How the Villainous Consort Avoids His Death Ending

“Speaking of which, there are rumors that the Grand Consort is not actually the biological child of Viscount Elsworth…”

“Shh, how dare you bring up such things carelessly? Someone might hear.”

They were already listening.

They were whispering close by, so it was impossible not to hear. I suspected they were doing it deliberately while Tristan was away, having taken Constantine to the inn beforehand.

Most of the retainers who accompanied this voyage came from knightly families that had served the Grand Duke’s household for generations. Their loyalty to Tristan was high, and at the same time, their rejection of me was strong.

Lord Mildred, who rarely showed emotions, remained silent and seemed content to simply follow along, but the boisterous Gerhart kept glancing around and voicing his complaints incessantly.

The rain grew heavier. I looked up at the dark sky and let their complaints drift past one ear. It did not bother me much, and more importantly, I had other concerns on my mind.

‘I thought the port would be lined with shops…’

Raindrops carried by the sea breeze stung my cheeks coldly. I knew that in a decade or so, the Port of Kalhaven would grow into the largest trading hub at the southern tip of the Northern Continent, but now, only a few dilapidated buildings were scattered across the barren streets. I sighed without realizing it. Disappointment washed over me.

Above all, I could not be certain that the trade goods I had seen in the original story would still be useful at this time.

‘Tristan followed me all the way here trusting me, but what if I cannot find proper goods…’

My thoughts grew tangled. That was when a warm touch brushed across my cheek.

Startled, I looked up, and Tristan was standing over me, frowning slightly. Where had he appeared from without a sound?

“When did you arrive?”

“Your cheek has frozen from the cold. If you stay in this rain, you will fall ill again. You should rest at the inn with Constantine.”

Tristan offered no intention of answering my question and spoke only his own mind.

He was right. I was shivering from the cold, my hands and feet already stiffening. Yet I could not leave Tristan to face it alone. Considering I knew the original story and came from the 21st century, I was still better prepared than Tristan, who had only ever dealt with pirates.

The thought of wading through the rain made my shoulders sag, but I forced myself to lift my voice as I shook my head.

“It is refreshing and pleasant. Let us go quickly. It will not take long.”

Though I spoke confidently, it was, of course, an exaggeration.

Leading Lord Mildred, Gerhart, and a few others, Tristan and I made our way through the muddy streets searching for shops. Yet, only crude household items and miscellaneous goods caught our eyes.

After wandering for some time, a shabby store finally came into view.

Without any particular expectation, I moved toward it and opened the door. A young man, neatly dressed, yawned with a bored expression. It seemed he had no expectations of customers either, as he barely glanced at us while offering a perfunctory greeting.

“Welcome… uh, ah…”

Suddenly, the young man’s eyes widened. He turned his head sharply, fixing his gaze on me, and began stammering.

“Wh-who are you…? A noble person, how did you… come here?”

“Uh… me?”

I was soaked from the rain, looking disheveled, yet he seemed flustered upon recognizing me as a noble. Still, was it really necessary to ask who I was or why I had come? I had come to buy goods, obviously. I could not help but let out a small, incredulous laugh.

The young man jumped up, looking even more flustered, and began moving about awkwardly.

“You, you must have gotten wet from the rain. It is, it is cold, is it not?”

“It is cold, yes…”

“Please, this way. Sit here. I will bring something warm to drink.”

“No, there is no need…”

“Oh dear, a noble should not catch a cold!”

“…….”

I had only intended to look at a few items and leave, but the young proprietor’s fuss left me completely flustered. Could the visit of a noble really be such a big deal?