I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 115

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Aleon doubted his own ears for a split second. However, Duke Hallen across from him was infinitely serious.

With a voice that held not a trace of jest, he spoke again with firm conviction.

“Yes, it must be surprising. But today’s magical verification is to prove the bloodline between that child and myself.”

“….”

“Since verification leaves records, I’ll finally be able to legally pass the Hallen name to my grandson I’ve found at last.”

Aleon stared at Luke Hallen without even blinking. And Luke Hallen did the same.

“You look confused. It just happened to turn out this way. I plan to register Rubel in the Hallen family records soon.”

His serious gray eyes flashed. Aleon, who had slightly furrowed his brow, muttered.

“So you’re saying you’ll hold a public announcement ceremony.”

“Yes, it’s necessary work, so it must be done.”

“If you do that, the identity of the missing prince will be revealed to the world.”

Duke Hallen nodded and slowly stroked his chin.

“It’s not that I hadn’t considered that. But hasn’t that child already lived like a ghost for far too long? I can’t let him remain in the shadows any longer.”

Aleon laughed bitterly as if incredulous.

“You’re saying you’ll reveal that the former prince is alive for such a trivial reason?”

His low voice was filled with killing intent.

After glaring coldly at Duke Hallen for a moment, he continued speaking icily.

“Do you think I’ll just stand by and watch that happen?”

Heavy, sinking air rippled around Aleon once more.

“Whether you and the former prince become targets of assassination squads or get executed for treason is none of my concern.”

“….”

“But as long as my daughter is involved, that’s a different story. I have no intention of letting you act as you please.”

His flame-like eyes glinted coldly. Duke Hallen nodded without showing any sign of being shaken.

“That’s a reasonable point. I heard that you’ve been keeping Rubel with the Tigris Knights all this time….”

“….”

“Tigris has come in too deep to draw the line now. If Rubel’s identity is revealed to the world, surely you and your daughter will become targets as well.”

The sound of grinding teeth leaked from between Aleon’s clenched jaw.

“Knowing that, you dare say such things….”

“However, if we simply omit the fact that the child is the former prince from the announcement ceremony.”

“….”

“Wouldn’t that change things a bit?”

Aleon closed his mouth. Duke Hallen remained calm.

“If you think about it, it’s a simple matter.”

Their eyes clashed in mid-air.

“There’s no one who can find the connection linking me, Sharlina, and Rubel. Even you with your formidable intelligence network didn’t know.”

Silence continued. Soon the magical power that had been extending around Aleon began to gradually subside.

His eyes, which had been dripping with coldness, also gradually became calm.

“I’m simply finding my blood relative. In the process, it will be revealed that I had a lost daughter, but that doesn’t matter.”

“….”

“That will have absolutely no connection to the late Former Empress and the missing prince.”

Duke Hallen leaned forward and gazed intently into Aleon’s eyes.

“Also. If you follow my plan, there will be some justification for Rubel having stayed in Tigris Territory all this time.”

At those words, Walter’s eyes, who had been holding his breath the entire time, widened.

Though it had never been explicitly mentioned, after the gladiatorial event, various rumors about Selene and Rubel had circulated throughout the Empire.

Many people found it strange that Lady Tigris was intimately associating with a mere elite soldier.

People became curious about the elite soldier of unknown origin who possessed tremendous abilities.

And based on that curiosity, they created absurd rumors.

That he was the last descendant of a fallen noble family, or a mercenary from another country.

Even rumors that he might be Selene’s hidden lover.

While no one suspected him of being the missing prince, the focused attention was indeed burdensome.

It was also clear that the rumors were having a negative impact on Selene’s reputation as a noble lady.

That’s why they had even moved the prince’s residence to Count Bastin’s domain.

But if Duke Hallen’s plan worked, they could silence all the rumors that had been circulating in the Empire at once.

Walter unconsciously muttered to himself.

“Come to think of it, it’s common for children of high noble families to stay at each other’s estates for extended periods to build friendships….”

Aleon looked at him.

“What are you talking about?”

Walter, startled, answered with a confident voice.

“Ah. If we follow Duke Hallen’s plan, we could silence the useless rumors.”

“We could silence useless rumors.”

“Think about it. Even now, there aren’t many noble houses that send their children to the Tigris Knights. Whether for friendship or training.”

As much as the Tigris Knights were considered powerful, nobles were eager to send their children to Tigris.

Dozens came each year begging for even short-term training.

“Duke Hallen could also announce that he sent his heir to our family with such intentions. Then rumors about the former prince being the young lady’s lover, or having secret meetings with mercenary knights would die down.”

Walter’s continued explanation was plausible. So Aleon finally nodded.

“In that case….”

And just as he was about to speak, Duke Hallen interrupted him.

“No. Perhaps there might be an even better method.”

At those words, Walter, Aleon, and even Sadina, who had been watching their conversation the entire time, looked at him.

Duke Hallen smiled mysteriously and muttered.

“What if we announce at the ceremony that Selene and Rubel are engaged?”

Crash—!!

With less than four hours remaining until midnight when the test would begin.

Rubel and I, sitting in the small reception room next to Duke Hallen’s office, looked at each other in shock.

A loud crash had come from the office beyond the wall.

“What was that?”

When I asked with wide eyes, Rubel muttered.

“It sounded like something breaking.”

“Something breaking?”

I blinked my surprised eyes and reflexively looked at the wall where the sound had come from.

Right now, beyond that wall were Father, Walter, Duke Hallen, and Sadina.

The four had gathered to discuss future plans and Rubel’s residence.

But suddenly hearing something break. No matter how I thought about it, there was no reason for such a sound in that situation.

“Sh-should we go check?”

“If you want to.”

I quickly got up from my seat and approached the door. Rubel, who had also risen, approached with slow steps.

I was about to grab and turn the handle when I remembered something and turned to look at Rubel.

“Oh right, you….”

Then I closed my mouth.

Because Rubel was much closer than I had expected.

I looked up at his face with a flustered expression, close enough that I could feel his breath.

Then I finally remembered the question I had originally intended to ask.

“Uh, that’s… right, are you feeling okay?”

A smile appeared on Rubel’s lips as his eyes had widened.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

I barely managed to nod.

“Ah, I was worried about what to do if you were very shocked….”

“Being shocked is true.”

Saying that, Rubel suddenly pulled me gently toward him.

I flinched in shock, my shoulders stiffening.

But Rubel walked past me to the door and grabbed the handle, turning it in my place.

The door opened smoothly. Rubel held the open door steady with one palm and gestured lightly with his head for me to come out.

“But it’s not unbearable.”

I, who had been frozen in place, hurriedly moved my feet and replied frantically.

“Th-then that’s a relief.”

“Yeah. Besides, I should consider that I’ve already received some help from The Man.”

Rubel looked back at me and smiled.

“Duke Haren, I mean. At least the Imperial Palace knights didn’t come barging in here to capture me.”

His voice was calm and composed, even tinged with slight playfulness.

What flustered me was actually that very thing. Rubel looked far too calm.

I had expected Rubel to be quite shocked by this incident. But he was much more composed than I thought.

No, he seemed even calmer than me.

As if he had already accepted and organized all the truths he faced today in his mind.

I gradually slowed my steps to a stop. A certain doubt suddenly arose in my head.

‘…No. Why did I think Rubel would be greatly shocked in the first place?’

Come to think of it, Rubel being composed wasn’t strange at all. He was originally that kind of person.

Like a heavy weight, maintaining his center without budging at most external stimuli.

A person who would just indifferently overcome and shake off whatever hardships and trials life threw at him.

Wasn’t Rubel portrayed as such a character throughout the original novel?

And I knew that better than anyone.

‘I knew, I definitely knew, but why did I think Rubel would…’

I soon parted my lips slightly.

…Come to think of it, was Rubel indifferent and detached toward me too?

No.

Thinking about it, that kid was a little different in front of me.

Always smiling, getting gloomy by himself while talking. Sometimes getting embarrassed over trivial things.

‘Right. Often to the point where I wondered why he was acting like that.’

I stood completely frozen in place, staring intently at the back of Rubel’s head.

At that moment, he stopped and turned around.

Deep eyes under slightly disheveled hair turned toward me. I took a short breath without answering.

‘Could it be…’

Rubel approached with large strides. Then he bent down to meet my eyes. He stared at me intently and slightly frowned.

“Seleneae. Your face is red again. You must have a fever.”

Then without warning, he placed his large hand on my forehead. He frowned and muttered.

“You’re hot. You’ve been overexerting yourself these past few days again.”

Thump- Thump-

Whether it was because of the fever as he said, heat rushed up my neck.

I stammered and took a step back.

“You…”

And I quickly raised both hands to cover my mouth.

The words Rubel had said a few hours ago echoed in my ears.

‘Preparing your bed and washing your feet.’

“You, you…!”

I stammered with my face bright red.

‘Even such things, I really could have done gladly.’

And I pointed at Rubel and shouted.

“Don’t tell me you like me?!”

…Only now, just now did I realize it.

Rubel had been doing all the things to me that he should have done to Estelin, the female protagonist in the original story.

And from the very moment we first met until now, continuously.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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