53. Everyone, wait for me to raise my cup as a signal!

The death script appearing again so quickly was something I never anticipated. Originally, I thought that the Queen of the Great Yīng Empire, Louise IV, and I, who had temporarily reached a reconciliation, encountering a common enemy in Louis XIII, would not develop any “thoughts” about me so soon again. However, after another failed attempt to seduce me during our previous solitude, Louise IV’s death script concerning me increased.

There was certainly danger, but I had no time to think about it until the next day when Kiefer returned, exhausted, bringing me both good and bad news.

The bad news was: Uncle Zerola and Kiefer, leveraging their identities, had investigated through the Imperial Guard of the Great Yīng Empire and found that Louis XIII had previously had contact with Louis XXV! This was serious; after all, Louis XXV had almost been sent away to plant potatoes—why could Louis XIII still meet him? This was a minor issue; the key point was that whenever the two villains met, they would inevitably scheme something. I feared that Louis XXV would spill the beans about the Queen’s impersonation of O’Keefe, allowing Louis XIII to exploit it!

This was a classic trope in the script! In this case, both Louise IV and our situation would be very unfavorable!

The good news, which Kiefer conveyed with a hint of jealousy, was that the Queen would invite me to a “candlelight dinner” that day. Although I suspected the Queen might be trying to seduce me again, this was a rare opportunity to warn the Queen about the danger of Louis XIII and to help her, which also helped me, so I naturally wouldn’t refuse.

As for this candlelight dinner, the Queen only invited me, and Kiefer was definitely not pleased, insisting on coming along and waiting outside in a huff. After I sweet-talked Kiefer and made a promise, even slipping her a big red book to cheer her up a bit, I finally got to meet the Queen of the Great Yīng Empire, Louise IV, in person!

At this moment, the place the Queen prepared for our candlelight dinner was a secluded spot on the top floor of the tower, different from the luxurious hall. Perhaps thanks to the efforts of those powerful mages, the cold wind outside the balcony was completely blocked , allowing me not only to avoid shivering but also to catch a glimpse of the brightly lit night scene of the Great Yīng Empire.

In such an obviously overly noble place, where I felt I shouldn’t even be, the beautifully made-up Queen Louise IV, radiating brilliance, was waiting for me with one of her maids and Professor Moriarty.

Generally speaking, very few people could still resist not succumbing to Her Majesty the Queen’s… beautiful legs in such circumstances.

It’s a pity that I couldn’t just look at the surface.

“Mr. O’Keefe, thank you for coming as promised and not embarrassing me.”

The queen cleared a path for me, and I remembered that in such moments, it seems a gentleman should proactively pull out a chair for a lady.

As I fumbled through my actions, I glanced at Louis XIV.

“Even if I hadn’t come, you would have sent someone to carry me over, right?”

“How could that be~”

Meeting again, I couldn’t tell if it was my illusion, but the queen’s demeanor had returned to that of the “idol queen.” Naturally, that wasn’t all; her invitation for a candlelit dinner had nothing to do with being attracted to me.

【Louis XIV took the opportunity to kill O’Keefe.】

The queen’s death script reappeared after some time, and I could only assume that Louis XIV still wanted to seduce and use me. Phew, but these were trivial matters; after all, this kind of death script was old news. As long as I acted cautiously, the queen wouldn’t really entertain that thought.

I directly ignored this death script and sat down opposite the queen, while Professor Moriarty and that maid, who seemed very fierce in my memory of the script, stood by Louis XIV’s side. As the “supporting characters” with status, they too were inevitably carrying the “kill me” script, but I was used to such things, so it didn’t matter.

“Mr. O’Keefe, for this date, I genuinely want to thank you for all the help you’ve given me and Clefair. You’ve ensured that the genius of the Great Yng Empire doesn’t lose face outside, and you ‘ve also helped me successfully eliminate the great pest of the empire.”

As she spoke, Louis XIV raised her glass.

Why does this sound so much like something said to a condemned prisoner before execution? Your majesty, you look quite terrifying.

I shook my head and didn’t dwell on it; I didn’t have time to indulge Louis XIV in drunken revelry, after all: the external crisis had yet to be resolved.

“Your Majesty, it’s a bit early to celebrate now; Louis XIII will still cause trouble.”

“I know~”

【Louis XIV took the opportunity to kill O’Keefe.】

I get it, I get it; even the extras on the roadside want to kill me! Stop reminding me of this unchanging script!

As for Louis XIV, what do you even know? Knowing this and still having the mood to invite me for drinks while trying to seduce me?

“In light of our cooperation, which is also beneficial for Clefair, Your Majesty, this time I can think of a way for you.”

“Mm-mm~ That sounds good~”

The queen seemed serious but was actually a bit perfunctory as she nodded, her glass still raised, even urging me slightly.

“Louis XIII is already a legitimate member of the royal family; dealing with him isn’t that simple. So, Mr. O’Keefe, you don’t need to worry too much. Instead of constantly caring about me, you should pay more attention to: today is our candlelit dinner~”

With that, Louis XIV once again raised her glass in front of me.

I looked at the script, and there were no strange drugs in it. Was the queen just in a drinking mood today, wanting to get me drunk?

Time was tight; every moment wasted could make the script with Louis XIII even more dangerous. I appreciated the queen’s goodwill, but I truly couldn’t accompany her in drunkenness.

“Your Majesty, I’m not here just to entertain you today.”

“Ah~ Alright, alright, then what do you want, Mr. O’Keefe? I can help you with anything~”

“I don’t need your help.”

Taking a deep breath, I stated the plan I had long prepared to deal with Louis XIII, “With just your authorization, I can handle most of Louis XIII myself.”

“…”

“I am the real O’Keefe, so I will use my true identity to approach Louis XIII and find out his intentions and evidence. A person like him won’t resist ‘the real O’Keefe.'”

“Are you… an idiot?”

The wine glass in the queen’s hand suddenly slipped from her grasp!

【Crash】

The crisp sound jolted Louis XIV awake, and the smile I had never seen on his face was instantly replaced by a mask of regal composure!

In the next moment, the queen’s expression changed drastically. She turned around in a panic, while I was preparing to review the script, contemplating how to explain my brilliant plan to deal with Louis XIII to her.

In the next instant.

【Moriarty received the signal and killed Euclid.】

A flash that pierced to the bone, chilling my limbs, was already upon me!