How To Survive As a Villain on the Verge of Death

For the next few days, she lived quietly inside the mansion. Terence also went to the political office only when there was urgent work, and usually worked in the mansion’s office. As for the accident in the middle of the night, no other predictions have yet been made. They both decided to be careful and refrain from going out until they got another hint. Instead, they analyzed the diary she found inside the mansion. Preventing accidents was important, but they were only injured, not killed. Therefore, Terence argued that once a clue was discovered, the curse was more urgent.

 

“I think there is a high possibility that the owner of the diary is Princess Enclid.” said Terence, who had been looking through history books in the library and opened a section of his book.

 

The part he pointed to was an old record from about 150 years ago.

 

“Princess Enclid?”

 

“Princess Enclid had strong sexual powers that made plants grow.”

 

Terence’s explanation continued.

 

“Her mother was from a lower noble family, but she caught the eye of the emperor and she became empress. But after she gave birth to two children, she lost the emperor’s love and she was poisoned. Afterwards, the princess confronted the emperor to protect her own brother.”

 

It’s a story that somehow felt familiar. The imperial family has had problems for generations. Terence finished his explanation and turned his attention to the book.

 

“But she, the princess, fell ill and died at a young age. Here is the record.”

 

He showed her the records in the book.

 

The era in which Princess Enclid lived was after Bayan fell asleep. Could it be that her magic developed after Bayan fell asleep? Someone developed a groundbreaking magic method?

 

She asked, reading the official record of being a princess.

 

“Were there any signs of anything suspicious about her death? Even if it’s just a rumor that could be a clue…”

 

“There is nothing like that in the librarians. I don’t think anyone had any doubts about her death.”

 

Terence said as he turned the pages.

 

“What made sense was that the disease the princess contracted was an infectious disease that was prevalent at the time. It is said that another princess, who was her half-sister, also died from the same disease around the same time.”

 

“What kind of person was the princess who died with her?”

 

It bothered her that the two princesses died together. Could it be that she got her curse there too? However, the explanation in the book was different from my expectations.

 

“She was a princess born to a young empress. She was only five years old, and unlike Princess Enclid, she was a daughter whom the emperor greatly cherished. It is written that her emperor was very grieved over the loss of her young daughter.”

 

After listening to the story, the young princess’s death was not suspicious. In those days, her medical skills were poor, so it was common for young children to get sick and die.

 

“But Princess Enclid left a record of her curse in her diary.”

 

Just looking at the words written in the diary, it seems like it was an extremely urgent situation.

 

“There is something different in this book here.”

 

Terence took out a book that was older than the one he had just read. Unlike official records, it was a book containing rumors and stories of the time.

 

“Princess Enclid lost her mother when she was young, and she was always in an unstable state. They said she suffered from an obsession that someone would assassinate her and her sister.”

 

“Well, I understand because there are circumstances for that.”

 

Her mother was poisoned due to her father’s indifference, and in fact, her only brother’s life was threatened, and she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

 

“It’s unfortunate, but does that mean this was just a delusion?”

 

She smoothed out the black letters written in the diary. A story about a curse that suddenly appeared after normal daily life records.

 

“But considering my future death due to a curse, I can’t think of this record as simply a delusion.”

 

Moreover, it was also the reason why it was hidden in such an unusual place. Apparently, as soon as she took out the diary, the library collapsed. Perhaps the princess caused the room to collapse and disappear immediately after someone took out her diary. So that the evidence that she took the diary disappears forever.

 

‘But as time has passed, the device there has become… Maybe it’s broken.’

 

It collapsed quickly before anyone who came in could leave, and seeing that only half of it collapsed rather than completely collapsed, it looks like it was damaged due to old age.

 

“This is all I found out.”

 

Terence closed the book and set it aside.

 

“There isn’t much progress in finding the shaman.”

 

Terence secretly sent his men to seek information related to witchcraft. However, all the books and items brought were nonsense. As soon as Bayan saw it, he decided it was nonsense. Even without Bayan telling me, it looked fake at first glance. The owner of the store, who seemed to have a real connection to witchcraft, was still missing.

 

“He also doesn’t have much income. There was no warning after that. Let alone witchcraft, there is no foreknowledge of accidents.”

 

From that day on, it was the same even though she held Terence’s hand whenever she had time. She didn’t know why it didn’t come out when she told it to and only showed up at unexpected times. Was it because she was focusing all her attention on the argument with Terence at the moment? But she couldn’t fight again just to see the wisdom.

 

‘It would be nice to at least find out where that bridge is.’

 

After that day, she looked at pictures of the capital’s rivers and bridges. In particular, they looked for bridges located where the mansions of noble families were located. However, the scene shown in the prediction was in the middle of the night, and it ended so quickly that it was difficult to figure out where it was. In addition, the railings of the bridge shown in the preview were broken, making it difficult to discern its shape. It would be best to walk around and find it herself, but Terence said to refrain from going to unfamiliar places until they found out more information.

 

At this time, it was unclear exactly what kind of accident it was.

 

“If you look at the circumstances, it seems like there was an explosion or an attack while riding the carriage.”

 

“This is an institution, so is there a chance that someone would attack the Grand Duke and his wife?”

 

Was it possible that the Grand Duke and his wife’s carriage would be attacked, as it was not deep in the mountains infested with bandits? Even the emperor wouldn’t do something so crazy.

 

“I think so too.”

 

“So is it a bomb?”

 

The broken bridge and the smoke rising from it. Terence and she were lying in the river. At first glance, it looked like he had thrown himself off the bridge to avoid an explosion. Terence frowned as if wondering.

 

“I wonder who did it. If he were the emperor, he would have no reason to do something like that so openly.”

 

She had the same thought. Until now, while the Emperor has attempted to harm her, he has always had safeguards in place to prevent suspicion. When he first tried to assassinate Eve, he tried to blame Terence for her murder and make himself the victim of the loss of his daughter. Even when Sorel acted on his own at the wedding, he and the Empress tried desperately to accuse me of being the culprit. But then they suddenly bomb them? And in a situation where the empress was dethroned and even Sorel was kicked out of her imperial palace? Besides, she didn’t know what happened, but neither of them died in the accident. Although he was injured in the fall, his life did not seem to be in danger. It felt a bit strange to be something the emperor did.

 

Knock, knock.

 

Then someone knocked on the library door. The person who opened the door and came in was Nell.

 

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess. A letter from Princess Diane.”

 

“Diane?”

 

She took the note Nell gave her. Inside the note, written in Diane’s cute handwriting, was a request to come to her mansion.

 

[I have something urgent to tell you about the dinner. Could you please visit the mansion for a moment?]

 

Talk about a dinner party. What was it? They were supposed to pick out a dress for her to wear to the dinner party together, but was that the reason? She found a dress textbook at the library, brought it to the boudoir, and was looking through it from time to time. Since she still had time, she planned to check and find out more thoroughly. Anyway, Diane asked her to come, so she had to go right now. She took the note and walked back towards Terence’s desk.

 

Terence, who was reading a book, looked up at her. She asked him for permission in a slightly sarcastic tone.

 

“Miss Diane invited me. Can I visit the Duke’s mansion?”

 

Terence answered with a gentle smile.

 

“Then we can go together.”

 

She looked at him with amazed eyes and said.

 

“There’s no way the duke’s mansion is dangerous. I can go there alone. Besides, we’re meeting to choose a dress.”

 

Terence accepted as if he had no choice.

 

“All right. Please come back.”

 

Even as he said that, there was a slight smile on Terence’s lips. After going to the temple, they got into an argument while talking about Michael. The uncomfortable atmosphere was relieved to some extent by the foresight that appeared afterwards. Should she call this fortunate? She went straight to the carriage and headed to the duke’s mansion. The cold weather has eased considerably over the past few days. After all, spring was coming soon.

 

As the temperature became warmer, the Duke’s mansion also became more lively. Diane was waiting for her in her room.

 

“Your Highness!”

 

She had improved so much that Diane, who had been focusing only on her treatment, did not realize it. She was told that the nape of her neck and her arms were now completely healed and the spots elsewhere had faded. Maybe that’s why she had a good complexion. Even her face, which was as pale as a sheet of paper, was filled with color.

 

“I received a call. Something urgent has happened, right?”

 

Diane sat across from her at the table by the window and said,

 

“My father is going to the estate in ten days. He said something happened at the estate and he went there in person.”

 

“In ten days? What’s going on?”

 

“I think it’s a tax-related issue. The Ministry of Finance found that there was a problem with the documents. It wasn’t a big deal, but they said you had to go and see it in person.”

 

“I’m glad it’s not a big deal.”

 

Well, considering that something like that had happened, the atmosphere in the mansion was good.

 

Diane said, clutching the teacup her maid had brought her.

 

“So we decided to bring up the dinner.”

 

* * *

 

The afternoon sunlight dyed the pillars of the corridor golden. Mikhail, who was walking down the corridor, stopped for a moment and looked back at the support of the political officer. It was still winter, but the weather was getting warmer day by day. Spring will be in just one month. Mikhail’s emotions as he looked at the garden, which did not match the warmer weather, were complex and disturbing. For the past few days, Mikhail has been pondering his distraught mood. Sorel has not yet left for the villa, but the emperor’s orders were so strict that he has not been able to meet her.

 

He didn’t know what to say if he met Sorel now. If Sorel went to the villa like this, there was no telling when he would be able to meet again. He felt sick to his stomach thinking about that. He was equally worried about what happened with Eve.

 

‘I was trying to help, but somehow such an accident happened…’

 

While leaving the temple, Terence did not look good. There was no contact from Eve after that, but he was worried that Mikhail himself had intervened and made the two of them uncomfortable. Mikhail sighed and headed to the Emperor’s office in the Government Building. The emperor was waiting inside the office.

 

“Your Majesty, have you found your conviction?”

 

Inside, the emperor and the leader of the Imperial Knights, Gairen, were waiting for him.

 

“Lord Sheldon.”

 

The emperor greeted him with a gentle smile. Even after calling him that, the emperor did not say anything for a long time. Michael watched the emperor’s gaze and silently waited for his command. The Emperor, who had been observing Michael for several minutes, slowly opened his mouth.

 

“You value faithfulness enough to be stubborn. Isn’t that right?”

 

“What are you saying…?”

 

“The reason I chose you was because I liked your sincerity and loyalty more than your skills.”

 

Mikhail started out as a soldier in the temple guard and was promoted step by step thanks to his excellent swordsmanship skills. Then he caught the emperor’s eye and joined the Imperial Knights, and after making several achievements, rose to the position of vice-captain. The emperor looked at Mikhail and asked in a friendly voice.

 

“Can you perform an important mission for me?”

 

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