How To Survive As a Villain on the Verge of Death

Mikhail received an order from the emperor to visit the Rohan duchy and deliver gifts. Of course, he had no orders to take Sorel there. However, he was not told not to take her with him, so he was not disobeying the emperor’s order by going along. With that in mind, Sorel got into the carriage, carefully holding the small gift box he had prepared in advance. The knights who came out with Mikhail seemed a little surprised to see Sorel accompanying them.

 

“Is the princess going with us too?”

 

She heard someone ask that.

 

“Yes.”

 

Mikhail sent the group off without further explanation. He said he would not allow any other questions. But he didn’t even talk to Sorel. Sorel felt that such attitude was a bit cold and was saddened. She looked out the window in her gloomy mood. When she thought that all of this was because of Eve, she felt resentful and a hatred arose in her.

 

‘I can’t make this work out.’

 

From now on, she would interfere with whatever Eve did. The same thing happened with this scented candle. There was a lot of talk going around in social circles that Eve had found a way to cure the Princess of Rohan’s illness. It wasn’t a big topic of conversation, but everyone thought it was amazing that stupid Eve had found such a thing.

 

‘Princess Eve, no, the Grand Duchess has really changed a lot. I feel like she had become a different person.’

 

Everyone was so impressed. Sorel wanted to change what people were talking about.

 

‘Diane seemed to be getting better with the scented candle Eve had gotten her, but she found out that it was useless. Eventually, Diane’s illness worsens again. The Duke and Duchess feel that they have suffered needlessly because of the Princess and she blames Eve.’

 

That was the story Sorel wanted. Hopefully she will be able to make it happen enough. Upon arriving at the Duke’s mansion, the Duke and Duchess greeted the group politely.

 

“Greeting Her Highness the Princess.”

 

The duke and his wife, butlers, and servants were all present in front of the main gate. Sorel got out of her carriage and looked at them all with a bright smile. It was as if she had forgotten everything about the wedding day.

 

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

 

Sorel was led into the reception room. There, Mikhail handed the gift he had prepared to the Duke and Duchess.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor sent a gift to commend the Duke’s efforts.”

 

The emperor’s gift was an expensive sword and jewels. Although they were very precious things, they were not that incredibly special. Nevertheless, the Duke of Rohan looked moved out of courtesy because it was sent by the emperor.

 

“Oh my god, it’s a time when I’m so grateful…”

 

Just as the duke was about to offer a formal greeting, Sorel quickly intervened.

 

“I heard that Miss Diane has recovered a lot after receiving her treatment. His Majesty was also happy to hear the news.”

 

Sorel never saw whether the emperor was happy or not, but he lied calmly. After hearing those words, the Duchess expressed her gratitude in a calm manner.

 

“I can only thank His Majesty the Emperor for His grace.”

 

Although the tone was calm and elegant, the words somehow had a cold mocking feel to them. It was even more so because the duchess’ face as she spoke those words was so expressionless. On the other hand, the duke smiled brightly as if he was happy.

 

“It is truly an honor for His Majesty the Emperor to send us a gift.”

 

But there was a faint suspicion in his brown eyes. He seemed puzzled as to why he even sent Sorel for something like this. Mikhail didn’t bother to mention that Sorel was involved here of his own volition. It seemed like he was waiting for Sorel to speak on her own. But before that, Sorel said, taking out a small gift box he had prepared.

 

“Hey, Duchess. If you don’t mind, I’d like to meet Miss Diane.”

 

“Diane?”

 

“I also prepared a separate gift for Miss Diane. I want to give it to her this directly.”

 

At that moment, Mikhail next to her gave her a curious look. The look in his eyes said that wasn’t the purpose of coming here. Sorel added quickly.

 

“And I also have something to say to the Duchess.”

 

The Duchess agreed without saying anything.

 

“Diane has not fully recovered yet, so she is resting in her bedroom.”

 

“Then I will go there.”

 

Sorel went up to Diane’s boudoir with the Duchess. Diane was lying in her bed when she saw Sorel and pulled her up.

 

“Oh, it’s okay if you don’t wake up.”

 

Diane sat down on the back of her bed without saying anything. Then she lowered her head with a slightly sullen expression.

 

“I greet you, Her Highness the Princess.”

 

“Long time no see.”

 

Sorel was greeted with a smile, but inside he was quite shocked. Because Diane’s body was cleaner than she thought. There were no spots visible anywhere on her hands or the nape of her neck, visible through the hem of her clothes. She didn’t know how she was doing elsewhere, but looking at her now, she could believe she was completely cured.

 

“You’ve really recovered a lot. Good.”

 

Diane responded with a wary look in her eyes.

 

“It’s thanks to His Majesty Rain’s help.”

 

“I heard it too. Sister Eve did a really good job.”

 

Sorel hid her displeasure as she glanced around Diane’s bedroom. There was a fireplace on the wall inside the bedroom, and a log fire was burning brightly inside. Thanks to her, the room was filled with warm heat. And a bitter smell, like boiled herbs, permeated the entire room. She guessed this was what that scented candle smells like. After finishing the observation, Sorel put on a friendly smile again.

 

“Diane, I brought a gift for your sheep.”

 

Sorel approached Diane and unwrapped her gift box.

 

“These are cosmetics that I had a hard time finding.”

 

When she said that it was cosmetics, Diane’s eyes, which had been filled with wariness, appeared with a hint of curiosity. Of course she would be curious. She was at an age where she dresses up nicely and enters society, but she has been locked up in her mansion all this time.

 

“What kind of cosmetics is this?”

 

Sorel opened the box and showed what was inside. It contained two puffs with detailed patterns and a perfume bottle.

 

“I prepared some perfume.”

 

Diane’s brow furrowed slightly at the mention of perfume.

 

“Perfume?”

 

“Oh, in case it was bad for Miss Diane’s body, she researched the ingredients in the perfume in advance and prepared it. There are no ingredients that affect the disease, so she doesn’t have to worry.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Diane seemed unimpressed. Beside her, the Duchess gave her daughter a sneak peek. Diane caught a look from her mother and belatedly lowered her head.

 

“Thank you for your attention to detail.”

 

That’s what she said, but Diane’s hard expression showed that she was just going to accept it and not use it. Sorel suppressed a sneer in his heart.

 

“I found the scent that would go best with Miss Diane. Speaking of which, would you like to smell the scent?”

 

Sorel put the box down on the nightstand and took out a perfume bottle. Then, as if her hand had slipped, she let go of the bottle.

 

“Ah…!”

 

Sorel hurriedly grabbed the perfume bottle that was about to fall. However, as the glass bottle tilted to the floor, the lid opened, and the perfume contained inside flowed to the floor.

 

“Oh my, I’m sorry.”

 

Sorel took out his handkerchief and hastily wiped the perfume off the bottle. However, the perfume that fell to the floor had already soaked into the room. It was only a few drops, but the strong scent spread throughout the room.

 

“Ugh… The perfume smells too strong.”

 

Diane frowned and covered her nose with her hand. Diane seemed to dislike the scent itself, perhaps because she had never used perfume. Sorel kept apologizing with an embarrassed expression on his face.

 

“I’m sorry, what should I do… I’m so sorry, Diane.”

 

The Duchess consoled her as Sorel apologized, almost in tears.

 

“Just wipe it off and air it out, so don’t worry too much.” the Duchess asked, looking back at Diane who was looking at her Sorel with an uncomfortable look on her face. “Diane, would you like to change your clothes and go to the tea room for a moment to have some tea?”

 

“I guess so.”

 

As soon as Diane heard those words, she immediately stood up, as if she wanted to get out of this room filled with fragrance.

 

“The princess will go with us too.”

 

“Yes, Thanks.”

 

Sorel thanked the Duchess as if she had found her savior, and she rose to her feet. The tea room, the Duchess said, was located a short distance from Diane’s bedroom. Even with the teacup in front of her, Diane still glanced at Sorel with an uncomfortable look in her eyes. Sorel remembered that in the past she had deliberately humiliated Diane. She didn’t do anything outright malicious. She just didn’t think Diane would live long. She just did it because she was disgusted with her parents hogging their lives even though she was suffering from an incurable disease. But because of that, Diane still hated Sorel.

 

‘Well, I guess I was the only one who said such unpleasant things to the girl who was like a flower in this greenhouse.’

 

Sorel thought so inwardly as she laughed at Diane. The Duchess looked at the two people who maintained an uncomfortable silence, then took the initiative to start a conversation.

 

“Her Royal Highness. You said I had something to say. What did you say?”

 

“It wasn’t a big deal.”

 

The fact that she had something to ask the duchess was just an excuse for her to use in front of Mikhail. Sorel was drinking her tea, then she excused herself and got up. It’s as if Diane maintains her blunt attitude so she can’t help but walk away.

 

“If it’s okay, I’ll go back to the reception room first.”

 

The Duchess told her maid, who was beside her, to lead Sorel to the reception room.

 

“Please guide Her Highness the Princess.”

 

Sorel followed, guided by her maid, and went downstairs to her.

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

When she was halfway down the stairs, she stopped and called her maid to stop her. She took out a thin bracelet decorated with sapphires and pearls from her arms. It was prepared to give her an excuse to bully her maid.

 

“I’ll wait here, so go back and give this to Miss Diane. I’m sorry I spilled her perfume. I’d like to invite her to the imperial palace tomorrow, so ask if she can come.”

 

The maid seemed a little embarrassed, but she did not dare to criticize her princess’ orders.

 

“All right. Her Royal Highness.”

 

The maid took her bracelet and went back upstairs. After climbing up, Sorel also went back the way he came. Diane would whine that she didn’t want to come to the palace, and the Duchess would think about how she could politely refuse. While the two were discussing, Sorel quickly headed to Diane’s bedroom. Diane and the Duchess were in the tea room, and Michael and the Duke were in the reception room downstairs. The maids would have finished cleaning the bedroom by now, so this was the perfect opportunity. Sorel went into the bedroom after making sure no one was inside. The empty bedroom was filled with cool air. This was because all the windows were wide open to remove the perfume filling the room. Thanks to this, the perfume smell has almost disappeared. Although there was a faint scent remaining, it was at a similar level to that of air freshener. Since she was ventilating, she turned off the fireplace fire. If she left the window open, the wind would have extinguished the fire anyway, so she put out the fire and went out.

 

‘It went as well as I thought.’

 

She had been going for this from the beginning and had her maid spill her perfume, pretending it was her mistake. If she spills perfume, she would have to ventilate the room because of the smell. While she was emptying and ventilating the bedroom, she would also turn off the fireplace fire. She thought she could sneak away and hide the spices in the fireplace. It was a hasty solution, and it was risky, but she couldn’t think of any other way to get Diane out of her bedroom. She tried to postpone her plans in case something came up, but fortunately, everything went as expected. Sorel took out her small pouch she was carrying in her arms with a satisfied expression on her face.

 

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