The Villainess Lives Twice: Butterfly's Dream (IF Story) - Chapter 13
The Emperor chuckled as he looked at Artizea’s face.
While he couldn’t completely suppress his anger over the circumstances of her birth, he acknowledged that it was in the past. He knew well that Millaira was always that kind of person, and he wasn’t so foolish as to vent his emotional rage on an innocent child.
The fact that the child could play such a useful role only made his feelings stronger. Seeing the situation, it was clear that Cedric genuinely liked Artizea and was using the engagement as an excuse to take her in.
In that case, her value increased even more.
“Don’t worry too much. Your mother agreed to you staying here, right, Millaira?”
“…Yes.”
Despite not knowing what conversation had taken place, it didn’t seem like Cedric had successfully convinced her. However, since they had secured her staying here with the Emperor’s guarantee, everything else could be sorted out later.
“I’ll come to see you every day.”
Millaira spoke with a fierce tone, leaving it unclear whether she was addressing Artizea or Cedric.
Cedric placed a reassuring hand on Artizea’s shoulder and nodded.
“Feel free to visit anytime. If Artizea wants, I will allow her to stay at Marquis Rosan’s residence for a few days.”
Millaira’s face turned bright red. Cedric didn’t worry much. He didn’t believe she would actually go through with it.
‘After all, we’ll be heading to Evron soon.’
Even if she was angry now, it was clear that by the time they returned from their trip, she would be too preoccupied with her own life to care.
Millaira was led away by the Emperor, likely to stay in his chamber for the day.
“Surprised?”
As they left the reception room and headed toward the living room, Cedric gently asked while holding Artizea’s hand. Artizea, still blushing and excited, nodded in response.
“I didn’t expect the Emperor to say I was like a daughter to him.”
“Well, that was probably…. just a figure of speech.”
Cedric spoke cautiously, thinking she might get hurt if she took it too seriously. But she nodded and replied,
“I know, but… it made me realize that he doesn’t hate me.”
She thought maybe if she acted like a good and kind child, he might one day see her as a foster daughter.
Above all, what made her happiest was that her mother had come to find her.
She felt thrilled. Although she was a little scared of her mother’s anger, it filled her with joy to hear that she was coming to take her away.
It might have been better to go back with her mother. If she had, perhaps they could have shared a tender moment and slept together that night.
It seemed Cedric could read her thoughts when he said.
“You can meet often. Even if you’re family, there are times when you can get along more after meeting once in a while rather than living together.”
“Really?”
Artizea tilted her head. Cedric smiled and gently patted her head.
“You’ll understand soon enough.”
Artizea nodded obediently, aware that there was still much she didn’t know.
“What should we have for dinner? Is there anything you want?”
Cedric asked. After hesitating over whether to speak up, Artizea summoned her courage and said.
“Che, cherry pie.”
“Let’s ask for it as dessert. Anything else?”
His casual response made her very happy, so she felt emboldened to add.
“I want to eat until I’m full.”
“Cherry pie?”
She nodded vigorously.
Cedric thought that wouldn’t count as a proper meal, but one serving wouldn’t hurt.
Looking over at Ansgar, he smiled and nodded.
“I’ll make sure to bake a lot.”
Artizea’s eyes sparkled with delight, and just that was enough to fill Cedric with joy.
He patted her head a few more times, then took her hand and headed to the living room.
* * *
Three days later, Artizea had grown quite accustomed to Cedric’s quarters. The space wasn’t very large, and the maids, attendants, and knights of Evron were all kind to her.
There were still moments when it felt like a dream.
Just yesterday, she had new clothes fitted. Considering she would grow quickly, not only everyday clothes made a bit larger, but also play outfits and riding gear, along with four formal court dresses similar to those worn by adults, along with pretty hats and shoes.
Artizea was astonished and flustered.
“Children don’t need so many clothes.”
That was something Millaira often said. She had heard that since children grow quickly, good clothes often go unused, which Artizea could understand even at her young age.
But Cedric responded with a smile.
“You need formal clothes anyway. And you don’t have to worry about outgrowing them. They can be altered. It’s not wasteful.”
“But… that costs a lot of money.”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
Cedric felt anger towards Millaira during these moments but suppressed it, not wanting to show any frustration to Artizea.
Artizea tilted her head, unsure if that was true. But this was the palace, so she thought there must be etiquette that went along with it.
Cedric also gifted her two beautiful velvet ribbons. Artizea loved them so much that she asked Marie to tie her hair with them every day.
Cedric asked her what she wanted to do, but Artizea struggled to answer.
She could eat delicious food and swing on the swings in the garden as much as she wanted. Ansgar had brought her a lot of toys that Cedric used to play with when he was younger, making her lose track of time while playing all day.
What did she want to do? Artizea pondered, realizing that what she wanted was mostly to receive things rather than to do things. She wanted her mother’s love, praise, and affection, but that wasn’t quite the same as having something she truly wanted to do.
“It’s okay to take your time. But if there’s something you want to do, you must let me know.”
“Yes.”
Artizea nodded. Just hearing Cedric say that filled her with warmth, making it even harder to figure out what she truly wanted to do. In the meantime, the bruises on her body faded quickly.
Then, on the morning of the fifth day, she met a new person.
Artizea ate breakfast alone. Cedric had training and classes in the morning, so she wouldn’t see him until afternoon tea time.
After getting up, she washed up with Marie’s help, changed into new clothes, and brushed her hair.
Marie styled her hair beautifully every morning, and Artizea loved it so much that she would spend a while admiring herself in the mirror. While Millaira occasionally styled her hair, she wasn’t as skilled as Marie, and it had never looked as pretty as this.
“When Marie does my hair, I feel like a pretty girl.”
“You truly are pretty, Miss. It’s so rewarding to help you.”
“You don’t have to say that. I’m ugly.”
Artizea said this in a surprisingly mature and calm manner, which made Marie look at her with a sympathetic expression.
“You really are pretty. Just ask anyone else.”
“Everyone is just being kind…”
Artizea said, fiddling with her fingers. Even though she knew it was a lie, she liked it when someone called her cute or pretty.
Marie, feeling a bit disheartened, helped Artizea get up.
At that moment, the door swung open.
“Are you here?”
A boy around Cedric’s age, with brown hair and freckles, burst in, half-shouting. Artizea flinched and turned to look at him.
The startled Marie quickly knelt on one knee. A middle-aged woman who seemed to be a nanny followed the boy inside and said.
“You mustn’t just barge into someone else’s room, Prince Pavel!”
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