I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 25

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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, I am terribly sorry for disappointing you!”

Calista bowed his head and squeezed his eyes shut.

In the chair before him sat someone wearing a deeply pulled hood. Calista babbled incoherently.

“Just like the rumors, no, they were even more unreasonable than the rumors! They dared to hold swords to the necks of the Grand Cathedral’s priests and insisted that the sacred relic belonged to them…!!”

“…”

“I, I tried to somehow resolve the situation, but they threatened to take my life, so I had no choice but to…”

His voice gradually became smaller.

Calista felt his heart constrict in the cold silence as his hands trembled.

Not only had he failed to retrieve the sacred relic, but he had also brought shame to the temple.

However, he had no other choice. He couldn’t risk losing his life meaninglessly at the Tigris Ducal Palace.

Trembling anxiously, he added in a voice begging for mercy.

“B, but I made it clear! That we would definitely retrieve the sacred relic someday! I certainly told them that…!!”

“Yes, the High Priest must have been quite troubled. So calm down.”

Calista’s shoulders flinched.

The response he heard was gentle, as if not angry at all.

Doubting his ears, he cautiously raised his head and saw lips curved in a faint smile beneath the deeply pulled hood.

‘He, he understands me…!’

Calista tensed his throat as he felt tears about to burst forth.

“N, no. I’m just sorry for failing to retrieve the sacred relic… I truly don’t know what to do with myself…”

“Don’t say such things. It’s all because I made an unreasonable request of the High Priest.”

Finally, tears welled up in Calista’s eyes. He cried out with his face contorted with emotion.

“No…! It’s truly all because of my inadequacy! For some reason, Lady Tigris seemed to think that the temple was behind Father Mayer…!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, so I clearly said it wasn’t true, that it must be a misunderstanding, but it was useless. She already seemed convinced of it…”

“Oh my…”

A regretful voice flowed from the lips visible beneath the hood.

Calista prostrated himself flat on the floor and wiped away the sweat trickling down his temples.

But then, a shadow fell over him.

The Man had risen from his chair and approached him.

Calista looked up with a bewildered expression at the two eyes visible beneath the hood.

The same gentle voice as before reached his ears.

“Then, High Priest, do you think so too?”

“…Pardon?”

“Do you also think that the temple is behind Father Mayer?”

At the somehow chilling tone, Calista gulped. However, he quickly shook his head.

“N, no! Why would the temple do such a thing? Of, of course it’s true that the arrogant Tigris is a thorn in the temple’s side, but there’s no reason to go so far as to…”

“Ha… hahaha!!”

At the low laughter echoing through the dark room, Calista quickly shut his mouth and bowed his head.

His confused gaze was directed at the shadow wavering on the floor.

“High Priest, you are both right and wrong.”

Calista doubted his ears. In his downcast view, the long robe hem swirled away.

The Man, who had returned to sit in his chair, continued speaking in a voice with a completely different atmosphere than before.

“Their words are correct. I gave the orders.”

“…!!”

“I told Father Mayer to give him the sacred relic and brainwash Lady Tigris. To make her despise her own father and hate Duke Laurent’s daughter.”

Calista’s eyes widened greatly. He opened his mouth blankly, unable to quite understand what he was hearing.

But The Man continued speaking as if nothing was wrong.

“That was quite a long time ago. I thought it was almost complete, but it’s disappointing that it fell apart at the last moment.”

“Wh, what do you mean…”

“Still, I had briefly placed hope in you. The sacred relic was quite valuable to lose like that.”

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the room. Calista unconsciously turned his head toward the sound.

Several figures with their faces hidden by black robes were approaching him.

“You’ve worked hard, High Priest. Though you didn’t meet my expectations, the story you told was quite interesting.”

Calista’s face hardened with shock at the hands that roughly grabbed his arms and lifted him up. He opened his mouth with a trembling voice.

“Wh, what is this? Please explain! I, I don’t know what’s happening, but I was wrong…!”

However, the strength of the robed figures was so great that Calista couldn’t move at all and was already being dragged toward the door.

“S, save me!! I beg you, please, please save me!!”

His voice cracked with terror. But The Man gave no answer. He simply sat comfortably in his chair, watching the scene as if it were entertaining.

“Save me! Please!!”

Calista’s screams could no longer be heard as the door slammed shut.

A chilling voice echoed through the room.

“So that child has become so bold.”

The candlelight flickered precariously.

“Ah, I finally feel alive.”

I lay down on the bed and let out a languid sigh. Then I turned my gaze toward a delicious smell wafting from somewhere.

On a small table in one corner of the room sat steaming soup and bread.

“…Did a maid come by?”

I muttered quietly and quickly approached the table.

The golden-brown baked bread had raisins dotted throughout, and the soup contained small pieces of bacon.

Unable to hide my smile, I picked up a spoon and quickly put a spoonful of soup in my mouth.

Warm energy spread through my esophagus and throughout my body. I closed my eyes tightly with a satisfied expression and shivered.

Today was exactly the fifth day since entering the northern part of Tigris Territory, and the first day we had stopped at an inn.

In other words, until now I had been sleeping curled up in the carriage or camping outdoors.

For me, who was used to sleeping on a soft bed, this was a great ordeal.

I don’t know when I became accustomed to comfortable sleeping arrangements, but I couldn’t easily fall asleep on the hard ground.

Of course, when I complained about the uncomfortable sleeping conditions, Father said this:

‘If you want, I can arrange an inn anytime.’

However, I couldn’t bring myself to nod in good conscience. Because everyone except me seemed to sleep anywhere without particular discomfort.

Some knights even slept lying on grass with their backs against stones. …Are they natural people or what?

Anyway, given the situation, I simply couldn’t bring myself to say I wanted to go sleep at an inn by myself.

‘Still, we won’t have to sleep in the mountains anymore.’

During our inspection, we didn’t always sleep in the forest. For the first few days, there were inns everywhere we went, so we could spend the nights in well-prepared beds.

But the problem started when we entered the north.

Though Tigris Territory was fertile, the northern part was different.

The north consisted of dense forests and rugged mountains, places rarely touched by human hands.

The only place where people gathered to live was a rural village called Plau, and above that began the Cursed Land where monsters were said to dwell.

And now we were in a small hamlet just below Plau.

‘In other words, after today we’ll arrive in Plau.’

When we reached Plau, I planned to find new lodgings and stay for about five to seven days.

During that time, Father would lead the knight order into the Cursed Land to subjugate the monsters that had multiplied over the winter.

And I would…

‘I have to find the Prince within five days.’

Rubel, who was the male protagonist of the original novel, Estelin’s lover, and the strongest knight in the world.

He was a beautiful boy with burning black hair and mysterious golden eyes.

However, he possessed abilities that didn’t match his pretty face, earning him the name “monster” from some.

Actually, the content of the original novel was quite predictable.

One day, Rubel is attacked by someone of unknown identity, suffers serious injuries, and flees to the back alleys of the Estate.

And it was Estelin who happened to discover him in that state.

Estelin used her healing ability to restore his injuries,

and quite naturally fell in love with Rubel.

After that, Rubel received Estelin’s help to make his appearance in the Estate’s social circles and political arena.

While gradually expanding his influence, he faithfully performed his role as Estelin’s protector.

Of course, I died suddenly so I couldn’t read the original novel to completion.

But from the scene where Rubel’s appearance was described, I had one certainty.

‘This guy is the missing prince!’

And I wasn’t the only one who thought this way.

The keyword ‘missing prince’ that was mentioned countless times in the novel.

And even the hints about the ‘golden eyes’ that symbolized the imperial family.

Rubel with his black hair and golden eyes was obviously the missing prince and the male lead.

In fact, every chapter where Rubel appeared was flooded with similar comments.

RefuteIfYouCan

Passing romance novel veteran of 10 years here. Guys lol even if you watch this on a plane, Rubel is obviously the prince. No refutations accepted.

How That Saintess Saves the Empire Chapter 23

♡ 83

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BeanieBabyHehe

For real, black hair golden eyes already looks delicious

BreadMilk

Yeah, I’m excited about that big dog vibe and robust feeling

GentleBreeze^.~

Estelin♥Rubel supporting our male lead~^^ Fighting!

And I too was one of the countless readers who had written such comments.

“…Alright. I’ll definitely find him and return within 5 days.”

With a determined expression, I muttered and took a big bite of bread.

Fortunately, I remembered part of the conversation Estelin and Rubel had when they were just getting close.

‘Rubel. Where on earth did you come from?’

‘…I came from Plau. A small village north of the Tigris Domain.’

Plau.

The place I was currently heading toward.

I intended to use him to properly check the Temple and the imperial family.

Because I had to prevent the impending destruction of House of Tigris.

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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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