, Cadriol came down the gangplank with a light, almost skipping step.
Pavel and Graham didn’t board their carriages but watched the group closely.