How the Villainous Consort Avoids His Death Ending

To survive in this harsh world with a frail body that collapsed at the slightest strain, I needed money. A lot of it.

That was when I remembered the events from the original story.

In Chronicles of the Sword, about ten years later, Hezekia accumulated immense wealth after successfully establishing trade routes with the Northern Continent’s Allied Kingdom. Unfortunately, that only happened after Tristan’s death, when Hezekia became an imperial territory and fell into the hands of Everett, who had already ascended the throne by then.

My plan was to seize the Northern trade route that would become Everett’s foundation before he could.

“Grand Consort, Grand Consort!”

I was half-reclined on the sofa, lost in thought, when a small voice called out. Opening the cabin door, I found Constantine looking up at me with shining eyes.

The child’s round cheeks looked soft, like rice cakes. His face, once gaunt, had filled out adorably, and without thinking, I poked his cheek with my finger. Constantine’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Oh… I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

Startled myself, I quickly withdrew my hand and bowed.

Even if I had spoken casually before in a moment of urgency, the child was still the Crown Prince’s son. In a society that valued blood ties, Tristan, as his maternal uncle, could treat him affectionately, but I, as an outsider, had to maintain proper decorum.

“Uh… uh… it’s fine. It’s… fine, Grand Consort.”

So, he didn’t mind… I guess. The child who once yelled “witch” at me was now acting all reserved. The change was so amusing I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Did you come because you wanted to play?”

The blue eyes that resembled Tristan’s sparkled for an instant.

Constantine, who knew I was the one who helped him overcome his Mushak addiction, had recently become very attached to me. It was obvious he had come today because he wanted to spend time together.

Well, since everyone was busy with the start of our voyage, I was probably the only one on this ship who could play with him. I had, after all, come along to act as his caretaker.

Yet even though his expression screamed that he wanted to play, he pressed his lips together and shook his head firmly. Then, with a glum little voice, he said,

“I must maintain decorum, Grand Consort.”

“Pardon? Oh, right.”

Then why come all the way here… I chuckled softly and placed my hand over his small one, which was clutching my sleeve. The boy’s eyes widened, and his chubby cheeks flushed pink as he rolled his eyes away.

“Then shall we play decorously here?”

“Um… I guess we can.”

As he answered shyly, I lifted him up and sat him on my lap. Startled, the boy stiffened like a board and cried out,

“T-this is against the law!”

So young, yet already so concerned about propriety. I gently patted his head.

“Your uncle is my husband, so I’m like your uncle too. It’s fine, Your Highness.”

“…Really?”

Constantine’s eyes trembled, but his expression showed interest. After a moment of deep thought, as if testing whether my reasoning made sense, he reluctantly nodded, pressing down the corners of his mouth with his short fingers to hide his smile.

“Uncle said we’ll be crossing the North Sea.”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s a cold sea, so make sure to dress warmly. And don’t kick off your blankets at night.”

“My nanny said barbarians live in the Northern Continent who eat people. She told me it’s dangerous and said I shouldn’t go… but I begged her because I wanted to be with Uncle and the Grand Consort.”

His voice grew faint near the end when he said “Grand Consort.” The mention of the nanny reminded me of her disapproving glare right before we left. I shook my head slightly.

“Your Highness used to think I was a witch too, didn’t you? Do I still look like one?”

“No! I never said that!”

You did… The same child who screamed “witch!” at first sight was now pretending he never had. Forgetting inconvenient memories must be something he learned from Tristan.

“People just don’t know much about the Northern Continent. It may not be part of the Empire, but it has kingdoms of its own, with nobles and commoners living there. There are so many fun and fascinating things up north. Once we start trading Northern goods in the Empire, everyone will be scrambling to buy them.”