How the Villainous Consort Avoids His Death Ending

“Are you saying it is Liander?”

Count Cassel closed his eyes tightly, remaining silent for a moment. Soon, a heavy answer escaped his lips.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

For a moment, the Emperor staggered as if struck by lightning. A shock, as if his entire body were turning ice-cold, washed over him.

He hid his trembling fingertips inside his long sleeves. His lips remained tightly sealed, not moving an inch. Count Cassel, who had been carefully observing the Emperor, added as if making an excuse.

“However, Your Majesty, you know that this is a common name. That alone is not enough…”

“If there is a witness, I would be able to know in more detail. There must be a priest who officiated the marriage.”

A cold voice sharply pierced the dark air. Cassel dropped his head once more.

“…The priest passed away a long time ago. It has already been over twenty years.”

“That is quite convenient. The cause of death?”

“He was attacked by a ruffian…”

“If it was twenty years ago, that would be around the time Liander entered the palace.”

“…”

The Emperor’s lips twisted into a cynical sneer. A strange light glistened in his black pupils.

“It would have been difficult to steal even the marriage certificate kept at the monastery. But attacking a mere priest would have been easier than twisting a child’s arm.”

“Your Majesty. It is difficult to conclude that just like that.”

The Emperor’s face distorted. A look mixed with futility and anger flickered across it.

“Your Majesty…”

Cassel called out to the Emperor cautiously. However, he only ground his teeth and smiled bitterly. His eyes had already hardened into a cold stare.

“Of course, Cassel. I cannot cast Everett aside with just this amount of suspicion. I will need more concrete evidence. However.”

The Emperor straightened his back. His face was one of cold, cruel determination.

“There should be no need to afford such consideration to Dearsby.”

“What do you mean by that…”

“A request came from Hezekia. They say the Dearsby fleet attacked the Grand Duke’s fleet a few years ago. Attacking the Grand Ducal House as a privateer fleet commissioned by the empire is a grave crime that must be atoned for with death.”

“Yes, yes…?”

Count Cassel was also aware of the request from Hezekia that had arrived in secret. However, it was nothing more than the Grand Duke’s claim without evidence. For that reason, it had been kept top-secret and pending for some time, and he had expected it would never be accepted.

The Emperor’s stern command followed.

“Tell the Grand Duke of Hezekia. I authorize the subjugation of the Dearsby privateer fleet, or rather, the pirate group Dearsby.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

However, evidence no longer mattered.

It was still too early to make a judgment on Everett. The Emperor still could not let go of his lingering attachment to his own bloodline.

But now that his suspicions had grown, there was no need to protect Dearsby as well. Even if that man’s privateer fleet had exerted a tremendous influence on the Rubyere Empire’s national treasury.

Because now, the expanded Hezekia fleet could fill that role instead.

It was the very moment the Emperor declared this.

Suddenly, his vision blurred, and his head spun. The Emperor collapsed, losing his strength. A flustered Count Cassel rushed toward him, shouting.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Please, come to your senses, Your Majesty!”

However, the Emperor had already lost consciousness and was sinking into deep darkness.

❖ ❖ ❖

The request for an attack on the Dearsby privateer fleet was approved.

Of course, the verbal authorization had only just been given, and since the Emperor had collapsed immediately afterward, it would take quite some time for Count Cassel to draft the order and send it to Hezekia. However, the authorization document would certainly arrive before long.

This was the information that, unexpectedly, Sawyer had brought us, allowing us to be aware of this beforehand. Sawyer, who had secretly left the reception room to pay his respects to Tristan, added with a grin.

“Therefore, Grand Consort, you may carry out your will to your heart’s content.”

“Thank you, Sawyer. For bringing such after-serv… additional information.”

Even though I had not asked him to. I was grateful, however, as it allowed us to prepare in advance and buy ourselves time.

“It is nothing. The little bird is your loyal servant, my lord. I will chirp for as long as you desire.”

“…”