I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 162

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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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The interior of the Grand Conference Room, decorated with red tapestries and gold-leafed murals, was unusually quiet.

Two people sat facing each other at the massive round table in the center.

“What do you think we should do about this matter?”

When Milano, the Prime Minister of the Erbia Empire, spoke,

“You’re trembling, Prime Minister.”

“Am, am I really…?”

Oscar, the Chairman of the Privy Council, looked at him calmly.

Milano clasped his hands tightly together on the table.

The position of Prime Minister of a nation.

It was the highest-ranking official position at the very top of the Imperial Household Department.

It was an important role that assisted the Emperor above and commanded countless officials below.

‘I shouldn’t have eagerly accepted this position back then…!’

Now only regret remained.

Prime Minister Milano had entered the palace together with the Empress when she entered the court.

It was thanks to Duke Belmart recommending him to the Emperor as Prime Minister.

Prime Minister of a nation.

Since it was a position he could never reach through his own power, the temptation was very sweet for Milano.

So he eagerly said he would do it and secured the position.

He had never dreamed that such a bloody storm would blow through the Imperial Palace later.

‘To think that none other than the Emperor would be subjected to a poisoning attempt…’

In such cases, even the Emperor’s close associates were never safe.

Those who targeted the Emperor wouldn’t just leave his close associates alone.

Of course, Milano didn’t know whose resentment the Emperor had earned to end up like this.

But it seemed certain that Milano himself had also become in a dangerous position.

‘If I happen to be attacked…’

Milano anxiously bit his lips and stared at the teacup placed in front of him.

He hadn’t drunk any of it, wondering if it might contain poison.

“Do you have anyone you suspect? Do you have any guesses about the situation?”

Milano raised his head at Oscar’s question and replied as if bewildered.

“How would I know!”

Then he cleared his throat and added.

“Ahem! What I mean is, I’ve been busy assisting His Majesty and the Imperial House all this time, haven’t I? I should have had time to pay attention to state affairs.”

Oscar stared quietly at Milano. Milano avoided that gaze and muttered anxiously.

“I, I’m just worried.”

“About what?”

“Of course, because His Majesty hasn’t regained consciousness!”

Milano urged Oscar in an almost tearful voice.

“Wh, what if I, who was close to His Majesty, also get attacked?”

“…”

Oscar barely swallowed the sigh that was about to burst from his lips.

‘How dismal.’

To think such a person was the Prime Minister of the Empire.

He remembered the Prime Minister’s seat that had been conspicuously empty during every important meeting.

‘Well. It was a position in name only from the beginning.’

Prime Minister Milano was a person who might as well not exist in the Imperial Palace.

Though he was Prime Minister, he wasn’t doing any work as Prime Minister at all.

In contrast, Oscar had always accomplished more than what was assigned to him since entering the Imperial Palace.

After he rose to the Chairman position, the Privy Council quickly regained its former vigor.

The institution became clean, and a structure for efficiently handling work was rebuilt.

For the first few months, the Emperor seemed to watch with interest whether Oscar was leading the Privy Council well.

But that was all.

After a few months, he completely lost interest in the Privy Council.

‘Haha, I trust you’ll handle it yourself.’

The Emperor entrusted him with several major matters and began to completely trust Oscar.

Of course, for Oscar, the Emperor’s neglect that wasn’t quite neglect wasn’t bad.

Then Milano’s voice was heard along with a subtle gaze.

“So… about that.”

“…”

“How about you take charge of state affairs for the time being, Oscar? Currently, there’s no one in the palace with talent like yours.”

Oscar, who had widened his eyes, immediately shook his head.

“Prime Minister, I am merely the Chairman of the Privy Council. Also, the Privy Council is merely His Majesty’s advisory body. Although I have recently been entrusted with various major matters…”

“That’s exactly it! Why do you think His Majesty entrusted you with such matters? It’s all because you’re trustworthy!”

“However…”

Milano raised one hand as if telling him not to speak. Then he quickly added.

“You take charge, okay? His fallen Majesty would also earnestly wish for you to oversee the nation’s affairs.”

Oscar closed his mouth with complicated feelings.

Milano still seemed to have no intention of fulfilling his role.

‘…Indeed. He was someone who lacked the ability from the beginning.’

Until before the imperial power changed hands, the Imperial Palace wasn’t this chaotic.

The previous emperors were those who knew how to discover talent and place them in the right positions.

Of course, there were sycophants among them too. But since there were always loyal subjects as well, it was fine.

The Emperor’s loyal subjects who truly served the Emperor and wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice for the Empire.

True subjects of Erbia.

‘But now…’

Most of the officials sitting in positions within the palace were hollow people like Milano.

If he had to be precise, Oscar himself was the same.

He was the Chairman of the Privy Council, but he didn’t serve only the Emperor.

He hoped for the Empire’s prosperity.

However, that wasn’t his top priority goal.

His soul belonged to Lady Tigris.

Ever since he owed his only granddaughter Jane’s life to the Lady.

He was someone who would choose the Lady if a moment came when he had to choose between the Emperor and the Lady.

Oscar recalled Jane’s letter he had received just yesterday.

[I’m proud of Grandfather.

Everyone here treats me well. They envy me for having such a wonderful grandfather.

Grandfather, I’m so happy that you’ve started your research again! I’ve already read all of the book you published this time.

Please write many more good books in the future. I’ll read every single one with my healthy eyes.

I miss you, and I love you.

Jane, who longs for Grandfather.]

Jane was currently at the Ducal Palace in the Tigris Domain.

Her ailing eyes had completely healed and recovered their former health.

Over the past few months, Jane had learned how to ride horses in the Tigris Domain.

Looking at the detailed stories she wrote in her letters, it seemed she spent her other time studying imperial history or political science.

[P.S. Lady Tigris has given me two wonderful teachers. She says I’ll become great. Because I take after Grandfather.]

Oscar raised his head.

And he stared at Milano across from him.

“I understand. Since the Prime Minister insists so strongly, I shall take charge of the immediate affairs.”

Milano’s face brightened.

“Really?! You’ve made a wise decision! If you take on the state affairs, I can trust and rest easy!”

“Then what do you plan to do going forward, Prime Minister?”

Milano’s eyes widened as he hesitated and closed his mouth.

Then he avoided Oscar’s gaze and smiled awkwardly.

“Well, you see. The entire Palace is in chaos right now searching for His Majesty’s antidote. So I thought I should lend a hand as well…”

“Are you saying you’re going to the Wincenty Barony?”

Baron Wincenty was the owner of the largest medicinal herb business in the Empire.

He had large-scale herb cultivation grounds in his Estate, and also kept several medicinal experts needed to run his trading company.

It was precisely for this reason that the court physicians had decided to send people to the Wincenty Barony.

It was to investigate the type of poison the Emperor had consumed.

“Ahem, that’s right. Someone needs to be there to lead them.”

At Milano’s awkward voice, Oscar nodded.

Milano seemed intent on escaping the Imperial Palace under the pretense of going to investigate medicinal herbs.

‘It’s not like this man staying in the Imperial Palace would be of any help anyway…’

Oscar looked at Milano.

Perhaps it was for the best.

“I see. Please travel safely.”

“Yes, yes, I will…! I’ll diligently investigate whether there are any medicines that can cure His Majesty, so please take good care of things here.”

Milano said this with a bright face and added:

“Anyway, Her Majesty the Empress will make all the major decisions. You just need to implement them and properly convey Her Majesty’s will…”

Meaningless chatter continued.

Oscar nodded along and listened to Milano’s words until the end.

Finally, Milano rose from his seat.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

And he left the Grand Conference Room with relieved steps.

Oscar turned around and gazed out the large window.

Heavy rain was pouring down steadily.

Oscar soon quietly left the Grand Council Chamber as well.

His footsteps echoed in the deserted Corridor with no one around.

Just as he arrived at the Chairman’s Office and finally sat down.

Knock knock knock—

The sound of someone knocking on the door could be heard.

“Did the conversation go well?”

“It ended well. They should have met by now.”

Then Rosette nodded with a serious expression. Then she muttered.

“…That’s a relief.”

“What is?”

“No, it’s just that The Man doesn’t seem to be involved in what the Temple has been doing.”

Rosette coughed and subtly avoided my gaze. I let out a small laugh.

“Right, it was fortunate. If that person just finishes talking with Oscar properly…”

Everything might be resolved faster than expected.

“I have been waiting for your arrival.”

In front of the open door. A Man dressed as an Imperial Palace servant froze in place with a start.

Oscar looked at him and smiled broadly.

“I never thought we would first meet in this manner.”

The servant unconsciously frowned slightly.

The Old Man before him was someone called Oscar Tibon.

The most trustworthy and cleanest person among those currently staying in the Imperial Palace.

But he had never heard that this man had the ability to identify high-level abilities.

‘But saying he never thought we’d first meet in this manner…’

It sounded exactly like he knew that he was hiding his true appearance with an ability.

The servant’s expression became serious.

How long had that silence lasted?

The servant who had been staring intently at Oscar hardened his expression as if he had made some decision.

Then his face began to change gradually.

The clothes he was wearing and his physique also smoothly transformed.

Oscar looked at his completely changed appearance and smiled politely.

“It is truly my first time meeting you, Your Eminence Cardinal Michael.”

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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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