I’m a villain, but I want to live a long life.

Chapter 6 “I’m a villain, but I want to live a long life.”

I stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

Selenea was an amazing person in so many ways. My father asked her to dine with him, and she refused for two years.

I thought, “The Duke had his reasons”.

It was natural for a parent to be angry when their only daughter refused to eat with them for two years.

Hesitating, I quickly organized the situation in my head.

After making a decision, I wiped the confused look off my face.

“Ahhh…… That’s right. That was me.”

The Duke’s brow furrowed slightly as I tried to smile nonchalantly.

But I faked as natural a smile as I could and continued.

“The meal was so good I forgot about it, and you were upset that I was being so spoiled……?”

Her tone was very calm and submissive, even to me. There was a hint of smugness in it, but I couldn’t help it.

“There was no point in getting serious here, it’s not going to get us anywhere”.

I was already at my breaking point in this situation.

In a previous life, I’d been left out of all the client meetings because I was the youngest.

I didn’t even get a proper handover.

The gunner always picked the tricky ones and handed them over to me. Each one was as barren and desolate as the Serengeti.

“I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to deal with someone trying to knock over a table out of nowhere.

I almost died of frustration at the time, but I never thought I’d see the day when I’d have to use the skills I’d learned from being rolled over and bitten.

I guess that’s why they said you don’t know life until you’ve lived it.

I glanced up at the peacock.

“Let’s keep smiling.

There was no point in getting angry right now.

It was not easy to win the favor of someone you’ve already fallen out with.

So in times like these, it’s best to…….

“I’m here today to apologize, and I hope you’ll believe me when I tell you that there will be many, many more…….”

I chuckled softly, and the Duke’s eyes widened in disbelief.

It was embarrassing to keep smiling in front of him, but I gritted my teeth.

“Maybe I was a pubescent during that time……!”

“……what.”

“I’ll never let it get to me again, so you don’t have to worry about anything!”

I smiled, putting on the nicest, most innocent face in the world after I finished speaking.

It wasn’t a lie.

I was going to be a really good kid from now on. Never do anything bad, listen to my dad.

If I couldn’t beat them, I’d rather be a journalist. That was my life motto.

“And it’s funny that you’re stroking your ego in the second year of your life.

The boss in front of me…… No, it wasn’t a job to please my new father.

I’ve always done it in my previous life, anyway.

And most importantly.

Last night’s fluffy, cozy comforter. The melt-in-your-mouth feast today.

Maybe this life is my reward for all my misery.

Maybe the god were so sorry for my life that they showed me this kindness.

I suffered a lot in my previous life, so I should enjoy it in this life.

I couldn’t lose this great fortune just because I had a bad relationship with my father. No, I didn’t want to risk it at all.

I smirked at the Duke, then popped the baked fruit on my plate into my mouth.

“From this day forward, my dream is to live in this manor forever”.

For that to happen, he had to somehow impress his terrifying father from now on.

“You’ll see, I’m going to be a completely different person from now on. Father!”

The new dishes continued to be served while a short sob escaped the mouth of the astonished duke.

* * *

The Duke’s office.

Walter stood in the doorway, staring at the strange appearance of my lord.

“Adolescent?”

The Duke of Tigeris, Aleon, burst out in a series of short curses.

He leaned back in his chair with his arms folded, staring off into space and muttering to himself.

“You look pretty good for having been knocked out, but what do you mean you haven’t seen your face in two years, puberty?”

“…….”

“What the hell is that?”

It sounded like an animal growling. Walter coughed and interrupted.

“Your Excellency. You are at the age of sensitivity, and I’ve heard rumors that other houses have had their share of erratic youngsters at that age.”

Of course, the Duke was familiar with such rumors.

At the vassal meeting a few days ago, one of the earls had lamented about my young lord, who had just turned 15.

‘My son has been very uncooperative lately,’ he said, ‘and no matter how hard I try to talk to him, I can’t get him to listen.

‘Oh no, my daughter is the same way. She’s the same age as Gong, but she just slams the door, locks it, and won’t even let me into her room, saying, “Who are you?

‘I’was like, ‘Why is it that only 15-year-olds are like this……. It’s not easy raising kids.’

But still, Aleon couldn’t understand Selenea.

For the past two years, Selenea hadn’t just locked the door and avoided conversation.

Today, she suddenly showed up at the cafeteria, said she was sorry for being so rude, that she was going through puberty, and a whole bunch of other unintelligible things, and then disappeared.

“I want to know …… what the hell puberty is that kid talking about.”

Walter bowed his head at his command. Sighing heavily, Aleon muttered low.

“I’ll kill anyone who crosses me twice.”

Walter hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Well, there was that incident.”

The duke’s eyes widened as if he’d remembered something.

“Leave.”

Walter quietly backed away. But just before the door closed, he heard the duke add briefly.

“Go to …… and ask the boy if he needs anything else.”

With his head bowed Walter finally left the office.

* * *

“That was an incredibly satisfying meal.

I walked down the hallway, smiling from ear to ear.

My stomach was a little bloated from eating so well, but I felt great.

Then, as I was walking along, I stopped dead in my tracks.

“……Wait. Where am I?”

I turned around and found myself in an empty hallway with not a single picture frame hanging on the wall.

The hallway leading out of the dining room was decorated, but this one was full of cobwebs.

Wow!

Just then, the sound of a light breeze from somewhere echoed through the hallway.

I hunched my shoulders slightly at the chill and slowly looked around.

Through the grimy windows, I could see the rainy sky. Suddenly, clouds blocked out the sun and darkness fell all around.

“What…… a haunted house.

Staring at the far end of the hallway, I hesitantly turned in the opposite direction.

Out of curiosity, I rushed back to my room and burrowed into my fluffy bed.

“Go take a nap.

A good night’s sleep was supposed to replenish my energy on a rainy day like this.

No, but what kind of a house is this?

If the mansions on the islands was this big, how big was the duchy?

‘Rich people…….’

I clicked my tongue and shook my head. Then he stopped in his tracks as a thought suddenly occurred to him.

“Still, it’s better than being poor.

Yeah, sure.

Wait, does that mean I’m broke now?

I hesitated, then smiled coyly and nodded.

Correction. Rich people are the best. People have to be rich to be seen.

When I get back to my room, I’ll take a nap later and open my closet first. I was sure she has a jewelry box, right?

‘Honestly, at first, I was a little worried about being a villain…….

But now it didn’t matter.

I was in the body of a 17-year-old Selenea who was about to start doing some serious bad things.

That meant that at least I could stop all the evil that was about to happen if I did nothing else.

Besides…….

‘The incident at Estelin’s birthday party seems to have gone much better than I thought.

I’ll just have to keep smiling and getting along with my father like I did today. At least then he wouldn’t suddenly be kicked out one day.

Everything was looking good.

“I’ll be happy and rich and have everything I want, and then I’ll die a normal old man!

What could be worse than suffering like a dog and dying in a building collapse?

I felt a lightness in my step.

“……You won’t believe it, but…….”

The voice came from somewhere up ahead, and I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned to face the wall.

“That child showed up for dinner today.”

Two long shadows of two people stretched out from beyond the curving corner.

“……What, the princess showed up at the table?”

“Yes. From what I hear, the mood was quite jovial, especially since she addressed the Duke as ‘father’…….”

“Nonsense!”

A sharp voice echoed down the hall. I flinched and held my breath.

“It can’t be true!”

“It’s true. The kid who works in the kitchen told me about it, so I guess I better step up my ‘education’.”

The other sighed and clicked his tongue.

“…… Stupid. Don’t you realize that too much of anything is poison? I’m sure the Duke would notice if we stepped up the education at this point.”

“But we don’t have a choice now, do we? We’ve spent a long time working on him, and we can’t just throw it all away now.”

I frowned. There was nothing I could understand.

But my sense of touch, honed by years of experience, spoke fiercely.

“That’s my story, even from a handstand.

The two shadows stirred in a way that was too suspicious even for Chuck.

“……All right, I’ll pass it along as such for now, but plans are always subject to change.”

“Very well. But always keep in mind. The Duke will never…….”

Woof-woof-.

Just then, the window rattled violently, and the wind echoed down the hall again.

I stared at the shaking window with desperate eyes. But by the time the wind died down, I had already missed the important part.

“I’ll see you here next time, then.”

One of the shadows moved away. A moment later, the other shadow, staggered in time, disappeared as well.

I cautiously stepped out and peeked my head around the corner.

The hallway was empty as if no one had ever been there in the first place.

What the hell did I just hear?

I stood there for a moment, dumbfounded, and then came to my senses.

I scrambled to my feet.

There was one more thing I needed to find out.