I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 181

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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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“Anita.”

“Yes, Your Highness the Princess.”

“Come here and try this on.”

Anita hesitated before walking toward Princess Anetresha.

The Princess sat perched on the bed, flipping through the dresses hanging on the rack one by one.

“These are the ones Shilen left this time. I think this green dress would suit you well, what do you think?”

Anita stared blankly at the dress Anetresha was shaking in front of her.

The dress had no decorations and gave off a gloomy atmosphere.

Anita answered awkwardly.

“That… yes. It looks pretty.”

“Good. Then let’s go with this for what you’ll wear next week.”

“Next week?”

Anetresha smiled slyly.

“Yes. It’s the day my beloved nephew returns to the country, and as his aunt, I can’t just let it pass by.”

“…”

“And you’re like my other self, so naturally you must come along.”

While Anita hesitated, the maids took the hangers and withdrew.

In the room now left with just the two of them.

Only the drab green dress remained lying alone on the bed.

“Come sit.”

Anetresha smiled with a leisurely expression and patted the spot next to her.

Anita approached her side with downcast eyes.

And as if it were natural, she knelt on the floor instead of sitting beside her.

Anetresha placed her hand on her shoulder.

“It’s an important day. You know that, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“It took a whole two years for this day to come. If it weren’t for that boy Hanod… I would have gotten rid of Father long ago.”

The ‘Father’ she mentioned referred to King Drayden, the current king of Sorad.

“Anita. As I always say, I’ve already given you many chances.”

Anita, who had been motionless with her head deeply bowed, flinched and trembled.

“So this time, you absolutely cannot fail to do well.”

Though it was a voice filled with laughter, it was clearly a threat.

Anita clenched her teeth and closed her eyes.

The day she failed at Rishion.

Since the day she first met the Princess, her life,

every moment had been hell.

“You want me to serve as that woman’s maid?! Brother, are you insane?”

“Watch your words. She will soon become the Queen of Sorad.”

“How, how could you betray His Majesty! How could you betray Hanod?!”

Everything had been proceeding without Anita’s knowledge.

The death of the First Prince, and even the death of the First Prince’s son, who had been Hanod’s older brother.

There was nowhere her family hadn’t reached their hands.

“Why are you doing this? Grandfather, Father! Why on earth are you doing this?!”

The answer that came back was silence.

Everyone just looked at her with disapproving eyes.

As Anita’s face contorted with bewilderment, her eldest brother spoke up.

“Have you forgotten, Anita. We are Solb of Pride.”

Anita looked up, doubting her ears.

“But what about Erbia? Our pride, our abilities, our potential.”

“…”

“Has it ever acknowledged them even once?”

Norman, the second brother who had been listening, chimed in.

“Elder brother is right. In Erbia, no matter how hard we try, there are limits. Even if we walk and run for a hundred days, no, a thousand days, we stay in the same place.”

Even the third brother stood up.

“Don’t you understand yet, Anita?”

“…”

“All the high positions in Erbia are occupied by the Four Dukes and their vassals. So how can we Solbs, who have no connections, squeeze through those gaps?”

Silence fell over the room.

It was at that moment that Marquis Solb, Anita’s grandfather, opened his lips.

“I’ll only say this once, so listen well. We Solbs will become the founding contributors of Sorad’s new royal authority with this opportunity.”

“Grandfather…!”

“Don’t call me that anymore! Once the new royal authority is established, I’m to receive the title of Grand Duke.”

Anita’s pupils trembled finely.

Anita’s opinion didn’t matter in their decision. Not even a speck.

“And you will enter as a maid to Her Highness Princess Anetresha.”

“What… a maid?”

“Yes. It’s a position where you’ll have no problems if you just do your assigned work well.”

“W-wait a moment. Are you telling me to serve that woman now?”

Anita looked up incredulously as she asked back.

More than the guilt of betraying Hanod, her wounded pride was unbearable.

“I absolutely can’t do it! So that’s why, that’s why you put that woman and me in the same carriage?! Just now you said we were Solb of Pride! Where is my pride?!”

“Where do you think you are to raise your voice!”

But she couldn’t hear her father’s scolding.

“I’m someone who wouldn’t want to serve even if you offered me a position as Her Majesty the Empress’s maid!”

“…”

“But you’re telling me to serve a mere kingdom’s, and a princess at that? Seriously?!”

“Anita Solb-!!”

“I absolutely can’t do it! I have no intention of doing it, and if you force me, I’ll bite my tongue and die!”

“Really? Then die.”

Anita shut her mouth with a start.

Her father, Duke Solb, spoke in a chillingly indifferent voice.

“Actually, that works out well. I was already racking my brains because of you anyway.”

“…What?”

“Duke Aleon Tigris has planted someone on our side.”

Anita’s pupils wavered weakly.

“Wh-what…”

“At Rishion, because you! ran wild without thinking of the family, let alone the greater cause.”

“…Father.”

“Well-! With what you did to Lady Tigris, how could they possibly view you favorably?”

Duke Solb’s brow furrowed completely.

“That’s not all. You even failed the entrance exam. While bearing the dirty stigma of cheating.”

“…”

“Don’t be mistaken, Anita. You have no choice.”

Anita flinched and trembled at the cold voice.

“The reason I’ve cherished you until now was only because I thought you were useful.”

“…”

“Moreover, you’re not even the legitimate wife’s child! If I had known you were such a reckless fool who can’t tell heaven from earth! I would have gotten rid of you long ago!”

Tears welled up in Anita’s eyes.

Hearing such humiliating words was practically the first time in her life.

Her insides felt like they were boiling with rage, but there was no one here who could serve as a target for her fury.

“Shut your mouth and attend to Lady Anetresha. If you pull any foolish stunts this time, you’ll truly meet a gruesome end.”

“….”

“Of course. At the hands of The Man, not us.”

With hands trembling from anger, Anita barely managed to support herself on the floor.

Annette Peil.

She was Sorad’s only princess, married to Prince Joseph.

Most people thought the two had married for love.

But the reality was different.

Annette Peil was Joseph’s most cherished chess piece.

A chess piece who earned Joseph’s love by being more vicious and cruel than anyone else.

‘She’s truly a terrifyingly demonic woman.’

She recalled something Hanod had once said.

Those words were true.

Ever since becoming the princess’s maid, Anita’s life had slowly begun to crumble.

Even her pride, which seemed like it would never break, was shattered to pieces within a year.

Her arrogance and stubbornness met the same fate.

Annette Peil was not a woman soft enough to go easy on Anita.

“When you first came to this separate palace. I remember how you used to bare your claws.”

As if recalling a happy memory, Anetresha spoke in a drowsy voice.

As she moved her arm, a purple sapphire bracelet swayed on her wrist.

“Do you remember what I told you that day?”

“N-no, I don’t really….”

Anetresha leaned down from the bed to meet eyes with the kneeling Anita.

“I told you that day. Don’t you dare think you can easily leave this place.”

“….”

“You’re the symbol of alliance between Lord Solv and me. But if you keep defying me. My husband and I will have no choice but to think unpleasant thoughts.”

“Y-yes, yes….”

“You really must succeed this time, understand? That boy Hanod is very suspicious and quite difficult to handle. We didn’t bring you here for nothing.”

“….”

“Because he’ll trust you. You two were such close friends since childhood, weren’t you.”

Tears welled up in Anita’s eyes.

Anetresha watched her and clicked her tongue.

“Are you getting soft-hearted again?”

“No… I’m not.”

Anetresha shook her head and sighed.

Then she spoke coldly.

“I’ll go down first. Wipe away all traces of tears before you come down.”

She left the room with an arrogant stride.

Anita remained kneeling on the floor, curling up her body.

If only she had passed the test in Rishion.

Then maybe she wouldn’t have had to come to this place.

Tears that fell drop by drop soaked the carpet.

Now she had no choice but to kill Hanod.

Her role was to lead Hanod to the promised location on his return journey.

Anetresha had said it was a welcome ceremony for Hanod.

But from Anita’s perspective, Hanod wasn’t the main character of that welcome ceremony.

It would be Joseph and Princess Anetresha smiling over his pool of blood.

However….

‘Once this job is finished, I’ll set you free.’

Anita slowly got up. Then she staggered out of the room.

As the princess had ordered, she had completely wiped away the tears that had wet her eyes.

“Congratulations! Your Highness!”

Hanod’s closest aide, Roen, knelt on the ground.

“Considering everything that has happened, this Roen truly….”

Unable to finish his words, Hanod extended his hand toward him.

“That’s enough, get up, Roen.”

“Yes, yes!”

Beyond Roen, dozens of people could be seen kneeling on one knee in respectful greeting.

Hanod muttered quietly.

“…They sent quite a lot.”

His gaze soon shifted to the large carriage before him.

It was a very ornate carriage, befitting one meant for a returning royal.

“All preparations for your return are complete. Please board, Your Highness.”

Hanod didn’t answer and stared at the scenery spread before him.

Rugged mountain ranges that crossed the border between Sorad and Erbia rose high.

‘After departure, when you pass the path beside Rohas Cliff. You should be careful.’

Recalling that calmly warning voice made him chuckle involuntarily.

“…Let’s depart. I want to see His Majesty as soon as possible.”

The entire party bowed their heads in unison.

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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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