I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original

[(…) I apologize, but due to my lover’s circumstances, it will be difficult to attend the hunting competition together. However, since it would be a burden to assist Your Highness while having a separate lover, I wish to bestow the honor of this hunting competition to Lady Eunice Jenon. (…)]

Pavellian’s condition for canceling her selection contest application was to bring the lover by the time of the hunting competition. And Selleana was in a situation where she couldn’t fulfill that condition. Though she had identified the lover she had in mind, she still hadn’t persuaded the person yet.

As she recalled the day she last saw Rakrensius a few days ago, her mood inevitably sank.

Regardless of the reason, Rakrensius’s position was always unwavering. He didn’t want to marry or date Selleana. His supposed infatuation with her was, in the end, just Selleana’s interpretation. While he might not have managed his gaze well, he had never once acknowledged it verbally.

So, she wanted to know. The reason he had to hide such an obvious emotion. Until then, she would just do her best. She wanted to see him, so she’d go to see him. She thought maybe if she saw him one more time, he might change his mind, so she’d go again.

Selleana felt no pride was hurt. It was the first person she liked since she was born as Selleana.

Selleana glanced at the crown prince beyond the desk. It seemed so clear that he always made people wait after summoning them. 

Selleana had always been obedient to Pavellian. But that didn’t mean she was submissive to the imperial family, especially as Elard.

Elard was a founding loyalist family mentioned even in the legends of the founding ancestors. If they could form a marriage alliance with such an Elard, the imperial family would eventually accept it.

She glanced at him with narrowed eyes and took a sip from her teacup.

It was when the water level in the teacup had lowered by about half.

“You’ve waited a long time.” Only then did Pavellian come and sit at the head seat. “There’s been a lot going on with the harvest festival preparations.”

“It’s nothing.” Selleana smiled as if she understood everything. She didn’t want to unnecessarily reveal her true feelings and give him a reason to pick at her.

“The reason I asked to see you today… it’s because of the letter you sent.”

“Yes, I assumed you were busy since there was no reply…”

“

, you’re so heartless. If it was urgent, you could have come and delivered it yourself.”

. Swallowing her true feelings, Selleana smiled brightly. “No, I couldn’t possibly take up Your Highness’s time when you’re busy with state affairs.”

“Wouldn’t seeing your beautiful smile give me strength if you came to see me?

”

Last time, he acted like someone obsessed, and now he’s being friendly as if they were close. Though his bright smile had always been the same, it was subtly more cloying today. ‘

But Pavellian’s gaze was sweeping over Selleana’s vicinity. It was as if checking her belongings…

[I look forward to receiving the things you have prepared for me soon.]

On the day she returned to the duchy, there was that phrase in the letter he sent. As soon as she recalled that, Selleana had to stifle a bitter smile trying to surface.

He seemed to be under the illusion that Selleana had accepted his talk about love. He hadn’t paid attention to the mention of a lover in the recent letter.

Selleana forced a polite smile onto her lips. “That, Your Highness?”

“Yes.”

“Hasn’t His Majesty mentioned anything?”

“Is there something I should have heard from my father…?”

“I understand my father had a private audience with His Majesty a few days ago.”

“With Duke Elard? Well, His Majesty hasn’t mentioned anything. I don’t suppose you’re curious about state affairs…” Pavellian seemed genuinely clueless.

If the internal discussions within the imperial family hadn’t been finalized, it was possible Pavellian hadn’t been informed yet. Selleana decided to quickly correct the situation to dispel his undue familiarity.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry, but I haven’t bought any gifts for Your Highness recently.”

Pavellian’s face showed a crack.

“It’s true that I’ve been buying gifts for a gentleman, but that was for my aforementioned lover.”

“I don’t believe the Lady has met any other man recently,” Pavellian spoke quite solemnly, in the same cold tone he used when he first showed signs of obsession.

It was clear he didn’t even try to hide the fact that he was monitoring her.

“The only places you’ve been to recently are the Magic Tower. You still haven’t found that lover.”

Selleana was momentarily flustered. Would he suspect that her lover was Rakrensius?

“They say there are classified spells at the Magic Tower that could be used for such things. That’s why you’re consulting the Magic Tower to find a man who may or may not exist.”

Fortunately, he hadn’t thought that far. On the other hand, Selleana was secretly impressed by his quite accurate guess. Even though it was all in the past.

“Your Highness. How many times do I have to tell you?”

Pavellian motioned with his chin as if to tell her to go ahead.

“You said that if I had a lover, I wouldn’t have to participate in the selection contest. I really do have a lover. I fell in love at first sight and even proposed to him.”

“Lady.” Pavellian’s eyebrows twitched. “It’s one thing to propose first as a woman. There’s a limit to exaggeration.”

Exaggeration? Selleana barely held back her brow from furrowing at his typically Pavellian-like response. “How could I lie about such a thing in front of Your Highness?”

“I see that the Lady is quite audacious. If it’s true, it’s problematic. If not, it’s a lie to me.”

“I don’t see how proposing to someone I like is an affront to Your Highness.”

“A woman’s virtue is traditionally patience. Even if you meet someone you like, it’s unbecoming to forget your duty as a woman.”

Selleana felt even the slightest bit of trust in him turn to ash and scatter.

“It’s nonsense. If it really happened, then I must have misjudged you.”

It was an accurate assessment. Pavellian had never really known Selleana because she had always acted submissively. His logic was impeccable, but it was an opportunity for Selleana.

“I apologize… But if Your Highness truly had romantic feelings for me, you wouldn’t be disappointed by something like this, would you?”

“Well, I have high expectations of you, so I could be disappointed.”

“Those expectations don’t seem to stem from romantic feelings. Perhaps you expect a polite conversationalist worthy of your company…”

“That’s right. So I always looked forward to our tea gatherings.”

“Yes, so that anticipation isn’t romantic…”

“If this isn’t love, what is?”

“…”

They really couldn’t communicate.

“When I saw your letter, I thought I made a good choice. Suggesting Lady Jenon as a partner for the hunting competition… It was a smokescreen, wasn’t it?” He even went as far as to manipulate her intentions.

“You announced in front of everyone at His Majesty’s birthday celebration that you have a lover, so you couldn’t take it back immediately. That’s why you suggested pretending to be close with another lady for my sake.”

“That’s not exactly—”

“And then, after the atmosphere calms down, we can hold the selection contest.”

She heard his plan without even asking it.

He’d always done things his own way, but this was the first time he had so thoroughly misunderstood someone else’s feelings.

At this point, it was as if he was willfully deaf. As if someone had brainwashed him…

“I never thought that way.” Her words came out slightly muffled as she bit down on her molars. “I’ve told you before. Your Highness and I have never had any emotional exchange.”

“Well, I…”

“Your Highness. Don’t you feel anxious and impulsive to say or do something unexpected when you see me?”

“How did you know that…!”

“It’s just anxiety. Your original plan was disrupted because I’m not participating in the selection contest.”

“Lady. They’re my feelings. I know them better.”

“And I know my feelings better.”

“But, come to think of it…” Pavellian’s thick eyebrows drew closer together. “Have you always been this talkative?”

“Yes.”