How To Survive As a Villain on the Verge of Death

Today was a day when she received a lot of apologies. However, she had not yet met the people who really needed to apologize.

 

“It’s okay. No one was hurt, so don’t be too upset.”

 

“…Thank you for your generous words.”

 

The knight bowed deeply once again and delivered a message from the imperial palace to her.

 

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ordered me to bring the princess to the palace right away.”

 

“Did you receive a report on what happened last night?”

 

By now, enough news had been conveyed within the imperial palace.

 

“Yes, I heard that a political meeting has already been convened.”

 

A political meeting. She felt like the incident was growing quite a bit. Well, what happened to the Empress last time was a trivial matter done by her maids, and the medicine in the car was not poisonous. However, in this case, the temple was burned down for the purpose of harming the princess. If it was revealed properly, it would be a major incident that even the Emperor could not have done anything about. Of course, that’s what she wanted.

 

“Would you like to come with me?”

 

She asked Terence next to her. Terence was the one who caught the criminals, so of course she had to accompany this man.

 

“Of course we should go together.”

 

She waved the driver away and called Nell.

 

“Nell, prepare to go to the imperial palace.”

 

* * *

 

When she returned after a long time, the imperial palace looked the same as before. It’s been a while since she came back after a few days. She calculated the date and found that only about a week had passed since she left the imperial palace. Still, she felt like she wasback after a few months. This may be because too much happened in a short period of time. Come to think of it, a lot of events have happened in about a month since she woke up here. It was truly an eventful month.

 

“Greeting Her Highness the Princess.”

 

As soon as she got off the carriage, a knight wearing the uniform of the Imperial Knights led her to the government hall of the Emperor’s palace. As she entered, she saw a wide hall and hallway. It was said that this was where the Emperor conducted government affairs.

 

Arentine was in his office in the center of this place. The spacious office was filled with antique wooden furniture and dignified decorations. In front, there was a wall with the imperial family’s emblem engraved on it, and a work desk was placed in front of it. It was definitely much larger and grander than the crown prince’s office she had visited before. Even though it was just a working office, you could feel the Emperor’s dignity and majesty. There were about ten people who came first gathered in the office. They were all well-dressed men. They were probably nobles who are high-ranking officials. Beside Arentine was Vilos, and there were several other nobles around him. There were several ministers who appeared in passing in the original work.

 

She noticed a middle-aged man with graying brown hair standing next to Vilos. He was a thin man with a quiet and gloomy appearance. It was her first time meeting him, but that man was probably the Emperor’s right-hand man, Commander of the Imperial Knights, Gairen. Everyone’s eyes were focused on her and Terence next to her. She watched the surprise, wonder, and anxiety on people’s faces.

 

‘Does it deserve to be looked at like that?’

 

It’s been about a month since she woke up here, and a lot of things have happened in that time. Terence, who hated her at first, suddenly fell in love with her, and soon after, the Empress’s maid put drugs in her tea, and this time the priest was caught setting fire to her lodgings. She was always at the center of all the topics, incidents, and thoughts. To these people, she must seem strange and sinister. At this point, some people might be suspicious. Of course, there were some who did not.

 

Arentine, who was sitting in the Emperor’s chair, looked at her with eyes full of worry.

 

“I heard there was an accident last night. Are you okay?”

 

“Do not worry. I’m OK.”

 

Arentine looked visibly relieved after hearing what she said.

 

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

 

On the other hand, Vilos, standing next to him, was looking at her with a face as cold as a stone statue. She turned her attention to Vilos.

 

“Vilos, why are you doing this? You don’t look good.”

 

Thanks to this, everyone’s attention was focused on him. Vilos quickly changed his expression and smiled leisurely.

 

“I’m worried that you went through something so dangerous. I’m glad you’re safe, sister.”

 

“It was a really dangerous thing.”

 

She sighed exaggeratedly.

 

“The criminals tried to set fire to my dorm as well. I almost burned to death, but Terence’s knights saved me.”

 

Each of the nobles who heard her gave her words of comfort.

 

“Such a terrible thing…”

 

“I’m so glad you’re okay, Princess.”

 

While the officials comforted her, they quickly looked at the four of them. It looked like he’s trying to figure out how the situation was going. It was surprising that the priest tried to harm the princess in the temple. The fact that the Grand Duke’s knights caught the criminal as if they had been waiting for it was too elaborate to be a coincidence. Even the duty of guarding the lodgings last night was originally the job of knights under the crown prince’s direct command. It seemed suspicious to anyone that people from the Grand Duke’s side suddenly appeared and captured the criminal alive. It’s as if she knew in advance that something like this would happen.

 

“It’s shameful that something like this happens even though I sent my drivers.”

 

Arentine was truly sorry and apologized to her. This was the third apology she received today.

 

“I’m fine, don’t worry, brother.”

 

Arrentine looked back at Terence and asked.

 

“You must have caught the criminals, right?”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

As soon as he heard Terence’s answer, he ordered the nobleman at his side.

 

“Bring the culprits in for a thorough investigation.”

 

Perhaps the noble next to him was in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or something. Terence, who heard that, answered calmly.

 

“We have already finished the investigation.”

 

“You finished the investigation?”

 

Terence looked back at Arentine and the nobles standing next to him with indifferent eyes. Everyone was waiting for his words with anxious and anxious expressions. Terence looked around at the officials who were holding their breath, and finally fixed his gaze on Vilos.

 

“My subordinates investigated and found that they received orders from Count Parmes.”

 

At those words, Vilos, who had remained silent until now, urgently asked back with a white face.

 

“What?”

 

As the name ‘Count Parmes’ came out of Terence’s mouth, a heavy silence filled the office. Vilos’ sharp voice burst out in the cold silence where not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

 

“What did you say just now? Does this mean that my uncle tried to harm my sister?”

 

When Vilos got angry, Terence explained with a still indifferent expression.

 

“This is not what I said, but what the criminals who were caught at the scene confessed.”

 

“You got a confession in such a short period of time? Are you telling me to believe that now?”

 

“As I said, these are words from the mouths of criminals.”

 

Terence looked directly at Vilos and declared proudly.

 

“If you don’t believe me, call them and hear it for yourself.”

 

Vilos was startled by Terence’s resolute and confident voice and hesitated for a moment. But he did not give in and raised his voice again.

 

“The fact that you’re bringing that up here means that the Count family must have instigated it, right?”

 

“Calm down, Vilos.”

 

Seeing that Vilos was overly angry, Arentine interrupted their conversation.

 

“Did the criminals really confess like that?”

 

“That’s right. I checked their identities and found that they were both related to the Parmes family.”

 

Terence’s answer caused a quiet uproar among the officials gathered in the office. She guessed he never would have guessed that the Empress’s own family was involved. Arentine glanced at Vilos and summarized the situation.

 

“The culprit will be interrogated again at the imperial palace. If he still makes the same confession, we’ll have to investigate the Count’s family.”

 

However, Vilos expressed a contrary opinion to that statement.

 

“You have to wait until father returns.”

 

This time, Arentine’s eyes also showed displeasure.

 

“What if we wait until His Majesty returns and the criminal destroys the evidence?”

 

“Are you now concluding that my maternal uncle is the culprit?”

 

Vilos raised his voice and questioned. Not long ago, the Empress’s maid was caught trying to take drugs in her car. This time, a priest related to the count family set fire to her lodgings and was caught. In this situation, the most likely suspects were, of course, the Empress or the Empress’s parents, the Count Parmes. However, all the officials kept their mouths shut and only watched. The Empress and the second Prince. Furthermore, since it involved even the Crown Prince and the Grand Duke, no one could easily come forward and express their opinions. There was a heavy silence in the office for a moment.

 

She joined their conversation and broke the uncomfortable silence.

 

“If it’s not a criminal, there’s no problem, right? Rather, I think Count Parmes would like to be investigated as soon as possible to reveal the real culprit. Isn’t that right?”

 

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Translator Note: