A Fairy Tale Written by a Villain

Chapter 6

“Your Highness, are you really going to marry that Grand Duke Waschke? His Majesty is so harsh! How could he even consent to a marriage to that kind of man?!” Badelle circled around Isabelle, who was packing her bags restlessly.

“My decision remains the same. So, will you help me pack?” How can this child have nothing that’s worth any amount of money when she’s a princess? Isabelle tried to recall her past memories to the greatest extent possible as she packed her valuables. There were only two pairs of heels. What was worse, she had left one pair on the beach. I’m really stupid.

Frustrated, Isabelle pounded her chest with her fist. This or that, what do I even want to do? She didn’t know what she wanted more: life or death. A part of her hoped that she could live because she had deviated from The Little Mermaid and met Snow White. But whenever she thought of the inevitable death that would befall her like clockwork, everything felt hopeless.

I wonder if I’d return to the original world if I died one more time… Oh, right. I fell into that river and died. Then would it be the afterlife that I’d be going to? Isabelle sighed and looked out the window. She could see the blue sea beyond the castle walls, a large boulder, and behind the boulder... Wait. What’s with that red seaweed? There was no way that the red thing floating in the ocean could be seaweed—or could it? When she took a closer look she saw a pair of blue eyes staring in her direction, sticking next to the large rock like a barnacle.

Unless I’m seeing things, that is clearly the Little Mermaid. “Badelle, come here for a second.”

“What’s the matter, Your Highness?”

“Am I the only one who can see that?” Isabelle pointed to the Little Mermaid, who had half of her face sticking out of the water. Whoa, that’s scary. It’s like something straight out of a horror movie.

“Where, Your Highness? My apologies, but I can’t seem to spot anything.”

“That! Over there, the red-haired woman.” Isabelle pointed clearly at the large boulder. At the same time, the Little Mermaid splashed back into the ocean.

“Y-Your Highness, did you perhaps see the ghost of someone drowned at sea?”

“Never mind, Badelle...” Although it seemed the Little Mermaid had misunderstood something about the situation, it could always be taken care of later. Isabelle moved her hands about as she finished packing. A few dresses and underclothes were all that was in the big bag. As far as precious items went, two pairs of earrings and a few thin rings that Maria gave her were the only things she had.

For a bad-tempered villainess, her belongings are too meager. She hadn’t noticed this in her previous lives when she left the kingdom holding the prince’s hand right after transmigrating. But packing the bags on her own made her reevaluate Isabelle’s life. Who are you exactly? And what kind of life did you lead? Isabelle thought, looking at her reflection in the mirror. The villainess’s eyes somehow looked completely empty despite maintaining a certain ferocity.

***

Isabelle traveled to the Nevellant Empire via ship, passing by the port filled with foreign merchant ships and trade ships. When she arrived at the grand duke’s mansion, her jaw dropped low with shock. The grand duke’s estate by the sea was as busy and vibrant as the capital of the empire. If his mansion were more extravagant, it would have been practically treasonous. She hadn’t known of its extravagance, as in her previous lives there was no reason for her to be involved with Grand Duke Waschke. Prince Edwin had barely even mentioned his name in front of her.

Following from behind, Badelle looked up at Isabelle with a sad expression. It seemed her maid was troubled, thinking that the mistress she served would die on the first night. Anyway, even the servants are all expressionless, Isabelle thought, looking at them bowing as she passed. Their expressions were dry like emotionless dolls.

Suddenly, she recalled an old, buried memory. Compared to those outrageous things that came at me, trying to rip off my younger self, these people are... Wait. What’s this memory? Isabelle stopped walking and grabbed her head. With the sound of metal scraping the floor, the old memory vanished like smoke. Cold sweat suddenly covered her body, and a chill ran down her spine.

“Your Highness?” Badelle shot out her hand, calling out to her. Isabelle involuntarily slapped away her arm quite hard. In a flash, Badelle’s expression stiffened.

“It’s nothing, Badelle.”

“Should I call for a doctor...?”

“No, it’s okay.” Isabelle smiled awkwardly and followed behind Snow, who was waiting to lead them to the parlor.

***

Snow guided Isabelle to the place where she would stay. He walked past the luxurious mansion and toward the back garden. Surprised, Badelle ran up and blocked Snow’s path. “Where are you taking the princess?” she asked.

“I am showing her to the place she will stay from now on.” Snow’s tone, which was polite to Isabelle, turned cold toward Badelle. He pointed to the tall tower that stood in the corner of the vast back garden like a lighthouse. The shape of the tower, stacked with large white bricks, fit well with the magnificent mansion. It’s not bad. Isabelle thought that this much was fine.

But Badelle’s reaction was different. “Do you seriously think that kind of shabby place is fitting for the grand duke’s wife-to-be?”

No, Badelle. Sure, that’s a tower, but it’s more luxurious than the temporary palace I used to live in. Although Isabelle poked Badelle’s side to signal that she was okay, it seemed Badelle understood the motion differently. “See? My mistress’s face is as pale as a ghost! You can tell how shocked she is!”

Wait Badelle, I’m not ready yet! Although Isabelle tried her best to hide her satisfied look, Snow was faster to recognize it. “Maybe. But your princess looks quite satisfied,” he said.

“I smiled because I was dumbfounded, Sir Snow...” Although she made up a rough excuse, the sharp-sighted man grinned like a snake and tilted his head. Isabelle changed the subject quickly. “Anyway, what’s the reason for preparing my accommodation in such a remote tower?”

“It’s because of the grand duke’s curse.” Snow explained that at night, the cries of a beast rang throughout the mansion. And the grand duke—who turned into a beast every night—was afraid of heights, or so he claimed. So that’s why I would be safe if I stayed in that tower. Snow added, “If Your Highness is brave enough, you can choose to stay in the mansion instead...”

“No. The tower would be better,” Isabelle replied.

“Good thinking. Since it is the very place where the grand duke’s brides have stayed for generations, it won’t be uncomfortable.”

“Are you giving me the room that twelve people died in?” What the hell? Won’t there be ghosts? Isabelle swallowed her worries and furrowed her brows. Her bold appearance along with her frown gave off a rather menacing aura.

Snow, who was usually laid-back, avoided her gaze as if he felt overwhelmed by it. “They have only stayed there for a few days. But if it bothers you, I shall prepare another place.”

“I am a bit sensitive, but... I’ll take a day and think about it.”

Once Snow nodded and walked ahead, Isabelle lifted her chin arrogantly and winked at Badelle. “How’s that, Badelle? Didn’t I sound graceful just now?”

“Yes. Fortunately, you didn’t look like you grew up without much, Your Highness.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that...?”

“S-Sir Snow walks quite quickly. You should hurry, Your Highness.” Badelle smiled awkwardly, then walked forward in a hurry.

***

After she unpacked her luggage, the grand duke showed Isabelle around the mansion. Although the interior was neat, there was, strangely, not enough furniture. Most of it was new, and the rare pieces of furniture that could be seen bore sharp scratch marks. The parlor meant for greeting guests was also empty. They said that he turns into a beast every night. Did he break everything? Countless claw marks on the floor could not be covered with the carpet. Isabelle hunched her shoulders but then quickly fixed her posture. I’m already fated to die, so what’s there for me to be scared of? Isabelle lifted her chin proudly and sat at the table. It smelled new.

Then she started to draw up a marriage contract with the grand duke. After signing the contract, the grand duke handed it to Isabelle. “I set the date of the wedding as you wanted, Princess.”

She saw the date was exactly three months later. It was the same day that Isabelle had died in her previous lives. “Great,” she replied.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“I’m hoping that you give me enough money to spend,” she said boldly. His purple eyes widened slightly. Did he think that a woman, a princess no less, wouldn’t ask for such a thing?

“I did write up the marriage gifts, and the expenses for keeping up appearances, to give to the king.”

“Give me more. So I can spend it to the fullest before I die.”

“Then... Would this much be enough?” The grand duke wrote the additional amount he would give to Isabelle every day at the bottom of the contract. The amount he wrote, without any hesitation, was 10,000 dallions. It was the equivalent of $10,000 a day.

Crazy. I heard that he was rich, but isn’t this a bit too much? She wanted to react calmly, but the sheer number took her breath away. “Do you not like it?” he asked. Seeing Isabelle so choked up, the grand duke tilted his head.

“Well… That much should be enough.”

“That’s a relief. Do you have any other requests?”

“No, I’m okay with this much. But what about you, Grand Duke?” He blinked in surprise. “Do you have any special requests from me?”

At Isabelle’s question, the grand duke hesitated. Up until now, the brides had only asked him to do something for them—no one had asked him if there was anything he needed. “Well. Aside from asking you not to run away before the wedding, there’s nothing that really comes to mind.”

“You’re not as greedy as I thought.”

“Should I want something from you, Princess?”

“Well, you know, things like... not falling in love with one another since it’s cumbersome.”

“Ha.” Love. As if. The grand duke laughed as though it were ridiculous. “I don’t plan to do that. Are you planning on falling for me, Princess?”

“Me neither. I was just giving an example.” What the heck? This man’s a bit of a d*ck. Does he have high standards just because he’s handsome? Look, I’ll have you know that this face is beautiful enough to make anyone fall in love with me, okay? Isabelle touched her cheek and glared at the grand duke. He accepted her fierce gaze like it was nothing.

“If you want to do it, then do it. Love, I mean,” he said.

“What?”

“If you need that kind of thing, then I will play along—even if it’s fake.” There wasn’t even a trace of hidden intention on his face.

“I can tell that you’re confident, but you are not charming me, Grand Duke.” Forget it. I’m tired of men now. Isabelle scoffed then grabbed the contract. “But what if, Grand Duke... What would happen if I survived?”

“I’ll do anything you want afterward.” At Isabelle’s question, the grand duke did not hesitate to answer. It was a question he was used to since most of the women who rushed to marry him thought that they were special.

“Anything?”

“Anything.”

“Great. If I do survive, we shall keep the conditions the same as they are now.” She imagined a free and luxurious life, spending ten thousand dallions every day. Although thinking about it made her happy, the chances of surviving were slim. So what? It’s happy freedom from now on. She did not have to try with all her might to survive in the castle as she did in her first and third life.

If I have to live a sad life, I will not spend it crying, curled up in a small room. If I have to mourn over my fate with my days numbered, I would rather do so while in the driver’s seat of a luxury car. I would rather live the kind of life where I die of loneliness, sitting in the VIP lounge of a department store!