The Villainess Lives Twice: Butterfly's Dream (IF Story) - Chapter 9
“Gregor… Gregor is like that.”
Emperor Gregor likely granted permission because he believed it served his interests, so there was no point in saying more.
“Can it really be right for you to decide on your own marriage at your age, especially a match for a prominent family like Grand Duchy Evron?”
Cedric opened her mouth, unsure of where to begin, and finally settled on saying.
“Thank you for your concern.”
Cedric responded with a calm and mature demeanor, which took the Empress by surprise and made her pause.
He was sincere. In this world, the Empress, as his guardian and de facto protector, could use his marriage to her advantage. Whether it meant forming connections with Duchy Riagan or leveraging it for political dealings, it would be a useful tool for her to expand her influence.
But she had no intention of doing that. She wanted Cedric to be able to make his own decisions when he became an adult.
How could he not understand her intentions? So, he spoke gently.
“I’m not genuinely considering marriage right now. However, I can’t think of any other way to separate the daughter from Marchioness Rosan.”
“……”
“I simply want to look after the child. But I can’t very well ask Your Majesty for that, can I?”
At his words, the Empress fell silent. He had a point. While she would usually promise to protect him in the palace, to do so with Milaira’s daughter would indeed be like waging war.
The Empress sighed.
“If you’re truly concerned about the girl, there might be ways to look after her through someone else.”
“No, I don’t think His Majesty would allow that. He might dislike your involvement in this matter, but more importantly, he wouldn’t want to conflict with Milaira.”
“But…”
“This permission is likely granted under the assumption that I could be separated from Your Majesty’s care. However, as long as my resolve remains strong, it shouldn’t pose a problem.”
“What do you mean by resolve?”
“It means I understand the kindness with which you’ve raised and cared for me, and I won’t betray that trust.”
Cedric’s straightforward words left the Empress speechless. It was both shameful and surprising to have her honest feelings about the child laid bare.
“You’ve grown up.”
That was all the Empress could say. While she didn’t think he was truly an adult yet, she recognized that a real adult familiar with palace politics wouldn’t speak so candidly.
She sighed.
“It was only a few weeks ago that you were causing trouble with Pavel.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“If you’ve made your decision and Gregor has granted his approval, what more can I say? Just know that if things go wrong later and you ask for help, there’s a chance I may not be able to intervene.”
“Please don’t worry too much. The girl is only eight years old and isn’t in a position to cause serious trouble.”
The Empress asked again, still surprised.
“You know there are countless children in unfortunate situations. Why are you so concerned about this one in particular? Going so far as to take such risks?”
“Because I fell in love at first sight.”
He replied with a smile.
The Empress opened her mouth in shock, then pressed her temples, sighing as if her head were spinning. She had intended to treat him like an adult, but this response revealed he was still a child at heart.
When Cedric returned after seeking the Empress’s understanding and explaining the situation to important vassals in the capital, it was already 4 PM.
Artizea was sitting on a bench on the terrace connected to his living room, swinging her legs. She was wearing a pretty pink dress, which, while the length fit, seemed a bit loose in the bodice. Despite being relatively short for her age, it still appeared oversized.
‘Maybe this time she can gain some weight. She needs to stay healthy.’
Cedric approached with grand hopes. Only then did Artizea realize he had returned, and she jumped off the bench in surprise.
“Lord Cedric! Ah!”
Realizing she should greet him, she quickly lifted her dress and bowed politely.
“A, Artizea greets Lord Evron.”
Her voice was trembling and stuttering. Artizea had never been properly taught etiquette. She knew she should do well, but feeling awkward made her embarrassed and sad.
Cedric smiled kindly at her.
“Did you eat well for breakfast and lunch?”
“Yes. I ate a lot.”
Artizea replied, rubbing her stomach as if she were still stuffed. Given her small frame, Cedric only felt more inclined to feed her.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For taking care of my meals, letting me bathe, and even providing clothes…”
As she spoke, Artizea’s face turned bright red. She felt self-conscious about how pitiful she must have seemed to warrant such care.
[How could she be so bad? No matter what she wears, it looks shabby.]
Her mother’s remarks while clicking her tongue echoed in her mind. She was certain that this wonderful young man saw her as pitiable because she looked so meager.
Cedric chuckled and gently ruffled her hair, pleased to do things he hadn’t been able to do before.
Artizea shyly looked up at him, and her resemblance to the girl in his memories made him unable to help but smile.
“You shouldn’t thank me for those things.”
“Because it’s what a guest is entitled to?”
“No. It’s because you’re not a guest.”
Artizea tilted her head, not fully grasping his meaning. However, when Cedric reached out his hand, she took it without hesitation.
Holding her hand, Cedric led her into the living room. He had already asked for tea to be prepared, and two cups of rich, warm milk tea were ready on the table.
One chair had a thick cushion suitable for a child’s height. Cedric lifted Artizea gently and seated her there, placing a cup in her hands. Artizea looked flustered and said.
“Ah, I’m fine with the tea now.”
“Then set it down.”
Cedric took the cup from her hands and placed it on the table before picking up his own. Feeling tired, he found a sip of tea refreshing.
As he let out a sigh, Artizea cautiously said.
“I think I should be heading back now…”
“Ah.”
“Thank you for yesterday and today.”
Artizea spoke earnestly. She had been waiting to express her gratitude to Cedric before returning, but in truth, it was already quite late.
Her mother would surely be very angry. Just thinking about it made her anxious, and she wanted to delay her return for as long as possible. However, she knew she would have to face her punishment eventually.
It was alright. It had been a wonderful day, even if she got scolded. She had eaten so much that her stomach was full, and even if she was confined to her room, she probably wouldn’t be hungry for at least a day.
Cedric grinned mischievously.
“I’m not planning on sending you back, how do you expect to go back?”
“Huh?”
Artizea didn’t quite grasp what he meant. Not that she didn’t understand the words, but…
But soon enough, she realized what he was implying.
“Ah, so it would be a hassle for you to contact Marquisate Rosan?”
Since he had already extended this much kindness, she shouldn’t expect anything more.
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