I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 165

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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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Calypso shrugged his shoulders very nonchalantly.

“Frankly speaking, what reason would the child have to trust you and open up? You’re the father who didn’t even notice your own child being brainwashed for over two years.”

Aleon’s expression instantly crumpled as he flinched.

Soon his gaze turned sharp.

“You’re crossing the line. That’s not your concern.”

“Why not?”

“Because Selene is my daughter.”

“She’s also the daughter of my dear friend.”

Aleon glared at Calypso.

“Who the hell said you were my friend…”

“When did I say you? I was talking about Hemera. Hemera was your wife, but she was also my dear friend.”

Aleon’s face went blank for a moment. Calypso smiled leisurely.

“First, fix that habit of getting worked up. What daughter in the world would like a blunt and harsh father?”

Aleon’s pupils wavered slightly.

“These days, affectionate fathers are the trend. Not just occasionally affectionate, but always warm and caring fathers like me.”

Warm, caring, and gentle fathers are the trend?

Aleon unconsciously opened his mouth halfway.

And he recalled how this shameless fellow in front of him treated his own daughters.

Come to think of it, though not often, he had seen it a few times.

Calypso would often personally wipe cream or sauce from his daughters’ mouths at the dinner table.

It was a natural and affectionate gesture, as if doing something obvious, without any awkwardness.

That wasn’t all.

He would often add modifiers like ‘our lovely’ or ‘fairy-like’ before his daughters’ names.

His tone was so shameless that it had made him uncomfortable more than once or twice.

Of course, Aleon too could think of countless modifiers to put before Selene’s name.

He probably couldn’t finish saying them all even if he stayed up for four nights.

But he had never thought of actually saying them out loud…

After agonizing, he barely managed to reply.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“Nonsense? You’d better listen carefully. I may not look it, but when it comes to raising daughters, I’m your senior. You shouldn’t forget that.”

“…”

“You only have Selene, but I have two.”

Aleon momentarily felt the urge to punch Calypso in the face.

However, after restraining himself, he gritted his teeth and answered.

“Sorry, but I don’t think that applies.”

“Why not?”

“Because Selene is a far more wonderful daughter than your two daughters combined. There’s no comparison.”

This time it was Calypso who looked like he’d been hit.

Aleon didn’t miss the opportunity and smiled leisurely just as Calypso had done.

“As proof, have Estelin or Eria ever woken up early in the morning to have breakfast with you?”

“…”

Duke Laurent immediately shut his mouth.

Estelin and Eria were both cute and good daughters. But they had never done that.

Especially after Eria had grown to a certain age, there were hardly any opportunities for the three of them to have breakfast together.

Eria would visit her sister’s bedroom every night, not his, and chat late into the night…

…and wake up late.

When Calypso left the manor to enter the palace, she was always fast asleep countless times.

Calypso quickly shook off his thoughts and cleared his throat.

“Ahem! That’s because I told her there was no need to go that far…”

“Right. That’s what all losers say.”

“Are you saying I’m a loser over something like that?”

“And the fact that you absolutely refuse to admit you’ve lost is also typical.”

Duke Laurent’s brow finally furrowed.

Glaring at Aleon with sharp eyes, he smiled crookedly.

“Fine, let’s say that’s true. But what can you do? At least I don’t rack my brains over lack of communication with my daughter.”

“…”

“My daughters consult me about almost everything. Unlike someone else, I must be a trustworthy father.”

Veins bulged on Aleon’s clenched fist.

He barely maintained his smile while gritting his teeth and said.

“So what? It seems they don’t love you enough to write letters saying they miss you even before going out.”

“…You bastard.”

“You were slow to react, but your old habits came out quickly. Typical.”

The two men’s gazes clashed fiercely in the air.

“Why are my ears so itchy?”

“Yours too, Selene? My ears are itchy as well.”

Estelin tilted her head and fiddled with her ear. That was the moment.

“Sister!”

With a loud shout, Estelin’s door burst open.

“Can you clean my ears? They’re so itchy… Huh?!”

Eria’s eyes widened as she entered the room.

Seeing us, Eria waved her hands with a flustered expression.

“Oh! I’m sorry! I forgot you two were here!”

“It’s fine, Eria. Don’t feel uncomfortable. Come in quickly.”

When I smiled as if it was okay, Eria hesitantly stepped inside.

She was holding a small ear pick in her hand.

It was cute and dainty with white cotton at the end.

“Give it here, Eria. I’ll clean your ears.”

“No way! It’s fine. It’s not just the two of us here.”

Eria’s face turned bright red. Rosette, who was beside us, burst into laughter.

“It’s really okay, Lady Eria. You don’t need to worry about us.”

“Still…”

Hiding the ear pick behind her back, Eria looked around at us and tilted her head.

“But what were you doing here?”

“Well, we were just having various conversations…? We already ate, and there wasn’t much else to do.”

“That’s right. It’s a bit awkward to go outside too.”

Just then, thunder rumbled outside the window with a crash!

The rain that started yesterday still hadn’t stopped.

As if understanding, Eria nodded and asked in a bright voice.

“Still, it’s boring to be cooped up in the room like this! It’s been a while since you came out of the Academy.”

Estelin smiled awkwardly.

“Eria, stop it. What strange thing are you going to suggest now…”

“Would you two like me to show you the manor’s secret gallery?”

Mine and Rosette’s eyes widened.

“Secret gallery?”

“Yes! I’m not sure if you saw it last time, but there are works that were exhibited at the charity event too!”

Come to think of it, at the last charity event, Estelin had exhibited a painting.

Not an ordinary painting…

“You mean Duchess Laurent’s painting?”

“That’s right!”

Estelin interjected with an awkward expression.

“It’s nothing special. It’s a small exhibition space decorated next to the room Mother used to use, where we’ve gathered the paintings she drew while she was alive…”

“The so-called Lady Kione’s Secret Gallery!”

At Eria’s bright voice, I nodded my head readily.

“If you’re introducing me to such a space, I’d love that. Actually, on the day of the charity event, I didn’t get to properly see the Lady’s paintings.”

“Right. Didn’t you say the Lady was really good at painting?”

When even Rosette stepped forward, Estelin reluctantly nodded her head.

“That’s true, but… You probably won’t understand them. There are so many strange paintings…”

“Let’s go quickly! For some reason, I really wanted to air out that room this morning. The secret gallery must have been preparing to welcome its first guests. Right, sister?”

Eria made a fuss. After exchanging glances with Rosette, I stood up from my chair.

“Alright. I can’t miss such a great opportunity.”

“You’ll definitely like it!”

Eria opened the door and began to lead the way. Estelin looked back at us and whispered.

“I’m sorry. Eria is a bit… very energetic, isn’t she?”

“She just looks lovely to me.”

“Right. Her face strangely resembles yours, so she’s actually quite amusing.”

Soon we reached an old wooden door.

On the door hung an old teal nameplate,

with the words ‘Lady Kione’s Secret Gallery’ written crookedly in the center.

“Well then, shall we enter?”

Eria asked cheerfully. I smiled and answered theatrically.

“Sure. Please guide us.”

Eria grabbed and turned the door handle as if she had been waiting for this.

As the door slowly opened, the smell of old wood and paper, and something like ink wafted through the gap.

Soon the scene inside the room was revealed.

I could glimpse frames lined up in a row on the opposite wall.

“Huh?”

It was the moment I hesitated after discovering something among them.

“Um, Miss Estelin.”

Suddenly a voice came from behind.

Everyone turned around. I also reluctantly tore my gaze away from between the door gap.

“Caretaker?”

Standing behind was a middle-aged woman.

“His Eminence the Cardinal has just arrived… Do you happen to have a pre-arranged appointment?”

The woman called Caretaker looked at us with a troubled expression.

Mine, Rosette’s, and Estelin’s eyes immediately widened. Estelin asked.

“His Eminence the Cardinal, you mean Lord Michael?”

As if asking how she knew, the Caretaker nodded her head.

“Tell him I’ll be down right away. Please.”

“Yes, understood.”

The woman who bowed her head walked away with quick steps.

Estelin looked at Eria and said.

“Eria, let’s look at Mother’s paintings later.”

“Huh? Oh yeah… let’s do that.”

Then she hurriedly grabbed mine and Rosette’s hands and pulled us along.

Walking quickly down the corridor, Estelin asked.

“It seems like the conversation went well, don’t you think?”

I nodded my head in bewilderment.

“Yes. If the conversation with Oscar hadn’t gone well, he wouldn’t have come here to look for us in the first place.”

“That’s good. I’m surprised it was faster than expected though…”

“B-but we only have 2 weeks for our outing. Since we can grasp the Temple’s movements before returning to the Academy, it’s actually a good thing when you think about it.”

Rosette stammered.

Rosette was someone who absolutely adored Michael.

She had even joined a separate fan club and called him by nicknames like Silver or Baby Cat.

Perhaps because of that, she seemed very nervous at the thought of actually seeing him.

‘But more than that…’

I unconsciously looked back.

I could see Eria still standing in front of the room.

‘Did I see it wrong?’

The painting I glimpsed through the door gap… seemed strangely familiar.

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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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