I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 48

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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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Walter said while carefully examining the documents.

“Now, if you look here, it’s recorded that money coming into the Treasury under the pretext of thanksgiving donations is not being properly delivered to the Privy Council.”

Oscar nodded while wiping his sweat-soaked forehead with his hand.

Walter Levy, sitting in front of him, was Duke Tigris’s capable strategist who was renowned throughout the estate.

Oscar had been unable to understand the situation before him for some time now.

As he wiped away cold sweat again with a troubled expression, Selene spoke up.

“…Nicolaus Zelbero. That man is the problem.”

Oscar’s startled gaze turned toward her.

Selene was spinning a quill pen between her fingers as if tired.

“Anna attends a servants’ meeting. There are several people there who work at Nicolaus Zelbero’s estate… They say there are quite a few suspicious ledgers at the manor.”

Selene continued speaking indifferently.

“Moreover, if you go just a little outside the estate, public sentiment has hit rock bottom. Then the answer is obvious.”

Oscar quickly raised his head. Selene was staring intently at him.

“You must have known too, Councilor. You’ve chosen silence all this time because of Jane’s medical expenses.”

Oscar felt his face flush hot as he lowered his head.

“…I, I’m ashamed.”

“No, that’s completely understandable.”

Oscar unconsciously raised his head in a daze.

She was gazing at him with a relaxed expression.

“When your family’s life is at stake, who could recklessly step forward? Besides, you’re different from those who filled their own pockets with that money.”

Her blue eyes sparkled intelligently.

“You did your best in your own way. So you don’t need to feel guilty. Also…”

“…”

“You’ll become the chairman soon anyway, so you can just work to create a better Privy Council from now on, can’t you?”

Selene smiled brightly after finishing her words.

For a moment, Oscar unconsciously swallowed at the strange light in the girl’s eyes.

They said she was an incompetent person who acted recklessly everywhere and caused trouble.

All the rumors must have been false.

In Oscar’s view, the Lady was not a scoundrel. She was clearly a Tigris who had inherited the Duke’s authority.

Then Selene, who had been frowning briefly as if pondering something, spoke again.

“Anyway, that’s exactly why. The reason I decided to put you in the position of Privy Council chairman.”

Oscar gazed at her with trembling eyes.

For him to dare become chairman.

No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

He unconsciously clenched his fists and muttered in a bewildered voice.

“But that can’t be possible…”

“It’s possible.”

Oscar quickly closed his mouth. There wasn’t a trace of doubt in Selene’s confident eyes.

“I’ll handle everything myself, so you just need to lend a little help when needed. And… most importantly.”

She smiled.

“Once you take the chairman position, you’ll have to become completely my person from then on.”

Oscar’s eyes widened.

Selene spoke in an unwavering voice, as if driving in a nail.

“After becoming chairman of the Privy Council, you’ll have to work for me, not the Emperor.”

At those words, Oscar’s face hardened with shock. Then it gradually turned pale.

Selene’s words were quite dangerous. But he couldn’t rashly refuse the proposal either.

Oscar muttered incoherently.

“The, the Privy Council is originally an advisory body for His Majesty the Emperor. But to ask me to work for the Lady rather than the Emperor…”

His gaze wavered unsteadily like a candle in the wind. Selene continued.

“It’s not that big a deal. I’m just asking you to choose me when a moment comes where you have to pick between His Majesty and me. But you’re still hesitating, I see.”

Oscar swallowed hard.

“Well, that’s…”

But Selene smiled calmly.

“Just say you’ll do it. Then Jane will become healthy, and you’ll be happy.”

Oscar’s face stiffened completely. But Selene didn’t seem to mind.

“I’ll help you regain a life free from money and circumstances. I’ll put back in your hands everything you’ve had to give up while being chased by life. Do you still dislike it?”

All the proposals were tempting and desperate, but Oscar couldn’t answer rashly. The longer the silence lasted, the more coldness filled the drawing room.

Finally, Selene sighed briefly and spoke again.

“I understand. Of course I know it’s a difficult decision too. But I have a plan, and right now you also…”

But then, Oscar suddenly stood up from his seat. Selene’s eyes widened.

Without any warning, he had prostrated himself at Selene’s feet. With his forehead pressed firmly to the floor.

“I will do it.”

It was a trembling but strong and firm voice.

“It’s not just because of Jane. Lady… no, Miss, your words are correct.”

“…”

“That man Nicolaus Zelbero is wearing an undeserved position. But I remained silent even knowing that.”

Oscar’s lips hardened painfully. His hands touching the floor trembled.

“He’s someone who treats the poor citizens of the Empire like insects. Even at this very moment, they’re dying…”

At his fading voice, Selene’s eyes quietly sank.

“…I am lowly. But if you will truly, truly save me and Jane.”

Oscar raised his head while still prostrated. His and Selene’s gazes met.

The old man’s eyes were now flashing with resolute determination.

“Lady, no, Miss, I will follow you. Now I too want to serve someone who can protect me and my family.”

Walter Levy, who had been watching them from the side, let out a hollow laugh.

It was the moment when Oscar Tibon, who would later be counted as one of the Erbia Empire’s most distinguished scholars, became Selene’s subordinate.

“What, there’s personnel changes this year?”

Kopel’s gaze, who had been polishing a large shield as tall as himself, turned toward one corner of the military barracks.

There, a newly enlisted knight was silently maintaining his weapons.

Ansun, who was crouched nearby looking dejected, muttered.

“That person, no, it would be better to stay away from that person.”

“What, twig? Did you already become friends with the newbie?”

Kopel said sarcastically. Ansun sighed deeply and shook his head.

“I clearly warned you. Don’t regret it later when you’re beating the ground.”

At the meaningful answer, Kopel tilted his head. But soon he turned his gaze back to the newcomer sitting in the corner wearing a robe.

He asked with curious eyes, grinning.

“Hey, newbie. What was your name again?”

“…Tatio.”

“Right, Tatio. You’re the guy the captain brought back from the last subjugation, right? The one who stuck close to the Miss.”

Tatio didn’t answer. He was just silently polishing the spear in his hands.

“Given the captain’s personality, it’s not nepotism. You must have considerable skill? Seeing how you got assigned to the elite troops in such a short time.”

“That’s right! Not just swordsmanship and spearmanship, but big brother has an incredible ability!”

Kopel turned his head toward Casian who had interrupted. Casian was looking at Tatio with sparkling eyes.

“An ability?”

“Yes! An ability. He even saved my life with it once, and it was really incredibly amazing.”

As the story became interesting, Kopel leaned toward them and asked with a voice full of anticipation.

“What’s that ability?”

“It’s classified!”

At the spirited answer, Kopel’s face crumpled.

“What?”

“His Grace ordered us to keep quiet about Brother Tatio’s ability for the time being!”

At those words, the wrinkles on Kopel’s brow gradually faded.

No matter how curious he was, if the Duke had given orders to keep that fact secret, there was nothing he could do.

“Then there’s no choice.”

As he gave up and turned his head, Ansun came back into view, sighing heavily in the corner as if he was bored to death.

“Twig. Why have you been looking so gloomy since earlier?”

At Kopel’s words, Ansun whipped his head around and looked at him like he was looking at a bug.

“…You must be nice, being so simple-minded without any thoughts.”

“What, what!”

At Kopel’s flustered voice, Ansun frowned deeply and muttered.

“The winner is obvious anyway, so why bother with preliminaries…”

“Well, the preliminaries are a bit annoying.”

Felix, who had his main weapons – twin swords – hanging at his waist, stood up from his seat and agreed.

“But what can we do, since that’s the Empire’s rules.”

As he finished speaking and chuckled, hearty laughter erupted among the knights.

“Right, right, since we need to finish quickly in the main event, let’s not waste energy from the preliminaries. Casian, you teach the newcomer well.”

Casian nodded with a smile.

Today was the day when the preliminaries of the gladiatorial event, called the biggest attraction of the Thanksgiving Festival, were held.

Unlike other events that were only open to nobles or a small number of state guests, the gladiatorial event could be watched by all citizens of the Empire, including commoners.

“I found the one-on-one matches more interesting. Ever since it became a mock war format, there’s no tension, no tension.”

Kopel spoke sullenly, and Jacks stood up from his seat.

“It’s probably to show off how powerful the Empire’s military is. A mock war format would be more suitable for displaying a well-trained military system than one-on-one matches.”

The other knights also nodded and slowly stood up from their seats. On their backs were dark red sashes bearing the symbol of Tigris.

“Then everyone take good care of your sashes! If you lose them from the preliminaries, it’ll be your neck on the line.”

At Kopel’s words, Ansun replied weakly.

“You guard mine too, since it’s bothersome.”

With that voice as the last, twenty Tigris Elite Knights left the waiting room.

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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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