I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original

“Weakness? It’s not like that.”

[Do you regret it?]

“Regret? That’s not even possible.” Rakrensius laughed bitterly.

Ten years ago, when he was dragged to the royal palace at the age of thirteen. Recognized as the emperor’s biological son, he was granted a treasure of the imperial family along with a claim to the throne, following the tradition that members of the imperial lineage each possess one of the national treasures.

The boy, who had spent years wandering the continent with his mother without even knowing who his father was, was quick-witted. He was a b*stard, and even his mother was not publicly acknowledged. That’s why he had to choose something that reflected his ambiguous status.

Choosing something valuable would make him seem greedy, and picking something obviously shabby would appear too calculated. However, it wasn’t up to him, and the only thing the boy could bring was Di, the sacred sword of the nation’s founder.

Rakrensius’s blood resonated with Di. It was too grandiose an existence to be assigned to a bastard of uncertain maternal lineage.

“I can’t give you up because it’s the destiny I bear. On the other hand, I don’t want to put her in danger.”

[You’re taking on the wings of Elard… Right, Orot wouldn’t just stand by and watch.]

Di’s voice, almost like talking to itself, was met with no reply from Rakrensius.

Being honest with Selleana. It was something that wasn’t allowed for him in his lifetime. It was an open secret that he was under the imperial family’s scrutiny because of Di, but he couldn’t explain why that was a problem. Because it was an imperial secret.

Has there ever been a time when all of this felt so burdensome? Even when he had to part with his mother, during his days pretending to be foolish in the West Palace, or when he voluntarily isolated himself in the magic tower to prove he had no intentions of harming the imperial family, Rakrensius had never once resented his fate.

He didn’t know any other life worth desiring. But when he thought of the girl from his childhood. When he considered the future he had secretly dreamed of with his angel. When he thought of Selleana…

Rakrensius bit the inside of his lip, chewing on his frustration. It was truly fortunate that Di couldn’t read all his thoughts. Nor was it what the sword would have wished for…

“Saendi.”

“Yes, Master.”

Saendi, who had pretended not to hear while Rakrensius spoke with Di, immediately responded. She was one of the very few who knew Rakrensius could communicate with Di.

“All these gifts… send them back.”

“To Chantelen Street, number 2, you mean? Understood.”

Maybe it was because they were both women or perhaps because Saendi found the pleasant beauty of the visitor more appealing than her grumpy boss. Saendi freely criticized Rakrensius in her mind.

* * *

“They all came back again.”

It was in the parlor of Selleana’s apartment. Watching Michi inspect the items that Nick had taken out of the magical trunk, Selleana gauged his reaction.

The same scenario had been repeating for days. Selleana would buy various gifts from boutiques downtown, send them to the magic tower via multiple detours to keep the destination hidden, and then receive every single box back unopened. The fifth prince, aka tower master’s refusal, was adamant.

“He didn’t open any of them again?”

“Yes, that’s what I heard…”

At Selleana’s question, Nick scratched his head awkwardly.

“You’ve worked hard. Go on. Use my name at the tea salon and have a drink.”

“Thank you, Milady!” Nick bowed and left the parlor. Even after he left, Selleana couldn’t take her eyes off the pile of gift boxes in front of her.

“

… This isn’t easy.” She kept fidgeting with the necklace around her neck, pondering.

Was she contemplating how to further ensnare the tower master?

It was when Michi glanced at Selleana, trying to gauge her mood.

“Yeah?”

“Could you and the others give me some space for a bit?”

“Leave you alone?”

“I need some time to think by myself. Go down to the restaurant below and have a team meal.”

Despite Michi’s restrictions on outings due to Prince Erenst, going to the restaurant in the same building was okay. There was always a table available for Elard, even in the always-full popular restaurant. But…

“Are you okay…?” Michi looked at Selleana with concern. Of course, being repeatedly rejected couldn’t be pleasant.

“Of course. Don’t worry.” Selleana returned with a bright smile. “I knew the tower master wouldn’t be easy from the start.”

“Still…”

“Go on. I want to quietly plan our next steps.”

“…Alright. I’ll bring back a salad and panini for you.” Michi left, her face still filled with worry, her bonnet pulled tight, along with the other maids.

After making sure Michi and the maids had entered the restaurant’s entrance from the window, what Selleana did was…

Lightly opened the locket on her necklace, and as a faint light gathered…

“What’s the matter! Are you okay?!”

Rakrensius, dressed just as he was at the magic tower, appeared. At the sight of his hurried appearance, Selleana couldn’t help but laugh.

“Is it okay for you to appear so defenselessly? You said a wizard would handle it, didn’t you?”

“No, it’s just, because it led to the Lady’s residence, I thought an assassin had entered… What is this? Is it a joke?”

“Well, it wasn’t a joke.”

“Lady.”

Rakrensius’s brows furrowed. Now that he was caught once, he didn’t bother with his hood or monocular, maybe because he rushed over thinking she was in danger…

Preferring the latter interpretation, Selleana smiled shyly. “It was really dangerous. Every gift I sent to a certain gentleman came right back, making me think it was haunted and nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“No, that, really…”

It was all a bluff. Rakrensius felt momentarily flustered by the realization but soon found his composure. After all, it meant she wasn’t in danger, and he was glad to see Selleana. Especially since it was his first time seeing her space…

Suddenly, he noticed Selleana’s attire. A thin silk indoor dress and robe. Wasn’t it too defenseless? For Rakrensius, who had lived alone since he was thirteen, it was overwhelmingly stimulating. His face flushed in an instant, and he turned away. The back of the man was bright red all the way to his ears.

“

…” Selleana’s eyebrows slowly lifted. “Why act like this when we’ve seen everything there is to see?”

“Se-seen… Lady, what are you…! No, I mean, I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

Anyway, he still hadn’t admitted he was Collin. It was cute how someone who looked like he could charm the whole world.

Selleana chuckled and stepped closer to him. Just standing behind him made the man tense up from head to toe.

“No matter how I think about it, you’re the perfect candidate, Master of Tower.” Selleana’s fingertips slowly traced Rakrensius’s shoulder. “Family. Lineage. Wealth. Ability. Appearance. Height. Perfect.”

Lifting her gaze slightly, she saw the handsome face of the man. His face, sculpted like ivory, was fully flushed from her presence.

“Above all…”

Rakrensius’s eyes finally drifted to the corners to capture Selleana. Looking up at him over his shoulder, her amber eyes shone deeply.

“I like you, Master of Tower.”

“…”

“I don’t think I’ve said it before.” Selleana smiled softly.

* * *

“

, again…”

Despite rushing over in response to Selleana’s call, the scene was once again peaceful. 

It was a sunny afternoon by the lakeside. Selleana, dressed in riding attire, sat alone under a large willow tree. Beside her was a golden horse she appeared to have ridden.

Realizing he had been fooled again, Rakrensius sighed deeply.

“How many times has it been now?”

“Master of Tower still has a lot of change left.”

“Change?”

“Because you keep coming every time I call. You said you’d handle the calculations, didn’t you?” Selleana grinned.

“If you call me unnecessarily like this, when you’re really in danger later, I might not be able to come.”

“Five times?”

“…”

“Or was it four?”

“…

.”

Each time, the man grumbled with a worried look, but he would immediately come running at the next call to check on her well-being.

There was no way she disliked it. Selleana playfully pouted. “

, come on, Master of Tower, I’m trying to return the undue advantage you took from me, but why are you being so uncooperative?”

“I said I wouldn’t blame you… no, I’m not the person you’re looking for.”

“Anyway,

, it’s true that I’m in a big deal.”

“A big deal? What…”

“Look over here.”

Selleana gestured towards the front. It was the direction of the lake. The season had shifted to fall. The deep color of the high sky reflected on the lake. The lake, holding the deep blue of the sky, shimmered with light waves…

“It’s the exact color of your eyes, Master of Tower. Seeing this made me miss you so much.”

Rakrensius couldn’t reply.