I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 167

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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 Emperor’s condition showed no signs of improvement.

His hands and feet had long since turned dark and blackened, with only his breath barely clinging to life.

Yet even in such circumstances, the Imperial Palace was more chaotic than ever.

“An envoy from Tasen is coming to visit! They want to hold an opening ceremony since the trade route has been completed…”

“This is the list of noble houses participating in this year’s Thanksgiving gladiatorial events, but should we postpone the timing?”

“This is the current status of the North District reconstruction project, and there are opinions that relief supplies are still insufficient…”

“A horde of monsters has appeared on the eastern outskirts of the Duchy of Belmart! The lord has requested support from the Imperial Army…!”

The Emperor’s absence was greater than expected.

Though the Empress stepped forward to handle state affairs, various problems arose everywhere.

The palace physicians prescribed stimulants daily, hoping to restore even the Emperor’s consciousness.

Since no treatment worked, they tried to use stimulants to at least awaken the Emperor’s mind.

But no matter how strong the stimulants, they could not bring back the Emperor’s consciousness.

“He’s having a seizure!”

The Head Chamberlain guarding the inner chamber rushed out frantically.

Immediately, six or seven palace physicians came rushing into the Emperor’s bedroom.

“Ugh… groan…”

The Emperor’s condition was much more serious than the day before.

Blue-black veins starting from his heart covered his neck and face, and his lifeless body trembled convulsively.

Several physicians unconsciously covered their faces with their sleeves.

“What are you doing! Check His Majesty’s pulse immediately!”

When the Palace Steward shouted, two physicians quickly rushed to the Emperor’s arms.

“It, it appears to be a simple seizure. The kind that has been happening consistently…!”

“Groan, ugh…”

White foam flowed from the Emperor’s mouth. The physicians standing nearby hurriedly wiped it away.

The Palace Steward turned around desperately, grasping at straws.

“Is there still no news from those who departed for the Wincenty Barony? Are you telling me they still haven’t found an antidote!”

“We communicated this morning, but they said there was no significant progress…”

The Palace Steward’s face turned pale.

“What kind of poison is this that remains useless even after trying every antidote that exists on the entire continent…!”

They had already thoroughly investigated every poison available throughout the Empire.

A few days ago, they even expanded their investigation to include gaseous poisons…

But nowhere could they find the poison that had brought down the Emperor.

The Palace Steward blinked in despair, then looked down at the Emperor’s corpse-like body.

“If this continues, truly…”

The moment he muttered.

“Hey! You cannot enter here!”

“What are you doing, stop the young lady immediately!”

Commotion arose outside the main gate.

The Palace Steward turned around with a startled face.

Soon the main gate opened wide and someone could be seen striding toward them.

The physicians who confirmed that face began murmuring.

“Lady Tigris?”

The Lady wore a modest black dress.

Though her face was without makeup, her eyes were clear and bright.

The guards reflexively blocked her path.

“Y-you cannot enter this place. Please return.”

But the Lady looked up at them once, then gently pushed aside the crossed spears in front of her.

“It would have been good if His Majesty had maintained such strict security before he collapsed.”

The guards froze in place with bewildered faces.

The Lady passed by them as they stood dumbfounded and instantly entered the inner chamber.

The Palace Steward hurriedly approached her.

“My Lady! To enter His Majesty’s bedroom without permission. His Majesty is in critical condition right now…!”

The Lady raised one hand.

“I have permission.”

“Pardon?”

“From Oscar, Chairman of the Privy Council.”

The Palace Steward froze in place with wide eyes.

Chairman Oscar was currently handling all the backlogged state affairs almost single-handedly.

Since the Prime Minister had entrusted his authority to him before departing, he was currently the most influential person in the palace after the imperial family.

“But why would he…?”

Lady Tigris was neither a physician nor a priest.

Nor had she manifested any particular healing divine power.

‘Why on earth did he give permission for her to enter here?’

There was nothing the Lady could reasonably do for the fallen Emperor.

Moreover, the Emperor’s current condition was kept in strict secrecy.

“I, I don’t understand. There’s no reason for you to barge in here like this…”

“Didn’t I say I gave permission?”

Then another gentle voice was heard from outside the main gate.

The Palace Steward looked outside in shock.

Oscar Tibon, wearing a cloak mixed with white and gold, was just entering the inner chamber.

And behind him,

“Your Grace?”

Aleon Tigris and Laurent Calypso, who should have been staying at the Separate Palace, were also standing there.

The Palace Steward was so dumbfounded that he opened his mouth halfway.

But he soon came to his senses and raised his voice.

“You cannot do this! Her Majesty the Empress said not to let anyone into the bedroom carelessly, even if it were Your Grace…”

“No, from now on, she will permit it.”

At Oscar’s words, the Palace Steward’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Because the reason I came here is to cure His Majesty.”

Lady Tigris, who had already approached the Emperor’s bedside, spoke.

The Palace Steward stiffly turned to look at her.

Before anyone could stop her, the Lady had raised one hand and placed it near the Emperor’s forehead.

“You’ve been researching antidotes, haven’t you? It’s useless. His Majesty didn’t collapse from poison in the first place.”

“M-My Lady. I have no idea what you’re talking about right now…”

“This is a curse.”

Lady Tigris said, looking at the blue veins that had risen on the Emperor’s neck and face.

The inner chamber froze cold.

The Palace Steward and other physicians, even the attendants and palace servants watching the situation from outside the main gate, fell silent.

Lady Tigris placed the hand she had been holding above the Emperor’s forehead.

Then white light began emanating from her hand.

“There’s only one way to cure it. Purification using divine power.”

At those words, the Emperor’s expression became subtly more peaceful.

The veins that had bulged to the edges of his face also gradually faded.

The Palace Steward felt goosebumps rising from his toes to the top of his head.

With eyes that seemed ready to pop out, he watched the light emanating from the Lady’s hand and stammered.

“B-but purification isn’t something an ordinary person can do…!”

Purification was an ability that only a very few among those who manifested divine-type abilities could use.

When purifying land contaminated by monster invasions,

When instantly healing patients suffering from epidemics, and so on.

Unlike simple healing that cures external or internal injuries, purification contained sacred power that could neutralize sorcery and curses.

Because of this, purification was an ability that even high-ranking priests like High Priests or Cardinals found difficult to use.

“P-Palace Steward! His Majesty’s condition is…!”

A physician beside him cried out in an emotional voice.

In that brief moment, the blue veins that had sprouted all over the Emperor’s body had completely disappeared.

His complexion was the clearest and cleanest it had been in the past few days.

Most notably, his labored breathing and convulsions had visibly calmed.

“How on earth!”

The Palace Steward exclaimed, unable to take his eyes off the Emperor’s face.

“He’ll regain consciousness as early as this evening, or by tomorrow morning at the latest. When His Majesty regains consciousness, please call for me again then.”

“…”

“Since it’s a curse using a sacrifice as a medium, one purification doesn’t seem to be enough.”

Lady Tigris spoke only what she needed to say in an even tone, then leisurely turned around.

Duke Tigris, who had been standing behind Oscar, immediately approached her.

As the father and daughter left the inner chamber, Duke Laurent also followed them out.

The Palace Steward’s legs gave out and he collapsed to the floor with a thud.

“See what would have happened if I hadn’t given permission, Palace Steward.”

Oscar, standing at the entrance, smiled graciously.

The Palace Steward couldn’t give any response and just stared blankly at the Emperor’s complexion.

As if he had never had a seizure, the Emperor had a very peaceful expression.

“Call me if anything comes up. I’ll go back to handling the backlogged state affairs now.”

When Oscar finally left as well, the inner chamber was enveloped in silence.

The Palace Steward, who had a dazed expression as if his soul had left his body, muttered.

“Sacred power, that was definitely sacred power.”

“…”

“The Lady… the Lady is a saint. Isn’t that right?”

At those words, the physicians around them all hesitated and nodded their heads.

The Emperor’s peaceful breathing echoed evenly throughout the bedroom.

“Return directly to Laurent Estate. I’ll assign knights to escort you.”

I awkwardly nodded to Father, who spoke with a calm expression.

We were standing in front of a waiting carriage behind the separate palace.

“What if the Emperor wakes up earlier than expected?”

“Don’t worry about such things. Your safety comes first. We’ll send a carriage from this side, so take that when you come back.”

I was nodding timidly when I finally opened my mouth carefully.

“…But, aren’t you going to ask?”

“…”

“How I did it.”

Father slightly furrowed his brow. I quickly said.

“It’s the result of the relic and Estelin’s divine power meeting. Oh, come to think of it, Cardinal Michael’s power probably got mixed in a little too…”

“…”

“I called for Father because I was worried I might not be able to do anything and get kicked out of the bedroom.”

“…”

“Though I didn’t expect you to dutifully bring Duke Laurent along as well.”

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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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