I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 154

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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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“Who, who are you!”

Roen jumped in shock and drew out a sharp dagger. However,

“Urgh!”

Soon he was forced to his knees on the floor by hands that twisted his arms behind his back and subdued him.

When he turned his head, he saw a stranger wearing a deeply pulled hood.

“That’s enough, Tatio. Just take his weapon and let him go.”

At those words, the dagger that had been gripped in Roen’s hand was taken away. Roen looked up with a bewildered expression.

Above the entrance stairs, someone stood with arms crossed, looking down at this place.

“You are…”

Roen was an informant. There was no way he wouldn’t recognize that face.

“…Lady Tigris?”

Hanod muttered.

Then the other party, Selene, smiled mysteriously.

“I can see that the situation in the Kingdom of Sorad is complicated, Your Highness.”

“…”

“But even so, having secret talks in a place like this? Don’t you think you’re taking the Empire—no, the Academy—too lightly?”

Hanod froze with a pale face.

Then the urgent voice of an administrator who had been waiting against one wall could be heard.

“Your, Your Highness…!”

He too was trembling while being subdued by someone.

“Casian. Does that person have any weapons?”

“No. Shall I release him?”

“Yes. Let him go, and check outside to see if anyone is coming this way.”

“Understood.”

The man who bowed his head turned around swiftly and climbed the stairs.

As his robe fluttered, the uniform he wore underneath was briefly visible.

The dark red Tigris emblem was clearly embroidered on the uniform.

The administrator, whose legs had given out, slumped to the floor. Roen was the same.

Everyone was out of their minds from what had happened in an instant. Hanod muttered in a trembling voice.

“Lady Tigris, how on earth…”

“At first, I thought Your Highness had gone mad.”

Then Selene came down the stairs. She then walked slowly and sat down in the chair where Roen had been sitting.

Roen stared blankly at Selene from a few steps away.

“I didn’t know much about the Kingdom of Sorad, you see. So at first, I just thought Your Highness had a somewhat strange personality.”

“…What?”

“You caused a commotion at the prospective student gathering by throwing a knife.”

“…”

“Recently, I heard you also mentioned wanting to propose a marriage alliance with our house. In a place with many listening ears, quite openly.”

Selene smiled brightly.

“Even though you’re a royal descendant. For someone who has come all the way to a foreign country, your actions were far too conspicuous, Your Highness.”

Hanod couldn’t smile.

The composure that had always filled his purple eyes had completely disappeared.

As he bit his lips tightly, Selene’s voice continued.

“Sorad’s situation must be quite difficult.”

“…Lady.”

“I understand. How urgent must it have been for you to come personally to receive such a report, even before the exams were completely finished.”

“Lady!”

“So you had indeed noticed that your communication stone was being wiretapped?”

Hanod’s complexion turned pale.

He had suspected it. But he hadn’t known it was really true.

After entering the Erbia Empire and coming to Rishion, he had always communicated with Roen through the communication stone.

But after hearing the news that Viscount Bin Solb might have betrayed them, things were different.

Information kept leaking out.

So quite naturally, he suspected that the communication stone might be wiretapped.

That was also the reason he had arranged this direct meeting.

It was certainly a high-risk endeavor, but there was no other viable option.

“Your Highness.”

Selene called to him. Hanod snapped to attention and looked across at her.

“The Kingdom of Sorad has a long history. It’s truly a wonderful country. The saying ‘go to Sorad to see the continent’s footprints at a glance’ doesn’t exist for nothing.”

“…”

“But Sorad is a kingdom. Erbia is an empire. And my house is one of the Four Ducal Houses that support the Empire.”

As if she were teaching Hanod, the Lady spoke clearly and slowly.

“Haven’t you ever thought about it? That I can do things that you, as a prince of Sorad, could never do.”

“…”

“For instance, investigating the background of the Solb Ducal House.”

Hanod’s jaw reflexively tensed.

He stared blankly at Selene for a moment, then pulled himself together and barely managed to speak.

“…Lady. I understand what you’re saying. But this matter… has nothing to do with you, Lady.”

It was bewildering that the kingdom’s entire situation had been exposed.

He couldn’t understand the Lady’s intention in telling him all these things either.

But one thing.

The fact that the Lady viewed him unfavorably was certain.

Hanod swallowed dry saliva and steadied his breathing.

He already had a history of putting Selene in a difficult position at the prospective student gathering.

Of course, that had been a thoroughly calculated action.

Hanod had judged that the more dissolute and arrogant he appeared, the more his uncle’s surveillance would loosen.

So he went around causing disturbances wherever he went.

Pretending to have no interest in the succession struggle, pretending not to notice what Joseph had done at all.

‘A troublemaking prince who lives for his own conceit.’

Hanod had worked tirelessly to appear that way.

What he had done to Selene on the day of the prospective student gathering was actually in that same context.

Selene was a young lady who had high status but a bad reputation, and was also said to have a violent personality.

He thought that if he played a mischievous prank, she would surely make a big fuss. That’s why he chose her.

After the entrance exams began, Joseph’s surveillance network had indeed loosened.

‘But to think this situation would be discovered.’

And by Lady Tigris of all people.

If it had been some other young lord or lady instead of the Lady, he would have silenced them with money or threats.

However, Lady Tigris was not someone he could deal with in such ways.

Moreover, Hanod had already noticed long ago that she disliked him.

Whenever he recalled that fact, he felt strangely uncomfortable, but it couldn’t be helped.

‘…Since I attacked first, it’s only natural.’

Having organized his thoughts, Hanod instinctively realized how he should act now.

“I’m sorry, Lady.”

Selene raised one eyebrow and looked at him.

“I’m truly sorry. I apologize. For using you as a tool, Lady.”

Anyway, Selene would understand everything. Why he had been making such a fuss all this time.

So he decided to be honest.

But contrary to his heart, his voice kept trembling as it came out.

“I know well that you find me uncomfortable, Lady. I was rude. My circumstances were a bit complicated, so I did something I shouldn’t have done.”

Hanod, who had caught his breath for a moment, looked at Selene and spoke earnestly.

“I know this is shameless. But.”

“….”

“Could you cooperate to ensure this matter doesn’t leak out? If you do that, later….”

Selene smiled softly.

“My goodness, Your Highness. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

Hanod closed his mouth with a dejected expression. Selene interlaced her fingers and leisurely placed them on the table.

“If Your Highness is eliminated by Joseph’s hand, everything will be over anyway, won’t it? I already knew all this when I came.”

“Lady Tigris—!!”

It was Roen beside him who shouted. He glared at Selene with a face full of rage.

Then the man called Tatio firmly grabbed his shoulder to restrain Roen.

Selene glanced at Roen, then said indifferently.

“King Drayden wants to pass the throne to Your Highness, doesn’t he? But what use is that?”

“….”

“Joseph already holds the power to seize the throne.”

“…Lady.”

Hanod’s complexion turned pale. Selene continued as if she didn’t care.

“Viscount Bin Solb turned to Joseph exactly two months ago.”

Hanod clenched his fist tightly under the table.

Two months ago coincided with when his elder brother, the First Prince, had passed away.

‘That can’t be… I thought surely he wouldn’t do such a thing.’

Rather than betrayal or resentment, fear washed over him.

Someone he had known for sixteen years. Someone he had trusted for sixteen years. Someone who had lived as his close aide for sixteen years.

His uncle had secretly turned such a person, made him his own limb. Uncle was truly….

Cold sweat seeped into his palms.

“Joseph plans to overturn the kingdom soon. He’ll probably try to handle Your Highness quietly in the Empire. Since he’s so thorough, he’ll succeed unless something major happens.”

Roen let out a desperate sigh. His face was drenched with cold sweat.

He crawled on his knees toward Selene.

“L-Look here, Lady. There’s no place safer for His Highness Hanod than the Empire! How could Joseph harm His Highness in the Empire…!”

Selene quietly looked at Roen.

“There are many ways. Viscount Bin Solb, who became Joseph’s new limb, is a citizen of this Erbia Empire.”

“….”

“And that’s not all? His granddaughter Anita is currently closest to His Highness.”

Selene smiled.

“Finding His Highness’s vulnerabilities would be nothing to them. They could quietly kill or kidnap His Highness just by hiring a few assassins.”

Hanod’s mouth closed in shock. Selene asked indifferently.

“Did you know that Duke Solb has recently been trying hard to marry Anita to Your Highness?”

Hanod couldn’t answer. As Selene said, he already knew.

However, until he learned that Marquis Solb had betrayed him, he hadn’t thought it strange at all.

Because he had long felt that Anita harbored feelings for him.

“The entire Solb Ducal House has already turned to Joseph’s side. Why would such a person try to marry His Highness to his daughter?”

Hanod unconsciously bit his lip.

If all these words were true, the Duke’s intention would be one of two things.

Either to cut off his limbs and keep him under surveillance for life, or to eliminate him through a faster and more convenient method.

As if reading his thoughts, Selene continued.

“Whether Anita knows this fact is uncertain. However, what’s clear is that she will definitely be used to eliminate Your Highness someday.”

“….”

“That’s also why Duke Solb tried to make Anita an adopted daughter of House Belmart.”

Hanod’s eyes widened.

“After being used to eliminate Your Highness, Anita will certainly become dangerous.”

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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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