How To Survive As a Villain on the Verge of Death

“It is not one of the most sacred relics, but it is a precious sword imbued with holy power. I hope this sword will protect you.”

 

The Emperor said so and put the sword in a storage box and pushed it to her. Everyone watching looked with admiration and envy. It was surprising that he gave the princess such a precious gift as her wedding present. Some ministers seemed to be watching carefully to read the Emperor’s intentions.

 

The Emperor said with a kind smile.

 

“I heard that you’ve had a lot of difficult times. I’m sorry for not being there for you. I will take care of all the remaining matters, so don’t worry and be a happy bride.”

 

It was a word full of affection for his daughter. However, to her ears, it sounded like he was telling her to go to the Grand Duke instead of talking to the military, saying that he would cover up matters involving the Empress herself. Actually, that seemed to make sense. So she quickly gathered herself and made a happy expression.

 

“It’s a very grateful gift, Dad.”

 

She was happy and said as if something suddenly occurred to her.

 

“But if you say only your direct relatives can use it, doesn’t that mean my children can’t use it?”

 

“Hehe, Eve is thinking too far into the future. You’re not even married yet.”

 

As the Emperor burst into laughter, the other nobles also laughed along. The Emperor’s joyous voice continued.

 

“You never know. Wouldn’t it be possible for a descendant of the Grand Duke’s family to bring this treasure back to the royal family in the future? As a wedding gift.”

 

At that time, Vilos suddenly intervened and asked.

 

“A sword with holy power would be stronger than an ordinary sword.”

 

“That’s right. It can inflict more fatal wounds on the opponent than an ordinary sword.”

 

Even the attack power and killing power of this sword seem to be much higher than other swords. A sword that could only be used by members of the royal family and has greater power than other swords. She took the box and gave the Emperor a smile full of joy.

 

“Thank you, father.”

 

She was really thankful to him for giving her the biggest hint to her vague premonition.

 

* * *

 

The dinner ended quietly without any problems. The Emperor looked happy, but the Empress was silent and Sorel just ate quietly. After the dinner was over, the Emperor, Empress, Vilos, and Sorel all left. However, the nobles stayed in the small banquet hall next to the banquet hall. It turned out that the last course of the dinner was to drink tea after the meal and chat in small groups.

 

“Eve, come here for a moment.”

 

She was about to get up when Arentine called her from outside the door. She left the sword she had received from the Emperor with Terence and followed Arentine out to the balcony leading to the hallway.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

Arentine looked at her and let out a long sigh.

 

“It looks like Count Parmes’ work will end like this.”

 

“Already? Is the investigation over?”

 

“Yes. The Count has already confessed. He said he was trying to hurt you.”

 

For a while, the count continued to tell nonsense about how his servant had stolen his property and instigated his priest to start a fire. As soon as the Emperor returned he confessed?

 

“It is said that the maids’ work was also done by him. The Count confessed, and the Empress’s maid later made the same confession.”

 

“Really?”

 

Arentine nodded his head with a confused look on his face.

 

“It will be officially announced tomorrow.”

 

“That’s how His Majesty ended it.”

 

Anyone could see that this was the Emperor blaming the count and covering it up. Of course, since he was trying to kill the princess, there was no way for the count to avoid his execution. For some reason, she felt like the Empress’s face was as pale as a sheet of paper throughout the dinner. She was so upset because this decision was made.

 

“I wanted to apologize to you. I’m sorry I couldn’t finish it properly.”

 

“No. His Majesty came so quickly that there was nothing you could do.”

 

She was thinking that I wouldn’t be able to bring down the Empress or Bilos over this matter anyway. The Emperor protected them both so strongly. Just by bringing the Empress, who was almost imprisoned, to this place, one could sense the Emperor’s strong will not to associate the affairs of the Count with the Empress.

 

He was a very kind husband to his wife while abandoning his daughters like a devoted partner.

 

“This is enough. The Empress was humiliated and completely lost her family. Vilos also lost his support base, his maternal family.”

 

That alone would be a painful loss for the Empress. She would be so embarrassed that she would not be able to appear at social events for a while. As she was thinking that, she felt eyes on her from the side.

 

Arentine was looking at her with eyes full of bitter emotions.

 

“Why do you look at me like that?”

 

“Sometimes you change so much that it’s scary. It’s definitely a good thing, but it feels bittersweet.”

 

His sister’s behavior had changed so much that it’s only natural that he would react like that. In Arentine’s eyes, it would seem that she had inevitably changed while going through a crisis.

 

“I wanted to live comfortably and thoughtlessly like before, but people around me won’t let me do that, so I can’t help it.”

 

‘Yes, I feel like Eve too… No, I don’t want to be as vicious as the real Eve.’

 

She just wanted to lounge around comfortably as a princess.

 

“Brother, is your Majesty currently at the Government Affairs Office?”

 

“I guess so.”

 

“Do you know exactly where it is?”

 

Arentine looked at her carefully as if he didn’t understand, but he didn’t ask her why she was asking this question.

 

“She’ll be in her office with Vilos. As she left the dinner, she seemed to be calling Vilos there.”

 

“Okay. Thank you for letting me know.”

 

She opened the balcony door and went out.

 

“The Grand Duke is waiting for me, so I’ll just go.”

 

Terence was chatting with nobles at the banquet hall. He found her and asked.

 

“If you’re done talking, shall we go back now?”

 

“No. I’d like to cool my head for a moment. Can you please wait here?”

 

Terence just looked at her blankly and didn’t ask her why she was staying. He probably knew what she’s going to do without even having to ask her.

 

“I’ll wait here, so please go.”

 

He remained at the banquet hall with the nobles. She went out and went to see the Emperor’s Minister of State Affairs. The Ministry of Government Affairs was a large building on the left side of the Emperor’s palace. Since this was where the Emperor did business, security was tight. After looking around the place, she found Nell.

 

Nell was in the garden of the Emperor’s palace, holding Bayan in her arms.

 

“Princess, is dinner over?”

 

“Huh. Have you been with Bayan the whole time?”

 

“Yes, I was showing Bayan around here. Bayan really liked it. He stuck to me.”

 

Bayan looked at her and spoke in a tired voice.

 

[This maid carries me around, making me motion sick and dizzy. Tell her to put me down.]

 

“He keeps barking at me. Would he be hungry?”

 

Nell mumbled anxiously and pulled out a small piece of meatloaf wrapped in her handkerchief.

 

“This is Bayan’s favorite snack.”

 

Bayan quickly took the snack given by Nell and chewed it up. Didn’t he just say he felt dizzy…?

 

“I’m going to take Bayan around the garden to cool his head. You’re getting some rest.”

 

She took Bayan and went out into the large garden where there was nowhere to hide.

 

[Have you met the Emperor?]

 

After confirming that no one was watching, she answered Bayan’s questions.

 

“Huh. But the situation has become more complicated.”

 

She spoke into Bayan’s ear and told him what happened at the banquet hall.

 

[Where is the Emperor now? Shall I overhear the Emperor’s conversation?]

 

She looked back towards the Emperor’s Palace where she was just moments ago.

 

“There’s the Emperor’s political officer over there. The Emperor must be there now.”

 

Since she was the princess, she could enter the political office. It was said that the Emperor was in his office deep inside the Government House. Was there any way to get Bayan in there? She looked at windows and entrances, but either way seemed impossible. Because it was winter, all the windows were tightly closed, and knights were waiting at the entrance. If Bayan was a small hamster, she didn’t know, but he was a pretty big cat, so she wouldn’t be able to sneak away among the knights.

 

“The security is stricter than I thought, so I don’t know if I can let you in.”

 

Bayan looked up at her and suggested cautiously.

 

[Holy power… If you share a little more of that sap, I may be able to temporarily change my appearance.]

 

“Change your appearance?”

 

[I will be able to go inside while avoiding people’s eyes for a while.]

 

Was he turning into another animal? But the sap… She took out the sap of the sacred tree that she always carried in her arms. This elixir had not been used once since it was given to Bayan.

 

“If I were to be seriously injured to the point of losing my life, how much of this fluid would I need to recover?”

 

[You will need this much.]

 

In response to her question, Bayan pulled out the claws of his front paw and tapped the glass bottle. The part Bayan pointed to was a place that seemed to be only about 0.1 ml below the sap contained in the bottle.

 

“That means we need about 99% of the sap that’s in it right now.”

 

[Yes. If the injury is so fatal that life stops immediately, that is necessary.]

 

In the end, there was very little that could be given out. But if not now, there might not be a chance to overhear the Emperor’s private conversation. Even if she sent Bayan at any time, she never knew when the Emperor would talk about her. But right now, she was sure they’re talking about her and Sorel. After deep conflict, she opened the vial.

 

“Good. One drop… No, I’ll just give you half a drop.”

 

[What is half a drop?]

 

She put an eye-sized amount of sap on the tip of her finger and held it out to Bayan. Bayan lightly licked the sap from her finger.

 

“Is this enough?”

 

Before she could finish her question, Bayan’s body disappeared into the darkness in an instant.

 

“Bajan? Bayan!”

 

[I’m here.]

 

A black shadow flickered on the dark floor. The shadow moved around on the stone floor and stopped in front of me. And from there, Bayan slowly walked out. A round front paw covered in black fur emerged from within the dark border. Next, sparkling yellow eyes and pointed small ears. A small, chubby body covered in fluffy fur appeared. Finally, when the stiffly standing short tail leaves the boundary of the shadow. Bayan’s familiar voice was heard.

 

[To save holy power, I briefly reverted to my childhood body. I hide in the shadows

because it is more advantageous to have a small body.]

 

A small kitten the size of her palm was wagging its black tail from side to side and looking up at her with round golden eyes. Cute little ears attached to a round face. Small and chubby body. Even its tail was as big as her finger. It looked like a small cotton doll. No, it’s cuter than a doll.

 

A voice came out without her realizing it.

 

“So… cute.”

 

[…what?]

 

As an adult cat, Bayan was a large, lounging black cat. When it turned into a kitten, it became a fluffy and cute kitten. She later realized why Nell and Chloe were so devoted to Bayan. This was really… It’s cute.

 

“So cute. Can’t you just stay like this?”

 

[Can not be done.]

 

Bayan’s small ears turned to the side as if displeased.

 

[It takes strength to maintain this. I don’t have the energy to waste like that.]

 

“Well, I see.”

 

It was all her fault. She needed to quickly learn how to use her holy power. She held Bayan and headed to the Emperor’s official residence. Because Bayan was small, it was easy to hide. Even if she put him inside the sleeve of her dress, it wasn’t noticeable. She put down Bayan at the corner of the street where the Government Affairs Office was visible.

 

“The Emperor’s office is on the right when you enter the Government Hall and follow the hallway to the center.”

 

This was a place she went to before when she went to see Arentine.

 

“I’ll be nearby in case something happens.”

 

[I get it.]

 

“Be careful.”

 

Bayan nodded his head once at her words and disappeared into the darkness.

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note: