The Villainess Lives Twice: Butterfly's Dream (IF Story) - Chapter 12
Furious, Millaira abruptly turned to Cedric. Artizea, confused about whether she should say goodbye to Cedric or inform her mother that she planned to stay here, hesitated as well.
Cedric spoke up.
“Let’s wait a bit longer until the Emperor arrives. I’ve made a request, so he should be here soon.”
His attitude was surprisingly mature and calm for a child, but it carried an authoritative air.
Millaira was sensitive to the scent of power. Instinctively, she could discern whom she could resist, and right now, she felt she could not oppose the boy standing before her.
However, she couldn’t quite understand why. After all, he was just a thirteen-year-old Young Lord who hadn’t yet inherited his title.
Millaira convinced herself that her shrinking demeanor was due to the mention of the Emperor’s arrival. And that was indeed true. She couldn’t simply ignore the fact that the Emperor was coming and turn around to leave.
If it had been a different situation, she might have gone out of her way to snub the Emperor, but with Artizea’s situation, that was not an option. This child was her weakness.
Millaira turned around with a newfound confidence, as if no obstruction had ever occurred, and approached the sofa again. Cedric offered her a seat and sat down as well.
Artizea squirmed in Millaira’s arms. Though it felt strange to be held so tightly, she was happy, and felt embarrassed to be held like a real child in front of Cedric.
Ansgar soon brought out the refreshments. Next to the beautiful teapot prepared for Millaira, a small and cute teacup was set aside for Artizea. Instead of tea, it contained warmed milk with honey already poured in.
Millaira felt a strange sensation. It struck her that they were treating Artizea as if she was a true child who needed to be cared for.
“Mo, Mother…”
Feeling this way, she held Artizea even tighter. Since she had no intention of accepting any refreshments, not having a hand to hold a teacup was of no concern.
Cedric didn’t insist on offering her tea. He hadn’t thought this would be something that could be resolved with kind words from the beginning, which was why he had borrowed the Emperor’s support.
‘This will also add to my debts.’
Knowing full well that he couldn’t persuade Millaira with just a few lines, he had sent the message through a servant at first. It was evident that the Emperor himself needed to intervene after Millaira had put Cedric in a difficult position.
Still, this was better.
As he took a few sips from the cup filled with milk, the door to the reception room opened.
Cedric and Millaira stood up simultaneously. As Artizea squirmed to be let down, Millaira discreetly pinched her behind to keep her in place.
The Emperor entered with a bright smile, cheerfully greeting them.
“Ced, I’m glad you found me for the afternoon tea. Millaira, why the long face again?”
“Your Majesty.”
“Are you not going to give Tia a chance to greet me?”
Artizea was taken aback, and Millaira flinched. However, with the Emperor watching, she couldn’t continue holding Artizea.
Reluctantly, she set her down. Artizea stumbled, grabbing onto Millaira’s skirt, looking lost until she realized she needed to greet the Emperor.
“Ah. Ar, Ar, Artizea of Rosan….greets the Sun of the Empire.”
Her voice and petite frame trembled, but her manners were precise. The Emperor smiled warmly.
Artizea stared up at his face in a daze. He was her brother’s father, the closest thing to a father figure she had, yet he was also an imposing figure who shouldn’t notice her existence.
Yet, this man was smiling at her. Artizea blushed deeply and shrank back, but Cedric’s hand gently rested on her shoulder, bringing her back to reality.
“Ah.”
“Would you help Ansgar prepare the Emperor’s tea?”
Cedric asked gently. Artizea understood the implication. She was not meant to be in front of the Emperor.
Nodding, she went toward Ansgar, and Millaira shot a sharp glance at Cedric.
“Who gave you the right?”
“It’s inappropriate to discuss such matters in front of a child, Marchioness Rosan.”
Millaira’s eyes widened at his words. The Emperor chuckled again.
“Anyone would think you’re not a child anymore.”
With no further retort, Cedric merely smiled.
Ansgar took Artizea’s hand, leading her out while the Emperor sat beside Millaira, taking her hand in his. Millaira kept her captured hand still but turned her head away to avoid looking at him.
“Millaira, Evron is a hard-to-come-by match. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Tia.”
“Don’t try to persuade me. Tia is still young. The Young Lord may have some ulterior motive for this engagement. It’s nonsense.”
“Ced is only thirteen; how could it be ulterior motives?”
“If it’s not ulterior motives, it would be mere whimsy.”
Millaira glared at Cedric, her eyes ablaze with anger. Cedric spoke with a hint of bitterness.
“Do you not think it might be out of sympathy?”
“What did you say?”
“Lady Rosan is smart and beautiful. Who is responsible for raising her without proper education, not even teaching her how to interact with others? It’s a shame to leave her in your care.”
Cedric didn’t intend to pick a fight, but he found himself voicing long-held frustrations. Now that he was thirteen, he seemed to have regained some youthful boldness he previously lacked.
Just as Millaira was about to snap back, the Emperor firmly held her hand to calm her down. Then he said to Cedric.
“Step aside for a moment. We need to discuss something.”
“Understood.”
Cedric stood up willingly. The Emperor likely didn’t want to display him and Millaira arguing in front of Cedric.
Once outside the reception room, Artizea was anxiously fidgeting, holding Ansgar’s hand.
“Young Lord, I—”
“It’s fine. Let’s leave them to talk for now. How about a quick stroll in the garden?”
“But Mother—”
“Children shouldn’t worry too much.”
Artizea, who usually naturally stayed quietly in her room when the Emperor arrived, nodded. Cedric took her hand, and they headed toward the garden with light steps.
‘I need to get her moving. First, we’ll build her strength…’
If Artizea understood his underlying intentions, she might have wanted to run away immediately.
After a brief walk in the garden, they returned to find the reception room door open. Since Cedric held her hand, Artizea had no choice but to follow him inside.
The Emperor was leisurely sipping tea, while Millaira was panting with a bright red face. The tea set had been completely changed, and a sweet smell wafted from spilled milk on the carpet.
Artizea shrank back. Though it was common for her mother to be angry, she didn’t know how to conduct herself in front of the Emperor.
The Emperor smiled warmly at Artizea.
“Don’t be so frightened. If you’re Millaira’s daughter, you’re like a daughter to me as well.”
“Th-Thank you.”
Artizea replied with a flushed face. Being called like a daughter was an exhilarating thought.
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