How the Villainous Consort Avoids His Death Ending

Everett’s low, intimate voice seeped into my ear. What was he up to now…

Suddenly, a wave of irritation washed over me. I already had enough headaches. Tristan glaring at Everett with a fiery intensity only added to my stress.

I sighed deeply and frowned at Everett.

“I have no interest in glassware made by such suspicious means, Your Highness.”

As I spoke roughly, perhaps from tension, the glass in my hand slipped. It fell to the floor with a sharp crash, shattering into pieces and sending shards flying.

I instinctively stepped back, but one fragment bounced up and grazed Everett’s hand. His normally calm expression flickered with surprise.

“Y-Your Highness! Are you alright? What is the meaning of this, Grand Consort!”

Everett’s guards panicked. I stepped back in disbelief and muttered.

“What did I even do…?”

It was just a slight scratch. Blood had started to appear on Everett’s pale hand, but I had not actually caused him harm. Who told anyone to stand so close to a married man anyway?

“Enough. It is not Ruel’s fault, just a small accident.”

“But Your Highness, there is blood…”

“I said enough!”

Everett’s sudden outburst startled the guards, who bowed frantically. He must be in some pain. The bleeding seemed to continue, so he was fairly injured. I wondered if I would have to pay for his treatment…

“No, anyway, I have no intention of divorcing, so please refrain from such remarks.”

I quickly said this, planning to leave before giving him any reason to pick a fight. Of course, I intended to arrange a safe divorce someday to enjoy a carefree, unmarried life…

But not right now. Sadly, I could not divorce before earning my alimony. At this pace, I had no idea when I would reach my goal, which was frustrating.

Still, dealing with a villainous secondary character who enjoys stabbing backs was better than letting him come to me.

“Ho?”

The villainous secondary raised his eyebrows fiercely. Pretending to be good-natured had its limits. I gently grabbed Tristan’s arm and urged him.

“Your Highness, let us not waste any more time here. Let us leave at once.”

Tristan nodded silently.

“……Then I look forward to seeing you again, Ruel.”

As we exited, Everett’s voice followed. His serpent-like gaze seemed to cling to me with unnerving persistence.

It felt as if an invisible hand were holding onto my back. Goosebumps ran down my spine.

‘What is he doing all of a sudden?’

I sighed in disbelief. Everett’s behavior made no sense and was impossible to read.

Since the possession, I had had little contact with him. The original Ruelin might have admired Everett, but he would have treated Ruelin coldly, like a bug.

Looking back at the original story, Everett only used Ruelin; there was no sign of obsession. And now he expected me to divorce Tristan and come to him. Wasn’t he the one who orchestrated the marriage in the first place? His inconsistency was baffling.

It had been a tiring day without any real gain.

The glassware looked quite fine, but since Everett’s stepfather monopolized it, I did not want to touch it. I shook my head and headed toward my quarters.

But the footsteps beside me sounded unusual.

“Your Highness…?”

Tristan’s steps seemed heavier than usual. The sheath at his waist rattled loudly with each stride, making the noise hard to ignore.

“What is it?”

“Eh? N-No, it’s nothing….”

I felt I should ask what was going on. Was that chill in his voice real or just my imagination? My mind was already full of worries, growing more complicated by the minute.