How To Survive As a Villain on the Verge of Death

The grass that appeared in the clippings was not a medicinal herb, but a fragrant herb.

 

‘That’s why I haven’t been able to find it until now.’

 

Since it was not an herb, no one would have thought of using it to treat diseases. It seemed that she accidentally discovered that it was effective for Diane’s illness and started researching it.

 

‘But what if the research stopped when Diane died?’

 

In the end, it was said that a proper treatment was not developed until Diane died.

 

‘In a previous prediction, the Duchess said she had discovered a cure.’

 

But in that future, Diane died in the summer. Maybe it wouldn’t be next summer, but the year after, or the summer after that. Had this doctor developed a cure by then? The Duke would have continued to provide research funds while Diane was alive. However, as the future changed, Diane died too early, and the research was halted before a cure could be developed. The young man who brought the scented candle wandered around holding the box and asked cautiously with a sad look on his face.

 

“It’s a waste, but can I give it to another patient? If you keep it close by, the symptoms will be alleviated at least a little.”

 

“Okay, do whatever you want.”

 

After the doctor gave permission, the man went out holding a box of scented candles. That scented candle was definitely effective if you kept it close to the patient. Suddenly, she remembered the pile of dried scented candles that filled Diane’s room in the last prediction. 

They were in the process of developing a treatment, so they brought it into the room to see if it would have any effect.

 

‘It would be nice if I knew how to make a cure right now.’

 

She wanted to at least find out the name of the scented candle, but even that seemed impossible at the moment. The doctor, who was left alone, did nothing but look through his book with a sullen expression on his face. She was looking around to see if there was anything else to look for. In an instant, the space surrounding me disappeared as if the fog cleared. As her vision cleared again, the doctor’s puzzled face appeared looking at her. When her intelligence disappeared and she returned to reality, people always looked at her strangely. Well, since they were suddenly holding hands and losing their minds, it was natural to wonder why they were doing that. She continued the conversation naturally, as if she had been lost in thought for a moment while trying to remember.

 

“When I thought about it, it wasn’t an herb.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“It’s an herb with healing properties that I read about in a book. When I thought about it again, it was a scented candle used by perfumers.”

 

As she said that, she grabbed his hand again. She thought maybe a miracle would happen and another foresight would come out, but no such surprise happened. Actually, she had never seen two premonitions at once. She quietly let go of the doctor’s hand.

 

“Have you ever used scented candles as a treatment for Miss Diane’s illness?”

 

“Scented candles… Well, certain scented herbs are also used as medicinal herbs.”

 

When she asked with such confidence in her voice, the doctor seemed genuinely concerned.

 

“Have you ever felt better when Miss Diane smelled a certain scent?”

 

Perhaps they found an effective scented candle using that method? She just ignored it for a while, but when she thought about it, she realized that her symptoms got better every time she used air freshener. But the doctor shook his head.

 

“As far as I know, that has never happened. The strong perfume is not good for this bottle, so no air freshener is used in the princess’s bedroom.”

 

“Okay?”

 

So how did you find out that scented candles are effective against illness? Have you tried this on other patients? he Duchess, who had been quietly listening with an expectant expression, quickly expressed her opinion.

 

“Why not take some scented candles and try them out? It’s good to try anything now.”

 

When the duchess even said that, the doctor had no choice but to agree with our opinion.

 

“If you will allow me, I will bring some scented candles and test them.”

 

“Please try it right away.”

 

The Duchess seemed to have found her hope after listening to me. She asked the doctor impatiently. The doctor asked for permission to go to the laboratory and bring some scented candles and went out first. She should also look through scented candle books and find the scented candle that the vision saw. If you look for it from both sides, you will be able to find out the identity of the grass in a short time. After sending the doctor out, she drank tea and got up. Since it was a mansion with patients, it was okay to come as a guest and stay for a long time. Diane, who was with Lot, was very sad to hear that we were leaving.

 

“Please visit again next time.”

 

“Sure. If it’s okay, I’ll come often, even if I’m alone. It also comes with Lot.”

 

She held Diane’s hand and promised to come back. Her pale white fingers, like dried branches of grass, were thin and fragile, as if they would crush if she squeezed them too hard. But Diane’s smile looked bright and joyful.

 

“You must come.”

 

Diane then turned her gaze to Lot.

 

Lot caught the look in his cousin’s eyes and saw her nod slightly.

 

‘You two are close.’

 

Well, Diane didn’t have any siblings and Terence is much older than Lot. It was natural that the two resonated well. They got back into the carriage and were seen off by the Duchess.

 

* * *

 

After returning to the mansion, she had a quick lunch and went back to the library to look for scented candles. After dropping them off, Terence went off to work and Lot went up to study. Lot seemed to be in a very good mood, perhaps because he had visited the duke’s residence for the first time in a long time. When she told him to go study, he would often make a bored expression and hesitate. Today she went upstairs with a happy face. Thanks to that, she settled into the library in earnest, carrying a basket full of tea and snacks. She sat in a corner with a warm fireplace and looked through books on scented candles, spices, and perfume combinations to find a scented candle. While she was looking at the book, she turned her head and saw Bayan, who was lying on his back with a book next to her, looking at her closely. Now that she thought about it, she didn’t know why Bayan was with her today. He usually rolled around in her bedroom.

 

“Why do you look at me like that?”

 

[It is nothing.]

 

“What’s going on? Why are you following me today?”

 

Bayan, who was reading a book, silently narrowed his eyes and stared at her. The ears, which were standing stiffly like an angry cat, turned to the side.

 

“…Of course, I would like it if we were together. I just asked because I was curious.”

 

She thought he was offended, so she quickly changed her words. It was so unconscionable to nag a subject who still couldn’t share her power with Bayan because she didn’t know how to use her holy power. Bayan looked at her complexion with a sullen expression and said.

 

[The servants in the mansion are worried about you two.]

 

“Servants?”

 

She was about to ask why, but she closed her mouth. It was obvious why.

 

“Rumors have spread that we don’t get along.”

 

Now that she thought about it, it’s strange that it didn’t spread. She had been living in a miserable state, sharing separate rooms for several days. It’s inevitable that you’ll get attention from servants. But Bayan added something surprising.

 

[The little boy seems to be worried too.]

 

“What? Lot?”

 

She was astonished before putting down the book.

 

“Does Lot know what we do?”

 

They went to great lengths not to let Lot know about this incident. They stopped the servants from talking and pretended to be a happy couple in front of Lot.

 

[How did you think I wouldn’t know since we live in the same house?]

 

Bayan looked at her as if he was pitiful.

 

“I didn’t think I could hide it forever, but I still hoped Lot wouldn’t know.”

 

He said he hid it, but did he find out when he heard the servants talking? She felf like a pathetic adult for even worrying about a child.

 

“But Lot didn’t tell us that. He didn’t seem worried.”

 

Even when they went to the Duke’s residence together, he seemed happy. Could it be that he was also pretending not to know because we were acting? Was acting ability hereditary in this family?

 

[If the situation seems too serious, you may be too scared to ask.]

 

“Did it look that bad?”

 

Well, it did seem serious that they were in a cold war as soon as they got married. A sigh-like sound escaped Bayan’s small mouth.

 

[The best way is to answer the confession and resolve the situation.]

 

“I know that too.”

 

Well, she guessed they couldn’t stay like this forever. It’s been 10 days since he confessed and said he would think about it, but it was rude of him to keep not giving her an answer. If they were going to say no, they had to say no and go back to being a normal contracted couple, keeping each other in line and pretending to be a fake couple. Because she couldn’t continue to live in this uncomfortable relationship. It’s an answer to a confession. As her thoughts reached that point, she suddenly began to question herself. What answer did she want to give Terence? Did she really want to date him? It’s not that she didn’t like him. She had heard a lot about his looks as well as their time together. Rather, it was closer to her liking. Terrence was an unexpectedly sweet and attractive man.

 

She started talking to herself without realizing it.

 

“If I hadn’t seen our future… Maybe I would have accepted his confession and became lovers.”

 

But if she died like she predicted… How could she easily say ‘let’s date together’ and accept it when she saw a future like that? Bayan, who had been listening quietly, pointed out in a calm voice.

 

[Aren’t you looking through this book to change the future?]

 

“Yes, that’s true.”

 

She put the book down on the floor and sighed.

 

“Because you may be able to prevent Diane from dying, but you may not be able to change my death.”

 

Just look at Diane’s death. According to a previous premonition, she must have died in the summer, but Diane’s death was brought forward when the future changed. Perhaps, instead of preventing her death, there was a possibility that she would die sooner. Unlike Diane, she doesn’t know the exact cause of her death.

 

‘Then how did they kill me?’

 

Bayan in the prediction clearly said that they killed her for an evil act. It didn’t seem like a word that would be used for an ordinary accident, assassination, or poisoning. The choice of words was the same, but so was the tone of the words themselves.

 

‘If only I knew how they killed him, I could prepare.’

 

While she was deep in thought, Bayan’s indifferent voice interrupted again.

 

[Wouldn’t it be better to tell the Archduke about his prediction and discuss it together?]

 

“That…”

 

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Translator Note: