I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 43

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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 will cure your illness no matter what it takes, this old man promises!”

Absolutely, at least Jane must be saved.

He would not let her die in vain like Thomas. What could be so important about some research anyway.

She was a pitiful child who lost her mother at birth and lost her father to illness before she even turned ten.

“I will never give up until a doctor who knows your illness appears. I’ll try any medicine that can be used! So never speak of such things again! Do you understand!”

“….”

Jane had no answer, her face filled with sadness.

Oscar barely calmed his agitated emotions and tried to speak as if everything was fine.

“…Jane, your grandfather may not look like much, but he’s a member of the Privy Council. You know what the Privy Council does, don’t you?”

Jane weakly lifted her gaze.

“I know…. It’s the only place in this Empire that can give advice to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“That’s right. So you just need to trust this grandfather and focus on treatment. That’s all.”

Finally, Jane nodded slightly.

Oscar stroked his granddaughter’s head and quickly pulled the blanket up to her neck.

“Now go to sleep.”

Jane nodded without answering and closed her eyes.

Oscar looked at her once more before carefully leaving the room.

The old door of the aged house closed with a creaking sound.

In front of Jane’s closed door, Oscar let out a deep sigh.

‘I was foolish. I shouldn’t have made that comment to Nicolas this morning.’

His salary had already been reduced because he had fallen out of favor.

‘At this rate, I might even lose my position as a council member….’

His mind was complicated. Oscar held his forehead and stepped away from the door.

Because the house was so small, his room was only a few steps away from Jane’s room.

When he opened the door and entered, he saw his messy, unorganized desk.

A book was placed in the corner.

It was 【Empire and People】, the first book he had authored.

Oscar stared at it and absentmindedly ran his finger over the faded cover.

‘I wish Grandfather would start researching again.’

Jane’s words from earlier came to mind.

“Research… research.”

He was once considered a promising sociologist and political scientist in the Empire. It was because his passion for learning and knowledge was tremendous.

But ever since his deceased son Thomas began falling ill, he could hardly concentrate on research.

Oscar soon withdrew his reluctant hand from the book. Then he blew out the candle.

Darkness enveloped everything around him.

‘Let’s not cling to regrets. For Jane’s sake too.’

With that resolution, he silently pushed himself onto the creaking bed.

“Oh my, Miss, you look so beautiful!”

I smiled awkwardly at Anna, whose eyes were sparkling.

When I turned my head, I saw my glamorous reflection in the mirror.

My platinum hair, styled by Anna, flowed softly over the red fabric dress.

I fidgeted with the jewels hanging from my ears and asked awkwardly.

“H-how is it? Do I look okay?”

“Okay? You’ll probably be considered the most beautiful lady in this Empire! You’re so dazzling!”

Anna covered her eyes with exaggerated gestures and burst into giggles.

I subtly raised the corners of my mouth and looked at the mirror again.

‘Certainly….’

Even though it was my own face, it was pretty.

My face, which had matured further with the new year, now had quite distinct features.

As I touched my rosy cheeks under my sparkling eyes, Anna made another fuss beside me.

“At today’s opening ceremony, there will be at least twenty young lords secretly blushing. No, thirty!”

Just as I couldn’t hold back my laughter and made a deflating sound, it happened.

After a short knock, the door opened. It was Father, unusually dressed in formal attire.

“Father!”

When I ran to the door with a bright smile, Father’s eyes widened slightly.

“Selene. Isn’t your dress… too flashy.”

Anna quickly answered.

“I prepared it in a splendid color to suit the opening ceremony.”

“…The back seems too exposed as well.”

“Ah, that’s because this design of dress is fashionable these days. Especially for parties with dancing….”

“Dancing?”

At Father’s sudden interruption, Anna answered more carefully in a smaller voice.

“Yes? Yes, since there’s always a ball at the Thanksgiving Festival opening ceremony, the young lords might ask the Miss to dance….”

Anna’s mouth gradually closed.

The more she answered, the darker Father’s expression became.

Then I, who had been blinking blankly, said.

“I don’t know how to dance.”

Anna’s eyes widened. Father’s face brightened slightly.

I continued with a sheepish laugh.

“I tried practicing a few times, but I have no talent for dancing.”

Father cleared his throat and answered very quickly.

“That’s fine. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to dance.”

I quickly smiled and nodded.

“Right! I’d rather exercise during that time! Right, Anna?”

Anna, who had widened her eyes, looked back and forth between me and Father, then nodded vigorously.

“R-right! Come to think of it, exercise is much better than dancing.”

At those words, a very small smile spread across Father’s lips.

“Then let’s get going.”

Father, who spoke in a quite pleased voice, left the room. His steps seemed somehow cheerful.

I exchanged glances with Anna and giggled before quickly following Father.

It was my first Thanksgiving Festival opening ceremony.

“Her Majesty the Empress enters!”

Under the large chandelier reflecting brilliant light, the attention of the chattering people focused in one direction.

A woman gracefully descended the spiral marble stairs studded with gems.

“We greet Her Majesty the Empress, Mother of the Empire!”

When Duke Belmart, the Empress’s father, led the cheer, cheers erupted from everywhere.

“We greet Her Majesty the Empress!”

“Glory and radiance to the Empire!”

Grace nodded with a dazzling smile and soon stopped in the middle of the stairs.

When she slowly raised one hand, the hall instantly became quiet.

“Thank you to everyone who gathered here today.”

The Empress gracefully clasped her hands together at her chest.

Following her gesture, the abundant fur decoration on her shoulders swayed.

The decoration was a dazzling gold color symbolizing the Imperial House.

“As everyone knows, Erbia’s Thanksgiving Festival is the most sacred and joyful celebration of the year.”

Her voice was warm yet carried a weighty gravitas.

“Now that the festival has begun, I hope you all enjoy yourselves with joyful hearts. May the glory of Fratrer remain with everyone.”

As the Empress finished speaking, tremendous applause filled the Great Hall.

Despite the brief speech, people shouted praises with moved expressions.

“Glory to Erbia!”

“Glory to Fratrer!”

Duke Belmart looked at his daughter, the Empress, with a proud expression.

Cardinal Paul, standing beside him, whispered in a satisfied voice.

“Her Majesty shows her faithfulness unfailingly once again.”

Duke Belmart smiled leisurely.

“Of course, the Empress is also one of our Belmart people.”

Just as Paul nodded with a smile, the Empress who had come down the stairs slowly approached them.

“Father.”

At the Empress’s smile, Duke Belmart chuckled and bowed his waist.

“It seems like it’s been a long time since I’ve seen your face, Your Majesty.”

“I have been absent lately. Imperial House affairs have been busy ahead of the Thanksgiving Festival.”

Duke Belmart chuckled and shook his head as if it was nothing. That’s when it happened.

“Oh my, Grace…! No, Your Majesty the Empress!”

Someone not far away spotted the Empress and approached with a bright face.

It was Gloria Belmart, the Empress’s older sister and Duke Belmart’s eldest daughter.

“How have you been! I’ve often heard about Imperial Palace affairs through my husband.”

The Empress looked at her older sister, Gloria, and smiled brightly.

“I have been well. Just watching the Prince grow day by day, I lose track of time. Sister, you…”

Her gaze soon turned to her niece standing beside Gloria.

Meg Cline blushed red and bowed her head while spreading her skirt.

“I-I greet Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Yes, Meg. You’re wearing the dress I sent you last time.”

Meg nodded and smiled shyly. As she spun around in place, the dress made of luxurious fabric sparkled dazzlingly.

Watching this, the Empress smiled and said.

“It suits you very well. If you need anything, feel free to tell me anytime. I’ll get you anything I can obtain.”

At those words, Meg’s lips curved up endlessly.

She nodded and straightened her neck stiffly while laughing “hohoho.”

The murmuring sounds from around reached her ears clearly.

“I heard Duke Belmart dotes on her terribly, and Lady Cline is loved by Her Majesty the Empress too.”

“How close were Her Majesty the Empress and Lady Gloria? They were sisters famous for their good relationship, so it’s natural that Her Majesty would adore her niece so much.”

“That’s right. The nickname ‘Princess of the Empire’ wouldn’t be attached to just anyone.”

Meg’s eyes sparkled with pride. As they said, she was a princess.

Duke Belmart, said to be the Empire’s greatest power holder, was her grandfather, and the Empress also adored her as a niece.

‘I haven’t had a chance to see His Majesty the Emperor up close yet, but…’

If she won this charity event and presented armor made of ethyl stone, he would surely be very pleased with her.

Moreover, there were particularly many visiting state guests for this Thanksgiving Festival.

‘For someone like me, becoming a crown princess of a nearby kingdom would be nothing.’

Meg raised the corners of her mouth while recalling the list of neighboring country princes and crown princes scheduled to visit this time.

‘This time I must make good connections.’

If that happened, her grandfather and even the Empress would be very proud of her.

She was lost in such happy imagination when it happened.

“Duke Tigris and Lady Seleneae have arrived!”

…What.

Again this time too?

Meg frowned deeply and turned her head.

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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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