I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 197

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

I trembled, unable to take my eyes off Mother’s face.

My head felt burning hot, and chills ran through my body.

Beyond Mother’s expressionless face, I could see Father, pale as a corpse.

Father stood there motionless, staring blankly in this direction.

“It’s time to pay the price for your insolence!”

Pector grinned and tilted his head.

Then a vivid black pattern appeared in the center of Mother’s forehead.

Immediately, I felt a more intense pain in my neck than before.

“Gasp…!”

I reflexively struggled, but someone pulled me away with tremendous force.

At the same time, Ansun grabbed Mother’s wrist and knocked it away.

“Se, Se, Seleneae…! Are, are you okay?”

The one who had pulled me away was Martina, her face gaunt and pale.

But I had no presence of mind to answer, staring at Ansun and Mother in front of me.

Ansun’s face had turned deathly pale.

I could hear Walter muttering.

“How could… my lady… my lady…”

Count Bastin approached and gripped Walter’s shoulders tightly, shaking him.

“Hey, snap out of it!”

Then with his thick hands, he grabbed Walter’s face and made him look at Father.

“Have you forgotten your role? Go take care of His Grace.”

Walter blinked with a face that looked like his soul had left his body.

Count Bastin let out a sigh and shouted in a booming voice.

“What are you all doing! All Tigris forces, to your positions!”

The frozen elite soldiers began to regain their senses one by one.

“To positions!”

“Yes, positions… to positions.”

The knights who had once served Mother, who knew Mother’s face, hesitantly moved to their positions.

Bastin blocked in front of me with his massive frame.

I barely supported my weakened, trembling legs while shaking uncontrollably.

Bastin’s body blocked Mother’s face from view.

Even though I had nearly been strangled to death moments ago, I wanted to push him aside and see Mother.

“…Please calm down.”

Ansun spoke seriously, as if trying to stop me.

From ahead, I heard Bastin’s monotone voice.

“My lady.”

Silence followed.

“My lady. Do you recognize me?”

Mother gave no answer.

Bastin’s hand gripping his long sword tensed slightly.

“My lady… it’s me. Count Müller.”

“…”

“My lady!!”

“Ha, hahaha!!”

Pector, who had been watching us, began laughing madly.

Everyone turned their gaze toward him with a start.

“Now this is finally worth watching. Faces filled with despair… Ah, perhaps The Man gave me this power for this very moment.”

As he clenched his fist tightly, the patterns on his body glowed.

At the same time, Mother, who had been in front of Bastin, leaped into the air.

I raised my head and fixed my gaze on Mother.

Blue veins protruded from her pale body, just like Pector’s.

After a short leap, Mother lightly kicked Bastin in the solar plexus.

Though it was a movement light as a feather, the sound like stone breaking was eerily audible.

Bastin made a choking sound and fell to his knees on the ground.

Beyond him, my eyes met with Mother floating in the air.

Mother rushed toward me without the slightest hesitation.

Holding a sharp dagger from Bastin’s waist in her hand.

Mother’s profile was clearly reflected in the gleaming blade.

At that sight, Rosette, who had been frozen stiff, screamed and reached her hand toward me.

“What are you doing, Seleneae! Get away!!”

Vines that sprouted from the ground bound me and pulled me forcefully to the floor.

My body tilted sharply, Ansun was pushed aside, and a burning pain grazed my cheek.

The dagger aimed at my neck fortunately only grazed my left cheek as it passed by.

Mother passed by me and landed on the ground a short distance away.

Then she stood up mechanically and looked at me again.

As if ready to attack at any moment.

The pattern on her forehead pulsed incessantly.

“This is my first doll that maintains its original form.”

Pector’s voice could be heard.

He placed both hands on Mother’s shoulders and smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth.

“You must have seen it too. How most cannot withstand my power and lose their human form.”

Belmart’s army that had become magical beasts.

The sight of wings sprouting from backs, blisters and sharp bones piercing through flesh.

“Well, considering that what’s inside contains Saira’s soul, it’s understandable.”

Saira was Mother’s other name from ancient times.

The last priest who met her death at Frater’s hands while carrying a child in her womb.

My lips trembled.

“What did you do to Mother…?”

Blood rushed red to both my eyes.

“What the hell did you do—!!”

Along with hot tears, a scream-like voice burst out.

Pector slowly stroked Mother’s cheek with his pattern-covered hand.

“Why are you angry? The one who gave me this doll as a gift was none other than you.”

“…What?”

Pector laughed lowly.

“How foolish. You opened your power through the ritual yet failed to grasp the current situation.”

“…”

“How even that aspect resembles Fluma, that person.”

Pector extended one hand toward me.

The black energy extending from his hand instantly penetrated toward my heart.

I felt no wound or pain.

However, something flashed before my eyes and an unfamiliar memory surfaced.

“Seleneae, it’s okay. It will be okay.”

In a room where fierce wind shook the window frame.

Someone was endlessly stroking my forehead with tear-filled eyes.

Light continuously poured out from cold, chilled hands.

Behind that, I could see someone who had collapsed unconscious.

‘Anna…?’

Around Anna, who had deep stab wounds in her abdomen and chest, blood was pooled everywhere.

“You, you shouldn’t have to suffer so much….”

Mother breathed roughly and sobbed.

Tears that fell from her eyelashes moistened my cheek.

“I hope this dream can restore your will to live… Please let it be so….”

As if her mana was beginning to deplete, Mother’s complexion gradually grew pale.

Then the tightly closed door opened.

“So you were here.”

What burst in was an assassin wearing a black mask.

He rushed toward us without the slightest hesitation.

“Gasp-!!”

Mother’s eyes widened as she caught the flying sword with her bare hands.

Her palm was cut deeply and blood dripped down steadily.

“Don’t resist.”

The assassin furrowed his brow and muttered lowly.

As he pushed the sword hilt, more blood stained the floor.

“Accept it obediently. There’s no way for you to survive here.”

“…I know too. That I’m going to die today.”

Mother lifted one corner of her mouth.

“I know, but. There’s something I really want to tell you before I die.”

Mother’s gaze briefly fell to me.

The mana that remained in my chest finally glowed briefly and seeped in.

Only after confirming that sight did a faint look of relief cross Mother’s face.

Mother raised her head to face the assassin.

“Go and tell your master.”

“….”

“Even if you cut my throat, you won’t be able to manipulate this child as you please.”

Tears streamed down from her eyes.

“I won’t let that happen.”

With those words, the strength left the hand holding the sword.

The assassin didn’t miss the opportunity and thrust the sword forcefully into Mother’s chest.

“…Gasp.”

Bright red blood gushed out between her tightly closed lips.

The assassin coldly twisted the sword.

Then slowly pulled it out and quickly left the room.

Mother’s body slowly fell backward.

The light of life in her blue eyes flickered weakly, as if it would go out at any moment.

…Everything was as foreseen.

The future that Former Empress Sharlina had seen, Mother’s future.

The future where assassins would invade the castle while Father was away and kill Mother.

But it was okay.

‘Seleneae is safe. That’s enough.’

Mother squeezed out the last strength remaining in her body to plant the dream.

It was a dream she couldn’t even complete fully due to insufficient mana.

Still, someday, when the Order would try to bring down Aleon and the noble house.

Then this dream would awaken me from brainwashing.

So though it was a little sad, though my heart felt like it was being torn apart, I thought it was okay….

“Mother?”

Then the variable began.

Because I, who had been unconscious, opened my eyes.

“Uh… Mother.”

I staggered and raised my body, taking in the state of fallen Mother one by one.

Mother, who had frozen in surprise for a moment, barely managed to lift the corners of her mouth and smile.

“It’s okay… ah, Seleneae.”

But I soon began to tremble violently.

Mother’s face and body were a complete mess of blood.

Behind her, Anna had collapsed with fatal wounds.

The memories from just before I lost consciousness slowly surfaced in my mind.

The commotion that had occurred in the castle.

There had been an assassin’s attack.

Anna had died trying to stop him.

I had lost consciousness seeing that sight, and when I woke up….

Mother was before my eyes.

Bleeding with a dying heart.

“Aah. Waaaah….”

Screams began to leak from my mouth, still just a child.

Fierce rain and wind rushed in through the window the assassin had escaped from.

The front of my nightgown was completely soaked with Mother’s blood.

“No, no… No….”

Crash- Thunder and lightning struck and the room flashed brightly.

I, who had been peering at memories up to that point, paused.

My young hair was slowly being dyed.

The same silvery color of light as now.

“…Selene.”

At that strange sight, Mother called my name.

The next moment, an enormous amount of divine power burst forth from my body.

The divine power soon became a massive light that swallowed everyone’s vision.

The thunder grew fiercer.

“How, how is this….”

Mother staggered and raised her body from where she lay.

The deep wound that had split her palm was slowly healing.

Her labored breathing calmed, and the bright blood pouring from her chest stopped.

Anna’s wounds, who had collapsed in the corner of the room, were the same.

“Go.”

My young self spoke.

The body was certainly mine, but the voice was not.

The expression also carried a maturity that couldn’t be considered a child’s.

“Go, Saira.”

Mother’s pupils shook aimlessly.

“Wh, what….”

“This time you don’t have to die protecting me. So please… run away, Saira.”

Mother looked down at her completely recovered body with an expression of disbelief.

Something flickered in her blue eyes.

Mother stared at me for a long while, then staggered out of the room.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————