I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 23

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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 best compensation I can offer you is…”

At Selene’s words, Calista perked up his ears and swallowed greedily.

That’s when it happened.

“Wh-what is the meaning of this!!”

A shout erupted from among the priests who had been following behind.

When I turned my head, I saw the high-ranking priests already surrounded by soldiers wielding swords and spears.

Calista’s face turned pale. When he came to his senses, a sharp blade was already pressed against his throat.

That gleaming blue sword belonged to none other than Bastien Mueller.

When he turned his trembling gaze, he saw the Lady with a relaxed smile on her lips.

She spoke in a bright voice.

“I will spare your lives and send you back safely. That is the compensation for this necklace.”

At the shocking statement, Calista jerked his head back and opened his eyes wide.

“Wh-what do you mean?! How dare you treat the priests of the Grand Cathedral like this-!!”

“Even priests of the Grand Cathedral are no exception.”

At the voice that suddenly came from behind, Calista whipped his head around.

“You are…”

It was a familiar face.

Walter Levy, Duke Tigris’s strategist and renowned as a very capable aide, was now standing before him.

He spoke to Calista with an indifferent expression.

“His Grace ordered us to kill all of you and only spare the High Priest to imprison him.”

“Wh-what?! That can never-!!”

“If you refuse the kindness the Lady has shown, that is what will happen.”

Calista trembled and shouted.

“No one has ever treated me like this before—no, the priests of the Grand Cathedral who serve God!! Do you even know what you’re doing-!!”

“Then we’ll simply set a precedent.”

Hearing Walter’s response, Calista staggered in place.

Then he frantically turned to look at the Lady. He stamped his feet anxiously and pleaded in a desperate voice.

“L-Lady! Please say something about what all this is! You clearly said you understood the Temple’s position…!!”

But she only stared at him blankly while caressing the holy relic around her neck, having completely wiped the smile from her face.

She slowly opened her mouth with calm eyes.

“If you’re not satisfied with the compensation, I can no longer help you.”

“H-how is that compensation in any way?! This is clearly a threat and deception against the Order!!”

“Then it can’t be helped.”

When the Lady gave a look, Count Bastin pressed his sword closer to my throat.

A small scratch formed on the skin and a drop of red blood trickled down.

Calista’s eyes widened and the whites flashed.

One of the high-ranking priests watching from behind urgently shouted.

“Y-you must accept the compensation, High Priest!!”

Calista trembled as if his soul had left him. Then he muttered as if he couldn’t believe it.

“How… how dare you do such a thing…!!”

Another high-ranking priest interjected.

“H-High Priest…! There’s no other way right now! If it’s Duke Tigris…”

Even though his words trailed off in fear, every priest present could instinctively understand.

If it was Aleon Tigris, he would really kill us all and more.

Wasn’t he someone even the Empire’s Emperor didn’t take lightly!

War maniac. The Empire’s butcher. Grim reaper. There were countless names for him.

Soldiers who had fought alongside the Duke would turn pale and tremble just at the mention of his name.

As if it were such a terrifying memory they didn’t even want to recall.

The only person who wouldn’t find it strange to kill all the priests here.

That was exactly who Aleon Tigris was.

A deep ashen color fell over the priests’ faces. Finally, Calista opened his mouth.

“…Fine. I’ll… accept the compensation.”

“You’ve made a wise decision.”

The Lady said with a bright smile.

Calista glared at her while biting his lips hard enough to draw blood. Then he added in an enraged voice.

“But! The Order will never forget this incident. We will definitely get the holy relic back someday!! When that time comes, I will-!!”

He who was about to say more was silenced by soldiers roughly binding his arms.

“What is this!!”

He had walked in on his own feet, but now he was being dragged out bound by soldiers.

‘This… crazy wench! How dare she toy with the Temple along with her father!’

His pride was so hurt that his teeth ground audibly.

Not only that, his anger was so fierce that he didn’t even feel the pain from the cut on his throat.

Calista looked back at the Lady one more time until the very last moment as he was dragged away from the prison with the other priests.

She still wore a relaxed smile.

With Fratrer’s holy relic proudly hanging around her neck.

A few hours later.

I sat on the sofa, awkwardly staring at Walter.

We had gathered in Father’s study after sending the clergy back to the estate to report on what had happened in the prison.

But…

“You’ve manifested an ability?”

At the incredulous voice, I slowly nodded my head. Then I raised one hand to show Walter.

A small cluster of light began to spread from my hand.

It soon transformed into a round sphere and completely surrounded me without gaps.

[To already handle my power so well, truly my child!]

I could hear Adam making a fuss beside me.

But I tried not to look in that direction and slowly withdrew the light.

“A… protective barrier ability?”

Walter stammered. When I turned my head, Father was also staring with wide, surprised eyes.

“Wh-when exactly did you manifest this?”

At Walter’s bewildered question, I answered with an awkward smile.

“O-one day suddenly…?”

As I spoke, I was feeling a bit guilty.

[Our child is good at acting too. Really, there’s nothing you can’t do.]

Since Adam, the original owner of the ability, was spinning around me.

But to freely use Adam’s ability, I had no choice but to introduce it as my own power.

‘This is a much less troublesome method.’

Adam had definitely said this.

That I was the only person who could summon him.

And I vaguely suspected the reason was because I was an outsider who had possessed Selene.

‘If I talked about Adam and it somehow revealed that I came from another world…’

I secretly clenched my fist. If it was discovered that I was just an empty shell, many things would become complicated.

…Would I really be able to continue living in this world like now?

I quickly erased the anxiety from my face and said nonchalantly.

“Anyway, isn’t this a good thing?”

“Of course it’s a good thing! Moreover, a protective barrier ability.”

Walter said in a somewhat excited voice.

“Protective barrier abilities are still quite valued. Their development potential is limitless.”

[Child, that fellow is saying exactly the right thing. You see? I can be of great help to you. How amazing I am…]

Adam stuck his head next to my face and spoke proudly as if asking for praise.

But I simply ignored him and looked at the Duke.

Then I slowly brought up the question I had been preparing for a long time.

“So, about that…”

At my following words, Walter and Father’s eyes widened greatly.

“Sister!!! Sister!!!!!”

Estelin was startled and bolted upright from her bed.

When she turned her head, she saw Eria bursting through the door.

“Eria, what’s this about so early in the morning…”

“A reply came from Lady Selene!!”

At Eria’s words, Estelin, who had been blinking blankly, shot out of bed like a bullet.

In Eria’s hand was a white letter envelope.

“…L-let’s open it quickly.”

When Estelin spoke, Eria nodded vigorously.

The two took the letter to the table in the room and carefully opened it with a letter knife.

Soon, a single sheet of letter paper revealed itself from inside.

Estelin quickly unfolded it.

Neat handwriting filled the entire page came into view.

Hello Estelin, and Eria.

You’ve sent many letters during this time. Though late, I read every single one without missing any.

Actually, I tried to reply as quickly as possible, but I was busy and am only writing now.

I have good news. I plan to visit the Estate soon, so let’s discuss the details then.

Stay healthy until then.

The two carefully placed the letter down on the table.

“Good news…?”

Eria’s eyes sparkled as she stroked the letter with her hand.

“She’s visiting the Estate? Could it be…”

Estelin’s cheeks also turned rosy as she murmured.

“Sister, when the Lady comes to the Estate, how about we ask Father to invite her to the manor?”

“Yes, that’s a good idea. Actually, we did send an invitation before…”

Estelin’s face became gloomy.

The invitation had safely arrived at the Tigris Estate. But by then, Selene was already unable to open it.

‘Could the rumors be true?’

Estelin stared at the letter with a darkened expression.

Though everyone was keeping quiet about it, news of Selene had already spread throughout the Estate.

‘I heard some crazy priest dared to lay hands on the Tigris Lady?’

‘Oh my. I heard that news too. It wasn’t just laying hands on her, but apparently he had been using mind control abilities on her for quite a long time…’

‘Why on earth was the Temple keeping such a priest?’

Mind control abilities.

The moment she heard that rumor, Estelin felt as if her head was spinning.

‘It was strange. We were definitely close when we were young, but then she suddenly changed so drastically…’

Kione Laurence, who was Estelin’s mother, and Hemera Tigris, Selene’s mother, were close friends.

But after both lost their lives in unfortunate accidents, Estelin couldn’t see Selene’s face for a while.

And when they finally met again, strangely, Selene terribly hated her.

‘Maybe all of that was because of the brainwashing ability…’

Under the table, Estelin clenched her fist tightly.

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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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