The Villainess Lives Twice: Butterfly's Dream (IF Story) - Chapter 90

Cadriol flinched and stopped when he saw Cedric. Having just been kicked around repeatedly, he certainly didn’t want to watch the woman he’d just fallen for now being all cozy with her fiance.

But fulfilling his duties as host, he approached with a smiling face, though the atmosphere was tense. 

Cedric looked down at Artizea with a bewildered expression, Artizea lowered her gaze tightly holding Lysia’s arm, and Lysia, looking troubled, glanced nervously between Cedric and Artizea.

Normally, such romantic rivalries would be entertaining to watch, but this was a bit complicated to witness.

“Grand Duke Evron, what brings you here? Have you come to greet your fiance?”

Cadriol greeted casually. Cedric’s smile disappeared when he arrived but he no longer acted rudely like before.

“That’s quite a splendid ship. I wish I could have attended, but well, I couldn’t.”

“Haha.”

To clarify, that was rude. It sounded like a complaint that Cadriol hadn’t sent him an invitation.

Cadriol had long since dropped the idea of stealing someone else’s fiance (Cadriol just wanted to recruit capable talents by any means, not take other men’s women), but he couldn’t let that sarcastic remark go unanswered.

‘Wait, thinking about it, just because Lady Rosan admires Grand Duke Evron doesn’t mean they’re a couple, right?’

Despite little hope, he decided to deliberately get under Cedric’s skin. Artizea would be grateful to him later on.

If that gave him a chance to deepen ties, so much the better. Even if he couldn’t charm her, there would be plenty of chances to help each other going forward.

He consciously spoke to Cedric with arrogance.

“The Grand Duke seems so busy that fulfilling your duties to your fiance might be difficult. Why would you accept an invitation to such a trivial gathering?”

“……”

Artizea looked up at Cadriol, startled. He glanced at her and winked playfully to reassure her.

Her face turned red, recalling their conversation earlier on the boat.

Cedric pressed his lips into a thin line. Cadriol continued smoothly.

“Also, I believe there’s a misunderstanding. I explicitly wrote on all invitations that guests could bring companions. Lady Camellia was accompanied by her fiance as well.”

“Ah, Your Highness Cadriol.”

“Perhaps the Grand Duke who didn’t get an invitation is too heartless?”

Artizea couldn’t hold back and called out to him, but Cadriol paid no mind. It was delicious watching the calm on Cedric’s face crumble and his eyebrows twitching.

Turning back to Artizea with a smile, he said.

“If you need an escort home, just say so. My carriage is nearby. I’d be honored to see you off, Lady.”

“Thank you, but there’s no need. I appreciate your kindness toward my fiance.”

Cedric said slowly, seemingly ignoring Cadriol’s other remarks.

Artizea muttered, “It’s alright.” Cadriol looked concerned and said.

“If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to contact me. I would gladly be a friend to the lady.”

“Thank you.”

Artizea answered softly. Cadriol smiled at her once more and approached Pavel.

Cedric briefly watched their backs before turning his gaze to Artizea. She again avoided eye contact, looking as if she didn’t want to talk.

Instead of reaching out to her, he spoke to Lysia.

“I came on horseback. Could you maybe give up your spot in the carriage for me?”

“Ah, yes.”

Lysia quickly answered. Artizea tried to grab her, but Lysia shook her head apologetically and escaped.

Cedric opened the carriage door himself. Artizea climbed aboard, clearly irritated, neither taking his hand nor lowering her skirt. She stomped up the steps.

Cedric followed her inside and closed the door. Soon, the wheels began to turn.

Silence settled inside the carriage. Cedric glanced at Artizea staring out the window and tried to speak gently.

“Why are you so angry?”

“What do you want from me, Lord Ced?”

“What do I want…”

“I’m not eight years old anymore. You followed me around to play guardian and ended up making my friend uncomfortable with rude behavior?”

“Ah.”

Cedric was quite shocked that Artizea called Cadriol her friend. He should have denied it immediately, but he was at a loss for words. Of course, Artizea had no reason to understand that.

“I’m sorry.”

Cedric apologized after a brief pause. This was unquestionably his fault.

“I was wrong. I never meant to bind you, but I acted as if I did.”

Artizea abruptly turned her gaze toward him. It was the first time Cedric saw such fierce anger burning in her turquoise eyes.

“It may sound like an excuse, but I really just came to greet you today.”

“You don’t have to force yourself to fulfill duties. I’ll be eighteen soon, and I don’t need a guardian anymore. If you mean to fulfill your obligations as a fiance…”

Artizea swallowed hard several times. She felt tears coming but didn’t want to lose control like this.

She wanted to speak coldly, but it was impossible with Cedric.

“You don’t have to.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“If you’re only keeping the engagement because you can’t find a reason to break it off, just maintaining something you pitied me with when I was little. Then you don’t have to!”

Artizea shouted.

That wasn’t her true feeling. No matter what reason Cedric had for keeping the engagement, she was determined to cling to it and claim her place by his side.

But the part Cadriol touched was painful.

She wouldn’t have been so upset if Cedric had clearly drawn the line by calling it a political marriage. If he had at least acted minimally as a guardian, she wouldn’t have felt so hurt.

He was so kind, so warm, watching over her and thinking of her. Sometimes, it even seemed like jealousy.

Her eyes and nose turned red first. Cedric reached out, surprised, and cupped her cheek.

“Tia, I would never…”

Artizea slapped his hand away and whimpered.

“You kept me engaged out of pity and couldn’t break it off, but you really can’t marry me? So you drag this out? This isn’t kindness!”

“Tia, wait.”

“You know I like you, Lord Ced!”

Cedric grabbed her cheeks tightly and looked at her eyes. Artizea unwittingly looked into his eyes and found herself unable to look away.

There was a wave of passion she’d never seen before. Cedric leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.

Artizea forgot to breathe.