I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original

Rakrensius could only try to change the subject. “…So, where is this place?”

“It’s the riding ground on our estate. I came out to ride a horse because I felt suffocated staying in.”

“

, there’s a manor at the border between Elard and the capital, I heard.”

“Didn’t you know where you were coming?”

“The teleportation spell doesn’t use administrative regions for navigation.”

Selleana thought but swallowed the light question and nudged him. “Sit down. My neck is hurting.”

Rakrensius’s brows furrowed. “Lady…”

“You’re going to say it’s not proper for us to sit together where others might see us, right?”

“There’s a rumor that the Lady is good at reading people’s minds. It seems to be true.”

“That’s all rumors. I’m just good at understanding your position because I like you, Master of Tower.”

“…”

Receiving no reply, Selleana lifted her head to look at Rakrensius. He was covering his mouth with the back of his hand, turning his head away as if to hide his reddened face. It’s so obvious. Selleana chuckled.

“Don’t worry. This is private property; no one comes here. Probably the only presences you felt were the guards my father and brothers placed. Just like last time.”

Selleana’s nonchalant revelation confirmed his suspicions, leaving Rakrensius speechless. He sighed heavily and sat down, albeit maintaining a non-awkward distance from Selleana, like during the emperor’s birthday party.

Selleana pouted. “People care less about others than you think. Even at the masquerade ball, there wasn’t much gossip, even though I was with you and then disappeared.”

“That’s because…” Rakrensius instinctively began to respond but quickly clamped his mouth shut.

Saying this would admit he was Collin. Though he didn’t know Selleana was the Lady of Elard at the time, he wished for her not to draw attention because of him. So, he cast a spell to make people less aware of her existence. Thanks to that, no one looked for the host of the banquet afterward, and Michi fell asleep without searching for Selleana.

If he wanted to selfishly keep her away, he could just use magic. But he didn’t want to resort to such sordid acts. She had lived a brilliant life and deserved to continue doing so.

Rakrensius laughed bitterly and leaned back. The tranquility of early fall’s midday felt surreal. The light was dazzling.

Maybe it was the first time since he gained the status of a prince. The only sunlight he could freely enjoy was the sliver that slipped into his dark room through the window.

Suddenly, it seemed like everything might just be okay.

He finally let go of his last guard.

“But why are you alone? I haven’t seen Lady Branto around lately.”

“Michi can’t go outside.”

“Is she still unwell?”

“Actually… she’s caught the attention of a very dangerous person.”

“A dangerous person?” Rakrensius looked at Selleana reflexively. His brows deeply furrowed.

As if he had forgotten what they were talking about just a moment ago, his face was now full of worry, just like when she visited the magic tower after the Rondel party.  A tingling sensation bubbled inside Selleana.

“Physically, she’s not harmed. There’s someone who fell for Michi at first sight during the emperor’s birthday party. He’s making a fuss about wanting to meet Michi again.”

“That… sounds somewhat familiar.”

“Yes? …

.”

Selleana, who had sought out Collin, and now the tower master, because she fell for him at first sight. The two momentarily lost words.

“T-that, falling at first sight isn’t wrong.”

“Yes, that’s… right.”

“It’s Prince Laten.”

“

, the prince from Laten who attended the emperor’s birthday party…”

“Yes, the third prince. He found out Michi was my maid and invited me to a party in Rondel. He’s staying at the Rondel townhouse because he’s friends with the young lord from their academy days.”

“One would think if he liked her, he’d court her directly. Why invite the Lady to a banquet?”

“So I would bring Michi. A prince of a nation thinks it’s beneath him to formally court a baron’s daughter who is a duke’s daughter’s maid.”

“I see…” Rakrensius made meaningless affirmations, nodding.

“Funny, isn’t it?”

“Yes… I might feel that way because I’m not well-versed in the unwritten rules of high society.”

“There’s no such etiquette. I believe sincerity is more important than etiquette.” Kneeling and looking out over the lake, Selleana’s eyes dimmed.

“That’s why you don’t go around with Lady Branto to avoid him.”

“Right. He might be following us.”

“Following…”

Rakrensius’s expression turned grim. Watching his expression, the tingling in Selleana’s chest rose to her throat, and she chuckled.

“Don’t worry too much. Those three presences are always around. You’ll get wrinkles on your handsome forehead.”

“I wasn’t exactly wor…” Unable to finish, Rakrensius unconsciously rubbed his forehead. “If this continues, it’ll be quite suffocating…”

“It’ll be resolved soon. I’ve found his weakness.”

“Weakness?”

“Doloret Branto put in some effort. Basic competence in commerce is information, right?” Selleana glossed over the guild for Doloret’s business secrets. “We’re working on it now, so he’ll have to return to his homeland soon.”

“…I see. I hope it goes well.”

Selleana buried her face in her knees and turned to smile warmly at Rakrensius. Her makeup-free face glowed under the afternoon sun. “Aren’t you going to ask how?”

“Should I have?”

“…I wondered if it sounded strange that we could do such a thing.”

“Well…” Rakrensius wanted to know more about Selleana but vaguely glossed over it. “The Lady will surely handle it well.”

“Me, handle it well…” Mulling over Rakrensius’s words, Selleana quickly formed a smile.

Whatever it was about her, he listened as if it was the most important thing in the world. He’s not doubting or dismissing her…

But because of the trust one naturally deserves as a person.

Receiving that unconditionally from her family was rare, and from this man, it felt special.

“… That’s why I like you, Master of Tower.”

“…”

At Selleana’s blunt words, Rakrensius hastily turned away, his face helplessly flushing.

Last time, caught up in Selleana’s joke, he stormed into her residence.

The moment he heard her straightforward confession, Rakrensius thought his heart melted.

His immediate thought was skepticism.

It didn’t make sense. Wasn’t he just an acquaintance to Selleana, awkward enough to doubt if he was introduced as a ‘friend’ to her brothers?

Was it because he had held Selleana in his heart for too long that her confession felt like a fleeting whim? He didn’t dislike it. After all, he heard those words from her voice. But might this just be a momentary fancy?

This was among the least of the reasons Rakrensius couldn’t accept her proposal. But perhaps because of the soothing afternoon sun… Rakrensius blurted out one of the many questions he harbored. Even though he knew it was useless.

“Lady.”

“Yes?”

“…Being with someone in a situation as precarious as mine, you’d have to give up everything you have now. Have you thought about that before approaching me?”

“What do I have?”

“Like the power you hold in society… Being involved in this would mean making enemies. Doesn’t it mean that power is important to the Lady?”

“Power. What are you talking about?” Selleana laughed. “Is that my power? It’s Elard’s power. So, my father’s and brothers’ power.”

“But you always talk about the power of Elard as if it’s your mantra.”

“Yes, I use it diligently. It’s all I have in this world, so I make the most of it. Personally, I have no attachment to it.”

Selleana’s mention of ‘this world’ resonated meaningfully, causing Rakrensius to miss his timing in responding.

“Originally, I told my father that instead of participating in the selection, I wanted to be independent. It ended up this way because the imperial family hoped I’d pretend to find love… If I can live the life I want, society and everything else doesn’t matter.”

Still kneeling and looking at Rakrensius, Selleana smiled her most enchanting smile. “You’d understand something like this, wouldn’t you, Master of Tower?”

“…”

“…And that’s why I like you.”

Rakrensius tried not to look at Selleana, but he couldn’t help capturing that expression in his peripheral vision. Her smile, full of trust and affection, was too dazzling.

Rakrensius barely responded. “I didn’t understand.”

“

, that makes me sad.”

“It’s the truth.”

* * *

“She met the fifth prince again…”

In Duke Elard’s office, the duke massaged his throbbing forehead at Andrea’s report about Selleana.