I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 14

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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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“Ansun!!”

Ansun was startled by the sudden scream and bolted upright.

In doing so, he banged his head against the bookshelf in front of him and sat down with a groan of ‘Ugh…’

“I’m here!”

Ansun clutched his forehead and found himself face to face with Selene, who was beaming brightly at him.

She tilted her head.

“What’s with that expression? You look like you really hate that I’m here.”

“…Hate it? I’m just so happy to see you.”

Happy my ass. It was a lie.

She had already been coming and going from the library like it was her own home for three days straight.

And Ansun found it extremely annoying.

Not only that, but two days ago she had even brought two girls he’d never seen before.

‘How is it? Our house cake is really delicious, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, it’s really delicious. Why didn’t I ever think to try it before?’

‘Be quiet, Martina. We came here to train all this time, not to eat.’

‘Rosette. Please don’t kill Martina’s mood. I finally fed you something delicious and now you’re being cranky again.’

‘What, what?! When did I! I was just…!’

‘Ah, forget it, forget it. Just eat.’

They continued this conversation – whether it was chatting or fighting, he couldn’t tell – for over three hours.

When empty cake plates had piled up high by the door, Ansun couldn’t stand it anymore and asked.

‘Why exactly are you doing this here instead of in the dining hall?’

Then came a completely shameless answer.

‘I’m most comfortable here, sorry!’

Sor… what?

Selene’s expression as she giggled like a demon after finishing her words was vivid in his memory. Ansun shook his head.

But. That same Selene was standing before him again today without fail.

She was even in her pajamas, as if she had come right after waking up in the morning, and she looked quite happy. How terrifying.

She hopped through the scattered books and approached Ansun.

“When are you going to use the vacation I got you?”

“I’m planning to use it tomorrow. I want to get some good sleep while I’m at it.”

“It’s a rare vacation, and you’re going to spend it sleeping?”

“My lady can say that because you never lack sleep.”

Selene said ‘Fine, suit yourself’ and shrugged her shoulders.

Then the next moment, she stuck out her hand to Ansun as if she had left something with him.

“The thing I asked for is finished, right?”

Ansun looked at Selene, who was wearing a meaningful smile, then let out a deep sigh. He reluctantly handed something over.

A small medicine bottle about 5 centimeters long contained a clear potion that sloshed around.

Selene’s expression brightened.

“Amazing! How did you finish it so quickly?”

“I’d already made it once before, so it wasn’t difficult.”

Selene said ‘See? I knew you were reliable’ and patted his shoulder. Ansun’s legs gave out and he swayed.

He barely managed to regain his balance and glared at Selene with a sullen expression.

Then, this time he held out his hand to her.

“You need to give me what you promised.”

“Hey, of course. What do you take me for!”

Selene took out two gold coins from the small cloth pouch she was holding. Then she grinned and placed them on Ansun’s palm.

As the gold coins clinked against each other, a smile slowly appeared on Ansun’s face too. He muttered.

“I hate to admit it, but honestly, you’re generous.”

“Don’t act poor, Ansun. You get paid quite well too.”

“Well… the more money the better.”

Selene nodded as if in agreement. Ansun, who had been watching her, asked.

“But why did you suddenly ask me to make that medicine?”

“I have uses for it.”

“You’re not even a manifester, my lady, and you want that medicine?”

Selene just raised the corner of her mouth without answering.

Ansun glanced at that sinister expression and shrank back with a pale face.

“…You know you’re really different from your first impression, right?”

“What am I?”

“At first you seemed like just an innocent noble lady, but now…”

He shook his head.

Selene glared at him as if offended, then muttered sullenly.

“Fine. Sorry for not being noble enough. Happy now?”

Ansun silently turned his head away.

Meanwhile, Selene turned the medicine bottle this way and that, checking its contents.

Then without hesitation, she turned toward the door. Her movements were light, having finished her business.

She waved at Ansun and called out brightly.

“Well, I’m going now. See you again soon?”

Ansun deliberately remained silent and waited until Selene left the library.

Only after the door was completely closed did he mutter very quietly and timidly.

“…I wish she would just stop coming.”

The manor’s reception room.

I stared at the man before me with interested eyes.

‘His name was Mayer, wasn’t it.’

He had a face that looked much younger than I had expected.

Intelligent eyes that shone beneath brown hair, and even a gentle impression.

‘He definitely looks like a religious person.’

Wearing a sunny smile, Father Mayer bowed to me.

The pendant with a mysterious pattern hanging around his neck swayed.

“May Fratrer’s glory remain with you, my lady.”

His voice was so gentle it seemed like it could melt even a thousand-year barrier. I nodded lightly.

Fratrer.

That was the name of the most prosperous religion in this world currently.

Most of the Empire’s citizens, including nobles, worshipped the god Fratrer, and even Empress Grace, called the most powerful mother in history, was a follower of the Fratrer Church.

A very devout one at that.

The relief activities she operated in the name of the Fratrer Church numbered several that I knew of alone.

What was even more remarkable was that most of the relief funds came from the Empress’s own pocket.

‘How devout must she be to cover all that money with her own funds.’

I nodded to myself secretly.

‘And because of that, the number of believers increased tremendously too.’

When the wise and benevolent Empress worshipped a god, how could the people not love that same god.

I slyly observed Father Mayer.

And for good reason, as I had practically ransacked all the religion-related books in the library in preparation for today.

And as a result, I was able to learn various facts.

The temples and churches of the Fratrer faith are so common that they exist everywhere throughout the Empire, and the religious order’s power is growing stronger day by day.

And Mayer, who is responsible for my ‘education’…

Is a priest from the Sanctuary, the largest temple among all Fratrer temples.

Of course, he’d have to be at that level to be qualified to teach me.

After all, I was the only daughter and sole heir of Duke Tigris, one of the Four Dukes.

That’s why I could personally summon Mayer, a priest of the Sanctuary, to the manor.

‘Come to think of it, I’m currently receiving priceless, ultra-expensive private tutoring.’

When our eyes met, Mayer responded with a serene smile.

“Have you been well?”

It was a very honest and pure-looking smile, without even a speck of suspicious intent.

‘Even if he looks like this on the outside, there’s definitely something shady about him.’

I maintained my wariness while smiling back at him.

Right now, I had valid reasons to be suspicious of Mayer.

‘…That suspicious conversation at the manor. Something about strengthening education.’

Having overheard that conversation, I couldn’t just let things slide. Because I had already sensed it instinctively.

Something that hadn’t appeared in the novel—something I knew nothing about—was happening at this manor.

To figure that out, I needed to discover what kind of ‘education’ Mayer was giving me.

Then Mayer approached the side table and sat down in a chair.

I tilted my head in confusion.

No matter how much Mayer was a priest of the Sanctuary, here he was nothing more than a part-time tutor hired by Father to teach me.

That meant at least here, between the two of us, I was clearly the employer and he was the employee.

Just looking at our conversation, he was using formal speech with me consistently.

‘But he’s sitting down first?’

Something felt off, but I took a seat across from him anyway. Mayer was the first to speak.

“I’ve been busy with temple affairs lately, so my visit was delayed.”

I leisurely picked up the teacup in front of me and replied.

“Was it more important than my education?”

Mayer’s eyes widened slightly. Soon, his face filled with a troubled expression as he spoke in an apologetic voice.

“What disappointing words. The greatest achievement of my life is being able to teach you, my lady.”

‘Oh ho, so that’s how you’re going to play it?’

I smiled back at him in return.

“I’m glad to hear you say that.”

It was a suffocating battle of nerves.

Mayer and I exchanged glances with smiling faces, never revealing our true thoughts.

But the silence didn’t last long before Mayer clasped his hands together and spoke calmly.

“Actually, there have been some good discussions with the Imperial Palace recently.”

“Really? What kind of discussions?”

“About elevating the Fratrer Church to the status of state religion.”

Thanks to thoroughly reading two months’ worth of gossip magazines, I already knew this, but I feigned surprise and clapped my hands.

“Wow, that’s wonderful news. Mayer will have even more work to do.”

He smiled brightly as if pleased.

“I’m embarrassed to say, but yes. To be able to save more people under God’s guidance—there’s no greater joy for a priest.”

I observed him smiling cheerfully and inwardly tilted my head in confusion.

‘…He really does seem like just a priest.’

Looking into those kind eyes, the suspicion I’d been building up in my heart kept fading away.

I cleared my throat unnecessarily and stirred my teacup with the teaspoon, and he smiled gently before saying.

“Well then, let’s stop the small talk and begin today’s lesson.”

Then he pushed a book and a sheet of parchment that had been on the side table toward me.

I paused when I casually read the title written on the thick cover.

【41 Ways to Overcome Trauma – Family Edition】

I stared at the cover with a dumbfounded expression for quite a while.

‘…What is this.’

This book that would belong in a psychological counseling center? And a family edition, no less.

Mayer spoke in a gentle voice.

“Today we’ll start from page 75. First, please read aloud as you always do.”

I glanced at him sideways and opened the leather cover in bewilderment, turning to page 75.

Black letters were densely written on the old paper with faded edges.

“…Sometimes there’s no need to forgive those who hurt you. That’s why what’s needed is… revenge.”

Re… what? Revenge?

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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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