I’m a Villainess, Can I Die?

Wow. Seriously, are we in a novel, or is this actually a play? The entire room is filled with actors.

With his long strides, Lucas closed the distance between us in an instant, as if he had mastered the art of teleportation.
He gave a halfhearted nod toward Mia before extending his hand to me.
“You should rest, Lady Selina. You don’t look well.”

“Oh, I suppose that would be for the best. I really wanted to stay and celebrate my beloved brother’s engagement, but… I feel like my ears are going to start bleeding. What a shame.”
“Oh dear, we can’t have that. I shall escort you to your room.”
“Please do. And, Aiden.”

At my sudden call, Aiden flinched behind me before stepping to my other side, opposite of Lucas.
And, of course, he was still smiling.
Was the name of this play The Man Who Laughs? Ah, wait, is that plagiarism? Never mind.

“Yes, my lady.”
“You’re coming too. After all, you’re only here because my father sent you, aren’t you?”
At the mention of father, Mia—who had been stammering in frustration—flinched and looked at me.

I’m sure her shaking pupils reflected me, Lucas, and Aiden… probably. I can’t exactly see into her eyeballs, after all.
Anyway, how does it feel to be the audience of this play?
Because that’s exactly how I felt earlier.

Unbelievable.
Keeping my eyes fixed on Mia, I spoke to the two beside me. I had no choice—I couldn’t very well turn my head left and right like a pendulum while speaking. That would just be weird.
“Aiden. You were called here because my father was concerned about me. Not so you could be dragged into other people’s nonsense. So next time something like this happens, use the Duke’s name and just refuse.”

Now that I said it out loud, that was really just a message for Aiden.
Hmm. I shouldn’t have looked at Mia while saying that.
But thanks to that, I think the message got across quite clearly.
To be honest, my words weren’t all that logical. Even as I spoke, I was thinking, What kind of nonsense am I saying?

But everyone here would understand the real meaning behind it.
The young lady is siding with Aiden instead of Mia!
And that was enough. Because aside from the Duke and Duchess, Aaron and Princess Ariel, and the Crown Prince acting as the Emperor’s representative, I was the highest-ranking person here.

At least, among the people watching this spectacle, my status was the highest.
And since this was a society obsessed with status, they would laugh along even if I threw an orange at the floor and called it long.
Now then, everyone, act accordingly. Life is just one big game of reading the room.

I took Lucas’s hand and turned toward the center of the banquet hall, where today’s main figures were gathered.
I had to at least greet them before leaving.
Ah, but before that, there was something I had left unsaid.

As I stopped in place, Lucas—who had been escorting me—also halted, and Aiden, who had been following behind, did the same.
I turned back and gestured for Aiden to step aside.
Now that I was no longer hidden behind him, Mia—who still hadn’t given up all hope—looked at me expectantly.

The other nobles, sensing something was about to happen, turned their curious eyes toward me as well.
I glanced around at the watching crowd and opened my mouth.
“How long does it take to eat an orange?”

At those words, an indescribable atmosphere filled the room, freezing everyone in place.
Even Lucas and Aiden stiffened beside me, looking at me in shock.
I shrugged as if to ask, What are you staring at?

Somewhere in the crowd, a noblewoman—quick on the uptake—let out an awkward ho, ho, ho laugh.
And that was all it took.
Like a fire catching on dry wood, laughter spread through the room—forced, strained, reluctant.

Watching the scene, I nodded in satisfaction, then turned around and continued walking.
“Selina! What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, it’s nothing. I guess I just got a little dizzy being in such a crowded place.”

My parents and the Crown Prince were standing a little farther away, deep in conversation.
After briefly glancing in their direction, I headed straight for my brother and Princess Ariel without hesitation.
When I told my brother that I would be leaving first, he immediately examined me with concern.

The kind and beautiful heroine did the same.
“All right, then. Go get some rest. I’ll inform the Duke and Duchess.”
Their sincere trust and worry almost made me feel guilty for a moment.

But I reassured myself—there are such things as harmless lies.
…The only issue was that I was the sole beneficiary of that harmlessness.
Actually, the real reason I didn’t want to greet the Crown Prince was… well, I just didn’t feel like it.

I wasn’t going to live long enough for all these interactions to matter, so why should I bother playing nice with people?
I had already been tolerating my family’s presence enough. That was the most I was willing to do.
I had no desire to add more people to the list.

The walk to my room was quiet.
The banquet hall was quite a distance from the mansion, separated by a garden.
Because of that, I could take a leisurely stroll while enjoying the nighttime scenery.

The bright full moon illuminated everything around us.
Three long shadows stretched side by side, accompanied only by the chirping of insects.
Thankfully, most of the bugs had gathered near the bright lights of the banquet hall, so all that remained was their pleasant background noise.

The early summer breeze brushed against my face.
Ah. So this is what an early summer night feels like.
I closed my eyes and recalled the summers of my past life.

The rattling sound of an electric fan.
The soft hum of an air conditioner.
My little sibling, fast asleep.

And me, silently watching over them.
This translation is the intellectual property of .
The sound of insects outside had been so loud that I had wanted to block my ears.

The uncomfortable chair, the makeshift bed—I had never been able to get used to them.
And for my sickly younger sibling, the summer season had been nothing but exhausting.
If it was too hot, they might develop a rash. If it was too cold, they could catch a fever.

And yet, while I worried, my parents had gone home and slept in comfort, dumping all responsibility onto me.
I opened my eyes again.
The vivid memories faded.

Only the petals, scattering in the night breeze, remained in my vision.
Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful…
And that was all.

I couldn’t feel anything beyond that.
I couldn’t put it into words.
Perhaps I couldn’t understand beauty because I had never truly experienced it myself.

“Lady Selina, are you all right?”
I had stopped walking without realizing it. Aiden’s voice pulled me back.
It seemed I had lost myself in my memories again.

Lucas, too, was now gazing at me as if checking my condition.
Oh, now? Truly, a master of escorting.
I glanced at Lucas before turning to Aiden. His golden hair shimmered under the moonlight.

Was that worried look on his face real? Or was it just an act?
“I’m fine. Just a little tired.”
“Selina, are you sure you’re all right?”

Lucas interjected before I could even finish speaking.
“Yes, I’m fine… But—Selina?”
Instead of calling me Lady or Young Miss, he had simply used my name.

In this world, addressing someone by their first name was reserved for close relationships.
And yet, I had rejected Lucas’s offer of friendship.
“Didn’t you agree to be treated as the dear sister of my dear friend?”

I had no words.
…Fine. It’s only for a few days anyway.
“Do whatever you want.”

Lucas smiled under the moonlight—a bright yet strangely dark expression.
“Thank you, Selina.”
Aiden’s mind flashed back to the past.

To the very first day he had taken a walk with Selina.
That day, he had trailed beside her like an awkward, misplaced sack of barley.
Now, the only difference was that he was walking behind them instead of beside them.

And yet, for some reason, today, it stung a little.
Feeling left out of a noble’s conversation? How ridiculous.
The two of them, dressed in their elegant attire, walking side by side—it was like a picture-perfect scene.

Aiden slowly lowered his gaze to the ground.
The darkened earth, shadowed by his own figure, felt strangely familiar.
Like it was just as insignificant as him.

When we finally reached my room, Lucas bowed and kissed my hand.
Honestly, it was embarrassing and strange, but it was the proper etiquette here.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

"Then, have sweet dreams, Selina."
I’d rather not dream at all—I just want to sleep soundly.
I screamed that internally but only nodded in response.

Lucas flashed a grin once more before turning around and walking away.
Goodbye. Let’s never meet again. I’m done taking evening strolls, so stop looking for me.
"Aiden, you must be tired too. You should head back."

"Ah… Yes."
Aiden, who had been standing like a shadow by the door until Lucas disappeared from sight, bowed his head.
But instead of leaving right away, he hesitated.

"What is it?"
"Well… I just wanted to thank you."
I figured he would.

For someone like Aiden, it was actually a little late for him to say it.
But since I had done it in exchange for something else, I didn’t particularly feel the need for gratitude.
"It’s fine. It was just repaying a favor from earlier.

So make sure to keep it a secret."
"…Yes."
"Then, you can go now."

At last, looking slightly relieved, Aiden bowed once more before turning his back to me.
After watching him leave, I reached for the door and shut it myself.
Ah, what an exhausting day.

I should just stay in bed for at least three days.
I made that firm resolution and pulled the servant’s bell.
I can’t even take off this dress by myself…

Seriously. Everything about this is a hassle.
"How long does it take to eat an orange?"
Lucas let out a laugh in the empty garden.

It wasn’t the kind of amusement a mere smile could express.
Who would have thought she’d say something like that in front of everyone?
What exactly was going on in that expressionless face of hers?

He wiped away the tears forming in his eyes from laughing too hard, then turned back toward the banquet hall.
By now, there was no doubt that the young lady’s antics had become the talk of the evening.
If any absurd rumors began spreading, things would become a pain.

Idiots never know when to keep their mouths shut.
Lucas’s eyes gleamed coldly.