The Villainess Lives Twice: Butterfly's Dream (IF Story) - Chapter 10
Artizea knew well that she shouldn’t expect others’ kindness to last long. Occasionally, someone would treat her well, but expecting them to continue doing so would inevitably lead to disappointment.
Not even her mother had loved her for long.
She believed that love was something that came with certain qualifications. Those qualifications were like a vessel; once filled, affection and kindness would run dry. And she felt her own qualifications were smaller than a teacup.
Only those with a significant qualification, like Lawrence, could be loved for an extended period.
So, she felt neither surprised nor flustered.
“It’s fine. I can remember the way back, so I’ll be alright on my own.”
She was slightly concerned, but once she exited the palace, she would find her way. She could even ask where Marquisate Rosan was located.
At her words, Cedric fell silent for a moment, looking somewhat shocked. He had expected her to react like a child, surprised and flustered, but instead, she spoke calmly as if it was only natural that she would go back alone.
How could an eight-year-old possibly navigate that path by herself?
He sighed, regretting his earlier playful teasing.
“I’m sorry.”
“Pardon?”
“It was a joke. I didn’t mean to suggest you should go back alone.”
“Ah.”
Artizea opened her mouth, unsure of how to respond. Cedric looked at her and sighed again.
“You can be angry about this.”
But Artizea didn’t understand what she should be angry about. She couldn’t grasp the concept of a joke. Cedric hadn’t done anything mean to her, nor had he played around by breaking things.
Cedric reached out and lightly ruffled her hair. Artizea hesitated.
For some reason, her anxiety dissipated. Even though she hadn’t understood what he said, Cedric wasn’t angry.
“You don’t need to hurry back. Your mother has given her permission.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You’ll be staying here for a while.”
“Ma, maybe….”
Artizea clasped her trembling hands in front of her. Could it be, could it really be? Even as she thought it was unlikely, she felt tears welling up unexpectedly.
“Did my mother abandon me?”
“No, no.”
As soon as she said it, the thought felt all too real, and tears quickly filled her large green eyes. She had disobeyed her mother’s instruction to stay home and followed her to the palace, and now, having not returned for an entire day, she felt like she had done something deserving of being kicked out.
Cedric was taken aback. He should have anticipated that she would misunderstand, but he was so used to her calm appearance that it had made him let his guard down.
He pulled Artizea who was holding back tears into his lap and gently patting her head like he had done whenever her and his own children felt sad.
“No, your mother hasn’t abandoned you.”
While it was possible that she might one day, he could only say this now.
“I asked your mother if I could keep you with us for a while.”
“…Why?”
Artizea looked up at him in surprise, her face still glistening with unshed tears.
Cedric hesitated. He had been thinking about this since last night.
He didn’t want to rely on authority by saying that it was fine since the Emperor had given his permission, especially since he didn’t want to explain anything about political arrangements, whether she understood or not.
So instead, he gave her the most heartfelt answer that was different from the excuses he had offered to everyone else, one that he hoped she would want to hear most.
“Because you’re adorable.”
Artizea seemed frozen, unable to respond, staring at Cedric blankly. It looked as though she didn’t fully grasp the meaning of his words.
He spoke again, trying to maintain the kindest expression he could muster.
“I want to be with you.”
“Um…”
Artizea pursed her lips as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out.
She thought it was a strange thing to say. She even considered it a lie.
How could that be true? She wasn’t pretty or cute, and aside from her mother, no one wanted her.
But neither the question of whether it was true nor the counterargument that it was a lie emerged. She hoped it was real.
It was only after Cedric wiped her cheek with his hand that she realized she had been crying.
“Is this… a joke?”
Only now did she understand why Cedric had said she could be angry. It was such a sad lie.
Cedric wrapped his arms around her, allowing her to bury her face in his shoulder while gently patting her back.
“It’s not a lie. I really think you’re really adorable, so I’m not sending you home.”
Although he said it playfully, there was no lightness in his tone. His voice remained kind and gentle, which left Artizea feeling flustered as she clutched the hem of his clothes.
Watching her small, pale hands, Cedric thought that for now, this was enough. Artizea needed time.
One day, she would stretch out her arms and embrace his neck without hesitation. He knew that was a certainty.
* * *
Millaira overslept that day. She had argued with Viscountess Pescher late into the night, and when she returned home, she drank heavily out of anger.
She woke up around lunchtime because the Emperor had sent an attendant with a message.
After reading the message, Millaira had a fit, as if she had lost her mind.
“What does this even mean? An engagement for Tia? Who decided that?”
“It’s, it’s the Emperor’s order. Ma, Ma, Madam, please calm down…”
In her fury, she smashed everything within reach and shouting in a fit of rage.
“Who does he think he is, taking my daughter? She’s my daughter! My daughter!”
“The Emperor has given his permission. Ma, Madam, please… please, what will happen if the Emperor hears about this?”
“Aahh! Ah! Aaaaahhh!!”
“Ah! Madam! Please!”
Bill desperately pleaded, trying to stop her, but she kicked and rolled on the floor in her rage.
Once Millaira reached this state, no one could intervene. Usually, Artizea would cling to her and cry until she calmed down, but now she was nowhere to be found. Lawrence didn’t care either.
It was only after her nails broke and bloodied her hands that Millaira finally exhausted herself, collapsing onto the bed and panting heavily.
Suddenly, she bolted upright.
“I can’t let this happen! How dare he take my daughter without my permission? What is he planning to do to her?”
“Ma, Madam, what are you going to do?”
Bill asked nervously, sitting on the floor. Millaira looked down at her broken nails in frustration and shouted.
“Get me ready to go out! I’m going to fetch Tia!”
“Oooh, Madaam…”
Bill cried, but Millaira didn’t listen. Normally, she wouldn’t go out in such a disheveled state, but that was not the concern right now.
Who knew what was happening to Artizea? Even though she was young, she was still a girl. Millaira knew all too well what could happen to a young girl without proper protection.
‘Tia isn’t clever enough to escape either.’
Having roughly combed her hair and changed her clothes, Millaira pressed her palm against her broken nails as she climbed into the carriage.
Above all, it was possible that Lord Evron hadn’t truly taken her daughter captive.
The Emperor’s message stated that he intended to arrange an engagement between the Lord and Artizea, conditioned on her being raised in Evron, but Millaira didn’t believe that such a marriage would come to fruition.
Logically, that just couldn’t happen. She knew her position all too well.
While she had managed to elevate Artizea to the status of Marquis Rosan’s legitimate daughter, that level of status was still not enough to stand against Duchy Evron.
Someone was clearly up to no good.
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