How To Survive As a Villain on the Verge of Death

“I will definitely wear this necklace on the wedding day.”

When she said that, Diane’s face was full of anticipation.

‘I’m so looking forward to it,’ she thought, ‘I just can’t believe you’ll be unable to attend because you will be falling ill after taking some suspicious medicine.’

It was unfortunate. She felt that she must somehow prevent something from happening today. She was lost in that thought when a maid knocked on the door.

“Madam, the butler says that the preparations for the ballroom are complete.”

Hearing those words, the Duchess stood up from her seat asking for her understanding.

“Oh, excuse me for a second.”

“It’s fine, you can go.”

Well, on days when events were held at the mansion, the hostess was the busiest. The Duchess gave her a more affectionate look than before, then turned to Diane.

“Diane, will you show the princess around the mansion?”

“Me?”

“I’m good, but… Are you okay? I wonder if Miss Diane is overdoing it.”

She was not feeling well and Eve wondered if she needed to rest, but Diane was overjoyed at the opportunity to guide her.

“Wandering around the mansion is fine.”

“Then please.”

After the Duchess left, she toured the Duke’s mansion with Diane. It was also the first time to take a closer look at the mansion of an aristocratic family. The Duke’s mansion was larger than the princess’s palace where she lived, and the location of the rooms was slightly different from the palace.

Come to think of it, the Grand Duke’s mansion must have a similar structure.

Diane eagerly continued her explanation as to whether she was proud of her mansion.

“There is a tea room over here… Below that is a greenhouse. Oh, you can see the garden from here.”

The tea room was across from Diane’s bedroom. It was a beautiful place decorated with cute furniture as if it came out of a fairy tale.

“Where is this place?”

She asked as they entered the room next to the tea room.

“This is the music room.”

“A music room?”

She went inside thinking what the music room was for, and there was an instrument resembling a piano in the center of the room. It was a harpsichord. Next to it was a case containing a flute. Oh, it’s a place to practice music.

There seemed to be a separate music room in that mansion. Was there one in the palace? She did not know. She didn’t think Eve could play an instrument.

There were sofas and tea tables on one side, and cabinets and chairs on the wall, perhaps for those who appreciate it, not just musical instruments. But she paid more attention to the location of this room than that. Because if one opened the door slightly there, they would see a door leading to Diane’s inner room diagonally. This meant that if she was there, she could see people entering and leaving Diane’s room unnoticed. In terms of location, the tea room was closer, but since the tea room faced the inner room door across the hallway, there was a high possibility that it would be discovered by passers-by.

“Does Miss Diane practice playing in this music room?”

“Yes? Ah yes. She is learning the harpsichord.”

She waited for Diane to look at the harpsichord for a moment before speaking in a hesitant voice.

“Actually, His Highness the Crown Prince came here before.”

“Eh… do you mean my older brother?”

“Yes, he came to see my father and heard me play and came inside for a while. That… It was summer at the time, so the door was left open.”

“I guess that happened.”

It’s not like Arentin to go inside while listening to the music. It seemed that the day was very leisurely.

Diane dyed her cheeks red, as if recalling the day’s events.

“Yes, he passed away shortly after saying hello.” that’s Arentin way of doing things.

‘This lady liked the crown prince very much.’

She just thought it was a little girlish crush, but she unexpectedly seems to be pretty badly into it. What’s good about that stiff prince? Was it because there were not many young men around? She thought it was something that could happen and Miss Diane, who only lives in her mansion, would not meet many men.

Arentin came and went in and out of the mansion, and he was the only one who paid attention to Diane, so it was only natural for her to develop those feelings. When she thought so, she felt a little sorry.

“Miss Diane’s skills must have been high enough to hear since my brother came in. I would like to listen to it later.”

“Oh, no. I’m not so good.”

Diane shook her hand, blushing.

“He just said he liked to listen to music.”

Did the prince like to listen to music? It’s information she never knew. Wow, it’s a hobby that didn’t go well with him. Perhaps Arentin had been trying to hang out with the poor young lady for a little while? Otherwise, there’s no way that hard-nosed human being would dare to come up here and enjoy the music. If that’s the case, that person also had a surprisingly friendly side.

“I heard you are not feeling well. Are you still taking medicine every day?”

“Yes… I take it three times a day.”

Diane shook her head with a helpless look.

“What time do you usually take your medicine?”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, I was wondering if I was interrupting you when it was time to take your medicine.”

Diane put on a puzzled expression for a moment at her question, but answered meekly as soon as she heard the explanation.

“I’m fine. I already ate my lunch pills… Next dose will be before going to bed.”

“Then it must be around the end of the prom.”

“Yes, it’s mostly around 10 o’clock.”

Diane replied weakly as she touched her lace sleeve. She seemed to have suddenly lost her energy after hearing about the ball. Well, Diane wouldn’t be able to attend the prom.

Evening dresses worn by ladies to balls were a style that only slightly covered her shoulders. Although they wore gloves, their nape and arms were exposed. Diane wouldn’t be able to wear an evening dress because of her rash. 

She couldn’t help but regret that the daughter of the family couldn’t attend the ball at her own mansion. As they chatted, they left the music room and went downstairs. She went downstairs and walked to the fork in the hallway on the other side, when she heard voices from around the corner.

“It is really cold.”

“I know, right. I was almost late because the road was icy.”

They must have been invited guests to the ball.

Diane whispered softly behind her.

“They are distant relatives.”

Ah, were they relatives of the duchy? Well, for a family like this, there must be collateral clans as well.

A voice continued from the end of the hallway.

“Have you seen the ballroom? They said the Duchess worked hard to prepare.”

“The Duke isn’t there, but her sincerity is amazing.”

It seemed like a normal conversation, but strangely there was a thorn in the tone. 

Someone whispered, lowering her voice at the end.

“Unfortunately, her own daughter can’t come to the prom here…”

His tone was full of worry, but there was a hint of mockery in his voice. 

She glanced back at Diane, and she looked embarrassed and ashamed. Right, Miss Diane hadn’t made her social debut, so she wouldn’t even be at the prom. The etiquette here in the Albion Empire was strict in that respect. Those who did not officially debut in the social world through the debutante couldn’t attend official social events, even if they were aristocrats. Even if they were from the imperial family, the same rule was true, so as soon as Sorel was also recognized as the Emperor’s daughter, she held a separate debutant.

Still, it’s a ball held at the mansion, and it’s a pity that the organizer’s daughter couldn’t attend. Anyway, people called relatives were very unpleasant people.

She would like to argue, but she was an invited guest here. She couldn’t do whatever she wanted.

‘They were subtle enough that the content couldn’t even be an issue.’

Even so, it was a bit difficult to pretend not to hear the sarcasm. She moved towards the sound of the voice. Because that was what they were going.

When she turned the corner, there were about five or six men and women gathered in front of the parlor door.

“Oh, the guests are already here.”

“Her Highness the Princess…!”

Most of them were new people, but there were one or two familiar faces. They were the noble ladies she had seen at the Empress’s tea party.

“We greet Her Highness, the Princess.”

She looked at them carefully and tilted her head.

“Who are you? I’m sorry. I only read up to the third chapter of the heraldry, so I don’t know about the other nobles.”

The heraldry was a book that introduces the genealogy of ruling families and nobles throughout the continent. The first chapter contained the Emperors and royal families of each country, and the second contained the families that ruled independent countries in the past. And in the third chapter, there were Dukes and marquises from each country.

But she didn’t know anyone below the marquis, so she didn’t know those guys. Sadly there was no one who couldn’t understand the sarcasm she was making.

The faces of the gathered people hardened slightly. And the oldest-looking man among them replied with an awkward smile.

“We are the collateral relatives of the Rohan family. I don’t see the princess often, so I guess I didn’t have a chance to say hello to her. I can’t help but apologize.”

“Relatives? Really?”

She raised her eyebrows as if in surprise.

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