Disclaimer: I do not own The Last Story, nor do I own the anime/manga series that inspired this fic, My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom!

Yes, this is a My Next Life As A Villainess AU – or at least, an AU inspired by this particular anime/manga series. I hope all of you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it!

Warning: Canon-typical violence, Canon-divergent AU where Arganan became a better person over time during the events of The Last Story, but also MAJOR SPOILERS for the entirety of The Last Story since there are many references to how the canon main story of The Last Story actually went.

I also want to give the heads-up that there will be an endgame polyamorous ship involved that includes Arganan and two other characters (though I won't say who for now to avoid spoilers from the getgo). And yes, Zael/Calista and some mention of Syrenne/Lowell will eventually happen as well. I hope all of you enjoy reading this fic!

Avoiding His Doom

Summary: After Count Arganan suffers an accidental head injury, he realizes that his life will be doomed if he doesn't do anything to change things. Determined to prevent his own demise, Arganan must figure out how to have a better relationship with his niece Calista, stop her engagement to Jirall Rambaldt, and ultimately end the eventual war between Lazulis and the Gurak before it's too late. However, it'll be a lot more complicated than he thought…

Also known as: The My Next Life As A Villainess-inspired/Canon-divergent AU where Count Arganan actively tries avoiding his doom by being a better person.

1. The Vision

A flash of light.

Uncle, please–!

This island, this energy–it is all mine!

Pain, and then…

Arganan opened his good eye, and waves of soreness went through his head as he instinctively put a hand to it.

"Count!" It was one of the nurses by his bedside. "Are you…?"

"I'm fine," A hiss left him, before he paused, clearing his throat. "But…thank you."

She seemed stunned–and to be fair, he knew that she had a right to be so surprised. He was usually harsher than that. But either way, what just….?

"What happened…?" He hated how hoarse he sounded still, but could do little about it at the moment. Right now, he needed answers.

"One of the books fell off you're your shelf in your office, during a meeting." The nurse explained. "It knocked you out the moment it hit your head."

Of course it did. How embarrassing.

Wait. My meeting…?

Fuck. That was the meeting with Jirall Rambaldt, wasn't it? They'd been finalizing details about Calista's engagement to Jirall. The Rambaldts had huge connections to the main Empire's ruling family and the Arganan family ruled Lazulis island, the renowned "sword of the Empire," hence why Arganan wanted Jirall and Calista engaged. It would give power to both families but also give him the opportunity to have them as puppet rulers and eventually be the Emperor himself.

But…

He couldn't let that happen.

He recalled what he saw in those visions only moments before he regained consciousness – Jirall constantly antagonizing a young man with a mark on his right hand, and Arganan himself hating Jirall's guts despite the initial arrangement he made for Jirall to marry Calista.

Plus, he also recalled one other thing – Jirall trying to kill General Asthar and blaming it on the man with the mark on his hand, too, or at least that was what the evidence claimed at the time. That would be quite awkward if that came to pass, and horrible indeed.

"Let Lord Jirall know that I'll be with him shortly in my office," He managed, sitting up carefully. His head pulsed with soreness, but he did his best to ignore it. "I'm fine."

"But Count – at least let me tend to your head wound a bit more first, please. We need to check the severity of the damage." The nurse started to protest, and Arganan was about to snap at her that he was fine when he paused.

No need to be rude, she's just doing her job.

"O-of course. Thank you." He managed. The nurse seemed stunned that he didn't snap at her, and Arganan figured that was a sign that he, too, needed to be a bit nicer to his own servants.

At least he wasn't as bad as Jirall yet. He hoped he wouldn't end up as bad as him, at least.

"I can't believe it," He heard one of the servants mumble as they restocked some medical supplies with another one. "First Lord Jirall has to come here and harass the maids, and then…"

"I saw him with Lady Calista earlier before he went for his meeting with the Count." The other whispered back. "She looked like she was about to cry."

Arganan frowned, before clearing his throat, looking towards them. "I can hear you both, you know."

"Count!" Both servants flinched as they rapidly turned to face him, and bowed to him awkwardly. "Our apologies…"

"But…you said that Lord Jirall was harassing some of the other servants? And made my niece cry?" He had to get to the bottom of this. If Calista was already going to be miserable even before getting engaged to Jirall, Arganan knew he had to do something quick. "Tell me more."

The servants looked nervous, but they nodded. "Well…"

It didn't take Arganan long to make it to his own office after he was assessed, with the nurse finally letting him leave the hospital wing. Calista was relieved that Arganan himself was fine, and Jirall made some sort of expression of relief before they got back into discussion about their earlier subject – the engagement. And then…

"I've come to the realization that your marrying my niece would be, in fact, of little benefit to us and to her." Arganan spoke, looking Jirall in the eye. "And so, I must decline this offer."

"What?" He heard Calista gasp. He betted that she didn't expect to hear him decide against her marriage to Jirall, but…I know better than to put her with him. Right? He hoped this was the right choice.

"What!?" Jirall eyes turned the widest Arganan had ever seen them. "Y-you must be joking, Count! Surely your head was so damaged during that fall that…"

"Actually, my mind is much clearer now." He managed, continued to eye Jirall. He saw the younger man squirm where he stood, as he kept speaking. "I've heard much of your shallow, disgusting behaviour about how badly you've treated my servants since you first arrived. And I've heard a few rumors that you're much less pleasant to my niece whenever you two are alone. Is that true?"

"I…" Jirall paled like a sheet, but Arganan noticed Calista's eyes widen, silent. Had she not figured that Arganan himself would notice?

"Either way," Jirall cut in, shaking his head, "What does that matter!? She can't make a debut into high society without a fiancé!" Arganan saw his face contort into a sneer. Jirall, in a way, had a point – most ladies that did their formal debut into higher society were often already engaged. For someone like Calista to not have any arrangements would be…

"She'll be swallowed up by the rest of society," Jirall continued rambling, "And she'll have nasty men surrounding her like, like…lowly mercenaries and the likes of those cretins! At least I have connections to the Empire–she'll be better off with me!" He crossed his arms, a wicked grin appearing on his face, and as much as Arganan wanted to punch him in the face, he knew he wouldn't do that. "At least reconsider. She won't get much better than me, I'm sure of it!"

Arganan recalled what he'd seen when he hit his head – if he didn't stop Jirall from trying to marry his niece now, this would only end in disaster – for his and Calista's relationship, for his own life, and many other problems down the road.

"I refuse." Arganan stood his ground, frowning. "Lady Calista will make her debut to the public without you. She's very capable of handling things herself–as befitting of who would rule Lazulis after me in the eventual future, spouse or not." Arganan looked Jirall in the eye, glaring hard. He knew that there were people that feared him – and right now, he would make Jirall back down. "Even if you have connections with the Empire's ruling family, I believe Lazulis will make do without you taking Calista's hand in marriage."

"Oh, you–!" Jirall started, teeth bared, but stopped as Arganan made an even worse glare towards him. The younger man went as pale as a sheet, before his hands balled into fists. Both men stared each other down, before Jirall was finally forced to look away from him briefly, a huff leaving his lips.

"I see that I won't be able to sway you." Jirall muttered, before giving Arganan a brief glare of his own – sharp enough to cut through flesh, if his eyes were knives. "But you will regret this, I promise! I'll be sure of it!" Even as he said so, he began to back up, before quickly fleeing the office.

As the doors slammed shut behind Jirall, Arganan saw Calista whirl towards him, eyes wide. She clearly was shocked at this turn of events, hands trembling at her sides. "Uncle…?"

Arganan frowned, swallowing lightly. "He hasn't hurt you, Calista," He asked, "Has he?"

He'd heard whispers of servants about how Jirall truly treated Calista when they were alone, and what he heard from those other servants earlier wasn't helping his suspicions.

Such a two-faced man. I'm glad I broke off that engagement before it could even begin.

"I-I…" Calista faltered, but tears started forming at the corners of her eyes, before she balled her hands into fists at her side, her gaze avoiding his own. "I...He told me not to tell you…because he said you wouldn't take my word. Th-that it wouldn't…matter."

She sounded so broken. Shame sunk into Arganan's bones as he saw how she trembled, despite her best attempts at keeping her composure. This is my fault. If I never even introduced her and Jirall to each other, this wouldn't have happened. She's been hurt enough as is.

Did I already screw this up? My and Calista's relationship? Even before he hit his head, he knew he hadn't exactly talked to her much since her parents' deaths and since he took up ruling Lazulis. Was he already doomed?

Could he at least apologize to her for what he'd done already? Or try to? It's the least I can do, right?

"Calista…" Arganan swallowed, trying to meet her gaze. He moved across the room, laying his right hand on her shoulder while the other still held his cane to stay balanced, and she looked up at him with tear-streaked eyes. "I'm sorry. I should have noticed those signs sooner. Just because Jirall has political connections doesn't mean I want you to be…unhappy."

"Uncle…?" Calista's eyes widened, but Arganan had more to say.

"I know that I haven't been the best uncle to you." He forced himself to take a deep breath, looking into her eyes. How well did he even know his own niece, since starting to rule Lazulis years ago? "Since your parents died, I cannot imagine how lonely it's been – and if I contributed to that in any way, I'm sorry. And I will do better than this."

It had been his fault, right? If it wasn't for him hitting his head earlier and realizing what would happen in the future if things didn't change starting now, Calista would be lonely. Fearful. Unhappy.

And it would be his fault.

Silence fell between them, and Arganan wondered if he'd already done too much damage. He knew he hadn't been the most attentive to her, tried to blame it on the busy duties of ruling Lazulis, but in the end, he only had himself to blame.

I should've been a better uncle. Was it already too late?

"Uncle…" He heard Calista gasp, and she stepped forwards, before wrapping her arms around him. A light sob left her, and Arganan instinctively wrapped his arms around her, unsure of what else to say as she managed a few words. "I-I'm…so glad…to hear that. Thank you. I'm just…glad that you're here."

He hadn't expected the hug for her, but he had a feeling that something just shifted. That things could get better for him and Calista.

"I'm glad you're here, too." He whispered back to her, keeping his arms wrapped around her. "And I'm here for you no matter what. Okay?"

He felt her head lean against his shoulder as she nodded, murmured words along the lines of "I understand," and a slow sigh left him.

He had no idea what would happen for sure after making the decision that he did. But he knew that it was an essential step in staying in alive at the end of it all, even if it meant angering Jirall Rambaldt of all people. It was a risk, certainly so, but one he knew he had to take.

At the very least, it started him on the path to a better relationship with his own niece.