I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 205
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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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[I’m sorry.]
I opened my eyes to a gentle voice ringing out.
Through my blurry vision, I could see someone’s clear face.
[I placed too heavy a burden upon you.]
“You are…”
The hand gently stroking my cheek belonged to Fluma.
Someone suddenly appeared beside her.
“What a sorry state you’re in. You look like a half-burnt mushroom.”
“Amon! What kind of nonsense is that to say to a child who’s already exhausted?”
Adam raised his eyebrows and scolded Amon.
Beside them, Amicus was looking down at me with a smile.
I stared at them blankly before suddenly opening my mouth.
“…Wait, what about Frater?”
[He has been annihilated.]
Fluma said matter-of-factly.
“Annihilated? Then it’s completely, completely over?”
[Yes. His soul has been completely destroyed.]
“That’s…”
Amon muttered.
[What Frater did was distort the very order of the world. The humans who received that power wouldn’t have been able to preserve their lives either.]
I stared blankly as I processed those words, then suddenly raised my head.
“Pector… does that mean Pector and Paul are dead?”
[Yes.]
My heart sank with a thud.
With cold hands, I frantically grabbed Fluma’s robes.
“No!”
Fluma didn’t respond. I rambled incoherently.
My heart was beating so violently I couldn’t even continue speaking.
“Pector’s ability hurt Mother. With the power he received from Frater, he did that to Mother…!”
[Saira is safe, child.]
Adam gently placed his hand over mine that was clutching Fluma’s robes.
Then he softly stroked my head.
[Dias is also safe. So are your injured friends.]
“Is that really…”
The tension released all at once and my blocked breathing burst out.
Tears instantly welled up in my eyes.
“I, I really…”
My fists naturally clenched with strength.
The tears that began falling drop by drop soon started flowing uncontrollably.
“Why did you do that…?”
When I cried out through my tears, Fluma quietly looked at me.
“Why did you make me go through all this? How much, how much…!”
[…I’m sorry, truly.]
Fluma spoke in a wet voice and quietly embraced me.
I trembled and sobbed loudly.
Even though everything was over, I couldn’t easily feel relieved.
My heart pounded with the feeling that something still remained.
Estelin collapsed on the ground without moving,
and Rosette bleeding from thorn wounds were still vivid in my mind.
Father too, and Mother.
The claws of the monsters that had narrowly grazed past Rubel’s neck several times.
[It’s alright. Everything is fine now, child.]
As if reading my heart, Fluma spoke gently.
I slowly raised my trembling gaze.
Fluma’s blue eyes were quietly looking at me.
[I watched over your soul for a very long time.]
[…]
[Throughout that long time when you wandered as a spirit in darkness after the final battle ended.]
Fluma kissed my forehead.
[I shared in all your choices. Crying, laughing, fearing, and loving by your side.]
I stared at her blankly.
Bright light was spreading around Fluma.
[When I look at you, I don’t want to let go of this life.]
“…”
[Though I lost it in the end, my first wish that I shaped and yearned for with that child Frater… I want to see it once more.]
Fluma took my hand. I felt warm warmth.
The light spreading around her gradually began to take on various colors.
It was a beauty beyond words.
Colorful dots were being placed one by one on what had been blank paper.
The dots gathered to become a blue sky, and clouds walking across it.
Then, Adam approached and kissed my hand as he spoke.
[Child, I loved you deeply in my heart. All the time we spent together was happiness.]
Amon stood at a distance, looking at me before muttering.
[When you return, never forget this. To those who would mistreat you, don’t endure it but show your dignity without fail.]
Finally, Amicus met my eyes.
[…You did well. Thank you, Selene.]
And.
[May my new first choice become a gift to you.]
Fluma said.
Her surroundings were now completely filled with colors.
Blue sky and clouds, and green mountains visible in the distance.
[Farewell.]
With that final greeting, Fluma’s body began to slowly fade.
Adam, Amon, and Amicus were the same.
I stared blankly at the sight before staggering to my feet.
“W-wait a moment!”
But the figures of the four people kept becoming more and more faint.
“If you leave so suddenly like this…!”
In my panic, my voice wouldn’t come out properly.
I stood alone in a very quiet and peaceful space.
“Don’t go, don’t go! Please…!”
It was the moment I cried out sadly.
As if emerging from submerged water, someone pulled me sharply.
“Selene… you’re not going anywhere, anywhere anymore.”
A voice hoarse from crying too much was heard right next to my ear.
I blinked blankly.
My field of vision had completely changed.
Over the shoulder of the person holding me, I could see Rosette collapsing heavily to the floor.
She looked completely drained of strength.
Beside her was Estelin, who had appeared at some point, tightly embracing Eria,
“…Father?”
Father, who was standing with Walter’s support, let out a short sigh.
The curse that had spread blackly across his entire chest had disappeared without a trace.
That wasn’t all.
Michael, Oscar, Walter, Ansun, and countless others looked at me and let out sighs of relief.
And finally,
“…I thought you were gone.”
I saw Rubel muttering with a hardened expression.
He collapsed to his knees on the floor.
His clenched fists were trembling weakly.
“Rubel….”
The moment I unconsciously muttered, someone in front of me hugged me even tighter.
“Seleneae, my child…. I’m so glad you came back… really, truly….”
A voice I knew.
When I slowly pulled away, I saw a pair of blue eyes that looked exactly like mine.
“Mother….”
I had returned.
To a world where both Pluma and Prater had vanished.
“…My body feels like it’s going to break apart.”
When I muttered, Rubel quickly lifted me up.
“Oh my.”
I heard Mother let out a small exclamation from behind.
I glanced in that direction.
Father was glaring at us with a terrifying expression.
Meanwhile, Mother’s eyes sparkled as she looked Rubel up and down carefully.
“Rubel, you’ve become a full-grown adult.”
At her somewhat excited voice, Rubel hesitated and looked at Mother.
Then he awkwardly nodded his head slightly.
“My goodness. I really….”
Mother trailed off.
Looking at her expression, she seemed like she was about to cry again.
“Hera.”
Sure enough, Father called out to Mother.
Mother waved her hands as if she understood and nodded.
“Alright, alright. I won’t cry. I just won’t cry.”
Father quietly watched Mother as she dabbed at the corners of her eyes.
Though he wasn’t saying anything, his eyes were already overflowing with tenderness.
“By the way, the Imperial Palace is in quite a state. It’ll take quite some time to rebuild.”
At Mother’s words, Estelin, who was walking beside us, nodded.
“That’s right. At least the drawing room on the 1st floor of the Empress’s Palace is decent enough to rest in.”
“If there’s space, I’d like to lie down too.”
Duke Haren, who was following behind, said while rubbing his neck.
Then he added bluntly.
“Come to think of it, I’m the eldest among us all, aren’t I?”
“Oh, Husband. You want to do that? In front of students you’re seeing after so long?”
Sadina scolded him and cheerfully approached Mother.
“Hemera, you’re still so bright even after all this time. You know, right? That I dislike mindlessly cheerful people.”
“I know.”
“In that sense, I was quite fond of you. Kione too. But when I heard you died so meaninglessly, do you know how much my heart ached?!”
Sadina lightly patted Mother’s back.
Mother smiled brightly and shook her head as if she couldn’t help it.
Estelin was walking beside them with a faint smile.
“…We’re here.”
At that moment, Rubel, who had been carrying me at the front, stopped.
We had reached the drawing room on the 1st floor of the Empress’s Palace.
Thanks to Pluma’s power, when I regained consciousness, everyone’s injuries had mostly healed.
But my entire body ached and throbbed as if it would break apart.
I couldn’t muster the courage to go all the way to the manor, so Rubel had brought me to the Empress’s Palace as a temporary measure.
“Don’t move a muscle for the time being.”
Rubel said sternly as he grasped the door handle of the drawing room.
“How will I drink water?”
“I’ll bring it to you.”
“What if I need to use the bathroom?”
Rubel closed his mouth.
He looked down at me with an expression of disbelief.
I grinned widely.
“Rubel. The tips of your ears are red.”
“…Stop it.”
Rubel averted his gaze and opened the door wide.
I heard Mother burst into laughter from behind.
“My goodness, Aleon. Seleneae’s personality takes after me…! When she was little, she seemed to resemble you more!”
“…Maybe so.”
“You got to see her grow up so beautifully all by yourself? You should have hired painters to make lots of portraits! I’m so upset I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep.”
Pleasant conversation continued.
I chuckled softly and nestled deeper into Rubel’s arms.
As we entered the drawing room, two large sofas big enough for people to lie on appeared.
Rubel carefully set me down on one of them.
“Lie down. I’ll get you something to drink….”
But suddenly, he stopped speaking mid-sentence.
His gaze was directed elsewhere.
Toward the inner part of the drawing room, where there was a tightly closed inner door.
Following his gaze, everyone looked in that direction.
At that moment.
Click-
The inner door opened.
Now that the battle with Prater was over, there should have been no one in the Empress’s Palace.
The palace servants had all evacuated long ago, and Grace and Simon were bound under the surveillance of Tigris elite soldiers.
Duke Layard had captured Duke Belmart, and thanks to that, a trial would proceed as soon as the situation was sorted out.
“Who….”
Behind Mother’s voice, someone revealed themselves from the opened inner door.
Rubel’s pupils shook greatly.
Duke Haren, who had been frowning and placing his hand on his sword hilt, also froze in place.
[May my new first choice become a gift to you.]
Pluma’s last words echoed in my head like a reverberation.
I reflexively looked up at Rubel.
As if he couldn’t believe it, his golden eyes were rippling deeply.
The sword dropped from Duke Haren’s hand with a thud.
Mother murmured as if whispering.
“…Sharlina.”
Estelin, who had been watching everything, slowly turned around.
And urgently began running somewhere.
Somehow, I felt like I knew where she was heading.
【></p】
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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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