I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original

Chapter 81



The sudden flood of memories from that day made Rakrensius’s heart race. The hand he instinctively extended stopped mid-air.

 

“That’s, escort…”

 

Isn’t that something only done between promised partners? Or isn’t it too attention-grabbing in a place like this…?

 

It was when he was about to utter his obligatory refusal line, rolling it over in his mouth.

 

“I’m joking. I know there are many eyes watching here.” Selleana slowly clenched her hand and winked.

 

Should he be annoyed at being teased with his usual words or embarrassed that he almost held her hand unconsciously? All those emotions transparently flashed across Rakrensius’ face.

 

Selleana suppressed a laugh, holding the hem of her dress with both hands and bowing politely.

 

“Glory to the Master of Tower. Welcome to the Elard.”

 

“Thank you for making the long journey. I appreciate you accepting the invitation.”

 

“…

Ah

.”

 

Only then did he realize that Selleana wasn’t the only one in the hall. The Duke and Duchess of Elard were also present.

 

This is crazy…

He had been so captivated by Selleana, dressed beautifully, that he hadn’t noticed his surroundings. Thinking his condition was worsening, Rakrensius politely greeted back.

 

“I’m Rakrensius, the master of the Magic Tower. Thank you for the invitation. I was already grateful for the carriage, but to come out here personally…”

 

“Not at all. We are deeply moved that you have come despite the difficulty.”  

 

Duchess Elard stepped forward with a kind smile. A middle-aged woman with purple hair elegantly twisted up and crimson eyes that occasionally appeared in Selleana.

 

“I have always regretted not being able to properly thank you that day.”

 

“No, I also failed to handle the situation well that day, so I was quite rude.”

 

“No need to humble yourself. You’re our benefactor.”

 

The duchess’ tone was full of genuine gratitude.

 

“Come inside. Please leave your hat and robe with our butler… This way, please.”

 

To avoid prolonging the conversation outside, the duke personally guided Rakrensius inside. It was an exceptional reception. It was unusual for the host of the banquet, who should be busy welcoming guests, to come out in person.

 

I felt this during my last meeting with the duke… Elard is very hospitable. 

Rakrensius swallowed his inexplicable worries and followed the duke inside.

 

Their hospitality did not end there. Despite the other guests already being present, the duke leisurely guided Rakrensius through various parts of the mansion on the way to the banquet hall.

 

“These candlesticks in the hallway are the work of the artisan Yorfina, sponsored by my grandfather, the previous head of the family.”

 

“This tapestry is the oldest treasure of our family, depicting King Asmion during the founding war as the legendary hero Antakantus who opposed the gods.”

 

“The marble on the floor is from the Arancha region of the eastern continent.”

 

Arancha… Just as a faint memory of a small village from his childhood was about to surface.

 

“I don’t know where you got it made, but the formal attire suits you very well.”

 

The unexpected whisper from behind made his neck tingle, snapping him out of his reverie. Selleana, who had been walking slightly apart from the duchess, had suddenly approached.

 

“Lea.”

 

“I had it tailored for Duke Ansi. He didn’t seem to have a suitable formal suit for such an occasion.”

 

Selleana smirked at her father’s rebuke to maintain decorum. The duke gave his daughter a long, meaningful look but chose not to speak.

 

“Indeed, my eye for measurements is good, isn’t it?”

 

“Body size 42, 32, 23. Ah, the last one is thigh circumference. It’s all just my guess.”

 

Remembering the measurements from when she commissioned to find Collin, Rakrensius’s ears turned bright red. It was a reaction only Selleana would recognize.

 

Ah

, we’re here. Please take care of us today, Master of Tower.”

 

Rakrensius thought he was tired of Selleana’s playful nature, which constantly stirred his heart and then abruptly left him.

 

The order of the banquet was simple. It was a time to display Elard’s gratitude towards their benefactor, the tower master and fifth prince. They portrayed it as a deep loyalty to the imperial family, saving the future crown princess, with the yellow newspapers of Doloret promoting this narrative.

 

“We have prepared this modest occasion to express our gratitude to Duke Ansi, the Fifth Prince and Master of Tower, for saving my daughter’s life this time.”

 

Despite calling it modest, Duke Elard bowed to Rakrensius before an extravagant feast.

 

“Thanks to Your Highness’s quick thinking, my daughter was saved. Elard is deeply grateful to you.”

 

“No, I just…”

 

Rakrensius’s eyes rolled over to Selleana. She blinked as if encouraging him to say what they had agreed upon.

 

“I merely cast a spell to detect anyone in danger throughout the Bellanyu Forest. We couldn’t afford any mishaps during an imperial event.”

 

Oh my,

for the sake of the imperial family… The guests each expressed their admiration at Rakrensius’s words. Since Selleana was the only one whose life was truly endangered during the hunting competition, no one knew whether such a spell existed, but they all accepted the explanation.

 

“Since Your Highness’s loyalty to the imperial family saved my daughter, we cannot express our gratitude in words. We wish to offer a token of appreciation from Elard.”

 

At Duke Elard’s gesture, Selleana stepped forward with a small jewelry box.

 

“Thank you for your grace in saving me, Your Highness.” As she smiled and bent her knees slightly, the beads adorning her dress shone brilliantly.

 

Like many gentlemen of Nepelsian, Rakrensius was momentarily entranced by her appearance.

 

“This is a small token of my personal gratitude.”

 

The jewelry box that Selleana presented was decorated with gold leaf, mother-of-pearl, and jewels, vividly displaying Elard’s wealth.

 

As Selleana opened the clasp, she continued to speak. “It’s a tie pin adorned with blue diamonds from the Gillosen territory, which were difficult to obtain.”

 

The nail-sized aqua jewels arranged in a row on the tie pin from the jewelry box sparkled like a coral sea.

 

Ooh

, aren’t those the rare blue diamonds?”

 

“All the remaining blue diamonds from the imperial jewelers must have been used for this.”

 

“It wouldn’t have been easy to find multiple stones of similar size…”

 

The guests didn’t bother to hide their astonishment, trying to get a better look at the tie pin in Selleana’s hand.

 

Selleana approached closely to attach the tie pin to the benefactor’s cravat herself. “You probably don’t know since you sent back all the gifts without opening them… But this is one of the ones I sent.”

 

Her whisper, low enough not to be heard by others, resonated just under Rakrensius’s chin.

 

“It was destined to be yours anyway, wasn’t it?”

 

“…”

 

Ah

, it suits you perfectly. My taste is excellent.”

 

Selleana then looked up and smiled sweetly. Rakrensius’s heart raced uncontrollably at the enchanting sight right before his chest.

 

Selleana then took a step back as if to awaken him from his trance.

 

“That was something my daughter personally prepared… Now, from Elard’s side.”

 

At the duke’s gesture, Aiven, who was standing beside him, handed the pillow he was holding to the duke. On top of it lay a rolled parchment, the kind used only for important contracts.

 

“We will sponsor 3 billion reot for research at the Magic Tower.”

 

At Duke Elard’s words, almost like a declaration, caused gasps to echo throughout the banquet hall.

 

Three billion reot was a sum large enough to purchase prime real estate in the capital.  This, too, was a gesture of Elard’s goodwill. Rakrensius, unable to simply be pleased, swallowed his growing unease once more.

 

The banquet proceeded as intended. Elard showed significant favor to Rakrensius, but it was merely evaluated as a generous expression of gratitude for his good deed. No one imagined that Selleana’s recent spree of buying everything blue at the imperial boutique was related to the blue diamond tie pin Rakrensius received as a token of appreciation.

 

“Indeed, His Grace maintains relationships firmly.”

 

“Has he ever shown any interest in the fifth prince before? But…”

 

“It’s almost as if he has verified that the fifth prince won’t harm the crown prince.”

 

“Duke Langton must be displeased.”

 

“In any case, this will make the empress’s faction antagonistic toward us. Their position in the council will become very narrow, won’t it?”

 

In a place removed from the main seats of the banquet’s protagonists, attendees whispered among themselves.

 

Doloret, who was discreetly eavesdropping, whispered to Rosalli. “What did your Duke say?”

 

“The duke seemed a bit regretful for not taking a step, thinking the tower master was a real fool… But wouldn’t he think that backing the winning side is the way to go?”

 

“Why such speculative remarks? Didn’t you hear anything concrete?”

 

“I’m leaving soon, so I wasn’t paying much attention to what was said at the table.”

 

“…Didn’t you say the real daughter will be coming around the harvest festival?”

 

“Yes. It will be very soon.”

 

“You’ve been getting along well, but if you suddenly say you’re leaving, they might try to stop you. Don’t let your guard down too much.”

 

“They absolutely won’t. It’s because you haven’t read my original story.”

 

Hmm

…”

 

Doloret’s information network spared no one, not even the families of her friends. Thus, she had also assessed Rosalli’s standing within Glen. She knew that Duke Glen was quite fond of Rosalli’s businesslike demeanor.

 

Is it a universal rule that family members treat you well only when you’re indifferent to them…?


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