I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 71

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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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“This is ridiculous! We need to drag these things out immediately!!”

 

Of course, it seemed not everyone welcomed the presence of the Pinchels.

 

Meg approaching me with a pale face was a matter of moments.

 

She trembled violently while glaring at the Pinchels with a look of disgust.

 

Then she whipped her head around and raised her voice at the High Priest.

 

“Sacred Sprites or whatever, this is all unprecedented! How dare you bring demons into the Imperial Palace? I said drag them out immediately!”

 

The High Priest gave no answer.

 

He was only looking around at me, the Pinchels, and the murmuring crowd with a complicated expression.

 

Meg, as if frustrated, this time called her servants.

 

“What are you all doing! Catch all of these things right now and drag them outside! This is a threat to imperial authority!”

 

I gaped in surprise at Meg’s shrieking behavior.

 

‘No matter how clueless she is, has she gone crazy?’

 

I understood her resentful feelings about attention being diverted from the armor she brought.

 

But there were countless eyes watching her here, including the High Priest.

 

Yet she was so frivolously ordering others’ exhibits to be dragged out.

 

‘She really thinks she’s some kind of princess.’

 

I looked at Meg with pitying eyes.

 

Her servants also couldn’t readily follow their master’s orders and only glanced around nervously.

 

“What are you doing! Right now those damned things…!!”

 

That was the moment Meg said that much.

 

Someone raised one hand and stepped forward in front of her.

 

It was the High Priest.

 

“Lady Cline. You must not speak so carelessly of the Sacred Sprites.”

 

It was a reprimand that seemed troubled yet very firm. Meg quickly shut her mouth.

 

However, she frowned again and shouted.

 

“B-but High Priest! This is ridiculous! I’ve never once heard of bringing demons to a charity event!”

 

“I am aware of that, but didn’t I just tell you? The Sacred Sprites are not mere demons.”

 

“E-even so!”

 

“Moreover…”

 

The High Priest extended his hand toward me as if telling Meg to look.

 

Then one of the Pinchels that had been playfully touching my hair made a “Kek!” sound and threatened the priest.

 

As its small mouth gaped open, needle-sharp teeth gleamed between them.

 

“If you wrongly touch a Sacred Sprite, you could get injured.”

 

At the priest’s muttered words with a sigh, Meg’s eyes widened.

 

“Th-then it’s even more dangerous! What if these things attack people!!”

 

At those words, this time I stepped forward.

 

“Don’t worry about that, Lady Meg.”

 

“…What did you say?”

 

“The Pinchels won’t attack anyone without my command.”

 

Meg’s mouth slowly closed.

 

She seemed to be working hard to understand what my words meant.

 

‘Not attacking without my command means…’

 

I looked at her and smiled wickedly.

 

‘Conversely, if I give the command, attacking anyone would be nothing at all.’

 

Of course, I hadn’t tried it yet.

 

Meg seemed to fully understand the hidden meaning in my words.

 

She hesitated and stepped back several paces, then muttered to the High Priest as if bewildered.

 

“Th-then you’re really going to recognize those things as exhibits?”

 

The High Priest gave no answer.

 

From the side came the voices of nobles excitedly conversing with each other.

 

“So to summarize, the Sacred Sprites that Lady Seleneae brought are now bestowing blessings upon us, is that what you’re saying?”

 

“That’s right! Isn’t it truly amazing? Originally, only His Holiness the Pope could receive the blessing of Sacred Sprites…”

 

“No, but how do the Sacred Sprites follow Lady Tigris in the first place?”

 

“Well, since the Cursed Land where Sacred Sprites inhabit is in the Tigris Domain, wouldn’t that be why?”

 

“That alone doesn’t make sense! Could it be that Lady Tigris has divine affinity…?”

 

I looked at them and secretly chuckled.

 

‘Yes, chatter away enthusiastically. While you’re at it, it would be nice if you made some grand rumors too.’

 

When I turned my head, I saw Meg still standing in place with a bewildered face.

 

No one remained around her gleaming armor anymore.

 

People had all scattered and were talking about the Pinchels.

 

Then the High Priest, who had been watching the situation with a troubled face, spoke.

 

“Lady Tigris. It seems this matter is not for me to decide. So I intend to bring His Eminence the Cardinal…”

 

“Yes, I’ll wait.”

 

I quickly answered and smiled brightly while extending my index finger to point at the box. Then the Pinchels that had been circling around flew back into the box in an orderly fashion.

 

Looking at the High Priest who gaped in surprise, I kindly added.

 

“If you wish, I can also tell His Eminence the Cardinal about how I’m able to command the Sacred Sprites. So please go comfortably.”

 

The dazed High Priest quickly nodded.

 

“Th-then I’ll hurry back.”

 

I confirmed his retreating figure and turned my head again.

 

A little distance away, I saw numerous nobles gathered around Father.

 

“Your Grace, to meet you in such a place!”

 

“Tigris’s military power grows more impressive by the day, so I was wondering if perhaps my son could join the Tigris Knights…”

 

They were desperate to establish friendly relations with Father somehow.

 

It seemed the victory in the gladiatorial event and the Emperor’s recent favorable attitude toward Father had an influence.

 

Father looked quite annoyed, but as he had promised me before, he was playing along to some extent and responding to their questions.

 

It was completely different from the past when he maintained complete silence and isolation.

 

I smiled proudly and after scanning the surroundings once more, approached Meg Cline.

 

Then I asked the question I had prepared in a very calm voice.

 

“Lady Cline, did I make you uncomfortable somehow?”

 

Meg’s face slowly hardened.

 

“…What did you say?”

 

“You’ve seemed quite angry since earlier. Did you dislike my exhibit that much?”

 

When I deliberately made a sad face and added weakly, Meg’s frown deepened.

 

“I just wanted to share the Pinchels’ blessing with everyone for the charity event…”

 

As I trailed off and even let out a small sigh, finally a “Ha!” burst from Meg’s lips.

 

Confirming those blazing eyes, I applauded inwardly.

 

‘Success.’

 

So-called provoking Meg Cline.

 

Meg, trembling with an angry face, suddenly grabbed one of my wrists.

 

Then she began dragging me behind a pillar in the nearby hall.

 

Even while being dragged by her, I kept a close watch on the surroundings to see if anyone was watching us.

 

Fortunately, people’s attention seemed focused on Father and Duke Laurent rather than me.

 

As soon as we entered a complete blind spot, Meg roughly shook off my arm she had been holding.

 

Then she muttered lowly.

 

“You, what the hell are you?!”

 

It was informal speech without beginning or end.

 

When I widened my eyes, Meg snapped as if resentful.

 

“What the hell are you to suddenly appear and interfere with everything from the thanksgiving festival!”

 

I looked at her while swallowing a bewildered laugh.

 

Judging by her current behavior, it seemed this girl had intimidated naive young ladies like this more than once or twice.

 

I deliberately put on a slightly frightened expression. Then I fidgeted with my ear and asked cautiously.

 

“What on earth are you talking about?”

 

“Ha, are you going to pretend you don’t remember? Starting from the party I hosted before the Thanksgiving Festival!”

 

“….”

 

“You defended that beggar-like Grimaldi and humiliated me in front of everyone, and at the gladiator event you used some ridiculous drug on His Majesty the Emperor…!”

 

I, who had been quietly listening to Meg’s words, opened my mouth.

 

“Back then, I wasn’t trying to humiliate you, I was simply asking you to please handle the situation with the generosity befitting a host.”

 

Meg’s brow furrowed deeply. But I continued speaking.

 

“Also, God’s Tears isn’t some ridiculous drug.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

Meg trembled with rage as she glared at me. Then she soon wore a cold smile at the corners of her mouth and continued.

 

“…I see. Now I understand. The reason you can run your mouth so freely like this.”

 

“….”

 

“Aleon Tigris, that has-been. You’re acting arrogant because you trust in him, isn’t that right?”

 

At Father’s name that suddenly flowed from her lips, I slowly raised one eyebrow.

 

“You’ve been showing your shameless face around lately. Did you receive some attention from His Majesty the Emperor? Do you think you’ve found a place to stand in the Empire? Hm?”

 

Eyes filled with contempt swept over me from top to bottom.

 

“If you knew what people were saying about you and your family, you wouldn’t dare have such arrogant fantasies. How ridiculous.”

 

“….”

 

“They say even war heroes are just past glory. You need to realize that your family is nothing but Erbia’s trash, a burden to the Emperor!”

 

Meg said as she pushed my shoulder roughly.

 

“And a fool who couldn’t even manifest at that age! How dare you, when you don’t even know who I am!”

 

She must have pushed quite hard because my shoulder blade ached slightly. I looked at her quietly with my lips pressed firmly together.

 

‘…Ah, I was trying to hold back.’

 

The reason I deliberately provoked Meg to create this situation was actually from a very pure intention.

 

Since she was acting up so fearlessly in a place with many watching eyes, I was trying to gently scold and calm her down.

 

I thought that if Meg kept creating unnecessary disturbances, things would definitely escalate later, and then I’d be bothered too.

 

I was going to scold her like that, and if she seemed somewhat reasonable, I was even planning to hint that the money she received from Nicolas was embezzled funds from the Imperial Court.

 

Although Meg was arrogant, rude, and had the gem-like character of constantly raising her hand against subordinates…

 

‘Since she’s still young, I thought there might be a possibility of rehabilitation if I gave her some appropriate advice.’

 

I made a tsk sound and shook my head from side to side.

 

“You’re hopeless.”

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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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