How the Villainous Consort Avoids His Death Ending

Did Tristan always have this side to him? Since he went missing and returned safely, he somehow felt thicker skinned. Where did the innocent guy go, the one who couldn’t even realize his own feelings and used to drive me crazy with frustration? I mean, just how frustratingly must he have behaved for me to go so far as to recount the fairy tale of Rapunzel and even seek advice from Kongtteok?

Clicking my tongue, I reached out to give Tristan’s back another light swat… but I quickly withdrew my hand, worried that his wounds might fester.

“Besides, that wasn’t even the first time we met back then, was it? Do not make cheap excuses after treating a person like a demon.”

“Hmm…?”

When I waved my hand dismissively while grumbling, Tristan tilted his head with a puzzled face. Sensing that he didn’t understand what he himself had just said, I subtly added an explanation.

“I am talking about when you came to find me in the dungeon. That was more than two years after we had already met, so what do you mean.”

Spouting embarrassing talk about how I bewitched him and whatnot. As I murmured while fiddling with my flushed earlobe, Tristan opened his eyes wide as if suddenly realizing something.

“Right, that is strange. I do not know why I thought that time was the first. It simply felt that way all along.”

“……Pardon?”

This time, it was my turn to be flustered. Could it be that Tristan had been sensing that something had changed?

If the soul has switched, is that person still the same individual, or are they a completely new person who is no longer that original being?

Engaged in such thoughts, I extended my index finger and stroked down Tristan’s bare chest. Along the thick muscle caught beneath my fingertip, a vivid body heat was transmitted. Gazing at him quietly, I whispered in a low voice.

“I am glad you returned. Now, never again……”

Lowering my head, I pressed my lips against his smooth skin. A short and cautious, yet earnest kiss slid lightly along his cheek. And finally, it reached his lips.

Tristan’s long eyelashes trembled faintly. A steady breath was transmitted slowly and softly. The longing, sorrow, fear, and emptiness I had felt during the time I thought I had lost him melted away like spring snow along with a long sense of relief.

When our lips parted, the rims of my eyes were heavily wet. Resting my forehead gently against his, I whispered in a low voice.

“Do not ever leave again.”

Right then, quiet footsteps were heard from outside the bedroom door.

Reflexively pushing myself up into a sitting position, I pulled the sheet to cover my body. Tristan’s brow furrowed for a moment. However, he soon adjusted his posture and let out a low sigh.

“Who is outside?”

“I am deeply sorry, Your Excellency. It is Wilhelm.”

“……What is the matter?”

If Wilhelm had come directly all the way to where Tristan was resting, it seemed it was no light matter. Soon, a calm voice began a brief report.

“The estate residents who caused the commotion have come to their senses. They are earnestly requesting an audience with Your Excellency the Grand Duke and Your Highness the Grand Consort.”

“They are those who dared to attempt to harm the Grand Consort. Leave them as they are for the time being.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. However, a different problem has arisen rather than that.”

I could sense Wilhelm hesitating for a moment. After a brief silence, a heavy voice slowly continued.

“The instigators of the riot whom we locked up……”

“Did they confess?”

“Forgive my presumption, but they attempted suicide. One person barely survived, but the rest……”

The light in Tristan’s eyes hardened firmly. A brief silence settled inside the bedroom.

“I understand. I will be out shortly.”

The presence of Wilhelm stepping away after rendering a respectful bow was heard.

Letting out a low groan, Tristan muttered.

“We need the testimony of the riot instigators to reveal that this matter was premeditated. The situation has become difficult, it seems.”

“Not necessarily.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

“Rather than having something in mind, it isn’t as though I don’t have an inkling. Though I will have to verify it a bit further.”

Feeling somewhat heavy-hearted, I let my shoulders droop. It could not be said that I bore absolutely no responsibility for the outbreak of the demon commotion. That this kind of side effect would occur was something that could have been predicted. I should not have acted so urgently.

“Whatever the matter may be, it is not your fault.”

It seemed my complexion was not very good. Tristan, who had been quietly looking down at me, wrapped his arms around my shoulders and stroked my back. A sweet warmth was transmitted to my skin along my spine. Somewhere deep inside my chest grew warm bit by bit. I closed my eyes while burying my face against his chest. It felt as though my body, which had been stiffened by guilt, worry, and tension, was loosening up little by little.