I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 13

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

Selene had a nonchalant expression. She shrugged her shoulders.

“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s not like I said anything wrong. Martina is from an orphan background, and it’s your freedom to find that dirty.”

Horror appeared on Rosette’s face as she lost her words.

Just moments ago, she had extended her hand to Martina with pitying eyes. I wondered how she could say such things so shamelessly.

“You, what are you exactly…?”

The moment she looked at Martina’s complexion with a pale face, Selene approached with large steps and spoke in a low voice.

“And you, you did the same to me.”

“What…?”

“What, that there’s no one by my side, and I’ll never be loved in the end?”

Rosette’s gaze trembled as she met Selene’s eyes.

But Selene muttered as if it didn’t matter.

“Think whatever you want.”

Rosette doubted her own ears.

“What did you say?”

“Mock me or look down on me, do whatever you want.”

It was a very calm-sounding voice. Rosette opened and closed her mouth like a mute who had eaten honey for a moment, then let out a short sigh.

And soon she frowned and shouted.

“Don’t pretend to be relaxed! I know you’re furious inside!”

As if filled with anger, she huffed.

“No matter how much you try to claim mental victory like that, it won’t change the fact that you’re incompetent! You haven’t even manifested your ability, and you’re doing everything completely wrong right now!!”

But Selene didn’t even blink.

‘Why is she being so nonchalant…!’

Rosette trembled with her face scrunched up in displeasure.

But then Selene, who had been quietly listening to her words, suddenly smiled.

“Is that all?”

At the unexpected words, Rosette slowly closed her mouth.

Selene took another step closer to me, made a hmm sound, and muttered nonchalantly.

“Then I guess it’s my turn to talk now.”

I stared at Rosette intently and opened my mouth.

“First, let me ask you something.”

“…”

“Why exactly do you think I’m claiming mental victory?”

Rosette’s eyes widened slightly. I spoke to her as she blankly moved her lips.

“According to you, I’m a useless human because I’m unmanifested.”

“Th-that’s obviously…”

“Right, fine. Then you must be a useless human too, right? Compared to people who boast tremendous abilities, your ability is also quite lacking.”

At my bluntly spoken words, Rosette’s face turned bright red. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

“No! What do you even know!!”

I quietly stared at her as she trembled while biting her lips tightly.

“What. Isn’t the ignorant person more of a fool? Abilities are relative. Once you start comparing, there’s no end.”

Tears streamed down Rosette’s cheeks.

“That’s… that’s not it. I’m different from you. I manifested an ability, so I…”

I let out a small sigh with an expressionless face. The reason she was reacting so sensitively was obvious.

Words about still being insufficient, about being a useless human.

‘Those must be words she always heard from her parents.’

I spoke quietly.

“You need to throw away that damn pride first.”

Rosette, who had been trembling, flinched.

“…What?”

“You’re curious why I’m so calm, aren’t you?”

Rosette closed her mouth. Confusion slowly appeared in her enlarged purple eyes.

“Be honest. You thought it was annoying that someone who hasn’t even manifested was acting so relaxed.”

As if it was the right answer, Rosette’s face turned bright red this time. I looked straight into her eyes and said.

“I don’t want to live a tiresome life anymore. That’s why, no matter how much you rage, it doesn’t affect me.”

“…”

“Moping around alone won’t suddenly give you abilities. Right?”

Rosette’s violently trembling eyes suddenly stopped. I stared at her intently while swallowing the words I wanted to say inside.

‘…So please come to your senses.’

This child was thoroughly twisted right now.

Having suffered for a long time under people who weren’t even adult-like, she was clearly mentally exhausted.

Just like my past life.

But…

I tried to organize my thoughts while swallowing the sigh that had risen to my throat.

Memories from my past life that I hadn’t wanted to recall were flooding back one by one.

‘Sebin, why are you so incompetent?’

‘Oh my. What was this kid doing instead of learning such basic things.’

‘Tsk, this is why family background is important.’

“I know, right now it might seem like nothing is going your way.”

Rosette looked at me with trembling eyes. I smiled faintly.

“But if you look carefully, there are things.”

I know because I’ve experienced it. I know because I lived my whole life like a fool and died unjustly.

“You can’t stop others from saying nonsense. But.”

“…”

“Covering your ears and not listening is your freedom. Ignoring them is something you can do with your own will.”

At my words, Rosette hesitated.

“You, don’t tell me…”

Soon she frowned and trailed off.

‘She must be curious if I know about her situation.’

I remained silent for a while, then spoke the words I had hesitated to say dozens of times.

“You’re going to die like this.”

Rosette’s eyes widened. I turned my gaze away and added.

“I mean, if you don’t change, you’ll live like this your whole life and then die. By then, everything will be too late.”

“…”

“Then what do you think will remain? Abilities? No, only regret will remain.”

‘So please, escape from that hell by yourself.’

It might be meddling, but I was determined to live well in this life.

Because my past life, where I only suffered like a fool and died, was too tragic and unjust.

So I hoped she would also avoid her predetermined future.

It wasn’t just because of sympathy or a sense of kinship from being in the same situation in the novel.

Although her personality was nasty and she spoke harshly, Rosette was someone with no one to lean on. Just like my past life.

That fact somehow kept bothering me.

I slowly raised my hand.

“…!”

Rosette froze in place with a startled expression.

It was because I had suddenly grabbed her hand.

“Follow me.”

“L-let go of this!”

“You don’t have anywhere to go anyway.”

Without hesitation, I turned around and started walking, causing Rosette to be dragged along helplessly. Martina also hurriedly followed behind.

Glancing back at them, I tilted my head and thought.

‘Is it a bit cold today?’

For some reason, Rosette’s ears were bright red.

Meanwhile, in Duke Tigris’s study.

Aleon was reviewing documents sent from the ducal palace in his territory.

It had been quite a long time since he had stayed at the mansion on the estate.

Aleon recalled the words of his retainers who had been urging his return.

‘We cannot leave the castle without its master indefinitely. For the prosperity of the territory, you must return.’

‘It has already been a long time since the Previous Emperor’s passing and your stay on the estate. The imperial family has stabilized, and now no one will doubt Your Grace’s loyalty.’

Aleon leaned back against his chair with a tired expression. His retainers’ words weren’t wrong either.

As he closed his eyes, dormant thoughts began to surface one by one.

The Previous Emperor who had passed away nine years ago was the first lord to whom he had pledged his loyalty.

He had also been a close friend with whom he could share everything.

But misfortune came suddenly. The robust emperor began to weaken from one day onward.

Without even finding the cause, his illness only worsened day by day.

On the day that marked one month.

The Previous Emperor passed away with surprising futility. But before there was even time to properly mourn this, a new incident erupted.

Even the prince, who had been the Previous Emperor’s only heir, disappeared.

However, the prince at that time was merely a child, and the Previous Emperor who could have protected him was already gone from this world.

Perhaps that was why.

Though no one easily spoke it aloud, everyone was convinced.

That the prince wasn’t missing but had died.

The Empress, having lost her husband and with her only son gone as well, refused all food and drink.

And naturally, a desolate atmosphere settled over the Imperial Palace during this time.

The Imperial Nobles split into several factions and began power struggles over potential candidates for the next emperor. But the Empress could hardly maintain her composure.

The Empress, who had been living like a walking corpse, ultimately couldn’t endure for more than a few weeks and took her own life.

It was a tragedy. A tragedy whose beginning was unknown.

Not long after, the Current Emperor, who had been the Previous Emperor’s younger brother, ascended to the throne. It all happened in an instant without any preparation.

The Imperial Nobles now urged the new emperor to quickly take an empress and produce an heir.

The one who came to occupy the position of Current Empress was Grace, daughter of the Late Duke of Belmart, who had been one of the Four Dukes at the time.

Grace was wise and strong. She was different in nature from the emperor, who was foolish and emotional.

She was benevolent yet cold, and she didn’t fear to speak frankly to the emperor when he faced important decisions.

It was perhaps natural that she gradually began to receive the respect and love of the people. The emperor also deeply trusted such an empress.

As time passed, the imperial family gradually stabilized.

The Empress soon conceived a new heir to the empire, and the prince who was born was healthy and intelligent.

While everyone pledged their loyalty to him, people gradually forgot the Previous Emperor, the Previous Empress, and the disappeared prince.

As if they had never existed from the beginning.

However, Aleon could not do so.

‘…Aleon, remember this.’

That voice was still vivid.

‘It’s to protect Selene.’

He let out a short breath and slowly opened his eyes. Both eyes were red with bloodshot.

Two days later.

I bolted upright from my seat.

Looking out the window, I could see the day was dawning brightly.

Without hesitation, I got down from the bed and walked to the table, where I could see the mirror that Anna had polished to a shine.

But the face reflected in it was still unfamiliar.

Platinum hair falling disheveled over my shoulders. A small, white face with a straight nose positioned in the center.

Even the intelligent-looking blue eyes.

“…Still, it’s more familiar than yesterday.”

Muttering, I roughly arranged the hair that had fallen over my face. Then I hurriedly put on the slippers that were on the floor.

There was no time to even change out of my pajamas.

As I opened the door and rushed outside, I could see the deserted corridor, probably because it was still early.

My steps grew faster and faster.

‘Today is that day, after all.’

The day I had been eagerly waiting for, craning my neck for three whole days.

The day of education had dawned.

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