I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 39

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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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“Do you know how shocked I was?! I went to train as usual, but the manor was completely empty, and you didn’t even reply!”

As Rosette shouted, Selene glanced around nervously and held up her palm.

“Stop, stop. I understand, so let’s talk about it later. You shouldn’t be making a scene at a celebration.”

“Celebra… what?”

Rosette tilted her head while softening her expression slightly.

Then she noticed Estelin standing beside Selene and asked in surprise.

“…Who is this person?”

Estelin, who had been staring wide-eyed, quickly opened her mouth.

“Oh! Nice to meet you, Lady Rosette. My name is Estelin. I’m from House of Laurent…”

Rosette made an “Ah” sound and nodded. Then Selene tapped Rosette’s arm.

“What are you doing? You should introduce yourself too.”

Rosette looked back at Selene with a seemingly surprised expression, then hurriedly mumbled.

“Oh, oh. My name is Rosette.”

Her face was slightly flushed.

This was Rosette’s first time attending a proper high society party.

The marquis couple had never sent her to such occasions before.

“This is my first time at such an event…”

Just as Rosette was awkwardly mumbling, trying to explain the situation.

“Excuse me, Lady Grimaldi.”

At the cold voice from behind, Rosette turned around in surprise.

“At someone else’s party… what exactly do you think you’re doing right now?”

Meg Cline, the host of this party and adorned with glamorous accessories, was glaring at me with an extremely angry expression.

“Pardon?”

When Rosette asked back, Meg looked her up and down and muttered.

“Passing by without even greeting the host? I’ve never received such rudeness in my life!”

“…Oh.”

Only then understanding the situation, Rosette’s eyes filled with embarrassment. She looked around awkwardly and opened her mouth.

“I’m, I’m sorry. I momentarily…”

“What kind of occasion do you think this is? How can you lack such basic etiquette?”

But Meg didn’t give her a chance to speak.

She just glared at Rosette with disgust and let out a sneer.

“Considering your circumstances, I suppose I can understand… but you should at least observe basic manners, shouldn’t you?”

Rosette’s face flushed red with shock.

But hearing the murmuring around her, she closed her mouth without being able to make any rebuttal.

“Rosette of Grimaldi? Have you heard of this lady before?”

“No, not at all. Oh, isn’t that the house that receives support from the Tigris Family?”

“Support? A marquis house receiving support?”

“You know, House of Grimaldi takes care of many children, so their financial situation is a bit…”

Rosette’s head hung lower and lower. There was nothing wrong with what the ladies were saying.

The reason she had been training at the Tigris Estate all this time was because she was receiving the Duke’s support.

Her parents were people with terrible abilities but frighteningly extravagant spending habits.

The house that had been solid during the previous generation only declined after her father inherited the title. More and more as time passed.

And that was precisely why the Grimaldi couple was obsessed with their children’s abilities.

They thought that if their outstanding children obtained government positions or joined the Imperial Knight Order, they could bring money to the house.

All while pretending on the surface to be taking care of poor children.

“My goodness, to think they didn’t even teach basic high society etiquette to their only biological daughter.”

“Indeed. No matter what, she’s still a marquis house’s lady…”

“How old is Lady Rosette? If she’s the same age as Lady Estelin, isn’t she eighteen?”

“Yes. For this to be her society debut is a bit…”

Pathetic.

Having clearly heard the ladies’ whispers, Rosette unconsciously hung her head even lower.

As they said, she was pathetic.

She had no idea how to greet people or how to behave in this place.

Even the things she had learned by watching her mother over her shoulder were completely forgotten the moment she saw Selene.

I had simply received an invitation to the manor, and since Selene asked to meet there, I attended with an excited heart.

Even going so far as to show my parents the ability I had been hiding.

Then, Meg’s mouth, which had maintained a displeased expression, opened again.

“This opportunity has certainly made me understand the level of House of Grimaldi. I’ll look forward to your performance at the upcoming thanksgiving ceremony.”

It was a voice full of mockery and contempt. But just as Rosette, with her gaze lowered, trembled her lips.

“Lady Meg, please don’t be so harsh.”

Suddenly, a very calm and gentle voice rang out from above her head.

Rosette quickly looked up. Selene was standing between me and Meg, smiling.

“Rosette has been incredibly busy lately. She probably didn’t have time to learn high society etiquette.”

Selene spoke cheerfully while looking directly at Meg Cline, the party’s host.

A faint wrinkle appeared between Meg’s brows.

“…What exactly do you mean by that? Are you telling me to just endure this rudeness?”

Selene widened her eyes and shook her head.

“Of course not? I was simply hoping you might show the tolerance and understanding befitting a host.”

A small sigh escaped from Meg’s lips. She showed her discomfort openly and thought.

‘What a cunning little thing.’

Thanks to Selene’s words, Meg could no longer humiliate Rosette.

A few more words would make her ‘a host who lacks even basic virtues.’

But Meg Cline opened her tightly bitten lips and added sharply.

“I find it quite difficult to understand.”

Even knowing she should stop, her mouth moved on its own. Because Selene’s constant smiling was infuriatingly annoying.

“Honestly, isn’t it unpleasant and ridiculous? Ruining someone else’s party without even knowing the basics. And at what’s essentially her society debut.”

Rosette froze in shock. Seeing this, Meg’s eyes gleamed even colder.

In truth, what really displeased Meg wasn’t Rosette but Selene.

But she deliberately humiliated Rosette because she was simply an easier target for venting her anger.

But Selene didn’t back down and retorted.

“As I said, Rosette has been focusing solely on developing her abilities, so she didn’t have time to learn high society etiquette. Right, Rosette?”

Rosette stared blankly at Selene before slowly nodding her head.

Then Selene smiled brightly and said in a cheerful voice.

“See? And as a result, she recently advanced her abilities by a level, so shouldn’t we be congratulating her? She can learn social conventions from now on.”

At those words, murmuring erupted in the hall that had fallen silent.

“Did she just say she advanced her abilities?”

“I think so?! Lady Grimaldi is truly amazing…! To advance her abilities at that age.”

“Really. I’ve seen people around me take 10 years to advance their abilities by one level!”

“Does anyone know what Lady Grimaldi’s ability is?”

Meg’s expression slowly hardened. However, she swallowed the words that had risen to her throat.

From now on, I might really look foolish.

Meg forced a smile and said through gritted teeth.

“…Well then, fine. If there were circumstances, I suppose I have no choice but to understand. Still, I’d appreciate it if you were more careful next time.”

“Oh my! Thank you so much for showing such tolerance.”

Selene smiled with her eyes curved like crescents.

Meg turned around without answering. But she couldn’t help her teeth grinding automatically.

‘Why do I…’

Her cheeks burned with fury.

‘Why do I have to tolerate some beggar marquis house’s daughter?!’

Her insides were boiling beyond measure, ready to explode.

‘What the hell is that damned Seleneae Tigris up to now!’

Seleneae and Rosette were still clinging closely to Estelin’s side.

‘I couldn’t even exchange a single word with Estelin because of those leech-like creatures!’

But now there was no other way. Meg steadied her trembling hands from anger and forced herself to take deep breaths.

Then, after erasing her expression, she naturally joined another group where the daughters of influential families had gathered.

Fortunately, the young ladies there welcomed Meg very warmly.

From the atmosphere, it seemed they were already deep in discussion about the upcoming Thanksgiving Festival.

“You’ve arrived, Lady Meg! We were just talking about the charity event.”

“That’s right. What kind of exhibit are you planning to participate with this time, my lady?”

At the flood of questions, Meg quickly lifted the corners of her mouth and answered.

“I… well.”

The Thanksgiving Festival was considered Erbia’s largest and most magnificent festival of the year.

The duration was also quite long at about a month, so various events were held during the festival period.

And among them, what received the most attention was the ‘charity event’ that all the Empire’s young ladies would participate in.

One young lady said.

“I’m thinking of displaying a work by a famous sculptor who’s making a name for himself overseas.”

“Oh my, I was planning to bring in a painting.”

The young ladies participating in this event could display their respective exhibits in the Second Hall of the Imperial Palace.

Then visitors would offer their tickets to the exhibit that impressed them most.

The tickets were something visitors had to purchase in advance at quite a price, and since it was a charity event, all the proceeds would be donated.

After the event ended, the winner would be decided as the young lady who received the most tickets from visitors.

However, the voting was usually conducted rather tediously.

Since most participants were young girls from noble families, the exhibits they submitted were generally similar.

Therefore, in charity events, the young lady from the family that had made the biggest name that year often won.

Or sometimes the young lady who simply submitted the most expensive exhibit would win.

And Meg was planning to target the latter strategy in this charity event.

Meg soon opened her mouth with a smug expression.

“I’m planning to display armor made from ethyl stone this time.”

Then everyone’s eyes widened.

“E-ethyl stone?”

“You made armor from ethyl stone?”

Meg nodded arrogantly.

Ethyl stone was a precious mineral that couldn’t be found anywhere on the continent, not even a single grain.

In contrast, demand was high, so a piece of ethyl stone the size of a fingernail was expensive enough to be traded for several decent houses.

“I put some effort into it. After the exhibition ends, I plan to present it to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Good heavens…”

The young ladies’ faces were colored with shock and awe. Meg smiled slyly and thought.

‘With the Empress as my aunt, surely this much wouldn’t be difficult.’

Glancing back, she could see Seleneae.

She was still constantly smiling as if something was so amusing.

Meg secretly gritted her teeth.

Not only did she dare steal Estelin away, but she embarrassed me by defending some beggar young lady?

And at my party, no less?

‘Just wait until the Thanksgiving Festival starts.’

She was the one called Erbia’s only princess.

She was confident she could make Seleneae bitterly regret acting so impudently toward her.

A bitter smile appeared at the corners of Meg’s lips.

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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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