How To Survive As a Villain on the Verge of Death

As Terence said those words, his eyes were as indifferent and calm as usual. She was speechless for a moment and looked at him blankly.

 

“…Do you mean to say that even if I hit the nobles and make a fuss, you will compensate me with money or use my power to make things right?”

 

Of course, with Terrence, both would be possible. At her question, eyebrows that look like they were drawn with a brush raise slightly. He seemed surprised that she was using such vulgar expressions.

 

“That’s right.”

 

“You’re saying strange things with a normal face.”

 

“What part is strange?”

 

“Normally, if your wife goes on a rampage and hits people, wouldn’t you try to stop her?”

 

“It is better to repay double what has been done than to endure insults.”

 

It was a philosophy of action that made it possible to understand why he was treated as a dark figure in the story.

 

“If you don’t like something, don’t hold back and do whatever you want. No matter what happens, I can take care of it.”

 

“…”

 

Although he spoke in a monotonous tone, it sounded as if he could bury someone even if he killed them. After staring at him in bewilderment and keeping his mouth shut, Terence sighed silently.

 

“I mean, there’s no need for you to put up with it out of respect for me.”

 

Ah. Only then did she realize what he was talking about. When she thought about it, she hadn’t really had to bow down to people and put up with them since she came here. He didn’t necessarily act violently, but he said and did whatever he wanted, thinking of Eve in the original. He had no patience for insults. But this time, it seemed like he was only holding back against the Duke of Rohan. Since the duke was Terence’s uncle, he probably thought she was putting up with it out of respect for him. Actually, she didn’t really put up with it for Terrence’s sake. To be honest, it was almost like she was holding back for her own sake. Still, she didn’t feel bad seeing him so stubbornly willing to take her side. In her past life, she solved everything on her own and handled everything on her own. It felt good to have someone on her side. Maybe it’s because she had never felt this way before, but one side of her heart feels tingly and warm. She felt like her ears were turning red, so she quickly turned to the library and changed the topic.

 

“Thank you for your words. But I don’t want to be so rude anymore. Especially to the Duke of Rohan.”

 

After all, he was the Duchess’ husband and Diane’s biological father. She wanted to treat them with as much courtesy as possible.

 

“Thanks to the duchess, we solved the last problem, but the duke probably doesn’t like it. And Miss Diane helped me with my wedding… That’s why my health got worse.”

 

So she wanted to help Diane somehow. It was a kind of responsibility. Terence spoke quietly in an indifferent tone.

 

“It’s not the princess’s fault. Diane’s disease is an incurable disease that has not been cured despite being seen by numerous doctors.”

 

“Come to think of it, I don’t know much about Miss Diane’s illness. Can you explain in detail?”

 

“I don’t really have anything to explain. It’s a disease that causes a rash, debilitates you, and eventually kills you.”

 

Terence’s calm explanation continued.

 

“I’ve tried a lot to fix it, but to no avail. Her aunt once took Diane to her temple and prayed every day to try to borrow the power of her god since she couldn’t cure it with her medical skills.”

 

“A temple?”

 

“Yes. She seemed to be getting better, so the duke donated a lot of money to the temple.”

 

In fact, she had an incurable disease that couldn’t be cured by the medicine here, so she felt like relying on the power of God.

 

“But in the end, that didn’t work either.”

 

‘I see.’

 

Now Diane didn’t seem to go to the temple often. She came to the temple only when she met her. Come to think of it, she said that she used to attend the celebrations with the Duchess.

 

“The doctors said Diane would not even live to be 15. In fact, she’s amazing just for making it this far.”

 

“…”

 

She listened to Terence’s comforting words and glanced over her bookshelf without answering. For some reason, she thought it was strange that the princess, who had a weak body, kept sending her out as her bridesmaid. Suddenly, she thought of the duchess she had seen in her vision. She didn’t seem to resent me very much. She said Diane thought she wouldn’t live long. Did she mean that before she died, she should do whatever she wanted while she still had some energy left?

 

“…Still, I want to do as much as I can.”

 

This was a matter of people’s lives, so she couldn’t give up already. It’s so sad that Diane’s last job was as a bridesmaid to a princess she barely knew. Terence wordlessly extended her hand to the bookshelf in front of her. There was a thick plant encyclopedia within reach of his hand. He said, taking out a book and handing it to her.

 

“I will contact the academy and ask them to bring me all the plant illustrations.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

She found all the plant books in the mansion’s library and returned to the main building. She stayed in her bedroom all night and looked through the herbarium, but couldn’t find anything. She wanted to draw the medicinal herbs that appeared in the forecast at night, so she asked them to bring her paints and paper in advance. But in the end, while looking through the book, she fell asleep without being able to draw. The next day, she left the mansion early to visit the Duke of Rohan. Since she was going to Lot with Terence, the mansion became busy in the morning.

 

“Young master. Outerwear…”

 

A servant ran to Lot and put a thick fur coat on him. He was one of the servants who served Lot. She was now getting to know the mansion’s servants roughly, but there were still many faces she didn’t know. Because there were so many servants, only those who served nearby could barely remember it. The three of them finished getting ready, got into the carriage, and set off for the duke’s mansion.

 

“Bajan, look over there! There’s a snowman!”

 

Lot seemed to be in a good mood after being outside for the first time in a long time. Lot was holding Bayan in his arms and looking out the window at the snowy cityscape. Light purple eyes reflected in the glass window sparkled with pure joy. Come to think of it, Lot didn’t go out often. She glanced at Terence sitting across from her. To protect Lot, Terence did not allow him to leave the mansion alone. Now that she was his guardian, she had to ask him to come with her when she went out to a safe place sometimes. Regardless, Bayan was dozing off, buried in her fur scarf.

 

[It’s noisy, kid.]

 

Bayan was wearing a knit-like outfit made from her own yarn and had a red scarf wrapped around her neck. It was the clothes Nell and Chloe had dressed him in before leaving the mansion.

 

“Cats usually don’t like wearing clothes, but Bayan is really gentle.”

 

Nell said that and tied a scarf around Bayan’s neck. Bayan woke up early and was dozing off with his eyes half closed, as if he was sleepy. It’s not that she was gentle, she thought she was just lazy. Before getting into the carriage, she held Bayan in her arms and whispered to him.

 

“Bayan, if your clothes are uncomfortable, should I take them off?”

 

[Okay. It’s nice because it’s warm.]

 

At the same time, Bayan buried herself further into the soft scarf. It looks like a tuft of black fur buried in a tuft of red fur. Perhaps because it looks like a cat, Bayan was surprisingly cold. The carriage ran smoothly down the road and entered the duke’s mansion. It seemed like it’s been quite a while since she had been here.

 

“Welcome, princess.”

 

When they arrived at the mansion, the Duchess welcomed them warmly. Since the duke was not there, she guessed he was going out. He said he was going out early in the morning, so it seemed he chose a time when the duke wasn’t around.

 

“I came to see if Miss Diane was okay. How are you feeling?”

 

“Thank you for your consideration. But I felt energized today.”

 

They went up to Diane’s boudoir. The moment she entered the bedroom deep inside, she remembered Diane’s death, which she had seen in a premonition. Diane was lying helpless in her room filled with dry grass. But now Diane’s bedroom was as warm and cozy as the last time she had been there. There were no herbs or anything, and Diane inside greeted them, lounging on her bed.

 

“Princess! Lot!”

 

Fortunately, Diane seemed to regain her strength during the day. She was still lying on the bed with a pale face, but she looked more comfortable than last time.

 

“Diane, are you okay now?”

 

“Huh. I guess it was just a cold. I’m much better now.”

 

“I’m glad you’re okay.”

 

She smiled and walked over to the side of the bed. At that time, the man standing by the door came out and bowed deeply towards Terence.

 

“Meeting His Highness the Grand Duke and Her Highness the Princess.”

 

She stopped and turned her head to see a small, thin man standing by the door. She didn’t notice him because she was only looking at Diane.

 

“This is Dr. Lennon, the family doctor.”

 

The Duchess introduced him briefly. She was startled when she looked at the doctor’s face. She later remembered who he was. When they first see the Duchess crying in her mourning clothes after Diane’s death and talking about her treatment. In that prediction, she was the man who was with the Duchess. The doctor lowered his head in embarrassment, as if dealing with people of high status was a burden.

 

“Okay then, I’ll wait downstairs.”

 

He was the duke’s doctor. Well, she guessed he was talking about the disease with the Duchess. Until now, she wasn’t paying attention to who the man she saw back then was. After learning the identity, he suddenly thought that this could be a clue. Maybe that person developed a cure. Lot set Bayan down on Diane’s bed.

 

“Bayan is also here. I’m glad you all came.”

 

Diane was happy that they came to visit her.

 

“Oh right. I made something for Bayan.”

 

Diane opened a small box on her nightstand and took out her yarn doll. Inside was a small cat doll the size of a finger made of black fur. It was a black cat doll with ears and rings.

 

“It looks just like Bayan.”

 

Lot was also impressed and placed the doll next to Bayan. The real Bayan was curled up on the bed with a sad expression. There was a black cat doll next to the black cat lying on the bed. It was a funny yet cute scene.

 

“It’s really well made. So cute.”

 

“I knitted because I was bored.”

 

Diane ran her hands through the basket of yarn that sat at her bedside. Her pure white hand, touching the bundle of thread, looked thin and fragile like a dry branch. When she saw that, she felt sorry. She wished the knowledge she had learned in her previous life had been helpful. Since it was a rare disease that only existed in this world, her knowledge was useless. After that long conversation, the Duchess looked at her and Terence and asked.

 

“Would you two like to have tea downstairs? Diane, would you like to stay with Lot?”

 

They left Diane and Lot in the room and followed the Duchess out into the hallway. As they walked down the hallway, she quietly held Terrence’s arm.

 

“I found a clue.”

 

She leaned over to Terrence and whispered quietly.

 

“I need to see the doctor who just left.”

 

* * *

 

Diane stroked Bayan’s black fur thoughtfully. Her velvety fur felt soft against her fingertips. Bayan seemed to be in a good mood as she snuggled in the warm blanket and squirmed. 

Lot, who was sitting next to the bed, had a dark expression on his face ever since the princess and Terence went outside. Diane asked as she saw her cousin’s shadowy expression.

 

“Lot, what’s wrong? Is there something you’re worried about?”

 

“No, nothing else.”

 

Lot continued speaking with eyes full of deep thought.

 

“It seems like Terrence and the princess are not on good terms.”

 

“What?”

 

Diane was startled and shouted, causing Bayan, who had been dozing off, to open her eyes in surprise.

 

“I heard the servants worried. They’ve been separated since their wedding day and barely talk to each other.”

 

“Is that true?”

 

Lot told a shocked Diane everything she had picked up from the servants. It was a rambling explanation, but to sum it up, Terence and Princess Eve had been avoiding each other and not speaking to each other since the wedding. Thanks to this, the atmosphere in the mansion was very calm. Diane was confused. The two seemed to get along well. Could it be that he was only acting in front of them because he was afraid they would worry?

 

“Well, something like that happened on the wedding day…”

 

Diane was reminiscing about the events between the Empress and Princess Sorel, and then she saw Lot and her words trailed off. Such a complicated and ugly matter was not a topic to be brought up in front of young Lot. But Lot, who had already heard Diane’s words, asked with a pensive look on her face.

 

“You mean the accident that happened on their wedding day?”

 

“Did you hear that too?”

 

“Yes. The servants said that Her Majesty and Princess Sorel had a fight.”

 

Perhaps because it involved the royal family, everyone in the mansion was quiet about it. Lot could only guess what had happened by overhearing the servants talking in the garden. He wanted to ask Princess Eve, but he couldn’t. The Empress and Princess Sorel were Princess Eve’s family. He heard that her family members fought and got hurt, and it seemed like the princess would get angry if he asked her about it. He asked his brother, but he wouldn’t explain in detail.

 

“So you said Princess Sorel was injured? Is that real?”

 

Lot asked Diane if what he heard was true. He was already curious and wanted to ask, but it just so happened.

 

“Hmm…”

 

Diane picked her words for a moment, wondering how she should explain this.

 

“Yes. What you heard is correct.”

 

“That was true.”

 

Lot thought for a moment and then asked again.

 

“So you two fought because of that?”

 

On the wedding day, the bride’s stepmother got into a fight with the bride’s half-brother and injured him. The fact became known to everyone, and the bride’s stepmother was arrested and taken away. Thanks to this, the happy wedding ended in a miserable atmosphere. If she were an ordinary newlywed, she would have cried and made a fuss.

 

‘The princess is upset because of that incident, but is it not possible that Terence was unable to properly comfort her?’

 

In Diane’s opinion, her older cousin, Terence, had a personality that could not be described as kind-hearted even in her empty words. It was more likely that Terence was the cause of the quarrel rather than the princess.

 

“I hope those two reconcile… Can’t we help?”

 

Lot asked, patting Bayan helplessly.

 

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Translator Note: