How the Villainous Consort Avoids His Death Ending

Dark brownish-black curly hair flowed softly over a rounded forehead. Gray pupils shimmering with a green light hesitated cautiously while looking at Tristan. He possessed a physical build that was much smaller than expected. Whether it was because he was excessively thin, the shoulder seams of his attire, which was worn but neatly dressed, hung down loosely.

He was an ordinary, quiet man with a pretty appearance who even seemed fragile at a glance.

“You must not call His Excellency the Grand Duke by his name so carelessly.”

Wilhelm quietly showed decorum, yet cautioned him in a somewhat stiff tone. With a flustered face, the man bent his waist and apologized.

“I apologize, Your Excellency the Grand Duke. It is just that it has been so long since I last saw you, so out of a glad heart……”

Stealing a glance up at Tristan, he continued his words as if whispering.

“It is truly…… truly you, Your Excellency.”

“……”

Tristan looked at him without a word. It was a face from which no emotion was revealed.

However, his long eyes narrowed minutely. It seemed as if he were quietly tracing his memory while staring intently at the man.

“It is Valerian Aubepin, Your Excellency. Asking if you remember me would be impudent, wouldn’t it? Since it is a matter of such a long time ago……”

As if assisting such a Tristan, Valerian added gently. Then, he smiled cautiously once more.

“However, I still vividly remember the childhood days I spent growing up by Your Excellency’s side. Because I followed you around like a shadow, Your Excellency was frequently annoyed by me. Even when you were practicing swordsmanship, I always……”

“Enough. There is no need to mention any further. Let us have you offer your greetings first.”

“Pardon? Just now……”

“Offer your respects to the Grand Consort of Hezekia, Valerian Aubepin.”

“……”

After watching the situation blankly while feeling a bit like a borrowed sack of barley, I was startled. However, without showing any sign, I stared at Valerian expressionlessly and opened my mouth.

“Since you spent your childhood here, it cannot be called impudent to ask His Excellency if he remembers you. However, leaving myself, the Grand Consort, standing here while failing to even offer your respects is clearly impudent.”

“Ah……”

I felt like a legal wife taking it out on a newly entered favorite mistress and asserting dominance. No, in this situation, is it actually the other way around? But what can I do when it is irritating?

And regardless of whether Valerian was the true Grand Consort in the original work or not, his behavior right now was correct in being impudent.

With a surprised face (in truth, Tristan flinched and seemed more flustered), Valerian hesitated for a moment before bending his waist toward me.

“I greet His Highness the Grand Consort. I offer my greetings for the first time. Please forgive my impudence……”

“Right, that is enough, and on what business did you visit the Grand Ducal Castle to request an audience with His Excellency? Because it is a time of emergency, we cannot allocate a long time to you.”

Out of necessity, a voice laced with wariness flowed out coldly. Valerian’s lips trembled faintly.

“I, I apologize. However, His Highness the Grand Consort. This humble one has rushed a long distance to see His Excellency the Grand Duke on personal business. Would it be possible to speak directly to His Excellency?”

“……”

Unlike his fragile and timid outward appearance, he seemed to possess a mettle that was stronger than expected. Stealing a step back, I narrowed my eyes and scrutinized Valerian once more.

In the original work, a detailed description regarding the Grand Consort of Hezekia, Valerian, does not appear. However, there was a mention that Tristan had not married until late because he raised Constantine alone while leading a rough mercenary life, and the vassals, feeling regretful over this and also worrying about the successor issue, strongly urged him to take Valerian as the Grand Consort.

So…… it means that those knights and vassals who came rushing to the reception room in a hurry upon hearing the news are all the culprits. I subtly glared at Wilhelm, as well as Johannes and Gerhardt, who were standing there merely rolling their eyes with awkward faces, having appeared at some point.

“If it is a matter that cannot be spoken in front of the Grand Consort, there is no need to deliver it to me either. If your business is finished, return.”

“Yo, Your Excellency the Grand Duke?”

At Tristan’s chilling reaction, Valerian’s eyes went wide. Then, with the corners of his lips quivering, he quickly made a crying face.

“It is…… it is nothing like that. This humble one was merely anxious lest I become a burden to His Highness the Grand Consort. If Your Excellency speaks so…… I shall discard all sense of shame and deliver my mother’s request.”

“Your mother’s request. Is it content that Baronet Aubepin also agreed upon?”