I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 64

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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 spoke meaningfully to Anna, who had frozen with a surprised expression.

 

“Oh, of course I know that day is Anna’s day off. So I’ll count that day as overtime work.”

 

“Overtime work…?”

 

“Yeah, special duty. I’ll pay you three times the usual rate. How about it?”

 

I grinned as I watched Anna’s mouth fall wide open.

 

‘What else would I use my saved money for if not something like this.’

 

There was a reason why I suddenly wanted to follow Anna to the servants’ meeting.

 

‘That servants’ meeting is more of a goldmine than most social circles.’

 

The nobles of this world lived with servants attached to them from the moment they opened their eyes in the morning until just before they went to sleep.

 

In other words, it meant the servants were essentially walking CCTVs.

 

There was no way the servants, who spent most of their daily lives in the manor, wouldn’t know what was happening inside the manor.

 

Their information network was more powerful than most information brokers.

 

From stories about Ann from the kitchen and Charles the stable keeper having an affair, to the secret private lives of the masters they served.

 

Not to mention matters about how money flowed within the noble houses…

 

‘They even know tremendous information like there being more than a few suspicious ledgers in their master’s study.’

 

I had once predicted that Nicolaus Zelbero’s background would be dirty based on a story I heard from Anna.

 

And when I investigated, it turned out to be true.

 

Well, I had expected it to be true from the beginning.

 

This is why employee… no, servant management is important.

 

Keep only a small number of trustworthy people close by, and if you think they’re your people, provide generous benefits.

 

The reason I carefully looked after Anna and the other servants in the manor was precisely this.

 

‘If you treat hearts kindly, kindness will return to you too.’

 

Of course, there was also the method of controlling servants through fear, but that wasn’t my style.

 

Having finished my contemplation, I spoke up.

 

“Help me out that day, Anna.”

 

Anna stiffened with puzzled eyes, then reluctantly nodded her head.

 

The next day.

 

After finishing a cozy meal with Father for the first time in a while, I entered the meeting room.

 

Oscar, Martin, and Walter were waiting for me in the meeting room.

 

And…

 

“Jane!”

 

Seeing Jane, whose complexion was clearly much better than before, I approached with a pleased expression.

 

Jane stood up from her seat with a bright smile.

 

“Hello, Lady!”

 

Jane’s voice was much brighter and more energetic than before. I examined her complexion and asked.

 

“Are you receiving treatment well? It’s not too difficult, is it?”

 

“Yes, it’s all thanks to you, Lady. Uncle Martin always takes good care of me, so recently my vision has recovered a lot too.”

 

“Uncle?”

 

Not doctor?

 

Surprised by the unexpected title, I turned to look at Martin, and he scratched the back of his head as if embarrassed.

 

“Well… the children in Sorad used to call me uncle too. The title ‘doctor’ feels too impersonal…”

 

A gentle smile appeared on my lips at his somewhat embarrassed appearance.

 

Martin seemed to like children much more than I thought.

 

“So, how is Jane’s condition?”

 

“It’s complicated to explain in detail, but the progress is very good.”

 

“What about her vision? You said vision was the biggest immediate problem.”

 

“No problem. Recently, her vision has actually been recovering little by little. The medicine she’s currently taking seems to suit her body.”

 

A bright smile naturally spread across my lips.

 

“Really, what a relief.”

 

“Yes. It was fortunate that we didn’t miss the treatment timing.”

 

Martin looked at Jane with proud eyes. Next to him was Oscar, who likewise had a happy smile across his face.

 

I quickly greeted him.

 

“Oscar, it’s been a while.”

 

“I’ve been waiting to see you, Miss.”

 

I smiled awkwardly as I watched Oscar bow his head respectfully.

 

After he pledged his loyalty to me, he had asked me so many times to speak casually that I had been treating him comfortably.

 

Of course, it was very awkward at first. It would be, since it was a teenager speaking informally to an elderly man.

 

‘In South Korea, I would have looked like a completely inconsiderate person, but…’

 

Fortunately, this wasn’t South Korea.

 

“You know why I asked to see you today, right?”

 

Oscar calmly nodded at my question.

 

Soon he gave a look, and Jane quickly stood up from her seat, bowed her head, and left the meeting room with Martin.

 

Only Walter, Oscar, and I remained in the meeting room.

 

I walked over to a nearby seat and sat down. Then I turned my gaze to Walter and asked.

 

“Have you found some people who will testify about Nicolas’s embezzlement?”

 

Walter nodded seriously.

 

“Yes. I succeeded in winning over several Privy Council members who have ill feelings toward Nicolaus Zelbero. However…”

 

I raised one eyebrow as if asking what.

 

“They all said they won’t testify until solid evidence appears that can definitely bring down Nicolas.”

 

A short sigh escaped from my lips.

 

“…How frustrating. So they’re still more afraid of Nicolaus Zelbero than House of Tigris.”

 

Winning the gladiator event and dining with the Emperor and state guests at the grand banquet apparently wasn’t enough.

 

‘To think I still can’t even win over a single Privy Council member.’

 

I spoke with somewhat sunken eyes.

 

“Don’t worry. Evidence will appear soon.”

 

Walter and Oscar’s gazes turned toward me simultaneously.

 

“This week. I’m going to follow Anna to the servants’ meeting she attends.”

 

Leaving Walter’s surprised expression behind, I stood up from my chair and headed toward the window.

 

When I slightly drew back the curtain, the bright afternoon sunlight that had been falling on the garden seeped into the meeting room.

 

Looking down at the garden, I said.

 

“There’s a maid working at Nicolai’s Mansion. I’m thinking of getting testimony from her.”

 

“That’s too dangerous, Miss.”

 

I turned my head.

 

Walter was looking at me with a stern expression.

 

“This time the situation is very different from before. You know that too, don’t you, Miss.”

 

I stared at him silently.

 

“If by any chance that maid runs to Nicolaus Zelbero and tells him that we’re digging into his background…”

 

“Yeah, that’s exactly why. The reason I called Walter here today.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Walter’s eyes widened.

 

I looked at the questioning Walter and grinned.

 

“That day, have knights lie in wait in front of the cafe where the meeting will be held.”

 

Walter’s eyes grew larger and larger.

 

“If things go wrong, I’m thinking of kidnapping her. That maid.”

 

Walter drew in a sharp breath. Soon his lips parted and a trembling voice flowed out.

 

“K-kidnapping, you say…?”

 

“Yeah, is there some problem with that?”

 

“It’s not that, but you’re saying so calmly that you’ll kidnap someone in the middle of the Empire, and in broad daylight at that, so it’s a little…”

 

I nodded while facing Walter, who seemed flustered.

 

“Walter’s right. It’s broad daylight, and kidnapping someone in the middle of the Empire wouldn’t be easy. The risk of causing a commotion is too great.”

 

“….”

 

“That’s why I’m asking you to be extra careful and have skilled people lying in wait. I’d prefer to see and choose them myself if possible, but I’ve been too busy lately.”

 

I smiled slightly and returned to sit in my seat.

 

“I have a favor to ask.”

 

Then I pushed the paper I had brought in advance toward Walter.

 

“Her name is Roxie. Dark brown hair with green eyes. She has a slight limp in her left leg.”

 

Walter accepted the paper containing information about Roxie.

 

“Wh-when did you prepare something like this?”

 

“It’s nothing special. I just asked Anna and put together a simple summary.”

 

Walter’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

Oscar, who had been glancing at the paper from the side, clicked his tongue as if impressed.

 

“If there’s no significant progress throughout the meeting, I’ll give a signal. Then Anna will bring this girl out to the back of the cafe for a moment, and the knights lying in wait can move then.”

 

When I added, ‘Make sure she can’t scream,’ Walter flinched in surprise and nodded.

 

With my eyes gleaming calmly, I turned my head to look at Oscar this time.

 

“How are things going on your end?”

 

Oscar answered with a slightly tense expression.

 

“We have a collection of petitions that have been steadily coming up from the northern part of the Empire. If we analyze them well, they should also serve as evidence.”

 

I nodded.

 

“Good. At this rate, it should be possible by the time the charity event concludes.”

 

Oscar and Walter’s gazes simultaneously turned toward me.

 

“Making Nicolaus Zelbero step down from his chairmanship, that is.”

 

Evidence was steadily accumulating.

 

And once we obtained testimony to give weight to this evidence, everything would flow smoothly according to plan.

 

‘I heard Nicolaus Zelbero is famous for treating his servants harshly.’

 

If I could win Roxie over properly, she might turn to our side and provide quite useful testimony.

 

‘If she’s been tormented like that, she probably has no particular loyalty to Nicolas.’

 

That’s probably why she had readily spilled gossip about the happenings within the manor and Nicolaus Zelbero to Anna.

 

But a few days later.

 

On the day Anna’s servants’ meeting was held.

 

At a shabby cafe in the Empire, I couldn’t help but be flustered.

 

“Wh-what did you say…?”

 

Anna asked the other servant across from her in disbelief.

 

I sat at a slightly distant table with a hardened expression, concentrating all my attention on their conversation.

 

“Roxie is….”

 

Anna’s voice trembled.

 

“Dead?”

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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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