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nChapter 67

nProofreader: xoxomonami & somnium

nShe hurriedly mumbled, chewed, and swallowed the snack. Then, she could barely answer him.

n“I’ll eat it later.”

n“Then I will wait until you finish eating.”

n“You don’t need to do that. I can eat after work.”

n“Then I’ll wait for that too. If I don’t keep the snack time, I’ll be scolded by Ansgar later.”

nCedric sat next to Artizea, stroking the fox fur ornament.

n“Is this the fur product you mentioned before?”

n“Yes, is it okay?”

nArtizea put it on her shoulder and showed it to him.

n“It looks good, to be able to wear it like a gold decoration.”

n“Yes, that’s a good idea.”

n“It suits you.”

nArtizea lost words to answer.

nCedric would casually say something like this.

nIt seemed that he didn’t know that Artizea’s heart trembled every time.

nArtizea struggled to turn her head. And she beckoned to Aubrey, struggling to maintain a casual look.

nAubrey came out with the jewelry box, saw Cedric and stopped walking.

nArtizea opened the lid of the box with her standing by her side.

n“The fox’s eyes look good with sapphire.”

nArtizea picked up two small sapphires of the same size.

n“And for a rabbit, simple gemstones would be better, garnet and amber. Sophie, go get a pouch to hold this.”

nOnly then, realizing that Artizea was about to give him the jewel, Jaden struck his hand.

n“It’s too much, Grand Duchess. I really can’t accept it.”

n“Hold it for three days, then discuss it with your wife. Dispose of it on your own. It won’t be a burden to have such a thing at home because it is a gift.”

n“Thank you. “

nJaden knelt down on one of his knees and bowed. And with a thrilled face, he also thanked Cedric.

nArtizea said.

n“Three fox furs and two more rabbit furs. Make the finest. I’ll send them all to a valuable person, so they must be of different forms. Don’t forget that this is the first product to be introduced.”

n“Yes, I will do my best.”

n“I will choose jewels that can be used as eyes or decorations and leave it to Margaret. Use it extravagantly.”

n“Yes, I understand.”

n“I wish I could see the results in a short time.”

n“I’ve made it once, so I’ll be able to make the second faster. Thank you for trusting me.”

nJaden politely bowed.

nThen he took the jewel bag from Sophie, put it in his arms, hugged the two dolls and went outside.

n“Are you done with your work today?”

nCedric asked, picking up the snack and holding it out. Artizea hesitated.

n“Yes.”

nArtizea carefully took the snack from Cedric’s hand.

nShe was conscious of chewing something in front of his eyes, so she was very careful. She was also bothered that there was a crackling sound in her mouth.

nCedric asked.

n“Is the taste okay?”

n“Yes. I’ve never known that fruit is so delicious.”

nFor the food situation, the diet consisted mainly of meat processed for storage.

nThis is where even grain is scarce. All vegetables were pickled and stored. Fruits were only jam or dried.

nHe was paying special attention to Artizea’s meals in the kitchen, but there were limits.

nThe scent of apples was precious.

n“Eat more. I’ll be here until the plate is empty.”

n“You don’t have to bring it yourself like this. Even if you order it to a maid, she’ll keep the snack time.”

n“I’m bringing it myself because I want to come.”

nCedric revised it, as if he had forgotten what he said earlier that Ansgar would scold him if he didn’t uphold the snack time.

nThen he picked up another snack and handed it to Artizea.

n“If you keep doing this, I will get into a bad habit.”

n“So it turns out that I didn’t announce my new year goals?”

n“You didn’t say anything. What is it?”

n“I’m making you spoiled.”

nArtizea covered her mouth with her hand and laughed out loud. Because she truly thought it was a joke.

nHowever, Cedric simply smiled deeply and looked at her. The laughter died down. Maybe he wasn’t kidding.

nHer mouth could hardly be opened, even though she had decided on what to say.

nCedric called her name.

n“Tia.”

nArtizea unintentionally turned her eyes, and she again caught him in her gaze.

nCedric smiled lightly. His face was so close that his breath was mixed with Artizea’s.

nCedric lowered his head. Artizea closed her eyes unknowingly.

nBut his lips touched her cheek, not her lips.

nArtizea exhaled a trembling breath to relieve her tension. She thought he was going to kiss her.

nCedric said in a soft voice, sweeping lightly under her eyes.

n“I told you to pay attention to the heating, the Grand Hall is still cold. Dress warmly.”

n“Yes….”

n“See you later. “

nCedric stood up.

n‘Why are you doing this to me?’

nEvery time she looked at his face, she was eager to ask. The emotions were high.

nBut she doesn’t really want to know his feelings. She doesn’t even want the right answer.

nShe just wanted permission to stay a little longer like this.

nShe can’t do that, but she keeps getting happy.

nShe could not deny that she was attracted to Cedric.

nHow could she not be attracted? To such a sweet, strong and upright person.

nShe ended her life once. There was a time when she was sitting right below the emperor.

nShe saw and evaluated a lot of people. She disturbed the world as if churning the bottom of the river, confirming the dirtiness at the bottom of men.

nIt was also then. Cedric was the most straightforward and gorgeous man she knew.

nEven when his eyes were covered in mud named Family, she could still see his light shine through.

nShe pulled him down to the bottom and saw nothing changed.

nShe dared not to describe him like jewels.

n‘At that time… .’

nAt that time.

nShe just pretended not to know, because it was something she shouldn’t know.

nShe came back to the past, and it still was something that couldn’t and shouldn’t be.

nSo she tried to push her emotions deep into her stomach and ignore Cedric’s hand.

nHow dare she take the place next to Cedric?

nShe killed several people whom Cedric cherished. Lysia was also taken; Evron Grand Duchy was destroyed.

nJust because time is turned back doesn’t mean that all the crime will disappear. At least it certainly remained in Artizea’s memory.

nEven after more than half a year, she sometimes recalled Cedric, who bowed down in front of her.

nEvery time she did that, it was so painful that it was difficult to even breathe, as if her chest was pierced with a spear.

nArtizea sometimes thought she would have been better to stay by Cedric’s side, where she would have been able to help him to work off that punishment.

nShe knows it’s a selfish idea. She knows that it is much better to minimize the victims.

nBut every time Cedric smiled with a friendly face, she felt so sore and painful in her heart that she couldn’t help but think so.

nAt that time, Cedric would not have smiled at her. Knowing everything, he wouldn’t have been kind.

nShe deserved it.

nEven being by his side as a servant is a sinful thing, how dare she want more than that.

nFor Cedric as a monarch, it was fine. Because he has a vessel that can accommodate evil people like her.

nBecause he told her to make a plan.

nBut as a man, he is not his own.

nIt was also a sin for him to be greedy. She knew he deserved to be refused.

nBut when he smiled tenderly, her heart jumped.

nWhen he held her hand, her body heated up. When he reached out his hand, she could not escape. She wanted to be held in his arms.

nHer lips trembled, knowing the joy he touched.

nShe wanted to walk a little more, not in reality, but stepping on these sweet dreams.

nThe feeling left on the cheek was unlikely to disappear for a while.

n***

nAubrey stood far away with her jewelry box.

nShe was in tears.

nIt was like being an invisible person.

nArtizea did not particularly ignore her, but she did not treat her close as a lady-in-waiting.

nThe maids who followed Artizea hated her blatantly.

nThe ladies of the stronghold were not the same as before.

nIf it were her old days, she was the most precious lady in the stronghold. There were rarely any women in the Grand Duchy, so naturally the daughters of the Jordyn’s received precious treatment.

nBut now everyone knelt to Artizea. Aubrey was behind the scenes. She was only seen as Artizea’s lady-in-waiting.

nBut the saddest thing was Cedric’s attitude.

n‘How can you not even look at me like that?’

nIf he looks at her once, he’ll notice this unfair situation.

nHowever, when Cedric was with Artizea, there was very little in him giving any attention to anything other than Artizea.

nThe gentle gaze, friendly gestures, and kind consideration sometimes seemed sweet.

nEvery time she saw it right in front of her eyes, Aubrey felt even more disastrous of her standing.

nArtizea kept Aubrey close and never let her sit.

nThe subordinate cannot sit in the seat until the superior allows it. That is the court manner.

nArtizea offered to teach her.

nAubrey had to stand by Artizea all day long. Even when the treasurer or the maid is sitting.

nThat said, she didn’t have anything to be proud of.

nAll that was left to Aubrey was a jewel box.

nIt was important. No lady entrusts a jewelry box to someone she doesn’t trust.

nBut Aubrey thought she was just like a foot on a jewelry box.

nArtizea sometimes had her bring the jewelry box so that she could look at it and put it right next to her for an hour to pick.

nShe can’t believe she was being treated like this. She is the daughter of Count Jordyn, who can be called the first vassal of the Grand Duke, and she is the first lady-in-waiting.

nSophie came out of the bathroom to prepare clothes for the banquet. She saw Aubrey standing until then, and so she said cautiously.

n“It’s hard, right? My madam called, and she told me I need to clean up the jewelry box. So, sit back and relax. Since the madam is a gentle person, Miss Aubrey just …..”

n“Shut up! Do you sympathize with me when you’re the maid?”

n“Aahh!”

nAubrey threw the jewelry box at her.

nSophie, who was beaten by the heavy gold box, fell to the floor. The jewels scattered on the floor and sparkled brilliantly.

nBlood ran from one side of Sophie’s head.

nAubrey was startled. Because she didn’t intend to hurt Sophie.

nBut she soon clenched her lips.

nIt’s all because of Artizea. As such, it was not a problem for a maid brought from Artizea’s family.

nAubrey knew very well that this was Artizea trying to discourage her.

n‘I wonder who will give in.’

nShe was the daughter of the Jordyn family, and was the vassal of the Grand Duke Evron. She wasn’t a knight, but she was confident that she wasn’t the same as the weak capital ladies.

n‘I’m not someone to be treated like this!’

nAubrey ran out.

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