I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 66

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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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Peony stared blankly at the eyes visible beneath the deeply pulled hood, then slowly blinked twice.

 

“Wh-who…?”

 

“There are many watching eyes here.”

 

The woman across from her said with a smile.

 

As soon as those words ended, a luxurious carriage stopped behind them.

 

Peony’s expression gradually hardened as she spotted the golden crest engraved on the dark red body.

 

‘Good heavens.’

 

“Why is the Tigris family’s carriage…?”

 

Peony’s gaze, which had been scanning the carriage with confused eyes, slowly moved back to the woman before her.

 

…Now that she looked again, she understood.

 

Mysterious platinum hair and blue eyes.

 

Even the appearance said to perfectly resemble Duke Tigris, famous for his beauty.

 

“Nice to meet you, Peony. I’m Seleneae Tigris.”

 

Seleneae said with a bright smile.

 

Then she gently grasped the shoulders of Peony, who was frozen in place, and turned her around.

 

“Come, come. Let’s talk inside.”

 

Feeling the hand pushing her back toward the carriage, Peony hesitantly moved her feet with a flustered face.

 

The moment she finally stepped into the carriage.

 

Seleneae, who had followed her into the carriage, shut the door with a sharp sound.

 

Peony rolled her aimlessly wandering eyes, looking back and forth between the firmly closed door and Seleneae.

 

“Wh-why would Your Ladyship want me…?”

 

Her voice was slightly trembling.

 

A thought suddenly flashed through her mind, and she bit her lip.

 

‘Did she find out about the background investigation I did on Tigris under Lady Meg’s orders?’

 

If that was really the case, it would be terrible.

 

No matter how much they were now considered a fallen power in the Empire, what kind of family was Tigris?

 

And what about the rumors surrounding the family head, Aleon Tigris?

 

Having finished assessing the situation, Peony bowed her head as if her neck might break and collapsed to the floor.

 

“I-I-I have committed a mortal sin!”

 

However.

 

“Peony, calm down.”

 

Before her knees could even touch the ground, Seleneae grabbed her hands and pulled her up.

 

Then with gentle hands, she supported Peony and seated her on the soft cushions instead of the hard floor.

 

Just as Peony was gaping her mouth, the carriage door opened with a small sound.

 

Through the gap, an armed knight pushed something inside.

 

“Here is the ointment and bandages you requested.”

 

Peony’s gaze turned to Seleneae, who was receiving the ointment and bandages.

 

“You were on your way to the general store, right? Because of your wound.”

 

Seleneae asked as she pulled out a clean handkerchief from her pocket. The next moment, Peony was startled.

 

Because Seleneae had brought the handkerchief to her own cheek. And with very gentle movements at that.

 

“Y-Your Ladyship. Why, why are you doing this…?”

 

Peony asked in a trembling voice, her body completely rigid. But Seleneae’s face was nonchalant.

 

She was now half-rising from her seat, carefully examining Peony’s wound.

 

“You’re bleeding quite a bit. How did you get hurt?”

 

At the gentle touch wiping away the dried blood on her cheek, Peony’s eyes wandered through the air once again.

 

Then Seleneae carefully removed the dirty bandage from her cheek. She didn’t seem to mind that blood was getting on her hands.

 

“Did you fall?”

 

This time Seleneae spoke while opening the lid of the ointment.

 

Inside the wooden container was the yellow handmade wound ointment known as the mascot of the Empire’s general stores.

 

“Th-that ointment is…”

 

It was an ointment she had never been able to use because it was effective but equally expensive.

 

“Ah, I heard this is the best for wound recovery.”

 

Peony closed her mouth.

 

“No, what I mean is, su-suddenly why…?”

 

Why did you bring me here? Why are you treating me so kindly?

 

Even giving me expensive medicine I’ve never received before.

 

Questions she couldn’t bring herself to voice lingered below her throat.

 

Seleneae smiled gently.

 

“Oh, it’s nothing special. You seemed close with Anna, so I was concerned.”

 

Peony raised her head with a trembling voice.

 

“…I-I’m not that close with Anna Bardi. We’re just in the same group… ugh.”

 

However, Peony, who had been muttering with eyes full of wariness, soon let out a short groan and closed her mouth.

 

Because she could feel the stinging sensation in earnest as the ointment touched her wound.

 

“Sorry. Does it sting a lot?”

 

“Huh? N-not really…”

 

“The wound is deeper than I thought. What did this to you? It wasn’t a blade, was it?”

 

At the continued questioning, Peony pressed her lips tightly shut. An awkward silence flowed between them for a moment.

 

After some time had passed, Peony muttered in a small, cracked voice.

 

“…Lady Meg threw a glass.”

 

The hand that had been placing bandages over the wound paused.

 

“I avoided the glass, but I got hit by a shard and ended up like this.”

 

With her eyes cast downward, Peony trailed off indifferently. Her voice was so small it was barely audible.

 

After a moment, Seleneae, who had been frozen, began moving her hands again.

 

She finished applying the ointment to the wound, changed to clean bandages, then straightened her back.

 

“All done.”

 

Then she calmly organized the remaining bandages and ointment and placed them on Peony’s lap.

 

Peony, who had been watching her with tightly pressed lips, asked in a trembling voice.

 

“Why are you doing this?”

 

“Hm?”

 

Seleneae looked at Peony with wide eyes. Peony’s expression was hardened.

 

“You are Lady Tigris.”

 

“…”

 

“I am a person of Belmart. That Belmart which has been enemies with the Tigris family for generations. And right now…”

 

I serve Lady Meg. That Meg Cline who wants to kill you.

 

Just as Peony was pressing her lips shut and swallowing the words that had risen to her throat.

 

“I told you, I just brought you here because your wound looked bad. It seemed like you needed proper treatment.”

 

“…”

 

“Originally I was going to take you to a doctor, but I thought you’d refuse, so I only gave you temporary treatment here.”

 

Peony’s eyes narrowed. Just as she was about to open her mouth to say something.

 

Seleneae added with a natural smile.

 

“Also, there’s something I want to propose to you.”

 

Peony’s eyes widened as she gaped.

 

“A proposal?”

 

“Yes, Peony, do you perhaps…?”

 

“…”

 

“Have any thoughts about changing jobs?”

 

A few days later.

 

Under the pleasant spring sunshine of a beautiful day, colorful and large posters were put up throughout the Empire.

 

Noble ladies carrying parasols stopped in their tracks as they passed through the streets.

 

“Oh my, ladies. Take a look at this notice board.”

 

At those words, the noble ladies gathered with delicate steps.

 

“It’s the list of charity event participants. Let’s see, who’s participating this year?”

 

“Oh! Here, Lady Estelin from House of Laurent is listed. Lady Meg is here too, and Lady Betty…”

 

However, one noble lady’s gaze suddenly stopped at a certain name as she scanned down the notice board.

 

“Seleneae Tigris…? It seems Lady Tigris is also participating this time?”

 

The other noble ladies looked at the notice board closely with surprised faces.

 

“My goodness, it’s true. To think I’d live to see a charity event with Lady Tigris participating.”

 

“Indeed. Aren’t you somewhat excited? What will she bring?”

 

“Since it’s her first entry, she’ll probably prepare some impressive exhibits.”

 

The noble ladies’ eyes sparkled with curiosity.

 

Though called ‘charity,’ it was actually nothing more than an event for nobles to show off their wealth.

 

What works would be displayed at the charity event around this time each year was one of the nobles’ greatest interests.

 

So much so that even the Empire’s gossip magazines would step in to publish collections of charity event exhibits as seasonal specials.

 

Generally, the lady who presented the most expensive exhibit would win, but occasionally the lady who achieved the year’s greatest accomplishment would take victory.

 

So perhaps…

 

“Come to think of it, wouldn’t it be fair to say that Tigris opened this year’s beginning?”

 

The noble ladies nodded their heads.

 

“That’s right. The entire Empire was in an uproar over the gladiatorial event.”

 

The Tigris family, said to be led by the most powerful war god of the current era.

 

The Tigris family had won the gladiatorial event last year with overwhelming skill, and this year too they claimed the laurel crown without any major upsets.

 

If there was any notable point, it was that this year they achieved a very dramatic victory.

 

Because they defeated the neighboring kingdom of Carton so decisively, the Emperor was greatly pleased with the match results.

 

‘Especially that knight with the incredible ability was amazing.’

 

‘There were even rumors that the Emperor was favoring Duke Tigris again, who had fallen out of grace…’

 

‘Most importantly, the ability enhancement drug.’

 

Because of that drug called God’s Tears or whatever, the Empire was turned upside down for quite some time.

 

The noble ladies gathered here had also already sent lengthy letters to the Tigris family, though they didn’t show it outwardly.

 

Asking to purchase that drug, even if just one bottle.

 

“Perhaps… this year’s winner might be Lady Tigris?”

 

At one noble lady’s words, other ladies nodded here and there.

 

“That might be so. But there are rumors that Lady Meg, last year’s winner, has prepared quite formidable exhibits.”

 

Before the Thanksgiving Festival began, Meg Cline, granddaughter of Duke Belmart, had gathered the Empire’s ladies for a party.

 

And at that gathering, she reportedly said this:

 

“Armor made from Ethyl stone, was it?”

 

“Yes. Isn’t it truly amazing? House of Belmart is… tremendous in many ways.”

 

“If that rumor is true, I think this year’s charity event winner has already been decided.”

 

“Right. No matter what they prepare, could it draw more attention than Ethyl stone armor? Or rather, could they even put a price on that armor…”

 

The noble ladies nodded their heads.

 

“We’ll have to wait for the gossip magazines to know the details, but it looks like there will be quite a competition, as intense as the gladiatorial event.”

 

The noble ladies began walking past the shopping district where the notice board was posted, with expectant gazes.

 

Then someone spoke up.

 

“Ladies, speaking of gossip magazines. Have you heard that news by any chance?”

 

“What news?”

 

“Well… I heard there’s a noble family in the Empire that’s been colluding with government agencies and embezzling money.”

 

It was an incredible story. The noble ladies stopped walking abruptly.

 

“Is that really true?”

 

“Yes! I heard it’s an incredibly powerful family. Who could it be?”

 

This was the beginning of the so-called Seleneaeval, the rumor that would bring down Nicolaus Zelbero.

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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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