No More Regrets, Just K*ll Me

“I almost got screwed. I knew this would happen.”

I looked at my trembling hands, recalling the events that led me here.

“Could you bring me some stationery and a pen?”

Before standing in front of Princess Yermondi, I had prepared a few countermeasures.

First.

“An unexpected figure will appear.”

I chose Dorothea for that role. With her divine power, she would be a great help if things went sideways.

[To Her Highness, Crown Princess Dorothea.]

It felt a bit strange to write a letter like this, but I had to maintain proper etiquette.

In the letter, I wrote about how things were going, the pleasant weather, and so on. Finally, I got to the point.

[I have received an invitation from Her Highness, Princess Yermondi. Given the recent unpleasant events, I’m afraid to show my face.

So, if it’s alright with you, could you join me?]

Dorothea was likely to grant my request. She was someone who enjoyed doing good deeds.

[PS. I would appreciate it if you could keep my request a secret. We used to be close, so I wouldn’t want Princess Yermondi to be disappointed.]

I added a suitable reason to avoid arousing suspicion and handed the letter to the butler.

Then I went straight to find Carlothian.

He looked at me with a bewildered expression as I casually entered his office.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that.”

“What’s this about now?”

“We’re going to the palace soon, right?”

“Yes.”

“At that time, no matter what happens, don’t get too involved.”

Carlothian furrowed his brows.

“Are you planning to cause another incident?”

“No, I have no intention of causing trouble.”

I smiled, holding up my fingers to indicate a small gap.

“I think someone else might cause a little bit of a problem. Let them handle it themselves. Getting involved will only make things more complicated.”

“…We’ll see.”

“Oh, come on.”

He was pretending to be reluctant, but I knew he would comply. I grumbled as I left his office.

Now, for the second task:

‘Find the most harmless-looking dress!’

I needed a neat dress that wouldn’t attract attention. Preferably white. After all, people are often swayed by appearances.

‘Whatever trap there is, I’ll be the one to suffer! If I can’t avoid them, I’ll enjoy them!’

As I enthusiastically rummaged through the dressing room, the maids smiled softly.

“It seems Miss Ariadeline is looking forward to her trip to the palace.”

“After all, she used to be close with the princess.”

“Perhaps she’s excited to meet an old friend?”

I could hear the maids chattering, but I didn’t pay them any mind. It was fine if it looked that way.

“Miss Ariadeline, how about this white dress?”

“Oh, I like that! Thank you!”

“No thanks needed.”

With all the preparations complete, the long-awaited day of reckoning arrived.

“Bring the tea.”

As soon as I heard the relaxed voice of the princess, I realized something.

Hey, that’s poison. It’s poison.

A pale-faced maid brought in the tea, confirming the situation.

Usually, the lady-in-waiting brews the tea for the princess. But suddenly, a maid is serving it?

Especially the trembling hands placing the cup didn’t seem to be nervousness because she was in front of the princess; it felt different.

Even though I’ve only read a few romance fantasy novels in the past, I can tell right away.

‘How do I handle this?’

I forced a smile and examined the teacups.

First, there was no way she would poison Carlothian. After all, the princess loves him.

Second, if poison were added to my tea, it would be the easiest way to kill me, but well. Would the princess use such an easy method?

There had been plenty of opportunities to kill me. In the original story, I became a sinner due to cursing Dorothea…

Wait a minute.

As I thought that far, I looked at the princess’s teacup and immediately understood her intentions.

The princess didn’t want me, Ariadeline, to die. She wants me to suffer more and die perfectly as a “villainess.”

And the most essential thing to make me a villainess is, of course, “jealousy.”

Once again, the jealous Ariadeline would poison the princess’s teacup… It was a perfect scenario, even in my opinion.

Knock, knock, knock—

At that moment, I heard a knock. I shifted my gaze to the side.

Here comes Dorothea.

The flustered princess stood up and went to see Dorothea, leaving me with my only chance.

“Oh dear, there seems to be dust in the princess’s cup.”

I said this nonchalantly while surveying the surroundings. The lady in waiting showed no change of expression, as if they were well trained, but I could sense the maid’s panic.

“I should switch it with my cup.”

Clink.

“I’ll bring another cup.”

The lady-in-waiting tried to stop me skillfully, but

“No, it’s fine. I’ve already wiped off the dust.”

I tightly grasped the princess’s cup with both hands and smiled.

Before long, Dorothea and Princess Yermondi returned.

Princess Yermondi seemed to realize that something had happened. Perhaps the lady-in-waiting behind me had given some sort of signal.

Before anyone could stop me, I swiftly consumed the poured tea. After all, if poison were prepared for the princess, it wouldn’t be deadly. If it was, well, Dorothea was here.

Let’s see how this plays out. Here we go!

I swallowed the tea, but as soon as it went down, the reaction hit me immediately.

“Cough—!”

What kind of poison did she use? Did she use a poison that causes you to spit up blood as soon as you consume it? I panicked and tried to cover my mouth.

However, only the blood that spilled between my hands flowed continuously.

“Ahhh—!”

Dorothea’s scream and the commotion in the princess’s tea room. There, Princess Yermondi stared at me with wide eyes. Ah, it seems this method worked after all?

I flashed a brief smile, and the princess’s face turned cold.

“I-I’ll treat you.”

With that, Dorothea stepped forward and began to treat me, and only then did my insides start to settle down.

But as I tried to close my eyes comfortably, the maid wouldn’t let me be.

“Ah, this was all schemed by Miss Ariadeline?”

No, are they really going to pin this on me as a self-made act?

I frowned slightly, feeling a bit irritated.

Isn’t this method too outdated? It’s undoubtedly the easiest way, but how could they underestimate me?

There was only one action I needed to take.

“She is not at fault, Your Highness.”

I opened my eyes as wide as I could to appear fragile and hugged the maid tightly. I could feel her body trembling. At that moment, I felt a bit of pity.

‘In the end, she only did this because she couldn’t withstand the princess’s threats.’

How terrifying it must be.

“Simply poisoning a sinner doesn’t make one guilty. It was I who tried to frame the princess. The maid is not at fault.”

I began to plead, trying my best to appear humble so that I wouldn’t be seen as a villain.

I could hear the murmurs of the palace attendants who had rushed in upon hearing the commotion. I smiled inwardly.

‘Yes, watch closely.’

A villain confessing her crimes while embracing the maid. In this contradictory situation, they would surely have their doubts.

Yermondi’s face was cold. She must have realized that I was up to something.

However, with the palace attendants gathered and Dorothea by her side, she couldn’t act too strongly.

Yermondi had crafted her image as a beloved princess who couldn’t do anything cruel.

Dorothea then intervened, leading to a smooth resolution of the situation.

“Please consider her feelings just this once. I will uncover the truth no matter what it takes.”

“…I understand. I trust you will handle it well.”

Fortunately, the maid was taken to Dorothea’s palace by her servants.

Yermondi’s influence there would not reach her.

I sighed and stood up for the time being. Although I had received treatment, it seemed I had vomited too much blood, and my head was spinning.

Suddenly, I stepped on the hem of my dress and leaned forward. Ah, am I going to fall?

Thud.

But there was a hand that caught my waist. I anticipated the person and gave a faint smile.

“Good timing.”

“Is that what you have to say right now?”

I didn’t even have the energy to respond, so I slumped into his arms. Carlothian lifted me up. Ah, here comes the one-person transport method again.

I turned my gaze to Princess Yermondi. She was looking at Carlothian with a colder gaze than anyone else.

Yes, this is the best way to get under her skin. I inwardly chuckled and closed my eyes.

I didn’t have the strength to keep them open.