How the Villainous Consort Avoids His Death Ending

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Poor Gehardt was completely deflated.

After the shallot farm owner’s fraud was exposed, he had been quietly avoiding me, constantly glancing at me out of nervousness. It seemed he had also received a harsh reprimand from Tristan.

My initial amusement lasted only a day or two. Seeing Gehardt, the most outspoken and hot-tempered of the knights, become so quiet was unsettling.

The other knights had managed to gather some Lirisia bulbs, but not enough to satisfy me, leaving me slightly disappointed. Considering how difficult it was to obtain them in the Empire, it was understandable.

‘It would be great if I could purchase them directly from the Eastern Continent.’

Unfortunately, reaching the Eastern Continent required passing through the inland seas and overland routes. On top of that, the current inland climate was unstable, and using camels would cost a fortune.

This was beyond what Hezekia, just beginning its trade, could handle. Unless we sailed directly to the Sar Empire by circumventing the continent, it was impossible. Even with our current sailing technology, it was unfeasible. Detailed sea charts were still unavailable.

‘But would it really be that difficult? If it works, it would be amazing.’

Faint memories suggested that precise sea charts were developed about ten years later. However, the fleet would need to be upgraded first. With the current ships, only the nearby North Continent was reachable.

Thus, money remained the central issue.

‘I want to earn a lot of money. A whole lot….’

I pulled at my hair in frustration. Marrying into a Grand Ducal family with only seven deteriorating small ships and a massive, decrepit fortress requiring endless upkeep. Because the Grand Duke could not provide a divorce settlement, I had to earn my own. The thought alone made me furious.

“Ruellin? What is it? Where does it hurt?”

Tristan had appeared suddenly, his concerned expression resting on my forehead.

I looked up at him and asked,

“Where have you been? You weren’t here all morning.”

It was my unspoken question: Where have you been while I’ve been struggling like this? Tristan, unaware of my thoughts, answered calmly.

“I went to punish the farm owner.”

Now that I thought about it, I had not asked what he had done to the fraudulent farm owner. I had been too absorbed in searching for new products to care.

Yet Tristan’s sudden action made me uneasy. I cautiously asked,

“…What did you do?”

“You need not concern yourself with trivial matters.”

That only made me more anxious. Surely he didn’t just bury the matter, did he?

Regardless, Tristan held my face with both hands, examining me carefully before furrowing his brows.

“You have a fever. Rest immediately. I will have your meal brought here.”

“….”

It’s because of you that I’m hot…

I wanted to mutter that the immense financial stress of Hezekia was unbearable. Yet Tristan’s face, so meticulously attentive and strikingly handsome, made me bite my lip and swallow my words.

His black hair fell naturally over a neat forehead. Soft sunlight from the window reflected in his blue eyes. His features were sharp yet balanced, always drawing admiration.

He seemed indifferent to his looks, maintaining a calm expression at all times.

“What are you staring at so intently?”

I wanted to say, I’m staring at you, why…

I quickly averted my gaze, focusing instead on the distant mountains outside. Anger could not fully surface in front of that face. A deep sigh escaped me.

I resolved to ignore his handsome face and work diligently, like a beast, to earn my keep.

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After several days searching the northern market of Belforte, I could not find any suitable products. In the end, I turned toward the upscale shopping district near the royal palace. Gehardt, trailing behind, glanced around nervously, muttering to himself.