The Villainess Lives Twice

Chapter 267

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The Emperor was carried away to his bed.

The guard knights lifted the Emperor and carried him. His aides ran to him, vacating the hallway in advance and calling out to him.

Cedric followed after him.

The confusion was enormous. Chancellor Lin shut the meeting room door close with a pale blue face.

Fortunately, only high-ranking officials were present at today’s meeting.

“Let’s keep this a secret.”

Lin said so.

“But, Chancellor.”

“Think about the state of the Empire now. What confusion would arise if there were even rumors that His Majesty had fallen?”

The western warlords will be agitated, and the eastern rebels will not stand still.

On the other hand, a significant portion of the military power was down in the South.

Among the foreign envoys who attended the ceremony for the Crown Prince’s Coronation, there were still those who remained in the Capital.

Not just envoys, but how many foreigners are staying in the imperial capital to trade.

Although it is said that Cedric was appointed Crown Prince, it was just the beginning. He could not yet be said to have firmly established himself.

The Emperor has so far held power and reigned alone. His absence would soon leave imperial politics a hole.

“He may wake up soon. Don’t make a fuss in public, go back to your place and be faithful to your work.”

The officials nodded their heads.

The meeting ended. Lin headed to the Emperor’s bedroom first.

Officials took papers and notes and headed to their respective offices.

And, very quietly, they had these conversations with people close to them, being careful not to cause any misunderstanding.

“He was a strong man, but at what point did he become like this…….”

“He’s old.”

“It wasn’t like this before. He continued to worry about his successor…….”

“Even so, so suddenly?”

“Because there were a lot of things that hurt his heart.”

There were several murmurs.

“Come to think of it, he changed his doctor several times.”

The Emperor had several chronic diseases from several years ago. He had long been concerned about high blood pressure and had diabetes.

Perhaps, there were other minor symptoms that people didn’t know for sure.

But no one worried too much.

Who doesn’t live with one or two of these diseases in old age? It had to be managed well.

The Emperor was a hedonist, but he wasn’t a man who sacrificed his health to live by his own pleasure.

“He seems to be having a harder time these past few days.”

An Interior Ministry official said in a whisper.

“He was like that when he was told there was a fire in the port. If it were me, I could have just gotten out of bed and left.”

What happened in the bedroom between the time it took him to come to his senses and regain his judgment?

Officials had such doubts.

At the same time, they were relieved.

“It is fortunate that it is after the establishment of the national foundation.”

“Shh. Be careful with your words.”

Someone paid attention.

“I understand what you meant by saying ‘fortunate’ but if there’s something wrong, it can lead to misunderstandings. His Majesty could get up in a day or two.”

However, the person who said that did not believe it.

Everyone had an unusual feeling that it was such a light thing.

* * *

When Chancellor Lin entered, the Emperor’s bedroom was strangely silent.

The doctor was examining the Emperor. Standing next to him were Cedric and Gayan.

The chief attendant took off the Emperor’s socks and kneaded his feet with his hands.

They were the only ones in the bedroom because they had to keep confidentiality.

From the outside of the bedroom to the hallway, the attendant and guards were guarding it without leaks.

“Her Majesty the Empress enters.”

Soon the Empress arrived.

The door closed silently behind the Empress.

Cedric turned to her and bowed to her. Lin and Gayan also bowed their heads in greeting without saying a word.

The Empress gave the three of them a light glance and looked towards the bed. But she did not come in, and stood by the door.

The Empress was wearing a black dress today as well. It had no special meaning.

After all, she spent most of her daily life in black clothes like mourning clothes.

But when things came to pass like this, she looked strange. The Empress standing at the door looked like a reaper.

Lin quickly brushed off the thoughts. Thoughts govern words and actions. Not thinking dangerous thoughts was the secret to not doing anything wrong.

“How are Gregor’s conditions?”

The Empress asked in such a way that she was not particularly shocked, or saddened, and neither did she rejoice.

Of course, it was also foolish to believe her attitude as it was.

The doctor finished the examination and stood up. His complexion was darkened with fear.

“The current crisis is over. I can’t be sure, but……, his blood vessels narrowed so blood couldn’t circulate to his head…… I have my doubts.”

“Is that the diabetes? Wasn’t there also some high blood pressure?”

“Originally, his blood pressure was high and his blood was sticky. He also had sweet urine.”

This ailment doesn’t get better. It got worse with age and was bound to explode at some point.

“Still, he took his medications and took good care of himself. He would be able to live in good health for at least the next ten years.”

“Recently, he has been neglecting his exercises because he has been struggling with mental health in many ways. He drank a lot. He often said he was tired.”

The chief attendant spoke very slowly.

“How could it be so sudden…….”

The doctor was most devastated

Recently, the symptoms have fluctuated without knowing the cause. But it wasn’t to the point that he could suddenly collapse like this.

Gayan spoke to the doctor with a shady face.

“The cause is important, but what is more important right now is whether he can recover his health.”

“Ah…….”

The doctor was at loss.

Lin nodded his head.

It was important to understand the cause, but it was also important to know when the Emperor could wake up.

The question of how long this matter should be kept confidential is at stake.

The doctor’s face turned pale blue.

“I don’t know at this point whether the medicine was taken on time or not. If he wakes up by tomorrow, he will recover. But even if he recovers, it will be difficult for him to get up as healthy as before.”

“You mean he could wake up soon?”

“Maybe…….”

Lin let out a long sigh of relief unknowingly.

Cedric also covered his eyes with his hand.

“You better hide this for a while.”

“Yes. It may be known that he is ill, but it would be troublesome for it to be known that he has collapsed.”

To Cedric’s words, Chancellor Lin answered.

Gayan asked,

“What will the others do?”

“Others?”

“We can’t help those who live far away, but we have no choice but to inform Countess Eunice, right?”

“It would be better not to notify until the details change. For the more ears to hear, the more mouths to speak.”

As Lin spoke, he was gripped by a strange feeling.

Years ago, Miraila would have been sitting at the bedside. And Lawrence must have come as a child.

Then Countess Eunice and her daughters will also be called. They would have passed the news to his other daughters who lived far away.

Whatever the feelings, Grand Duke Roygar would have stood on one side of the bedroom as his brother. The Grand Duchess would also come to the bedside and offer words of consolation.

However, only the Empress and Cedric were present.

There are only the Empress, who only left her shell for political reasons, and the Crown Prince, whom he wanted to keep in check by adopting as his son because it was politically necessary.

Emperor Gregor was still alive, but the human Gregor was not.

And even the Empire he was trying to control is flowing out of his hands. If the Empire was secure, there would be no reason to treat the Emperor’s illness as a top secret.

He had daughters left, but they wouldn’t be allowed to make important decisions, let alone share secrets.

Such is the legal right of inheritance.

“Crown Prince.”

Lin called for Cedric, who was looking down at the unconscious Emperor.

Cedric raised his head.

The Empress said,

“How can you have such a pitiful face?”

“Empress…….”

“The Emperor has fallen. It would be nice if he could open his eyes within a day or two, but if he doesn’t, you will have to do it instead.”

“…….”

Cedric looked at the Empress with an indescribable feeling.

Chancellor Lin nodded his head.

“Her Majesty’s words are not wrong.”

“I know.”

How could the Emperor collapse at such a time when the country is in danger in all directions?

No matter how hard Cedric tries, it is difficult to completely fill the Emperor’s absence and replace him.

However, it was also the right time, as if he was lucky.

Not long after the Crown Prince’s ceremony was held, the Emperor began to keep him in check.

If there was more time, the hostile forces raised by the Emperor would have increased. Then, his reign must have been troublesome even if he ascended to the throne.

The Empress asked, squinting her eyes.

“Is it possible that you lack the resolve?”

“No.”

Cedric replied briefly.

The resolution has long since been established. Not when he came back and met Artizea again, but before that.

At the time when he thought he should bring Lawrence down even if he has to become a cruel man, or remain a villain for generations.

Lin intervened,

“Let’s wait a little longer. Would His Majesty be able to open his eyes in a few hours?”

It was too dangerous to speak such dangerous words.

In order to protect Cedric, it should be done in such a way that the nobles and officials were convinced and asked for a vicarious cleanup.

Lin’s words made his mouth twitch. But he didn’t say anything.

Cedric said,

“Your words are right. Until His Majesty opens his eyes, let’s put the decisions of the meeting on hold. I will only look at the things that have been done as usual every year, or those that are very urgent.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Sir Gayan, if possible, be careful not to spread this fact to the guards as well.”

“I will inform only the knight guards about this and guard the bedroom myself.”

“You will have to pay attention to the escort as well.”

“Yes. Today, we will focus on those who already know the situation.”

“Yes. Good work.”

Gayan went out of the bedroom saying he had to summon the knights.

Lin came closer to him and said in a low voice that was close to a whisper,

“The officials will crack down as much as they can. However, you cannot use your hands inside the Imperial Palace. In particular, His Majesty’s investigation organization…….”

Cedric nodded his head.

The Emperor’s secret organization will certainly move against him.

‘I don’t know if you left because you knew it or you didn’t know it, but now is the time I need you.’

Cedric muttered in his mind.