How To Survive As a Villain on the Verge of Death

“If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know.”

 

“Not right now. I’ll let you know later if I need help.”

 

She asked at the end of those words.

 

“Where will my wedding be held now?”

 

The Rastana Temple, which was scheduled to be the wedding venue, burned down, so they had to find a place to hold the wedding immediately.

 

“Do you have a place in mind?”

 

“Yes, I have.”

 

She hadn’t even told Terence yet, but when she saw the temple burning, she already had something in mind.

 

“Where is it?”

 

“I will do it at the Grand Duke’s mansion.”

 

Both of them looked embarrassed by this answer.

 

“You’re going to have a wedding at the mansion?”

 

“There is a banquet hall in the mansion. I think we could have a wedding there.”

 

She had never been there, but the Grand Duke’s banquet hall would be more than enough for a wedding.

 

“There are many people who get married at the mansion, so it wouldn’t be surprising.”

 

The most common wedding venue in the world was a temple. However, the temple was not a wedding venue that could be rented all year round. This could be seen by looking at Eve’s failed attempt to get married on the Feast of Rastana. Even Eve, the princess, could not use the temple as a wedding venue on her feast day. The same was true for the temples within the main temple as well as the minor temples in rural areas. As a result, those who could not rent a temple rented a restaurant or garden, or, if that was not possible, held a wedding at home. Even nobles often got married in the banquet hall or garden of their mansion. Even if they rented a temple, it was cumbersome because it was cramped and there were many rules to follow. If they hold a wedding in the mansion’s banquet hall or garden, they would be able to make it as extravagant as they wanted. Actually, it was much more comfortable that way.

 

She made the decision after thinking about it like that, but Arentine seemed very surprised to hear what she said.

 

“I remember you asked His Majesty several times that since it was the princess’s wedding, it should be held in the palace or in the imperial palace instead.”

 

Oh right. Eve was like that.

 

“I changed my mind. Since she will now be the mistress of the Grand Duke’s family anyway, it would be more appropriate to do it at the Grand Duke’s mansion.”

 

Terence reaffirmed her words in a slightly worried voice.

 

“Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

 

Was there anything that wouldn’t be okay? She actually felt sorry for not asking him first.

 

“What do you think, Terrence?”

 

“Don’t worry about me, you can choose where you want.”

 

If she could do whatever she wanted, she would like to limit the number of guests to ten or less. How great it would be if they could just invite the people of the Grand Duchy and the Duchess and her daughter to get married. Or couldn’t they just register the marriage? However, no matter how many incidents and accidents there were, it was impossible for the princess’s wedding to be held so quietly. The princess’s wedding required the attendance of priests, nobles, and members of the royal family.

 

“Things have come to this, but it’s okay to have a wedding no matter where or how it happens. Rather, I wanted to keep it quiet and simple. I only invite important guests.”

 

Both seemed to agree with this statement. Since so much has happened, she thought other people would agree if she said she would hold the wedding quietly. And it would be the safest there. Arentine also seemed to sympathize with her thoughts.

 

“I can give you whatever you want…”

 

He trailed off his words with concern.

 

“When His Majesty the Emperor returns soon, the decision may be reversed.”

 

“I heard he was coming back, but he is later than expected.”

 

She thought he would have reached the islands by now.

 

“It looks like it’s taking some time for you to clean up the place.”

 

Well, since she sent away all her maids and was alone, she guessed she had more things to do.

 

“Originally, he was planning to leave the army behind and come back, but there are signs of a resumption of attack on the other side, so it looks like he is coming back after finishing that.”

 

“Ah, that’s how it happened.”

 

She glanced at Terence. She was wondering if the Emperor being held at the front might have something to do with this man. Terence avoided her gaze with a shallow smile.

 

Well then.

 

“Don’t worry, Your Highness.”

 

All she had to do was finish the wedding preparations before the Emperor returned.

 

“Brother, please investigate the count’s affairs in detail.”

 

Before the Emperor came, they must uncover the inside story of the incident while he, the crown prince, was acting on behalf of government affairs. Because when the Emperor returned, he would somehow just try to bury this incident. Of course, Arentine seemed to have noticed that much as well. He answered with dark blue eyes.

 

“I plan to do that even if I don’t say it. Last time, neither of the maids ever opened their mouths, so I need to find out something this time.”

 

He said that the Empress’s maid, who was caught trying to give her medicine, did not give in to her torture and eventually kept her mouth shut. And that the maid in the princess’s palace knew nothing except that she took money and took drugs, so she did not have much to confess.

 

“Leave the palace matters to me and think about completing the wedding safely.”

 

“All right. Do not worry.”

 

She thought that since she had sorted out everything around her, all she had to do was finish the wedding successfully. After finishing her conversation with Arentine, she returned to the temple, and before she knew it, the sun was setting.

 

“It’s getting late.”

 

After they left the imperial palace together, Terence personally took her to her accommodation. The area near the temple was still cluttered, but as they entered the walls of the accommodation, the noisy atmosphere disappeared and a quiet garden emerged.

 

“Starting tomorrow, only my knights will stay here, so you can rest assured.”

 

Starting tomorrow, not only the knights but also the maids who did chores in the lodgings would become members of the Grand Duke’s family. She felt like she would feel much more at ease starting tomorrow. With that in mind, she walked with Terence along the garden path to where their new bedroom was. There was no one in the dark garden. The cold moonlight cast a bluish silver color on the ice. The chilly north wind swept away the remnants of dried snow on the stone floor. She stopped walking along the garden path covered in snow. Black dust was mixed into the flawless white snow.

 

“Lord Terence.”

 

Terence, who was ahead, stopped and turned to her. She looked at him and smiled sheepishly.

 

“Thank you for last night.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“You stayed with me all night. I wanted to say thank you.”

 

Terence insisted that he would take the initiative and protect her. There was no need for him to personally protect her.

 

“I don’t think I was particularly helpful.”

 

“Still, I’m just saying thank you for being with me. ”

 

No one has ever stayed up all night for her. It’s such a warm and cozy feeling to have someone by her side who would protect her. Suddenly, such a sentimental thought occurred to her. If you get too used to it, you probably shouldn’t. Anyway, she felt truly grateful to this man. Because he volunteered to be by her side for her. Without Terence, she would have spent last night alone and anxious in the attic. Terence stared at her for a moment with his mysterious purple eyes, like the night sky. Then, like snowflakes that had settled under the eaves and melted in the sunlight, he smiled very slowly and quietly. The moment she saw that smile, a warm feeling filled her heart.

 

“I don’t think I was of much help, but I’m glad the princess is safe.”

 

“You too, Terrence. I’m glad we both passed without incident.”

 

They exchanged laughs and walked back toward the bedroom. A few steps ahead was the entrance into the building. The knights guarding the entrance were polite to them. Beside him, Terence also said goodbye to her.

 

“I’m going to leave now. You must be tired, so please rest comfortably today.”

 

It meant that nothing would happen today, so rest easy. She answered quietly before he left.

 

“Yes, Terence, rest confortably too.”

 

* * *

 

The next day, the crown prince’s knights left their lodgings. Now, only the Grand Duke’s knights remained near her lodgings. The number seemed to have increased even more than before. As she wanted, all the workers who did the chores were replaced with people from the Grand Duke family.

 

“I feel relieved that the security has become stricter.”

 

Nell said as she packed up her things in her new bedroom. They were still in the same building. The new bedroom was smaller than the previous one, but it was more compact and in a quieter location.

 

“Well, to do something more dangerous.”

 

She wasn’t just saying this to reassure Nell. The wedding was now only ten days away. Even if the Emperor came back right now, he wouldn’t be able to do anything strange anymore. Thanks to stupid Vilos, the Empress’s parents, the Parmes family, became entangled in this incident. As the Emperor, it would be more urgent to sort things out, so she would give up plotting related to her wedding for now.

 

“But you never know.”

 

Nell lowered her voice to a whisper. When she went to the imperial palace yesterday, she took Nell with her as her attendant, as always. However, after returning to the imperial palace, Nell seemed more nervous and anxious than before.

 

“Did you hear any rumors from the imperial palace?”

 

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