How To Survive As a Villain on the Verge of Death

When it was time for the third dance to begin and Eve did not appear, he began to feel nervous. Should he send someone to find the princess? By the time he thought about that, the noisy chatter disappeared as if it had been washed away. In the sudden silence, someone’s voice resounded in the ballroom.

“Oh my God, it’s the princess!”

At that, Terrence turned his gaze toward the entrance. Eve stood at the door of the ballroom. She was wearing a light green silk dress that went well with her hair color instead of her usual luxurious and splendid dress, and her long red blonde hair was let loose. She was a little different from her old fashioned look. It was a little more neat and elegant style.

Eve looked around and slowly walked into the large banquet hall. There was a quiet silence in the ballroom. Everyone stopped chatting and looked only at Eve. People were surprised and worried about Eve’s sudden appearance, but at the same time looked at the two with eyes filled with anticipation. Perhaps, like actors in third-rate folklore, they peek at each other and beg for some disturbance to entertain them. After all there’s nothing more fun than seeing a noble princess and a young Grand Duke become a spectacle.

Terrence looked at her for a moment, then moved on. He met Eve in the center of the ballroom. It was a tense moment when not even breathing could be heard.

“Princess.”

Terrence smiled faintly and bowed to Eve. Then he held out his hand to her and asked politely.

“Would you mind giving me the honor of the first dance?”

At that moment, a wave of shock spread among the surrounding nobles. He even heard someone gasp in surprise. The soft melody that resonated sweetly also stopped for a moment. Even without looking at it, people’s shock was vividly felt.

A smile spread across Eve’s lips amidst the shock and astonishment that erupted silently. Eve raised the tip of her chin proudly and she took his hand.

“Of course. I will allow you.”

With everyone wide-eyed, Terrence took Eve’s hand and walked to the dance floor. Before heading out to the center of the floor, Terrence noticed that Eve’s mood was a little different from the last time they met. Eve had a haughty expression on the outside, but her body was stiff. He could feel the tension in her hand holding her breath.

“Relax, Princess.”

Even though he was just talking quietly, Eve looked startled. Now he saw that her face was also paler than usual. They said that she was not feeling well. Was she still sick?

“You look like you’re being led to an execution site, not a dance floor.”

“I really feel like I’ll die if I step on Your Highness’ foot.”

Eve struck back his words in a calm voice even as she stiffened with tension. Terrence laughed lightly.

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you.”

The sweet melody of the waltz began to resonate calmly in the quiet ballroom. On the floor, Terrence took the first step and led Eve. Her body, wrapped in a fancy dress, seemed a little thinner than when he saw her a few days ago. After he went to the temple, they said that she was ill, so he wondered if it was the aftereffect.

‘Or is it because she is having a lot of trouble?’

No one could live with peace of mind knowing that their biological father was plotting to kill them. Maybe that’s why she was especially stiff and nervous when she came out to dance. As he knew, Eve loved to dance and she always showed off her proficiency. But now Eve didn’t look happy at all. Her face was smiling, but her whole body stiffened and she was barely following the steps.

Suddenly, he remembered the image of Eve, who begged him to dance with her in the past. Looking back, it was the first time they danced together. It must have been what she wanted so much, but Eve, let alone being happy, couldn’t even focus on this moment.

“…”

She’s the kind of woman who, until recently, had been so much of a nuisance to him. She mixed up the words a few times, and he felt sympathy for nothing. Her slender figure and pale, pearl-colored skin somehow aroused his feelings of pity.

‘It’s a useless idea.’

Terrence chased away his thoughts and circled the floor, holding on to Eve’s body. Normally, he was not very interested in thin women who seemed to collapse at the touch of his hand. The reason he had a crush on the princess was probably because of the special abilities this woman possessed.

* * *

Guided by the Grand Duke’s hand, she slowly followed the steps. The people in the ballroom were still looking at the two of them in awe. Normally, as soon as the music starts, you should come out to dance with your partner, but no one thinks of coming out to the dance floor. It was very fortunate. If there are other people around them, she would be distracted and not be able to concentrate on the steps. Well, the plan to ‘look like we got closer’ seems to have definitely succeeded. In fact, she didn’t even have time to think about it. Right now, just dancing in the arms of the Grand Duke was enough for her. Still, it was worth practicing desperately with Nell. Thanks to that, at least she was following the steps without stepping on the Grand Duke’s toes.

She thought she was doing pretty well for a short period of practice. Considering that she practiced for four days, it was a truly phenomenal achievement.

‘Perhaps this is also because of the experience in Eve’s body.’

Just like when she first came here, she was able to speak and read letters naturally. It seemed that Eve’s body instinctively had the remaining skills, so she was able to learn it easily. She followed the Grand Duke’s lead and stepped carefully. It would be the first time for the Grand Duke to dance with Eve, so she wouldn’t doubt it if it was a little strange.

After getting used to the repeated steps to some extent, she casually looked up at the Grand Duke and hesitated. Under the soft light of the ballroom, the beautiful face of the Grand Duke could be seen straight ahead. Looking at his enchanting beauty even from a distance, from so close, it puts a strain on her heart.

‘This guy is really needlessly handsome.’

By the time the heartbeat started to speed up little by little, the last step came to an end with the calming music. It’s over safely. It was to the point of letting out a sigh of relief.

She stopped and looked around belatedly. But for some reason, people’s eyes were not directed this way, but were focused elsewhere. She inadvertently followed people’s gazes and then stopped. A familiar red-blond man stood at the entrance to the ballroom. It was her older brother, Crown Prince Arentine.

Arentine, dressed in a formal attire, was standing in front of the door, looking at her and the Grand Duke. Why did that brother come here? He said he couldn’t come because he had a lot to do.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

The Duchess hurriedly ran over and bowed to him.

“Forgive me for the rudeness. I didn’t go out to greet you, thinking you couldn’t come.”

“No. Never mind.”

Even though Arentine was the crown prince, he treated the duchess with courtesy. Like the Duchess’ eyes, the two looked quite friendly. Well, how many times have you been to this mansion before?

“I was invited, but I thought it would be disrespectful to the Duchess to not attend, leaving only my sister, so I came late.”

Arentine’s eyes came out and returned to the Grand Duke. However, it was a gaze that felt a bit awkward rather than curious or puzzled. Was he embarrassed? Why?

“Greeting Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

The Grand Duke bowed to him in a dignified manner. Arentine looked at him for a moment, then looked at her and said.

“It’s nice to see the two of you getting closer.”

A whisper was heard among the nobles around.

“Is it because of the request of His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“I guess so. Unless…”

“Well, that is nonsense.”

She could hear it all. It seemed like they wanted to find a reasonable reason. Well, she did understand. When people saw a phenomenon that they couldn’t understand with their common sense, they tried to find a convincing answer somehow. Even in her opinion, the fact that the Grand Duke and Eve suddenly danced affectionately like lovers was a strange phenomenon that a normal person could not understand.

Suddenly, she felt a hand wrap around her shoulder. The Grand Duke standing next to her wrapped his arms around her and gave her a sweet smile.

“We are engaged, of course.”

Silent screams and astonishment passed like waves again among the people who watched them quietly. No matter how the people around her reacted, the Grand Duke did not take his eyes off her. His eyes, looking at her, overflowed with affection, as if he were dealing with a lover he had loved for decades.

It was a natural look, as if he was looking at a really precious fiancé. It was perfect enough to give goosebumps to her watching right in front of her.

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Translator Note:

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