I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 52

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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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“H-how old is the young lady this year?”

“I turned eighteen this year.”

Although there was a period when I was bedridden, winter had passed and the year had changed, so I was now eighteen.

‘What, surprised that an eighteen-year-old is talking about business?’

I sneered inwardly while staring at the Emperor’s dumbfounded face.

You felt so good when you were making fun of my father, didn’t you? Huh?

Inside my chest, the desire to go even further was surging up repeatedly.

But today, I had to wrap things up around here.

“As I mentioned, God’s Tears is a drug that temporarily enhances abilities. This is the first time it’s been presented since its development, right here today.”

Smiling brightly as I spoke, I slowly extended both hands toward the Emperor.

“So I was wondering… if it would be alright, would you permit me to offer the official first God’s Tears to Your Majesty?”

The Emperor’s pupils gradually grew larger. Exclamations both big and small erupted from the surroundings.

“T-the Lady’s words must be true!”

“Th-then the first ability enhancement drug is going to His Majesty…!”

“Isn’t this the first on the entire continent? That Ansun fellow, no, Lady Tigris is really…”!”

Enjoying the murmuring sounds, I slyly turned my eyes to survey the surroundings.

Among the faces filled with shock and awe, I saw one person alone hardening his brow stiffly.

Cardinal Paul.

The unpleasant priest who had stuck by Duke Belmart’s side all day at the opening ceremony ball.

‘As expected, it’s you.’

I raised the corner of my mouth in a smirk.

‘You’re not even surprised seeing something this incredible?’

As if he had known about the existence of God’s Tears in advance.

The puzzle pieces fit together one by one in my head.

A few months ago, Father Mayer stole God’s Tears from Ansun and delivered it to me. And he brainwashed me to kill Estelin with it.

I had figured out that much, but how Father Mayer knew about the existence of God’s Tears was still a mystery until now.

So I was convinced that there must have been spies hiding in the manor at that time.

There was also that suspicious conversation I heard in the corridor, and those targeting me surely weren’t just Father Mayer alone.

The person who informed Father Mayer about Ansun’s research and told him when the library would be empty.

The person who secretly snuck in and drove Father Mayer mad so that the torture would yield no results.

They moved as a group.

‘There must have been a ringleader controlling them from behind too.’

My gaze turned back to Cardinal Paul.

He was still looking at the God’s Tears in my hand. With eyes that seemed extremely displeased somehow.

Right. If he was a person of power in the Temple, it wouldn’t have been difficult for him to plant spies in the Tigris Estate and manipulate Father Mayer.

Also, seeing how he wasn’t surprised at all by God’s Tears made me more certain.

‘I have circumstantial evidence, so just let one piece of physical evidence show up.’

Having firmly etched his face into my memory, I erased my expression and turned my gaze back to the Emperor.

The Emperor had a deeply impressed look on his face.

I activated the max-level flattery skill I had honed in my previous life with a gentle voice.

“Your Majesty. Although this drug was made in Tigris, I believe it has a different true owner.”

“…Oh ho, is that so. Who would that be?”

I widened my eyes in surprise.

“Why, naturally it would be Your Majesty, the father of the Empire.”

The corner of the Emperor’s mouth twitched.

“Your Majesty is the owner of this entire Empire, and also the owner of Tigris!”

“Heh… hehe, what have I done to deserve this.”

“Not at all, everything is possible because Your Majesty steadfastly protects the Empire.”

I smiled while shyly blushing.

“Father always taught me that way. To always have a grateful heart toward the Imperial House in all matters. He said Your Majesty is like a second father to me.”

“R-really? Duke Tigris said that?”

I grinned while looking at the Emperor whose eyes widened in surprise.

The Emperor was glancing at Father as if asking whether that was really true.

“Of course. So please, I earnestly request that you accept my gift.”

“W-well then, of course I must accept it. Hahaha—!!”

The Emperor burst into hearty laughter. I quickly offered the medicine bottle with an innocent face.

Of course, I didn’t forget to put on a slightly embarrassed expression.

‘For this level of making an impression with one bottle, it’s not a losing business.’

Of course, I had not even an ant’s dropping worth of intention to tell the Emperor the trade secrets later.

Crash—!!

The glass that flew into the wall shattered into dozens of fragments with a sharp sound.

Peony, the maid who had been standing awkwardly at the doorway, clutched her cheek with a pale face.

Blood beaded from a deep cut made by a glass shard. Soon, red blood trickled down.

“What the hell is that bitch!!!”

But as if her wound didn’t matter at all, Meg’s sharp voice immediately flew out.

Peony reflexively cowered and trembled her shoulders.

“It’s not enough that she’s been stirring up high society since before the opening ceremony, why does she interfere with everything—!!”

With a flushed red face, Meg pounded the bed with her fist.

“I should have been the one to offer the first gift!”

A grinding sound flowed from between her teeth as she recalled the Emperor’s expression from earlier in the day.

‘Duke Tigris, you truly have a brilliant daughter. To think I failed to recognize such talent until now!’

The voice that had laughed heartily still rang clearly in her ears.

She hadn’t even properly greeted him yet!

Moreover,

‘…My daughter is a little, no, very clever indeed.’

Even Duke Tigris, who had smiled uncharacteristically.

“You said they didn’t get along! You said she was a troublemaker!”

Meg glared at Peony with venomous eyes. Poor Peony trembled with a pale blue face.

“Th-the rumors certainly said so…”

Just as she barely managed to open her mouth and speak, Meg suddenly strode over and roughly grabbed her by the collar.

“Do you even know how the situation is turning out because of your stupid false information?!”

At the scream-like scolding, Peony squeezed her eyes shut.

“You ruined the party by sending an invitation to Selene! You said Lord Estelin had no interest in me! Not only did you let her steal attention at the party, but I even lost the chance to offer the first gift to His Majesty—!!”

“M-Miss, I’m truly sorry…”

“And even the foreign dignitaries!!”

Meg had clearly seen it. Exactly who all the gazes from the VIP section were directed toward.

‘…God’s Tears, things are taking an interesting turn.’

‘Ability enhancement does sound quite appealing.’

‘Indeed, Tigris is Tigris after all…’

Not only the Prince of Carton who was active in this gladiatorial event, but also the Young King of Tassen and the Prince of Sorad.

“They were all looking at that damn bitch!”

Meg’s eyes blazed with fury. She gritted her teeth and muttered.

“I absolutely must win at the charity event.”

“…Yes, yes?”

“I’m saying you need to completely crush that girl at the charity event!”

The gladiatorial event was something I couldn’t control whether Belmart won or lost. But the charity event was different.

The winner of the charity event, called the flower of the Thanksgiving Festival. I absolutely had to be the one to claim that title.

I had originally planned to win anyway, but this was no longer a simple matter.

“Foolish thing. Go and bring that person here immediately.”

At Meg’s words, Peony’s eyes widened. She carefully asked back.

“B-but Miss. The Man is currently at the Imperial Palace, so how…”

“Whether he’s at the Imperial Palace or in Hell! Can’t you hear me telling you to bring him before my eyes right now?”

Her bloodshot red eyes glinted sharply.

Peony flinched and hurriedly nodded her head. Then she rushed out of the bedroom, clutching her bleeding cheek.

Left alone, Meg anxiously bit her nails.

“Budget… I need more budget.”

The support from her grandfather, Duke Belmart, alone wasn’t enough.

“I absolutely, absolutely must win and make a good impression on His Majesty the Emperor!”

The sound of her fuming quietly echoed through the bedroom.

“The young lady really is…”

Walter clicked his tongue with an extremely excited expression.

I shrugged my shoulders and slurped the tea that was placed on the table.

“Do you know how surprised I was? To suddenly reveal Ansun’s potion in such a crowded place.”

“That’s right! The Tears of God!”

I suddenly lifted my head. Then I asked.

“Still no contact yet?”

“Wh-what contact do you mean?”

I widened my eyes as if it were obvious.

“Of course, contact from the state guests.”

Walter’s expression slightly frowned.

A moment later, having figured out the hidden meaning of my words, he raised his eyelids wide.

Then he replied with a trembling voice.

“…There was contact. A lot of it.”

I smiled knowingly as if I had expected this.

“They’re making a huge fuss about wanting to meet immediately, right?”

Walter nodded with a dumbfounded face. A bright smile spread across my lips.

“Absolutely. Never give them a definite answer, not yet.”

“Are you saying to reject all meeting requests?”

“Of course! You have to make them desperate and unable to bear it for the trading price to go up.”

“Trading?! Are you planning to trade with the state guests?”

I tilted my head.

“Isn’t that obvious? What’s the point of supplying something that amazing only to the Imperial Palace.”

“But the Imperial Court will never permit it. They’ll definitely try to monopolize the Tears of God.”

Walter’s words were right. But I chuckled calmly with a composed face.

“I have plans for that too.”

“What kind of…?”

“I’m going to win the charity event.”

Walter’s eyes widened in shock.

“You’re going to win the charity event? But you haven’t made any preparations until now.”

I shook my head and let out a short sigh.

“Why wouldn’t I be interested in such a tremendous event when the prize is a ‘wish ticket’.”

The young lady who won the charity event could request one thing she wanted from the Emperor.

“There I’ll request permission to supply the medicine Ansun made to other countries.”

“That’s…”

“Then the Imperial Court won’t need to worry either, right? About whether we might secretly distribute the medicine somewhere beyond their surveillance.”

Walter’s mouth fell open.

“W-wait a moment. Then you were originally planning to sell it secretly?”

I finally frowned.

“Walter. Why do you keep asking obvious things? If they say you can’t do it and you don’t do it, that makes you a fool. Rules are meant to be cleverly broken. If you follow the manual too strictly, there’s nothing left to gain.”

“What? M-manual, what?”

It was when I was sighing deeply and shaking my head.

“So today’s events were all planned too.”

Father asked with a somewhat pleased expression.

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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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