51. You’ve Narrowed Your Path
Relying on the threat of “Three Days of Ashes” from my recently recognized sister—Empress Ivanreti—Louis XIII, who had never experienced the hospitality of the Russian people, was completely taken aback. Can a villain without momentum still be called a villain? Soon, Louis XIII was also choked by a single remark from the queen, retreating with a face full of unwillingness and a blatant script for my demise.
I am not one to hold grudges, but this time it was unavoidable; after all, I needed to ensure that Louis XIII wouldn’t pose a threat to Keffier and her family as the script suggested. After Louis XIII left in defeat, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
After finally enduring the relentless assaults from the powerful Keffier and Queen Louis IV, escaping from misunderstandings like “If you’ve said you’re returning to my country, why are you still secretly contacting that woman!?” and “You actually have close ties with the emperor of another country; tonight, let me thoroughly investigate you~”, it was already several days later.
Regarding Louis XIII’s movements, the usually laid-back Uncle Zerola was more concerned this time. He insisted on dragging Keffier to investigate, while my special identity kept me at Keffier’s residence to watch over things. The arrival of Queen Louis IV also commandeered Miss Nilu to help out, and this…
Gave some criminals an opportunity to take advantage.
【Click】
The sound of the door opening made me think that Keffier had returned, and I was almost ready to spill out my prepared welcoming words.
“Swindler, what are you sneaking around doing by the window!?”
“Isn’t it waiting for your grand appearance? Welcome back… you little brat!”
However, when I turned around, it wasn’t Keffier at all, but… the queen, who couldn’t even be bothered to disguise her idol-like sparkling smile, clearly here to tease and mock me, covering her mouth with a sly grin!
“Ahem, why is it you, Queen?”
Considering her identity as the imperial queen, the big boss in the script, if I were too rude, she could always pop out and “kill me” at any moment. I had to hold back my annoyance at just being played.
“Well~ because I did it on purpose~”
Louis IV answered with righteous indignation, showing no shame about how she had gotten the key to barge in here and be alone with me while Keffier and Nilu were away.
At this moment, the queen knew my background. Although there was temporarily no death script for me, her identity made me cautious. However, when did Louis IV’s attitude towards me begin to become so unpredictable? If it was just a case of “the idol’s smile mask being pierced to reveal a cold nature,” it would be one thing, but now Louis IV truly seemed to be deliberately opposing me, her emotions all written on her face, giving me a sense of “being with the emperor is like being with a tiger.”
I watched as she, unfazed by my awareness, slowly walked towards me. Today, Louis IV still wore that “idol” style girl outfit, the skirt so short that it allowed me a full view of the starry sky. When I noticed that my gaze was uncontrollably drifting elsewhere, I found that Louis IV seemed unconcerned, even stepping with a catwalk-like grace, wearing an expression that said, “Pervert, I caught you looking at my thighs.”
“Mr. O’Keefe, do you know how many years one gets for insulting the queen?”
“Five, five years is a steal; the death penalty is not a loss, right…”
I knew I couldn’t fall into Louis IV’s trap. “Queen, please don’t take the opportunity to do anything; we know each other well, and haven’t we already made a deal?”
“Alas~ how heartless you are, O’Keefe. Am I not even allowed to simply thank you?”
—
She came before me, reaching out to tug at my clothes, the earlier teasing vanished as if it were a joke. Looking again, the smile of Louis IV now held a hint of complexity.
“About what happened with Louis XXV earlier, I really want to thank you~”
Flattery without cause is either deceit or theft. If it were truly just a thank you, why choose the moment when Kephir and the uncle were out, and Miss Nilu was also absent, to sneak in and be alone with me?
Sure enough, as I glanced at the script, Louis IV was definitely not here just to “thank me.” Although her intentions didn’t seem as sinister as I had imagined.
【Louis IV harbors concerns.】
The absence of any “kill me” script indicated that the queen’s worries were at least not the kind that would lead her to draw a knife at the slightest disagreement.
I let out a slight sigh of relief, but then felt something was off. Queen Louis IV seemed eager to dig out the “prophecy” from my mind for her own use; how could she suddenly soften? It could be a ruse, but it didn’t seem like it…
I sat back down at the table, and Louis IV followed suit, beginning to flip through the reports I had cut out regarding “Louis XIII.” In that brief moment, for some reason, I felt as if the person beside me was not Louis IV, but “Louise.”
“Investigating Louis XIII, huh? Hah, investigation is useless. O’Keefe, I’ll ask you again, do you want to come with me?”
“!”
“A formal marriage is fine too, as it’s a basic condition for protection. I wouldn’t mind maintaining a reputation; even if you want to go to Kephir’s tonight, you can go.”
What is this… a new way to entice me? And no more dirty jokes, please.
“Your Majesty, I’ve already promised to help you as much as I can.”
“It has nothing to do with your prophecy.”
“!”
I tightened my grip, feeling that this time the queen’s question was completely different from before. But for me, Kephir was the only lifeline. To put it another way, she was just a step away from pinning me down and taking everything; at this point, how could I still act like a scoundrel?
I didn’t answer, but this reaction was already an answer for Louis IV.
After all, the script had changed.
【Louis IV no longer hesitates.】
With the change in the script, this queen beside me…
Turned around and sat on my lap, even though she spoke so “seriously”; even though the vast starry sky was right before us; even though her face was almost pressed against mine, the earlier sense of “reality” had vanished.
“Is this not okay?”
“Your Majesty, I wonder how your country’s women are convicted for harassing men?”
“Sorry~ The queen has the right to self-pardon~ Ah ha★”
Louis IV transformed back into that popular queen who presented an idol’s smile before me. I watched as she pulled out a red document, still warm, from her chest and handed it to me, then lifted her leg and left my lap.
“This is the document for you and Kephir. Oh dear, the director is really slacking; I had to push him to get this done. I’ll definitely punish him later. Also, I’m here to say goodbye; when Kephir and Zerola return, remember to tell them I’ve already left.”
I was a bit bewildered.
“Your Majesty, then…”
“Don’t worry, the trade will continue.”
After throwing me a smile, Louis IV strode away with her long legs, but…
—
I couldn’t sit still any longer.
【Louis XIV killed Eugénie de Montijo!】
The death script has appeared once again! But I couldn’t afford to be nervous right now, because…
【Louis XIV killed Eugénie de Montijo because of Louis XIII!】
Isn’t it a bit strange that Her Majesty the Queen wants to stab me this time!?
—