The Villainess Lives Twice

Artizea's bedroom was next to Cedric's bedroom. It was said to be a space used as a bedroom for the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess from generation to generation.

There was a door between the two rooms, so it was possible to go back and forth without going through the corridor.

“You can lock both sides. The keys on both sides are different, so if you lock on one side, you cannot open on the other side.”

At Aaron's explanation, Artizea laughed.

“Is it for a couple's fight? So, to spread the distance and arrange a room….. Oh, was the door for in case of an emergency.”

“The retreat is on the side of my room. I'll show you how to open it later.”

Cedric said so.

“Isn't it a secret passage?”

“It's no secret how to go from inside to outside. It's prepared for emergencies. Since there's no one to communicate with Karam, anyone knows the passages.”

“Ah, yes. If that's the case, I'll keep that in mind.”

There was a Tuvalet room and a small bathroom opposite Cedric's bedroom. There was also a space that could be used as a study next to the reception room.

The bedroom wasn't big. Fur hung tightly on the walls everywhere. The floor was also covered with fluffy fur enough to cover the ankles.

Artizea reached out her hand and touched the wall.

“All rooms are made small because if the space is large, it gets cold quickly. There are many vacant rooms, so please tell us if you need more space.”

“Is this a bearskin?”

“Oh, yes. This is better than a tapestry, it blocks drafts better. If you don't like it, I'll buy something else.”

“No, it's not because I don't like it, but because it's too extravagant…”

Artizea muttered.

“Even the predecessor's Grand Duchess wore fur in the living space. It's still okay, but when Winter comes, it's difficult for people who are not from this place to bear.”

“Yes. I see.”

Artizea answered and turned to Cedric. Cedric nodded his head.

“The warmth seems to be enough. I'm warming up without doing anything too much. The people below will do well, but….. The only thing you can't do is take care of yourself.”

“I feel like a very incompetent person if you say that.”

Cedric laughed.

“First of all, take a break. I'll pick you up when it's time for dinner. I'll first take a look at the situation.”

“Yes.”

“Let's talk in the evening about what to do tomorrow. There are many things I'd like to ask for your opinion about.”

“Yes.”

Cedric reached out his hand.

Artizea was shocked and stiffened her body. Cedric's thumb gently swept through Artizea's eyes.

“Rest.”

He spoke kindly and went out.

Aaron and other vassals bowed their head to greet her and followed Cedric.

“Madam, have a seat.”

Sophie took Artizea's cloak off. Artizea sat in the armchair.

She wasn't aware of the cold, but she melted as she sat in front of the fireplace.

She was bothered by the brooch that Cedric gave her. Artizea, caught in a subtle mood, fiddled with it in her hand mindlessly.

The brooch was engraved with the crest of Evron Grand Duchy.

She was busy in the capital, so she couldn't afford to think carefully. However, when she came here, she realized that she got the name of Cedric's wife anyway, even if it was only a formality.

For the time being, the mistress of this stronghold is herself.

Looking back at it, why didn’t she ever think about getting married in her previous life?

Artizea recalled the past.

She never really thought that she hated political marriage.

When she was young, her mother and her brother were everything in the world to her, but as she got older, she might have wanted to run away with marriage.

It wasn’t that there were no men who approached her at all.

Even when she became Marchioness of Rosan, even after Lawrence stabilized his position as the Crown Prince, there were men approaching her for her position and her fortune.

Artizea never paid attention to them.

‘Is it because I can see right through them?‘

Even superficial tenderness must have shaken her heart. Like she did when Lawrence was good at times.

Or maybe she did it because she knew that she would eventually be purged.

“Whew.”

Artizea leaned her neck against the backrest, and she briefly closed her eyes and then opened it.

“Rize, go and call Margaret. Now I have to greet her.”

“Yes.”

Rize quickly went outside.

Margaret was waiting outside with a butler, the chief maid, and several senior employees. When she was told that she was called by Artizea, she hurried in.

After Artizea was greeted by the employees, she said:

“It's not a small thing to live in the stronghold, and it would be more so to someone who had stayed for a few months a year at the most. I want you to take care of it like you’ve done so far. If you are a person Cedric trusts, I can trust you as well. .”

“Thank you.”

“Most of my servants are the maids I brought. But the number will be insufficient, so if there is someone who is a good maid, you can choose a few people and send them to me. I hope my maid never fails to say what they have to say or do what they have to do.”

“Yes.”

That was the only thing she asked of the employees.

After dismissing the butler and the chief maid, Artizea looked at Margaret.

Margaret was very nervous.

Margaret had no intention of disregarding Artizea as she is the newly married young mistress.

She was the Grand Duchess that Cedric chose. That alone was enough reason to be loyal.

But apart from that, Artizea carried a dignity she could not dare to relax and deal with. She was like a completely different person than when she was holding Cedric with her hand and blushing shyly.

“Margaret, as you know, I didn't bring any lady-in-waitings from my family. It's because I didn't have any relatives and no acquaintances.”

Artizea said in a slow voice. Margaret responded politely.

“Yes.”

“The lady-in-waiting I’m going to choose will be from among the Evron Grand Duchy and its closely related family. I hope you will advise me on that.”

Knowing what would come next, Margaret took a breath.

“First, I wonder, how about Miss Aubrey? If it were the daughter of Count Jordyn, she would be fitting if I considered her status, her loyalty, and her age, which is similar to mine, so our conversation would be good. I believe she can help me adapt to life here.”

Artizea said so.

She had to sort out the ranks in advance.