I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 84

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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 had even resolved to call Oscar as a witness just in case, but the trial proceeded rather anticlimactically.

 

Since the incident where assassins attacked me occurred this afternoon, there was no need for much additional evidence.

 

Nicolaus Zelbero’s crimes surfaced more easily than expected.

 

His charges were numerous.

 

Attempted murder for ordering my death, embezzlement for siphoning the Empire’s budget, and finally…

 

“I-I never did such a thing!”

 

“Lady Klein, it’s all revealed in these ledgers!”

 

At Meg’s voice that resounded throughout the courtroom, the Chief Justice frowned for the first time and shouted.

 

Meg shook her head vigorously.

 

“But I really never received bribes or anything like that! I just borrowed money once…”

 

“The year before last, right before departing for short-term study abroad to the Kingdom of Sorad. You received the red diamond that was the only one of its kind in the Empire.”

 

“Th-that was the only one in the Empire? I didn’t know that…!”

 

“Last year, you received dozens of dresses to wear to the year-end festival.”

 

“Th-the dresses were gifts that other young ladies receive too! I just thought the Chairman cherished me because he had connections with my grandfather…”

 

Meg’s rambling excuses gradually grew quieter.

 

When I looked up, I could see Meg half-risen from her seat undignifiedly, and Duke Belmart’s back as he pressed her shoulder down to make her sit again.

 

“Be quiet, Meg Cline.”

 

Duke Belmart’s voice echoed low throughout the courtroom.

 

Several nobles in the gallery drew in sharp breaths.

 

The Emperor’s father-in-law and a power broker of the Empire.

 

And someone with an illustrious bloodline that could never be ignored.

 

Sebin Belmartre, the current head of Belmart, was remarkable enough to overwhelm the entire assembly with just one word.

 

“…I have raised you poorly.”

 

As he quietly gazed down at Meg and muttered, it seemed as if blue fury was rippling from his back.

 

As I watched with an intrigued expression, Father spoke quietly beside me.

 

“He intends to remove his granddaughter from the family registry.”

 

My eyes widened.

 

“Remove her from the family registry?”

 

“Exactly as it sounds. That man isn’t the type to protect a criminal who has disgraced the family just because they’re blood relatives.”

 

And those words proved true.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

Sebin Belmartre turned toward the Emperor, leaving the pale Meg Cline behind him.

 

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

 

At his words, the Emperor looked up at Duke Belmart with a complicated expression.

 

“As the family elder, it is my fault for failing to properly manage and oversee my household.”

 

The Emperor remained silent. From his expression, he seemed quite troubled.

 

Indeed, from the Emperor’s position, he could neither protect nor reproach Duke Belmart.

 

As I brightened with interest at how entertainingly the situation was unfolding, Duke Belmart glanced at Meg and spoke again.

 

“Chief Justice. As of this moment, Belmart withdraws its defense of that child.”

 

Meg drew in a sharp breath.

 

Cold sweat was flowing down her pale face.

 

Sebin Belmartre looked directly at her.

 

“From today, your name that was ‘Meg Cline Belmart’ is now simply ‘Meg Cline.'”

 

Then he added in a cold voice.

 

“Your name will be erased from Belmart’s registry from now on.”

 

“G-Grandfather—!”

 

“Silence!!”

 

Under Sebin Belmartre’s intimidating presence, Meg shed tears and closed her mouth.

 

“Having nothing better to do, you conspired in the murder of a noble and even accepted bribes!!”

 

“G-G-Grandfather… surely when I received those dresses last year, you said they were pretty and suited me well…”

 

“That was because I didn’t know they were bought with money embezzled from the Imperial Palace!”

 

Sebin Belmartre glared fiercely at Meg with blazing eyes.

 

“If you don’t want your mother to be driven out of the manor as well, don’t say another word.”

 

“Hic, hic… Grandfather…”

 

“Bear the consequences of your crimes yourself. As a final mercy, I’ll arrange a place for you to stay in the provinces.”

 

Sebin Belmartre turned his head again and bowed to the Emperor.

 

“…Then I shall see you at the next Council of Nobles.”

 

Then he turned and completely left the courtroom.

 

Meg watched the Duke’s retreating figure with hollow eyes.

 

“…Ahem, we shall resume the trial.”

 

The trial resumed with the Chief Justice’s voice.

 

Meg said nothing after that.

 

Even when Nicolaus Zelbero was sentenced to death and dragged out of the courtroom screaming.

 

That evening.

 

“Meg went to a monastery.”

 

The sun had completely set and the room was dim.

 

Rubel, who had been leaning against the window as thin chiffon curtains fluttered, spoke.

 

“You feel uncomfortable about it.”

 

“…That’s not it. I’ve talked with her before so I know she’s not the type who can be reformed.”

 

“Then why do you look like that.”

 

Rubel approached me and sat on the edge of the bed.

 

“I don’t know. I just… feel a bit strange somehow.”

 

I sighed deeply and buried my face between my knees that I had pulled up.

 

Then I suddenly lifted my head and looked at Rubel.

 

“Oh, right. You worked so hard for several weeks. It must have been difficult running around day and night?”

 

Rubel had spent the past few weeks busy collecting evidence needed for my plan, searching for witnesses, and even tailing Meg Cline when necessary.

 

This was because Rubel was currently the only ‘person of mine’ I could trust with such tasks.

 

The knights were Father’s people after all, so it wasn’t easy for me to freely send them on personal errands.

 

“It wasn’t that difficult. It’s fortunate that things worked out well in the end.”

 

“Right, you really contributed a lot. Thank you so much. I really have no one but you.”

 

When I smiled brightly, Rubel stared at me intently. Then he soon blushed slightly and turned his head away.

 

I nodded inwardly.

 

‘Rubel has always been weak to compliments, then and now.’

 

To be so embarrassed by just a simple word of thanks.

 

Feeling oddly touched, I reached out to pat his shoulder, but suddenly Rubel grabbed my wrist.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

When I asked, caught off guard with my wrist grabbed, Rubel looked me in the eyes with a serious expression.

 

“I’ve noticed this before, but you touch men too casually.”

 

“…Touch? Me?”

 

After being frozen for a moment, I exclaimed quietly.

 

“Hey, how is this touching? I was just encouraging you. And when have I ever touched people so carelessly?”

 

“…”

 

He stared at me with an ominous expression.

 

I widened my eyes, feeling somehow wronged. Rubel muttered quietly.

 

“…Casian. And you touched Ansun too.”

 

“I did?”

 

“…Yes. I also saw you patting the servants’ backs at the training ground.”

 

An awkward silence flowed between us. I blinked blankly.

 

“Did I really do that?”

 

I spent my entire childhood at the orphanage. Those days were truly terrible memories for me.

 

Having my daily snack stolen was just the basics.

 

The director’s son would destroy my belongings for no reason whenever he was in a bad mood.

 

After living like that, just taking it, for several years.

 

Just once, instead of just taking it, I jumped up and fought back against the director’s son.

 

After getting hit just once in the face with my fist, the director’s son clutched his face, turned pale blue, and shouted.

 

“Ahh—! Lee Sebin! Are you crazy!”

 

“Why! Does it hurt now that you got hit too? Does it hurt?! Then why did you hit me!”

 

All the pent-up resentment burst out and words flowed like machine gun fire like a crazy person.

 

“Why do you only treat me like this, what did I do wrong! Not having parents isn’t even a crime, so why do I have to feel like this, why…!”

 

The director’s son looked at me with a shocked face as I beat him up while crying, then soon ran away with his tail between his legs.

 

I remained alone in the empty playground, just watching the director’s son’s retreating figure in the distance.

 

After that day, I had a big realization.

 

“…I’m pretty indifferent to things like men and women. I deliberately acted really tough when I was young. I deliberately hung out with boys. I fought and tried to learn sports, but unfortunately I never did learn.”

 

“You tried to learn sports? Are you talking about things like horseback riding or shooting?”

 

I hesitated as I looked at Rubel listing aristocratic sports.

 

‘Rubel doesn’t know that I came from another world.’

 

I quickly made an excuse.

 

“There are things like that. Anyway, so I didn’t know that patting backs or shoulders would be such a big problem. And Casian and Ansun being men or whatever…”

 

“…”

 

Rubel nodded silently. Then he soon muttered quietly.

 

“…Right. Come to think of it, that’s my problem too.”

 

“Huh? What is?”

 

Rubel didn’t answer.

 

He was just lost in thought with a serious expression.

 

“…Certainly, Casian and Ansun Daniel did seem unbothered.”

 

“What are you suddenly talking about? You need to speak so I can understand.”

 

But Rubel remained silent and unnecessarily ruffled his hair. Soon he got up from his seat.

 

“Leaving already?”

 

He said as he climbed onto the windowsill.

 

“I have night training.”

 

“Night training? Do you do night training these days too?”

 

Rubel smiled faintly and nodded.

 

“Call me anytime if you need anything. Your requests are still top priority anyway.”

 

And then before I could finish answering, he swiftly crossed the windowsill and disappeared.

 

I stared blankly at the curtains fluttering in the wind and muttered.

 

“…He always ignores the door and goes through the window.”

 

His joints are going to get bad.

 

Just then, the warm spring evening breeze tickled through my hair as it passed by.

 

“Is it because the weather’s nice?”

 

My heart feels like it’s floating somehow.

 

Thinking that, I soon flopped down onto the bed.

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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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