I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 170

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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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Estelin’s expression was calmer than usual, and much darker.

“The more I think about it, the stranger it gets, doesn’t it? The affairs of the former imperial house.”

“….”

“What if someone intervened back then too? The Previous Emperor suddenly falling ill, and then passing away without recovering.”

“….”

“If that was also a curse….”

“It could be.”

When I answered calmly, Estelin raised her head that had been half-lowered.

I continued speaking composedly.

“If we’re being honest, there were many other suspicious things besides that.”

“…What?”

“The Former Prince going missing, and Empress Dowager making that extreme choice.”

‘Mother didn’t take her own life.’

‘She absolutely wasn’t the type of person to do that.’

I recalled the story Rubel had confided long ago in the hidden garden of the Imperial Palace.

When I looked up, I saw Rosette and Estelin looking somewhat surprised and puzzled.

I thought calmly.

‘Michael is on our side.’

And Michael would not betray us.

The ancient document he had stolen from the temple’s underground was still intact in the drawer beside Estelin’s bed.

‘Also in the original work, Michael wasn’t the type of person to betray anyone.’

If anything, he was similar to Estelin in character.

In that he held ‘justice’ as the greatest and most important value in life.

You could tell just from how he immediately came to find Oscar and me as soon as he noticed the temple’s true nature.

‘The Emperor will wake up by tomorrow morning at the latest.’

Then Michael will move as promised in advance.

I would most likely receive the title of Saint, and then….

‘Now is indeed the right time.’

I looked directly at Rosette and Estelin calmly.

The photograph Rubel had found in Sharlina’s cottage.

I had always kept that photograph close to my heart.

I slowly took out that faded photograph and placed it on the nightstand.

Estelin’s eyes widened.

Rosette, who had approached to look at the photograph closely, also stopped in place with a surprised expression.

“This photograph is….”

“Estelin said it before. That our parents were very close friends when they were alive.”

Estelin nodded with a confused expression.

“That’s right. But this is the first time I’ve seen this photograph. Who is the person on the far right? They look somewhat familiar….”

“It’s Empress Dowager.”

Estelin looked up in shock.

Rosette hurriedly approached and peered at the photograph.

“Empress Dowager? The Empress Dowager who took her own life after the Previous Emperor passed away?”

“That’s right. But… it’s not certain whether she actually took her own life. They say she wasn’t the type of person to do that.”

Rosette’s eyes went wide.

Estelin sat frozen stiffly in place.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“Actually, I… have Rubel Albertine Erbia with me.”

“What, what, who?”

Rosette asked back as if doubting her ears. I answered clearly again.

“Rubel Albertine Erbia.”

“….”

“The Former Prince who suddenly disappeared over ten years ago.”

The photograph in Estelin’s hands fluttered down to the floor.

“Your Majesty the Empress!”

Grace slowly rose from her bed at the urgent voice coming from outside.

The light streaming through the curtains was a deep blue color.

“What is it.”

“My apologies for the early hour, an urgent message from the Head Chamberlain just arrived….”

Grace slowly got out of bed and sat in the chair placed in front of the table.

“Let me hear it.”

As soon as the words fell, Lady Heynen, the head lady-in-waiting, entered the bedchamber.

As if she had brought good news, Lady Heynen’s face was very bright.

“What matter brings a message at this early dawn?”

“His Majesty the Emperor has regained consciousness!”

Grace held her breath for a moment.

But fortunately, Lady Heynen didn’t seem to notice.

“Just now, what did you…?”

“News has arrived that His Majesty the Emperor has regained consciousness. Will you be going to the Imperial Palace now?”

Silence continued in the room. Lady Heynen tilted her head.

“Your Majesty?”

“…I must go. Of course I must.”

The Empress answered. Lady Heynen quickly smiled and nodded.

“Then I shall bring something light to wear. The dawn air is still cold.”

Grace sat without moving until Lady Heynen brought a shawl of appropriate thickness.

And when the lady wrapped the shawl around her shoulders, she asked in a calm voice.

“Heynen. I’ve been losing sleep for days and nights, so my mind is hazy….”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please speak.”

“Was an antidote found for His Majesty? I thought I heard there was no improvement as of yesterday morning.”

Lady Heynen made an “ah” sound and bowed her head.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. In my joy, I failed to properly convey the message.”

The lady continued with a smiling face.

“The reason His Majesty the Emperor collapsed was actually due to a curse.”

Grace paused and gave a strange smile.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. When I asked a child working at the Imperial Palace, Lady Tigris came yesterday and purified the curse….”

“If such a thing happened at the Imperial Palace, why wasn’t it reported to me?”

Heynen hesitated and then opened her mouth.

“According to what was written in the message….”

“….”

“Chairman Oscar instructed that this fact not leak outside the Imperial Palace.”

Grace’s smile slowly faded.

Lady Heynen looked somewhat surprised and bowed her head.

‘She had been so eagerly awaiting His Majesty the Emperor’s awakening. Perhaps she’s upset that the news is only being delivered now.’

After all, she was an Empress who couldn’t eat anything for three full days after the Emperor collapsed.

It was only yesterday that she began eating things like clear rice porridge, thanks to the servants’ tearful pleading.

‘She has every right to feel that way.’

Heynen quickly added.

“There are many guests staying in the separate palace. He must have judged that it would be no good if various rumors about His Majesty the Emperor’s condition were to spread.”

“….”

“Also, since the culprit hasn’t been caught yet, the Chairman must have thought we should be careful in all matters. Still, isn’t it fortunate? That His Majesty has regained consciousness.”

The Empress gave no reply. Only after a long while did she nod her head.

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Heinen quickly supported one of the Empress’s arms from the side.

The two left the Empress’s palace with the blue light of dawn breaking outside the window behind them.

‘The Emperor has regained consciousness, Paul.’

Cardinal Paul quickened his steps toward the Imperial Palace with his fists clenched tight.

He had hurriedly left his chambers early in the morning upon receiving The Man’s contact.

‘The Emperor regained consciousness? How on earth!’

Grace had guaranteed it. That the Emperor would never wake up.

That unless Fratres himself intervened to purify him, that old hunting dog would never open his eyes normally again,

Hadn’t she said exactly that!

Paul shook his head vigorously to organize his dizzy thoughts.

‘What in the world at this crack of dawn….’

Right after receiving The Man’s contact and leaving his chambers.

The words conveyed by the child he had planted in the Imperial Palace were absurd.

‘I-I’m sorry, Your Eminence. Chairman Oscar prevented anyone working in the Imperial Palace from taking even one step outside the palace….’

While the child Paul had planted was confined, Lady Tigris had apparently come and gone from the palace.

The child explained about the Lady purifying the Emperor without even breathing.

Blood vessels bulged on Paul’s forehead as he recalled this.

‘Why does such a thing happen again…. And with Seleneae Tigris at the forefront once more!’

Early in the morning, the Pope’s voice speaking gently to him was ominous.

Paul instinctively felt it.

The Man was angry.

When Dearmant’s existence was revealed to the world, he had somehow managed to get through it, but this time he couldn’t guarantee that would be possible, to such an extent.

‘This is serious. I just hope Simon hasn’t completely recovered….’

If he had barely regained consciousness while his body was still rotting, that would be rather fine.

Because he could secretly arrange for him to die.

‘…I shouldn’t have simply entrusted the task to Grace Belmart.’

Hadn’t that woman botched the job ten years ago too, nearly letting the most important one escape alive?

Paul quickened his steps even more.

After passing the Grand Garden, he could see the view of the Imperial Palace with lights brightly lit.

Unlike the past few days, people were bustling in front of the palace.

Paul was about to pass by them mindlessly when he spotted a familiar face and stopped in place.

“Duke Harold? What brings you here?”

Currently, many high-ranking nobles were staying in the separate palace.

They were those he had summoned with the intention of immediately naming the Empire a Holy Nation once the Emperor died.

In other words, they were people who could not leave the palace until the Emperor died.

But Duke Harold was standing in front of a carriage wearing a coat made of animal fur.

As if he was about to leave the palace immediately.

“Oh, Cardinal. It’s been a while.”

“Yes… Yes. It has been a while. I thought you were staying in the separate palace, where are you headed?”

“I’m returning to my estate.”

Paul’s eyes widened in surprise. Duke Harold spoke with a somewhat displeased expression.

“After Her Majesty the Empress urgently summoned the nobles, much work has piled up on my estate. But an hour ago, His Majesty the Emperor granted permission for my return.”

“…Pardon?”

When Paul asked back with a trembling voice, Duke Harold replied.

“I heard it was just a mild cold. Among the provincial nobles, there were rumors that he had collapsed from poison. It’s fortunate.”

Duke Harold nodded slightly. Then he boarded the carriage.

Paul, who had been watching this, hesitantly turned around.

Then he ran up the stairs almost at a sprint and stood before the main door of the Emperor’s bedroom.

“Open the door. Tell him Cardinal Paul has come.”

The Head Chamberlain hesitated.

“I’m sorry, Your Eminence, there’s already a guest inside, so if you could wait a moment….”

“I said open it, didn’t I!”

When he shouted quietly, the chamberlain hesitantly opened the door.

Paul pushed past him and entered inside.

“Your Majesty the Emperor, Cardinal Paul has come to see the Empire’s one and only sun….”

Then he closed his mouth in a daze.

“Have you come, Your Eminence.”

Beside the Emperor who sat leaning against the bed.

Michael was gazing at him with a calm smile.

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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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