I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 17

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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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“…Gasp!!”

I let out a rough breath and bolted upright in bed.

“Oh, Miss!!”

As I opened my eyes, I saw Anna drop the basin she was holding in surprise.

I slowly looked around with a pale face.

‘Where is this….’

At that moment, I felt heavy pain throughout my entire body. When I squeezed my eyes shut, memories from before I collapsed came flooding back all at once.

As I reflexively curled up my body, Anna hurriedly pulled the bell cord.

“Miss, Miss Selene has…!”

Soon the outside became noisy and the closed door burst open. People rushed in all at once.

I slowly lowered the hands that had been covering my head. Among the people, I saw a somewhat familiar face.

“…Walter.”

When I muttered with difficulty, Walter hurriedly approached me.

“Miss! Have you finally regained consciousness!”

I barely managed to nod, lacking the strength to answer. I had mountains of questions, but I kept running out of breath, making it hard to speak.

As I was breathing heavily with a pale face, someone standing by the wall quickly approached me.

“Allow me to examine you for a moment.”

The man who spoke politely took my wrist. Then he placed his palm over it.

The next moment, amazingly, warm light spread from his hand.

I stared with my mouth agape.

The warmth that began with the light was traveling through my wrist and spreading throughout my entire body. The pleasant feeling gradually calmed my turbulent mind.

Eventually, the man who slowly removed his hand from me spoke carefully.

“The remnants of that man’s magic power in your body have now completely disappeared. However….”

“However?”

“…I sense something else.”

At his somewhat meaningful words, Walter and I both looked at him simultaneously.

“How should I explain this….”

He muttered as if confused.

The man, who looked well-built at first glance, had a gentle impression.

His glasses, which seemed a bit small compared to his face, glinted for a moment.

Then our eyes met. He made an “ah” sound and opened his mouth.

“First, I should introduce myself. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess. As you can see, I’m the new physician who recently arrived. Before coming here….”

“Keep it short.”

Walter sharply cut off his words. The man called a physician smiled good-naturedly and said.

“Yes, somehow I’ve become the Princess’s personal physician.”

When I glanced at Walter, he nodded.

“His Grace personally brought him here to accurately diagnose your condition, Miss. Despite appearances, they say his abilities are outstanding.”

“I’m Martin Dunbaum.”

The physician extended his hand with a proud expression. I awkwardly took his hand.

But I felt that warmth from before again at my fingertips. When I was slightly startled, Martin smiled reassuringly and said.

“Since I’m holding it anyway, I’m taking another look.”

‘Medical examination is possible just by holding hands?’

I looked at him with suspicious eyes, but soon he slowly released my hand.

Then he tilted his head.

“Since earlier… I wonder why I’m sensing this.”

“What do you mean by that?”

When I asked, he made a serious expression.

“When I first saw you, Princess, your body was completely filled with that man’s magic power. It seems he injected quite a large amount of magic power into you.”

I hardened my expression. Though I had somewhat expected this, I couldn’t help but feel chills from the unpleasant feeling.

“So at that time, I couldn’t properly see the Princess’s ‘vessel’….”

“Vessel?”

“Yes, literally. It refers to the amount of magic power one person can contain. Usually, the larger the vessel, the more remarkable abilities one manifests. Like your father, Duke Aleon Tigris.”

I nodded. Thinking of the God’s Tears that Ansun had created, it was easy to understand.

‘Each person has an innate vessel, and if the amount of magic power exceeds that, it goes berserk.’

Martin said.

“As you can see, I’m a doctor, so I manifest the divine-type ability of healing. But healing is actually quite simple.”

“Simple…?”

“Yes. It works on the principle of flowing my magic power throughout the patient’s body to heal wounds.”

I recalled the warmth I felt when I held hands with Martin.

That strange feeling of something warm spreading and circulating throughout my body.

“So naturally, I can sense the vessel of the person being healed.”

“By circulating magic power, you can naturally gauge the size of the vessel.”

Martin smiled slightly.

“You’re quite perceptive indeed. However… I cannot see that vessel in you at all, Princess.”

“Isn’t that because I’m a non-manifester?”

He shook his head.

“The difference between manifesters and non-manifesters is simply whether they have magic power or not.”

“….”

“If you think of humans as cups, it will be easy to understand. Some cups are born with water already in them. No matter how much you pour out that water, it never runs dry.”

Martin looked at me as I concentrated and said, ‘That’s magic power, and what manifests from that magic power is abilities.’

I quietly nodded.

“On the other hand, some cups might be empty. Not a single drop of water. Then they become non-manifesters born without magic power.”

“…But both are still cups.”

In other words, whether manifested or not, everyone has a vessel.

Martin nodded as if I understood correctly.

“But I cannot sense that vessel in you, Princess.”

“You can’t sense it? That can’t be right.”

“I’m not sure exactly, but it’s like there’s a wall or something.”

“A wall?”

“Yes, it feels like I’m blocked by an enormously large wall and cannot gauge the vessel.”

I looked at Martin for a moment, then shook my head. Then I said to Walter.

“Walter. This person… is he really competent?”

Martin opened his mouth halfway and widened his eyes. But I didn’t hesitate.

“No matter how I look at it, he seems like a quack. He’s spouting lines that are way too obvious.”

Then I shook my head and stretched out my feet to get down from the bed.

But as soon as my feet touched the ground, the strength in my legs gave out instantly. Thanks to that, I collapsed right onto the floor.

“Miss!!”

Anna quickly approached and supported me.

I frowned at my legs, which amazingly had no strength in them at all.

“Why is this….”

Suddenly I had an ominous feeling.

“…How long was I unconscious?”

“Well… three months, Miss….”

Anna said, looking at me with worried eyes.

With a pale, hardened face, I quickly turned my head to look out the window.

Outside the window, thick snowflakes were falling heavily.

The day I met Father Mayer in the drawing room was definitely autumn when the leaves were colorfully turning.

“That’s impossible.”

Come to think of it, it wasn’t just the weather that was different, but the scenery too.

From my room window at the manor, I could see the vast garden. But here….

A plain endlessly stretching out, covered in white snow. And beyond it, massive mountains rising majestically.

I could even see stone towers standing sparsely here and there, and fortress walls of unknown origin.

“…Where, where is this place?”

When I asked in a slightly trembling voice, Anna answered.

“This is the Tigris Estate. It’s already been 70 days since you came here.”

I closed my mouth in shock.

…After hearing news about the young lady, Eria has been praying every day. When I asked her who she was praying to, she answered ‘to my deceased mother.’

Eria and I miss the young lady very much. I hope we can meet again when you’re healthy.

With hope, Estelin

I put down the letter I was holding in one hand and picked up another letter.

When I broke the sealing wax on the envelope, this time I saw neat handwriting filling light pink paper.

How can you not wake up at such an important time? How much time do you think is left until Academy admission?

While you were lying down, I’ve already developed my abilities, you should know.

It’s annoying, but your advice was helpful. Martina sends her regards from beside me.

Rosette p. Grimaldi

I slowly put down the letter.

Only now did I notice the flower bouquets decorating the nightstand, windowsill, and fireplace. There were even several pretty dried flowers hanging on the wall.

“These flowers, did they all come with the letters?”

“Yes. Lady Estelin sent letters almost once a week. Lady Rosette did too.”

I pressed my lips together at Anna’s words. Then I muttered.

“…Goodness, I’m perfectly fine though.”

Then Anna smiled beside me.

“Shall I bring you a pen and stationery so you can write replies?”

“…Well. I suppose it would be proper to reply now that I’ve woken up.”

Anna nodded and quickly left the room.

I stayed still for a moment, then randomly tapped the stationery on the table.

‘We miss the young lady very much.’

‘Your advice was helpful.’

The embarrassing phrases written in the letters kept circling in my head. I quietly muttered again.

“Goodness, these kids are really, truly.”

Such innocent children. I was worried about how they would survive in this harsh world ahead, giving their hearts away so easily like this.

I let out a deep sigh and put the letters back in their envelopes. Then I carefully carried them to the nightstand beside the bed.

When I opened the drawer, I saw a fancy jewelry box placed at the very front.

In the half-open jewelry box, all kinds of precious treasures were sparkling.

Rubies, sapphires, diamonds…

Without hesitation, I pushed it all the way to the back.

Then I carefully placed the letters in that spot.

“Oh my, really. Anna said there are more letters. Where am I going to store all of these.”

It was when I shook my head and got up that I froze in place upon discovering someone standing at the doorway.

“…Duke, no, Father?”

My mind went blank for a moment.

The last face I had seen before collapsing.

Duke Aleon Tigris was standing there.

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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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