I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 24

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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 was blankly staring at the items being loaded into the carriage luggage compartment when someone tapped my shoulder, making me turn my head.

“Why are you here, My Lady?”

My expression brightened when I confirmed his face.

“Ansun!”

Ansun stood there wearing an uncharacteristic formal uniform. His usually disheveled hair was neatly swept back over his forehead.

“What? Why are you all dressed up?”

“Me?”

“Yeah, wearing a formal uniform and slicking back your hair completely.”

“Slicking… back…”

Ansun made a strange expression and took a step back from me.

He glanced at my outfit and muttered.

“Well, My Lady also seems to be extremely dressed up, from what I can see.”

I covered the palm-sized frill attached to the neck area with an embarrassed expression.

This outfit was something I ended up wearing purely because of Anna.

‘Miss! It’s been so long since you’ve gone out. This much is really nothing at all!’

‘How about this? Or this pink dress?’

‘Oh my, this necklace would match perfectly with that outfit!’

Anna chattered non-stop and finally even showed me a necklace with a fist-sized jewel.

But it was so large that it looked more like a collar than a necklace.

So I barely managed to refuse it and reached a compromise in the middle…

‘This incredibly frilly decorated dress.’

At least this outfit was only fancy around the neck area and was overall modest. But the other dresses were…

Recalling the terrible situation from earlier, I shook my head vigorously with a pale face.

“I had my reasons for all that. But are you coming along this time too, Ansun?”

“Despite how I look, I always participate in most affairs.”

He shook his head as if annoyed. Then he asked with a puzzled expression.

“But why are you here, My Lady?”

At his question, I recalled what happened a few days ago.

“So… I want to come along on the upcoming feudal domain inspection!”

Both Father and Walter looked surprised.

Walter was the first to speak.

“Suddenly? But Miss, Tigris Territory is quite vast. Moreover, there are barren places where no one lives, so taking you along would be…”

“I know. You conduct monster subjugation there every winter, don’t you?”

Walter looked as if wondering how I knew that. I grinned.

During this time, I had been gathering information bit by bit through the servants, Anna, and Count Bastin whom I had newly gotten to know.

And soon I learned one fact.

‘Now that I’ve awakened, the Duke will soon leave for the feudal domain inspection!’

And this feudal domain inspection was scheduled to be conducted together with the annual monster subjugation.

‘Because the schedule got messed up when I collapsed.’

In that case, the inspection party would stop by Plau, a small village at the northern edge of Tigris Domain.

Because that was the only route leading to the ‘Cursed Land’ where monster subjugation took place every year.

I carefully opened my mouth.

“Now that my protective barrier ability has manifested, I won’t be a burden or cause worry… Really, wouldn’t it be possible?”

When I clasped my hands together and spoke with earnest eyes, Father, who had been silent the whole time, raised one eyebrow.

After pondering for a moment, his lips slowly opened.

“If you’re saying you want to follow along even to the subjugation in the Cursed Land…”

Before he could finish speaking, I quickly added.

“I won’t enter the Cursed Land! While Father leads the Knight Order there and back, I’ll wait quietly in Plau.”

At my words, he briefly stroked his chin as if contemplating. Then he muttered lowly.

“Come to think of it, you haven’t been out to the domain since you were seven.”

“…Your Grace, are you serious?”

Walter asked with a puzzled face, but the Duke didn’t answer. He just continued his monologue as if pondering something.

“If you’re not going to enter the Cursed Land… it might be good to go out together this time.”

I cheered inwardly. Because that meant permission.

Anyway, that’s how I came to accompany the feudal domain inspection starting today.

“…My Lady?”

I snapped back to attention at Ansun’s voice calling me.

“Ah, sorry. Where was I in the story?”

“You haven’t said anything yet.”

I scratched my head.

“Just, somehow I ended up coming along.”

“…”

“I also have something to find.”

At my words, Ansun tilted his head.

But I left him behind and stood up from my spot without hesitation, walking leisurely toward the carriage.

A moment later.

When the horn announcing departure echoed, the carriage finally began to move slowly.

I looked out the window with an excited expression.

Knights wearing formal uniforms with the Tigris emblem and dark red cloaks surrounded the carriage like an escort.

Watching them move with perfect formation and discipline, I muttered blankly.

“They really look cool like this.”

Then Father turned his gaze from the documents he was reading to glance at me.

Noticing that look, I smiled awkwardly and said.

“It’s my first time seeing the knights like this.”

It was true. The knights I often encountered while strolling around the castle were always in drab training clothes.

Perhaps due to harsh training, their faces were grimy and their expressions always exhausted.

But to think those same people would look so different dressed in formal attire and mounted on horses.

As I watched them with sparkling eyes, Father said.

“Knights usually don’t bother wearing formal uniforms. They always go around in armor.”

I nodded and added.

“This time they dressed in formal uniforms because it’s also a feudal domain inspection.”

“Right.”

Indeed, since they would meet countless domain residents during the inspection period, it would be better to show a refined appearance.

‘So that’s why Anna made such a fuss about my clothes.’

Since I’m the lord’s daughter, it wouldn’t do to look shabby.

Secretly nodding to myself, I gazed out the window again.

The carriage had already exited the castle gate and was traveling across the wide grassland.

Hoooo-

When the horn sounded again from the front, the carriage began to gradually pick up speed.

But something was strange.

Because the horses were running far too fast.

As I tilted my head in confusion, Adam, who had appeared at some point, smiled and whispered.

[Child, that’s an ability.]

‘An ability…?’

[Yes, they’ve cast a speed ability on the horses. Look over there.]

At the spot Adam pointed to was the coachman. A faint light was emanating from his hands gripping the reins.

I gaped in bewilderment.

Using a manifester who handles speed abilities as a mere coachman?

Without realizing it, I stared toward Father and saw him reviewing documents densely packed with text, his face expressionless.

‘…So it wasn’t just talk that Tigris is one of the Four Dukes supporting the Empire.’

I could understand retainers or knights, but to have manifesters even among the servants.

I was staring blankly at the coachman in feigned surprise when it happened.

“Are you curious about applying speed abilities to horses?”

At Father’s question, I quickly pulled my head back inside from the window.

“A, a little. It’s clever to apply speed abilities to horses, and it’s also amazing that the coachman has such abilities…”

“The castle has many people with various abilities. Tigris selects people based solely on ability, regardless of status or origin.”

I looked at Father with widened eyes.

But then, an even more surprising statement burst from his lips.

“Walter is also of commoner origin.”

“Walter is?!”

“Yes. He entered the manor at a very young age through our domain’s administrative examination. After that, he rose to his current position purely through his own strength.”

My mouth fell wide open at this shocking story.

Walter was of commoner origin? I had naturally assumed he was nobility all this time.

“Of course, there are occasionally those who take issue with his origins.”

Father set aside the documents he was reading and spoke as if it were no big deal.

“But most of them were less capable than Walter Levy.”

At that indifferent response, my eyes sparkled as I exclaimed.

“Wow… really…”

“…?”

“That’s really amazing!”

Father’s eyes widened slightly. I continued with an excited voice.

“Not being hung up on status and origin and treating capable people well – honestly, that’s not an easy thing to do!”

Just in my previous life, how much did they obsess over background, family, and academic credentials.

But to think that what’s called blind testing was being implemented here of all places.

I spoke with a face full of reverence.

“I think Father has thinking that’s at least 2,000 years ahead of its time. As expected…”

At first I thought he was just a scary, cold old-fashioned person, but the more I got to know Duke Tigris, the better a person he was.

‘First of all, even if he pretends otherwise, he’s such a caring father to his daughter.’

He was exceptionally capable, wealthy, and above all, handsome.

‘This is why I can’t just stand by and watch.’

My eyes flashed for a moment.

[Child, your expression turned frightening. I’m happiest when I see you burning with such determination. You’re so adorable.]

I glanced at Adam and clenched my fist tightly.

‘Burning with determination…’

That was somewhat accurate. There was a clear reason I had followed along to the feudal domain monastery.

‘First, I need to go to Plau.’

And there, I planned to find the Prince.

Not the Prince currently at the Imperial Palace, but the ‘missing Prince’ who disappeared years ago.

The Prince who was Estelin’s lover and the male protagonist in the original novel.

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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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