I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 180

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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 chapel settled into silence.

The tightly closed door opened with a small noise.

The person who poked her face through was Estelin, who had cut her long hair short.

“Hm? Did something happen?”

Perhaps sensing the strange atmosphere, her round eyes quickly swept through the chapel interior.

The chapel interior, still before opening hours, was neat and quiet.

“Nothing much. There were some thugs in the North District.”

“Ah, then perhaps the reason the streets were noisy during the day was also…”

Estelin placed her hand on her waist.

“I thought so. This morning, all the people who received relief supplies fled as if running away.”

Kopel, who had returned after handing over the security captain, burst into laughter upon hearing this.

“Don’t worry. We just chased all those bastards out of the North District.”

“Chased them out?”

“Especially that guy called Swein and the security captain who took bribes will have a very terrible future.”

Estelin smiled brightly.

“That’s a relief! There won’t be any more victims from now on.”

Meanwhile, Selene had been silently looking around the chapel.

At the front of the great hall, right in the center.

There was a statue covered in white cloth.

She opened her mouth.

“Kopel. Is Cardinal Michael outside?”

“Yes. He’s finishing up the event. The relief booth just finished wrapping up.”

“It’ll take some time to clean everything up.”

“That’s probably the case.”

Selene’s brow furrowed. Estelin asked.

“Selene, what’s wrong? Ah, is it perhaps because of going to Calsoterra…”

Selene nodded.

“Right. Even if we leave now, time seems tight.”

Then, as if pondering something, she frowned briefly before speaking.

“It can’t be helped. I’ll leave right away, so Estelin, can you show the goddess statue?”

Estelin readily nodded.

“Of course. I’ll take responsibility and show it to the Cardinal.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Selene smiled and left through the exit without hesitation.

When Kopel followed behind her, the empty chapel instantly became quiet.

Estelin, who had been blankly staring at the closed door, smiled awkwardly and unnecessarily dusted off the apron she was wearing.

‘…It’s been almost three years already.’

She still couldn’t adapt to Selene’s changed appearance.

Spring of the year before last.

Right after returning to Rishion, she heard a shocking story from Selene.

It was about her mother’s death, whom she had only thought died of illness.

“…”

Her mother’s ability and paintings.

Stories that no one had known until then.

The shock Estelin received right after realizing everything was truly indescribable.

For a while, she couldn’t even live a normal life.

Eventually, she asked for understanding from Rishion and returned to the estate, staying holed up in bed for several weeks.

It wasn’t just her.

Father, who had secluded himself for a while, and Eria, who had lost her words and only recently regained her former self.

Estelin slowly raised her head.

Then she turned around and looked at the giant statue wrapped in white cloth.

‘Fluma’s statue.’

The day that goddess statue would be revealed to the world wasn’t far off now.

‘The real god who had vanished and disappeared… no, whom the Frater Order had intentionally hidden.’

The moment that existence was revealed, a tremendous storm would sweep through the Empire.

Estelin couldn’t even imagine the aftermath.

However, there was something she instinctively felt nonetheless.

The Frater Order wouldn’t be so easily defeated by their plans.

A few years ago, Selene had caught Cardinal Paul off guard, purified the Emperor, and received the title of saint.

But some forces within the Order, led by Cardinal Paul, refused to acknowledge her as a saint until the end.

So those who treated Selene properly were only Michael and small forces from regional temples.

Even so, Selene’s reputation was steadily rising.

It was thanks to this ‘Les Temple’ that finished its opening ceremony today, and the Emperor’s support.

The Empire’s citizens couldn’t hide their curiosity about the newly built temple after so long and the appearance of a saint.

‘So what’s important is public sentiment.’

Estelin seriously reflected on what Selene had said a few days ago.

‘Building the temple is one thing. But when Fluma’s statue is revealed, the Frater Order will never stay still.’

At least it was a matter of time before the Order split into two, Selene had said.

‘Then from that point on, it’ll be a battle of public opinion. I need your help, Estelin.’

Estelin organized her thoughts carefully.

Her family, House of Laurent, had been called the absolute good of the Empire since long ago.

It was different from the mysterious Hallen family and the Belmart family that exuded an atmosphere of such grandeur that it was unapproachable.

House of Laurent received great support from the Empire’s citizens even among the Four Dukes.

Estelin unconsciously muttered.

“My role…”

And she recalled the faces of those who had received food from her throughout the day.

Most of them made eye contact with Estelin and showed moved expressions, or said things like ‘Thank you, Saint’ while kissing her hand.

Even though she wasn’t the one who actually received the title of saint.

Thinking about it, she had received such admiring gazes since she was very young.

‘Among the futures the Former Empress saw, there was also a future where you were the saint. The situation is different now, but the fact that you’re that kind of person hasn’t changed. Sometimes… people like you change the world.’

Estelin recalled Selene’s voice and took a deep breath.

While Selene was changing, Estelin had changed too.

She constantly experienced something being carved away and refilled within herself.

And after all those processes passed, she could understand what portion had been given to her.

She looked at the goddess statue covered in cloth with an unwavering gaze, then left the chapel to find Michael.

At the southeastern edge of the continent, Calsoterra Port.

“I greet Your Highness the Prince, no, Your Majesty the King.”

I smiled at the figure who had just disembarked from the ship.

The other party immediately grinned. His well-shaped lips curved attractively.

“I thought it was still an awkward title. But hearing it from the Lady’s lips isn’t bad.”

His voice conveyed sophistication and composure.

Dion Jed, the 13th prince of Carton who had now ascended to the throne.

He was someone who had succeeded in overthrowing the royal family much earlier than the future I knew.

Over the past year, he had eliminated his blood-mad brothers,

and had even managed to bring down the vile king.

Having seized the throne, he set out on his first royal tour as king as soon as the chaotic nation was stabilized.

His first destination was right here, Calsoterra Port in the Erbia Empire.

“Are you staying in this city today? It had quite a unique atmosphere.”

Dean approached me with friendly conversation as soon as he disembarked from the ship.

“That’s right. I plan to escort you to the Ducal Palace tomorrow morning.”

I responded to him comfortably as well.

Even though it had been a while since we spoke face to face, we had maintained steady contact through communication stones and secret letters.

Dean shrugged his shoulders.

“Emperor Simon will surely be displeased. Visiting the Ducal Palace before the Imperial Palace – how does that make sense?”

I smiled without answering.

Even if the Emperor had complaints about Dean’s tour route, he wouldn’t be able to make an issue of it anyway.

Ever since the curse incident, he had been relying on me excessively for his health.

He trusted me more than even the Palace Steward.

Dean suddenly asked.

“By the way, did you receive the gift I sent a few weeks ago?”

I pondered his words for a moment, then lifted my head with an “Ah” sound.

“Of course. It was quite interesting.”

Dean let out a low laugh.

The gift he had given me was two secret letters containing quite fascinating information.

I signaled to the guards following behind to keep some distance.

The procession immediately fell back.

“Four weeks from now, you said. When Joseph’s assassins will attack Hanod.”

“According to my information, yes. I heard the prince will leave Rishion that day.”

I nodded.

Hanod had been at Rishion all this time.

Even though he could have easily made the early graduation list, he didn’t.

At the time, Rishion was the safest place for him.

However, a few weeks ago, I decided to have Hanod graduate.

“Lady, you could have delayed the prince’s graduation further. Is there a particular reason for bringing him out now?”

Dean asked with a curious voice. I answered nonchalantly.

“Because now is the right time to cast the bait.”

“Bait?”

Dean let out a short laugh.

“Surely you’re not saying that Prince Hanod is the bait.”

I raised my gaze to meet Dean’s eyes directly.

“That’s right, bait. Your Majesty knows it too.”

“….”

“Who Prince Joseph will send to eliminate Hanod.”

Dean narrowed his eyes and nodded.

“Ah, you mean that brazen young lady from back then.”

“That’s right. Anita Solb.”

Anita, who had received notice of failure at Rishion and left the Empire as if being chased out.

She wasn’t someone I particularly wanted to meet, but I had a reason to see her again. Because….

“She became one of Princess Consort Annette’s people.”

Annette Peil.

Joseph’s wife and strategist, and the woman currently overseeing Hanod’s assassination mission.

I planned to use Anita to approach that woman.

More precisely, to approach the accessory she always wore.

A bracelet set with purple sapphires, and a long-treasured heirloom of the Peil family of the Kingdom of Sorad.

It was the item I currently suspected most of being Amicus’s relic.

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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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