How the Villainous Consort Avoids His Death Ending

It did not matter even if the items could not be sold. After eating only greasy and heavy food, tasting the spicy chili on my tongue made me feel refreshed and truly alive again. There were also legumes that looked much oilier than the beans I was used to, called “oil beans,” which seemed rich in nutrition.

And coffee. I was already filled with dreams of brewing morning coffee starting tomorrow.

“Your Highness, we must obtain all of this. We need to secure it in large quantities, whatever the cost.”

I whispered this to Tristan as he drank his second cup of hot chocolate, and he furrowed his brow slightly. His glance shifted briefly over the spicy dishes and the coffee, as if he were not particularly pleased.

“What use is that bitter liquid? And the food… I was afraid to even taste it.”

“….”

I left Tristan to himself and began negotiating with the locals. Unlike potatoes, cultivating cacao or coffee trees in Hezekia would be difficult, so it seemed likely we would need to visit the Taurraka Continent again in the future.

The contract was smoothly completed as we offered various dishes, small tools, and leftover nails from each ship. I thought that next time I should bring slightly better items, and I sipped my coffee with satisfaction.

A chime sounded—♬

A familiar pop-up appeared before my eyes.

[☆Let’s go to the Taurraka Continent!☆]
Congratulations! You have successfully completed the event.
Objective achieved: Landing on the Taurraka Continent and completing barter exchange (7 items / 5 items)
Items: Potato (Batatas), Sweet Potato, Corn, Cacao Fruit, Coffee, Chili, Oil Beans
As a reward, ‘Hezekia Food Shortage Resolved’ is achieved. Starvation is over! The Hezekia Viscountcy transforms into a self-sufficient region.

Yes. This is truly a great reward. I was so moved when I saw the pop-up that I even felt a little indulgent toward the system, imagining it might skip the original work verification reward.

Of course, it would not really forgive me.

‘System. Did you forget anything?’

……

‘Original work verification service, you remember?’

Yes……

After finishing negotiations with the locals just as satisfactorily, I held Tristan’s elbow and whispered softly.

“Everyone has rested enough, so let’s return to Hezekia, Your Highness.”

“Not to the Sarr Empire?”

Tristan asked, sounding a little surprised. I nodded and smiled.

“Yes, returning to Hezekia is better. That takes priority.”

Making money is good, but checking rewards is the priority. Winter is coming soon. Hezekia’s winter is long and harsh, and food shortages often occur before winter ends.

Potatoes grow enough to eat in two to three months. So returning now is perfect for planting them.

We can resume sailing to the Eastern Continent next spring. This winter, we could spend time in the Grand Duke’s Castle in relative comfort and warmth. Finally, we could breathe a sigh of relief.

❖ ❖ ❖

…Or so I thought…

[☆Sudden Event Triggered: Heat Cycle Attack!☆]
The body, exposed to alpha pheromones for an extended period, has entered a heat cycle.
Find the heat cycle suppression pool to remove the ‘status abnormality’!

About a week after setting sail from the Taurraka Continent toward Hezekia, I, exhausted and feverish throughout the afternoon, went to bed, only to be struck by sudden lightning.

“System. Again…?”

At first, I thought it was simply accumulated fatigue.

This voyage had been unusually rough and exhausting. Surviving the Death Sea, enduring thirst and hunger, was already difficult, and even while on Taurraka, life was not comfortable. Sleeping in a simple tent on a straw bed was more than my weak body could handle. Tristan had been gradually releasing pheromones to stabilize my condition.

So… naturally, that had become a problem.