I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 40

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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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“Lady Rosette, would you like to visit our manor together as well?”

At Estelin’s gentle voice, Rosette, who had been sipping tea, quickly raised her head.

I watched the two with an interested gaze.

“Me, me?”

“Yes! It’s embarrassing to say, but our manor’s pastry chef is quite famous. They’re especially good at baking cakes?”

I glanced at Rosette.

Until I collapsed, I often had dessert time with Rosette and Martina in the manor’s library.

And from that experience, I knew that Rosette loved cakes tremendously.

Sure enough, Rosette’s earlobes turned red as she covered her face with her teacup.

“Well, if you insist on saying that much…”

I watched her and held back my laughter.

‘She’s surprisingly weak to people who treat her well.’

It must be because she grew up under parents who showed little affection.

I glanced at Meg, who had been spitting harsh words at Rosette earlier.

She had already moved to another group and was absorbed in conversation.

Watching her constantly make arrogant expressions and shrug her shoulders, I muttered unconsciously.

“…She’s picking on people over nothing.”

Then Estelin and Rosette’s gazes focused on me.

“Pick… what?”

I shook my head and said.

“I mean she’s finding fault for no reason. People can make mistakes, but to make such a big deal out of it…”

When I frowned as if disgusted, the opposite side became quiet.

When I looked up, Estelin was staring at me intently.

“My lady…”

Estelin called me in a serious voice.

When I widened my eyes wondering what was wrong, Estelin opened her mouth.

“You’re so, so cool…!”

“…?”

I frowned in bewilderment. For some reason, Estelin had a face full of admiration.

Then I heard Rosette’s voice nodding beside me.

“I agree. Even if she’s a bit annoying, Selene is definitely strong-willed, isn’t she?”

It was the moment I looked at her with wide eyes.

“Right! Somehow, Lady Rosette thinks exactly the same as me.”

“Ah, Lady Estelin thinks so too?”

Estelin nodded vigorously with a bright face.

“Of course! I always hold back even when I have something I want to say. But Lady Selene always…”

“…Makes you feel refreshed?”

“Exactly! That’s it.”

I blinked while watching the two chattering excitedly.

‘Why are these two acting like this together?’

Then Estelin added quietly.

“Besides, my lady is so pretty.”

In front of Estelin, who was shyly blushing, Rosette quickly nodded.

“Right. She definitely has an interesting face to look at. But I like Selene’s cunning side more.”

I frowned, doubting my ears.

‘What kind of conversation are they having about me right in front of me?’

Why are they talking as if they like me so much?

I haven’t even done anything special, yet they’re giving such generous evaluations.

But after thinking, I thought to myself.

‘…It’s not bad, is it?’

Come to think of it, it seemed much better than being hated for no reason like in my previous life.

Also, it would be much better to have people to get along with like this than to have no one around.

After all, I accepted the invitation to this party to build connections all around.

‘But that girl who’s the host…’

Before arriving at the party, I had already thoroughly read through the enormous amount of Character Information I got from Walter.

The implicit princess of the Empire.

That’s what people called Meg Cline, the host.

So that’s how she could humiliate others so casually.

Probably everything had gone her way since before she even came of age.

Having Duke Belmart as her grandfather and being the Empress’s niece was quite an impressive background.

I suddenly asked Estelin.

“Estelin. About the charity event at the last Thanksgiving festival, was Lady Meg the winner?”

Estelin, who had been absorbed in conversation with Rosette, nodded.

“That’s right. Lady Meg won last year, and I won the year before. But it might not have been possible if Lady Meg hadn’t been abroad.”

I nodded while stroking my chin. Rosette asked from the side.

“Charity event?”

Estelin smiled gently and explained.

“Ah, the charity event is called the flower of the Thanksgiving festival…”

I looked at the two and then turned my gaze toward Meg again.

Her profile, visible from the side, was again full of arrogance.

It seemed she had already prepared something grand for the charity event entry.

But I smiled leisurely and thought to myself.

‘You won’t win this time.’

Because House of Tigris will monopolize all the Thanksgiving festival events this time!

I planned to firmly show Tigris’s power and majesty at this Thanksgiving festival.

‘Whether it’s the Temple, the Imperial Court, or petty nobles. I’ll make sure they know.’

So they won’t even think of touching Tigris, even as a joke.

There was no guarantee that incidents like Father Mayer’s threats wouldn’t happen again.

‘Long life! Peaceful living! I’ll definitely protect it.’

Renewing my resolve once more, I gulped down the cold tea.

The Privy Council Chamber in the Imperial Palace.

Nicolaus Zelbero, the youngest chairman of the Privy Council, quickly skimmed through the documents in front of him.

However, his quill pen, which had been running smoothly across the parchment, soon stopped at one place.

“Who submitted this data?”

At his voice, one of the members sitting in a circle cautiously raised his hand.

“I submitted it, Count Zelbero.”

The person who raised his hand was an elderly man.

Nicolas shifted his gaze to him and then muttered coldly.

“You’ve done something useless again, Tibon.”

Oscar Tibon’s expression stiffened slightly, but he soon answered calmly.

“Petitions keep coming from the Northern Slums of the Empire. I judged that we cannot ignore them indefinitely…”

“Petitions? What exactly are they about?”

“They say the quantity of relief supplies being distributed is significantly insufficient. Also, there are problems with the quality…”

But Oscar Tibon, who had been continuing his words, soon closed his mouth.

It was because Nicolaus Zelbero, who had been looking at him, clicked his tongue as if he didn’t want to hear it.

“This is why commoners are…”

His voice, full of contempt, echoed through the wide conference room.

“Aren’t they truly ignorant and cockroach-like creatures?”

Nicolas looked around at the other Privy Council members as if seeking an answer.

“Yes, yes. I truly think they are ignorant people.”

“That’s right. After all the relief supplies our Imperial Court has consistently delivered, they don’t even know to be grateful…”

Nicolas looked at the council members who had spoken and nodded his head. Then he let out a cold sneer.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. These people who know nothing but begging, how dare they make such bold demands. They act as if it’s their right now!”

Nicolas continued to speak without restraint.

“If they hate their gutter lives, they should at least try making an effort. They’re just naturally lazy, living like stray dogs.”

Oscar Tibon’s face grew troubled as he saw the clear contempt that rose in his eyes.

Finally, after hesitating, he carefully opened his mouth.

“…Chairman. The people living together in the Northern Slums of the Empire are those who were driven from their original homes a hundred years ago during the forced relocation of the Empire.”

Nicolas’s crooked gaze turned toward Oscar. But Oscar stubbornly continued speaking.

“Weren’t they the ones who lost their homes overnight and had nowhere to go due to the nobles’ greed? Yet the Emperor at that time took no measures whatsoever.”

“So, what exactly are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying that those people gathering to live there is entirely the responsibility of the nation and the Imperial Court.”

“What?”

“It’s not simply because they’re incompetent.”

A cold silence flowed through the meeting room. How much time had passed?

“Ha, haha!”

Chairman Nicolas burst into laughter, drawing everyone’s attention to him.

“That’s exactly why we’ve been delivering relief supplies every year until now!”

Nicolas wiped away the tears that had formed at the corners of his eyes and looked at Oscar as if he found him ridiculous.

“You really have a tendency to overreact to trivial things. That’s why you’re still in the same position despite your age.”

After speaking sharply, Nicolas chuckled and fixed his gaze back on the documents.

The council members cautiously watched Oscar’s reaction in the awkward silence.

Oscar Tibon was staring down at the round table with a rigidly hardened expression.

Oscar had been considered the most likely candidate for the next chairman until Nicolas appeared.

But now he was merely a low-ranking member, overwhelmed by Nicolas’s momentum and listening to humiliating words daily.

In fact, all the members gathered here knew it. That Oscar’s words were correct.

The ledgers for relief supplies delivered to the Northern Slums hadn’t been properly managed for several years now.

The same was true for the budget transferred from the Treasury to the Privy Council every audit season.

‘Money is leaking everywhere.’

That was a very clear fact. But no one spoke of it aloud.

This was because Nicolaus Zelbero, who managed the ledgers and made final decisions, monopolized the Emperor’s trust.

Moreover, he was young and cunning. It meant that raising issues might result in bloodshed instead.

“…Please, Lord Tibon, don’t be too disheartened.”

The council member sitting next to Oscar Tibon whispered quietly. But Oscar’s expression showed no signs of softening.

Just then, Nicolas, who had quickly skimmed through the remaining documents, spoke.

“I think this will be sufficient for today. Then let’s meet at the next regular meeting.”

As he stood up from his seat, the members all rose to follow him.

Oscar also wearily stood up from his chair and bowed his head.

But Nicolas, who had been heading toward the door, suddenly stopped in place. Then he looked at Oscar, who was bowing his head, and said:

“Ah, Lord Tibon should be a bit more careful. You’re already barely maintaining your council position, so you should try to last as long as possible, shouldn’t you?”

With those words full of mockery as his final statement, Nicolaus Zelbero finally completely left the meeting room.

Oscar, with his gaze fixed on the ground, clenched his fists tightly for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.

The wrinkles carved into his brow had deepened even further.

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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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