I'm a Villainess, Can I Die?-Chapter 71

The capital, or rather, the duchy’s mansion near the imperial palace, came into view just as the sky was painted in deep red hues of sunset.

After arriving, we each washed up and finished our meal.

The room I was to stay in while in the capital was the very last one on the second floor. It had the largest window in the mansion. Through it, I could see the capital’s nightscape and, in the distance, the imperial palace.

I spent a long while staring at the unfamiliar scenery, so different from the duchy’s lands. But exhaustion eventually set in, and I headed to bed.

As I lay down, Jane, who had been unpacking nearby, spoke up.

“My lady, is the bed comfortable for you?”

“Yeah. I like it.”

It wasn’t as nice as the one at the duchy, but I wasn’t the type to be picky about where I slept.

A hospital’s narrow cot, a guardian’s chair, even a cold, hard storage room in the dead of winter—those were all places I had slept in before. What reason did I have to be particular now?

As I buried my face into the soft pillow, the smooth fabric wrapped around my skin.

“My lady!”

Jane hurriedly ran over and flipped me onto my back. Anyone watching would think I was trying to suffocate myself against the pillow.

I gave in to her fussing, lying flat on my back with the blanket pulled up to my chin.

“Jane.”

“Yes, my lady?”

“Do you want to sleep with me?”

“...What?”

Jane’s room was a small one connected to mine.

Though the mansion in the capital was large, it wasn’t big enough to have separate quarters for the servants. Jane had told me that their rooms were located beyond the first-floor dining hall.

Because of that, personal attendants like Jane stayed in rooms directly connected to their master’s.

Living right next to one’s superior sounded suffocating.

And yet, here I was, making an even more absurd proposal—do you want to sleep with me?

Jane blinked in surprise.

Ah, I guess that was a bit much.

I opened my mouth to take back the suggestion, but before I could, Jane, who had been frozen in place, spoke first.

“I’d love to, my lady! But... why?”

Weren’t you just flustered?

Despite my thoughts, Jane rushed into her room, gathering up her pillow with enthusiasm.

“Just because.”

Jane tilted her head before her lips curled into a knowing grin. Then, she scurried back to my bed.

I scooted over to make space for her, and she turned off the lights before settling into the spot I had cleared.

“My lady, are you excited for the Founding Day ball?”

“Mm... I guess.”

I rubbed my eyes, heavy with fatigue, and answered absentmindedly.

“But I feel like you’d enjoy the festival more than the ball.”

Wrong, Jane. I don’t like either.

Still, I didn’t want to spoil Jane’s excitement, so I hummed in agreement.

“Yeah, the festival sounds fun.”

“Right? During the Founding Festival, they hold street plays, and there are food stalls everywhere! And when music starts playing, everyone stops what they’re doing to dance. It’s so lively!”

Wow. That’s certainly... unique.

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Jane was so animated that it felt like I was already there.

“And at night, there are fireworks! Oh, you’ll be able to see them from here, too.”

“It sounds like a good time.”

I asked softly, and Jane, who had been caught up in excitement, suddenly quieted.

She must have noticed how tired I was. The way she immediately toned herself down made me feel a little sorry for her.

“Yes. I haven’t been in two years, but... it was a wonderful experience.”

“Then let’s go together.”

“What? Really?”

Jane asked in disbelief.

“Yeah. I’m only attending the ball on the second day. So, let’s go to the festival together on the second night.”

The ball was scheduled to last for three days. But I had no intention of attending all of it, and my family had no objections.

“That sounds amazing, my lady. I can’t wait.”

Even in the dark, I felt like I could see Jane’s bright smile.

Before long, the same girl who had been buzzing with excitement dozed off, her chest rising and falling in steady breaths.

I slowly sat up and walked toward the door of Jane’s assigned room.

Standing before the firmly shut door, I hesitated for a moment before placing my hand on the doorknob.

Cold. It was so cold.

I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination, but the chill that began at my fingertips seeped down to my toes.

Just like the doorknob of the storage room I used to stay in.

This grand mansion, and that small, attached room—something about it felt unsettling, like it was making me recall that lonely storage room from my past life.

I didn’t want Jane to sleep in there.

A room too cold for a person to rest in.

Of course, it was only my past talking. This room was probably warm and filled with comfort.

But knowing that didn’t change the fact that I hated it.

Maybe it was because Jane kept reminding me of Eunji.

The same age as her, a small frame, a delicate build. If Eunji had been a healthy child, would she have grown up to be ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) like Jane?

I slowly pulled my hand away from the doorknob, just as I had placed it there.

Returning to bed, I lay down and stared at Jane, who remained fast asleep, oblivious to my movements.

Then, I closed my eyes.

I felt like I was teetering on a thin line between peace and the darkness of my past.

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But one thing was certain—I was facing forward now, with my back turned to those memories.

That was enough. Right, Eunji?

I ran my right hand over my left arm.

The scar was faint but still there.

The morning of the party had arrived.

Yesterday had been entirely dedicated to shaking off accumulated fatigue.

My family also spent the day in a relaxed manner, only briefly inspecting donations, gifts, and other contributions.

We had come to the capital three days in advance specifically to have this leisure, and we had certainly made the most of it.

But today, as if that peaceful time had been nothing more than a dream, yet another hectic day began.

“My lady, is the water temperature to your liking?”

A young maid, her posture stiff with tension, hesitantly asked. The other maids around her wore similarly nervous expressions.

The people at the main estate had already grown accustomed to my calmer demeanor and treated me with ease, but it seemed word hadn’t spread to the staff here in the capital’s mansion yet.

It had been a while since I’d seen people so tense around me. It was almost nostalgic.

I answered with a simple nod, and only then did the young maid let out a small breath, visibly relaxing.

Bathing on the day of a party was always an ordeal. It took more than twice the usual time, and they used such strong fragrances that it gave me a headache.

As the overpowering scent of lavender filled the air, I closed my eyes. Sensing my discomfort, Jane swiftly wiped my face with a damp cloth.

“Your head hurts, doesn’t it?”

“A little.”

She placed a thin linen cloth over my face. Impressed by her attentiveness, I gently tapped my aching head.

I just wanted this miserable bathing ritual to end quickly.

Eventually, the bath was over, but that had only been the prelude.

The real trial lay ahead—a vast array of accessories and cosmetics stretched out before me. I swallowed unconsciously at the sight.

Wow. Are we actually going to finish this in time?

“Hmm, blue accessories would match the blue dress, right?”

“Do whatever you want.”

“Then this one... and this one. And since the dress is extravagant, your makeup should be a bit bold too.”

Despite my concerns, the preparations went by surprisingly quickly, thanks to my ever-reliable Jane.

Unlike my mediocre sense for these things, Jane picked everything swiftly yet flawlessly. Thanks to her, all I had to do was sit still.

As I remained silent and motionless, even the other maids seemed far more at ease.

Hmm... When we return to the estate, I’ll have to treat Jane to something delicious. No, I should buy her all sorts of good things at the festival tomorrow.

As if she had read my thoughts, Jane met my gaze through the mirror and flashed a bright smile.

You little rascal.

With Jane’s help, the preparations finished earlier than expected, and I was able to take a break in my room with her.

There wasn’t much point in eating anything now, so I simply rested my chin on my hand and gazed out the window.

Jane, who had been quietly looking outside as well, sneaked a glance at me.

“What?”

I asked, and Jane blinked before shyly smiling.

“Just... it’s exciting that you’re going to a ball at the imperial palace. The palace! It must be so grand.”

Her eyes sparkled like a child caught in a daydream.

Well, she was only eighteen.

That age where fantasies of princes and castles still held sway. The same way kids that age get lost in admiration for celebrities.

“I’ll bring you back a souvenir.”

“...I don’t think they sell souvenirs there.”

A brief silence followed. Her voice, which had risen in excitement, quickly returned to its normal level.

Did she really take my joke that seriously?

“Then I’ll at least sneak some snacks into my pocket.”

“Please, don’t.”

Her reply was even more serious than before.

Her expression, too.

Did she really think I was the type to stuff food into my dress at an imperial ball?

...Actually, now that I thought about it, it didn’t seem entirely impossible.

This was making me question my very identity.

As I stared out the window in thought, the clock hands moved to 4:50 PM.

It was time to start heading down.

With a dress this extravagant, I’d probably need some help descending the stairs without ruining its form.

Jane left to fetch more maids.

I sat quietly in my room, waiting, when I heard a knock at the door.

There was no way Jane could have returned this quickly unless she had somehow mastered teleportation.

“My lady, it’s Aiden.”

As expected, it wasn’t Jane.

I rose from my seat and walked toward the door, the sound of my heels echoing through the room.

On the way, I caught sight of my reflection in the large mirror.

A lavish blue dress, hair half-pinned up, makeup heavier than usual.

Even I had to admit—I looked breathtakingly beautiful.

I paused for a moment, adjusting the slightly askew necklace.

The clear diamond pendant caught the light, gleaming brightly.

“Come in.”

The moment I spoke, the door handle turned with a soft click.

Beyond the opening door stood Aiden, impeccably dressed in a cream-colored tailcoat.