The Villainess Lives Twice

Bishop Akim was still in the temple.

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Just because the word treason was involved didn’t mean he was taken away.
He was still at his place in the temple.

He was in custody.
The Knights of Evron and guards surrounded his room and watched the hallways.
Very few were allowed to visit.

Even so, they could not immediately drag the bishop into a dungeon and imprison him.
Evidence or testimony was required.

In this case, the moment the priests who tried to kidnap Artizea confessed was the moment when Bishop Akim was properly indicted of treason.

Bishop Akim was, of course, well aware of this.
And he knew that his priests couldn’t endure it or be stubborn when tortured.

They believed Bishop Akim and followed him blindly.
However, it is impossible for a person with such training not to disclose information while being tortured.
It was impossible with mere loyalty.

“What the hell were you thinking?”

Bishop Nikos came to him with a dark face and asked lamentably.

Bishop Akim replied with his hard face.

“Did I assume that the Grand Duchess was conceiving? I have been deceived.”

“Damn it.
Didn’t you know that Grand Duchess Evron was not very healthy?”

“If she had said she was pregnant, I wouldn’t have told her to repent.”

 

“Akim! Now is not the time for you to be so stubborn.
Don’t you know how big this is?”

“Therefore?”

Bishop Akim asked in a cold voice.

“Isn’t it enough for you to watch without taking this side or the other side as you have done so far?”

“Akim, why are you saying that? Yes, just like you said, I’ll do my thing.
Still, shouldn’t we try to calm things down a bit? Are you ready to be punished?”

“If there is something you want to tell, say it.”

“It’s not too late now.
Apologize to Grand Duke Evron and his wife, and cooperate.
You weren’t really trying to harm the imperial family, were you?”

“Is that Colton’s idea?”

“Akim, Colton is not the problem.”

“Tell Colton.
Don’t let the Grand Duchess deceive him and endanger the temple.”

As a result of being deceived, he lost the fight.

He did not believe that Artizea would not have known that she was pregnant.
She deceived everyone and was aiming for a dramatic effect.

“A fall is a fall, either from a tower or from the second floor.”

He muttered to himself.

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In fact, there is a big difference.
Those who fall from the second floor have a chance of surviving, but those who fall from the top of the tower will not survive.
Bishop Akim knew it, too.

 

Bishop Nikos eventually stood up.

“Break that stubbornness and pride, and think again.
If you change your mind, Colton and I will try to mediate somehow.”

“Did Colton tell you to say that?”

“You are such a bad person to waste our time like this.
You’ll have to leave the office of bishop, but it won’t be too bad; a life spent in the monastery managing and studying the scriptures.
Think carefully.”

Bishop Nikos left those words and left.

Bishop Akim did not respond.

He had no intention of accepting such a life.

But if he doesn’t accept it, is there any other way to survive?

‘Escape is wrong.’

He was guarded by the Knights of Evron, so it was impossible to escape on his own.

It was also dangerous to seek the help of Grand Duke Roygar.

Neither Bishop Akim nor Marchioness Camellia were foolish enough to easily leave evidence.

All conversations were conducted face to face.
The money exchanged took the form of sponsorship for Bishop Akim’s research activities.

There was absolutely nothing to be called evidence.
However, they could all be meaningful evident with the testimony of Bishop Akim.

Conversely, Grand Duke Roygar had no reason to keep him alive.
Rather, having him killed would be a relief.

So now he has only two options.

One of them is to tell Cedric everything in order to gain his favor.

Then Grand Duke Roygar becomes the culprit, and Bishop Akim himself becomes the accessory.

He then offers a promise to actively cooperate in the prosecution of Grand Duke Roygar to lessen his own punishment.

The Archbishop and Brother Colton will also intervene.

Then he will be able to save his life.
As Bishop Nikos said, he would be able to end his life as a monk and live in exile in a monastery somewhere on the outskirts.

Cedric is a man of his word.
Bishop Akim won’t have to worry about the rest of his life as long as he can get Cedric’s word.

‘It’s terrifying just thinking about it.’

Nevertheless, Bishop Akim did not want to take that path.

He had a realization that it was stupid.

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But if he compromised, he eventually had to bow his head to Artizea.
He also had to accept Brother Colton’s arbitration.

He will not be able to look up to Brother Colton for the rest of his life.

Even if the alternative would cost him his life, his pride would not allow it.

So, until yesterday, he was just going to die proudly.

He, of course, did not intend to die alone.
If he’s going to be framed and die anyway, wouldn’t it be better to burn it all with a splendid fire?

But last night he had another option.

Bishop Akim headed to his desk.
And he took out a letter from the secret drawer.

The letter, delivered in secret, was from the Emperor.

Of course, there was no name written on it.
Even if he traced the sender, it would have nothing to do with the Emperor.

But he guarantees a sure protection.
He also promises to change Bishop Akim’s identity secretly.
Even though it is far from the capital, he promises to let him live without lack as a nobleman.

It also touched Bishop Akim’s pride.
The letter completely treated Bishop Akim like a secular person.

As if he were willing to sell himself over just because he could live in wealth.

But it was better than bowing down to Artizea and Brother Colton.

It was also a reasonable suggestion.

If the opponent secures Bishop Akim, he will get a justification to execute Grand Duke Roygar as a traitor at any time.

So, at least Bishop Akim himself is not going to be in a one-sidedly forgiven relationship.

This was a deal.

‘I’m in the hands of the Emperor, I guess.’

There was no way it would be an equal trade.

When the Emperor deems him no longer needed, he will quietly dispose of Bishop Akim any time.

Even so, it was a more plausible future for Bishop Akim.

Knock, knock

Then he heard a knock on the door.

Bishop Akim put the letter back and jumped to his feet from his desk.

The door opened.
The servant who brought the meal lowered his eyes with a frightened face.

It looked like it was already dinner time.

As the door opened, the knights glanced inside.

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Bishop Akim was deeply offended, but he did not reveal it.

The servant came in cautiously and set the tray down on the table.
And he went out hurriedly.

The door closed again.

Bishop Akim sat down in front of the tray in a reluctant way.

Then he ate slowly and realized when he was half way through.

His tongue was getting numb little by little.

“Keuk!”

He tried to scream, but no sound came out, as if his throat was also closed.

There must have been poison in the meal.

Bishop Akim jumped up in panic.
Then he hurriedly ran to the desk and opened the drawer with the medicine box.

Among the vials he drank due to his chronic illness, he hurriedly found an antidote and opened the lid.
He was lucky enough to have it set up for emergencies.

It’s not a cure-all, so there’s no guarantee he’ll be detoxified, but it’ll buy him some time.

But as it passed over his neck, Bishop Akim felt a burning pain and grabbed his neck.

“Keee, heuk…… !”

And he just fell to the floor.

It was the fifth day since the day Artizea collapsed.

＊＊＊

It was late that evening that Hayley had come.

She was very nervous.
It was Hayley herself who created the overall plan for this event.

She didn’t go through enough reviewing because she was running out of time.
In fact, Hayley had no intention of leading this work until this point.

How much more can she say that this is such an important and urgent matter?

She thought that once Artizea woke up, she would just have to follow the command.

Whatever it was, she had no other choice but to take the work.

Hayley tightly strained her body and stood in the hallway with Bishop Akim’s room.

Will she be able to negotiate one-on-one with Bishop Akim? It didn’t seem like she would be.

But she couldn’t help it.

Artizea did not seek the cooperation of Bishop Akim.
It was enough to use him as a bait.

[“Remove the restraints a little, and make a way so that he can connect to the outside.
It’s good if he escapes, and Grand Duke Roygar will surely respond.”]

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Artizea said in a cold voice.

[“There will be an assassination attempt.
You have to hold it back.”]

Hayley disagreed with that opinion.

[“I think it would be better to negotiate with Bishop Akim first.”]

[“Bishop Akim will never cooperate with us.
When a man like that achieves great achievements and grows old, he has an unimaginable ego.
He’s even jealous of Brother Colton.”]

[“Bishop Akim now knows who Your Grace is, and he also knows that he is in the spotlight now.
And I don’t think Grand Duke Roygar would want to let him get out alone.”]

[“I don’t think Bishop Akim would be in a state where he could reasonably calculate profit and loss……, but if you think so, go ahead.”]

Artizea said so coolly.

[“You are a person who can think, so I won’t worry about this any more.”]

The compliment Artizea said that she did well wasn’t a compliment, Hayley thought.

After all, when Artizea collapsed, she must have been given a punishment of her own.

Freil, who knew Artizea before Hayley, said with a resigned attitude.

[“You have come to a crossroads to decide whether to rest until you die or die until you rest.”]

[“Can’t we rest until we die?”]

Hayley was sincere.

The knights who were guarding the hallway were surprised to see Hayley.

“Lady Jordyn, what are you doing at such a late hour?”

“On behalf of Her Grace, I have come to see Bishop Akim.
May I come in?”

“Of course.
Just that me and the guard will be present.”

“I don’t want you to hear the conversation.”

“Don’t worry.
If it’s Lady Jordyn, that’s fine.”

Having said that, the knight opened the door.

And jumped in surprise.
Following him, other knights and members of the guards rushed in.

Hayley stepped in too late.

Bishop Akim was lying on the floor, holding a vial.
The blood from his mouth was black and pooled on the floor.

The temperature was already cold.

“Oh God, is this seizure? I should have paid attention to it.”

The guard said with a worried face.
Because it was clear that it would be the responsibility of those who guarded him.