39. So, does that mean the Queen is quite brave?

Without a word, and without giving Louis IV a moment to react, I grabbed her arm and, seizing an opportune moment when no one was around, left the room.

After all, if I spent any more time explaining, we wouldn’t have a chance to escape according to the script.

Having my identity suspected or even exposed is quite common during my escape as the villain O’Keefe. After all, who can walk by the river without getting their shoes wet? As long as I run fast enough, they won’t catch me. As for why I had to drag Louis IV along instead of leaving her there to be discovered and ruin her reputation, it wasn’t because I was captivated by the “vast starry sky” in that moment.

Anyway, I already had the evidence, and since the Queen unexpectedly compromised and agreed to negotiate, rather than making an enemy of her at this time, I might as well be the good guy. Louis IV is the big boss, just like the previous Lady, so it’s definitely a good idea to keep her in a good mood~ As for Louis XXV, who shamelessly lusts after Kephir, he doesn’t deserve my sympathy.

After leaving the room, I didn’t bother to explain, just kept dragging Louis IV along, scanning the script for gaps where no one was around. Once I found Kephir, I would naturally be under the protagonist’s halo and wouldn’t be worried , but for the Queen who came to do bad things, I thought it best to get her out of Louis XXV’s lair first.

[Louis XXV begins searching for O’Keefe.]

[Louis XXV begins searching for ‘O’Keefe’.]

The script was starting to get dangerous, but more than that, I was currently more concerned about the Queen, Louis IV, who was being dragged along by me.

Even if she was initially stunned by my actions, she should have come to her senses by now. However, as I avoided the crowd and could vaguely sense those who were searching for us—Louis XXV’s lackeys—I turned to glance back, only to find that the Queen… didn’t even seem to have the slightest intention of “questioning” me.

All I could see was Louis IV being dragged along, her only reaction was to keep staring at me, neither resisting nor being proactive. I even started to feel like she was “observing” me.

This made me somewhat uneasy, especially considering Louis IV’s actions today, which made me feel inexplicably on edge.

Seeing that there was no one around, and that the bustling hall was devoid of anyone noticing the corner where Louis IV and I quietly passed through, I whispered, “Your Majesty, can’t you let your subordinates handle this kind of thing?”

Knowing full well that exposing my face would lead to trouble, why take the risk? Wouldn’t it be better to send an assassin that no one knows to come and disguise themselves as bait?

However, the Queen’s answer was simple.

“I’m a hands-on person.”

Fine, I believed her, but even so…

“Then why didn’t you bring anyone with you? Like some hidden powerhouse or a mysterious elder? Coming alone is too reckless, isn’t it?”

This time, the Queen didn’t answer immediately.

Just then, due to a prompt from the script, I had to stop and wait for others to pass by to avoid being discovered with the Queen. It was at this moment that I fully took in Louis IV’s silence, which seemed to carry a hint of amusement.

Finally, she lightly hummed, “No~”

Damn! Aren’t you just setting me up? If you called a bunch of big shots now, would I even need to drag you along to escape!?

—

—

“The more people there are, the easier it is to be exposed. I certainly don’t want anyone dragging me down.”

Time was tight, and I had to rely on the script to lead the queen away. I had no time to consider her current mood or thoughts. At that moment, the initially reluctant Louis IV also took the initiative to follow, her profile slightly raised , which made my heart tighten. I hurriedly repeated to myself several times, “She’s using her beauty as a ploy,” just to calm myself down a bit.

【Ogilvy and Louis IV are spotted by passersby!】

The script appeared once more, but this time, before I could react, Her Majesty the Queen leaned into my embrace. This pretense, which made me incredibly anxious, allowed us to “dodge” the situation. After all that, Louis IV even shot me a provocative smile.

“What’s wrong? Can’t keep up the act anymore? Then I’ll have to tell Kephiel the truth—that you’re just a lecher.”

Spare me, brave heroine…

Before I could explain, Louis IV’s expression changed. “In exchange, tell me: suddenly whisking me away and claiming it’s because we’re exposed—what’s your real purpose?”

“My real purpose is the same!”

I frowned. “Your Majesty, you’re always fixed on the power of ‘prophecy.’ Now that I’ve finally used it to help you, you actually don’t believe me?”

This is why I didn’t want to help someone like Louis IV; dealing with her was even more dangerous and troublesome than handling a simple, hot-headed midget like Letty.

“My purpose in appearing with Kephiel isn’t to stop you; it’s just to catch you in the act. As for how you want to deal with Louis XXV, that’s your own business. I won’t interfere.”

Louis IV blinked at me, returning to her initial “idol mode,” covering her mouth, whether pretending to be cute or genuinely stifling laughter, revealing a smile as she looked at me.

“Look at you, all flustered. I was just asking.”

“But your attitude just now didn’t seem like you were just asking, did it?”

That ominous feeling made me momentarily doubt whether a death script would emerge.

“Don’t think too much about it, Ogilvy. Since I’m indeed suspected here, there’s nothing to be done. The evidence has been laid out; all you need to do next is act as my flower protector and take me away. “

With that, the queen’s demeanor turned serious. “Let’s hurry. Even I can feel eyes starting to wander nearby.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Since my identity and safety were at stake, I couldn’t afford to be careless, and I had no time to ponder why Louis IV had suddenly become… a bit obedient.

I led Louis IV around the guests of Louis XXV, entering the estate under the night sky. At this point, leaving through the front gate was unrealistic; we would definitely be stopped and detected by Louis XXV, as the script indicated. So… .

“We need to go out the back.”

The script informed me that there was a back door to Louis XXV’s outer estate. Although taking that route would be a detour, it would allow us to safely escort Louis IV, this “man-eating flower,” away.

However, without Kephiel by my side to provide me with the protagonist’s halo, avoiding the “death script” was indeed not so easy.

I paused, holding Louis IV’s hand, and then I heard her whispering, clearly teasing me.

“Bringing the queen of the Great Ying Empire to a place like this in the middle of the night—what are you trying to do?”

“…”

Please, Your Majesty, can we not joke around? You don’t feel that… I haven’t completely dodged the script, or perhaps Louis XXV’s “supporting role” is much more formidable than I imagined, even bordering on villainous. So…

“We’ve been discovered.”

As I spoke softly, shadows began to emerge from the darkness, quickly surrounding us and blocking all escape routes from the script!

【Ogilvy has been discovered by Louis XXV!】

【Louis IV is discovered by Louis XXV!】

At the forefront, it was Louis XXV, panting heavily, yet furiously chasing after us, accompanied by a number of lackeys!