How the Villainous Consort Avoids His Death Ending - Chapter 41.2
“Alright. What are you doing? Hurry!”
“Ah, yes. Your Grand Consort.”
They looked flustered but followed the instructions diligently. Gradually, the hull, which had been submerged in seawater, began to emerge.
I stood there, half-open mouthed, staring blankly at it.
“…Hah, really.”
I was not the only one surprised. The workers and sailors standing nearby also changed their expressions.
The condition of the ship’s bottom was beyond what anyone could have imagined.
Layers of seashells and barnacles were piled so densely it was dizzying. Seaweed and moss had grown between the wooden joints, forming a strange, swirling pattern in some areas.
“No wonder it felt slower than usual.”
Covered with such obstructions, the hull had no choice but to face heavy resistance. If left as it was, the ship would soon be damaged. We had to remove all of this first. Then…
We could put it to good use again. It did not seem like the right time to buy a new ship yet.
I half-surrendered and plopped down on the floor. Reaching out, I carefully grabbed a barnacle stuck on one corner of the ship and peeled it off.
Then I picked another one.
And then another…
“This is addictive.”
I had started the work without much thought, but I could not stop. Once I removed one, the shells next to it bothered me. After clearing them, the seaweed stuck below caught my eye.
Powder from the hard shells seeped under my nails. Soon, my fingertips began to tingle.
Yet strangely, my mind felt a bit clearer. When thoughts are tangled, nothing is better than simple labor. If there were some work music, it would be perfect.
I continued removing barnacles as if threading the eyes of a doll, not noticing the time passing.
“Ha…”
A low, heavy sigh came from behind. Startled in the middle of my focus, I turned around.
Tristan was standing there, arms crossed, expressionless, looking down at me. I had no idea when he had arrived.
“Your Highness? What are you doing here?”
“That is for me to say, Grand Consort.”
Today, he seemed to emphasize the title ‘Grand Consort’ more than usual. Perhaps it was just my imagination. Behind him, the attendants looked flustered and their faces were red.
It seemed they had come to inspect the ships following talk of replacing them, led by Tristan. Meanwhile, the Grand Consort—me—was crouched on the floor, picking off barnacles.
I felt embarrassed, my ears burning. I should have at least said something or moved aside. Although the fleet commander could inspect the fleet without my permission…
Suddenly, Tristan approached and lowered himself to one knee beside me. Without hesitation, he reached out and removed two or three broken shells and barnacles at once.
“Your Highness? What are you doing?”
I could only stare in disbelief, unable to stop him. Tristan answered calmly.
“I am removing barnacles.”
It looked that simple. Dazed, I asked again.
“Why… are you removing them?”
“It clears the mind. You were doing it for the same reason, were you not?”
That may be true, but… what I was doing and what Tristan was doing felt very different in significance.
Ignoring whatever was happening in my head, Tristan reached for the seaweed again. Several swirls were torn off cleanly.
“There is nothing better than simple work when you want to clear your head. Do you not agree?”
“Ah? Yes. I suppose that is true…”
“Then let us remove them together.”
“……”
The attendants’ faces had gone pale. They began to protest loudly, trying to stop Tristan.
“Your Highness! There are shells on your hands!”
“We will take care of it, Your Highness. Please stand up!”
“Grand Consort, please remove your hands as well. Why… are you and His Highness removing barnacles?”
Tristan quietly issued a simple order.
“Everyone return. That is an order.”
“But Your Highness!”
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