I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original

It can’t be helped.

For Rosalli’s sake, she really needs to have a serious discussion today, so she must avoid provoking Pavellian as much as possible. Selleana swallowed her sigh and offered Pavellian a bright smile.

The seating arrangement was also frustrating. After seating Selleana, Pavellian naturally sat next to her, and upon seeing Peredo and Michi sit down, Prince Erenst quickly took the seat opposite Michi.

Normally, seats would be arranged in advance according to protocol. The situation, seemingly a collaboration of Pavellian and Erenst’s obsessions, had Selleana and Michi exchanging glances and sighing deeply. The only fortunate thing was that Selleana’s brothers were seated on either side of Michi.

Selleana swallowed her newfound resentment.

As everyone was seated, servants lined up to serve water, aperitifs, and appetizers to everyone.

“Lady.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Please enjoy. I hope everything suits your taste.” Pavellian pointed to the bruschetta, one of the appetizers, with his eyes gleaming.

Though Selleana wasn’t particularly picky, knowing Pavellian had no interest in her tastes sparked some resistance.

Following the dinner’s order, two more appetizers, then a salad, and the first main course were served in sequence.

“This ceviche is only available at imperial banquets.”

“The sauce used here is a secret technique of the imperial chef.”

“Enjoy your meal, Lady.”

Throughout the meal, Pavellian insisted that Selleana would enjoy his favorite dishes. Prince Erenst did something similar.

He seemed keen on discerning Michi’s culinary preferences, never taking his eyes off her.

“

, I see you like green olives.”

“

, I prefer arugula over kale too…”

“Of course, shrimp is always a good start.”

Michi felt so uncomfortable under his intense gaze that she thought she might choke. Her stomach felt tight, her throat was dry, and her wine glass had long been empty.  Had this been at home, she would have tilted her head to drain every last drop. Regretting that she couldn’t, she just twitched her fingers when…

“Would you like my glass?”

“Pardon?”

“Wine. You’ve finished yours.” Peredo, seated next to her, offered his wine, having barely touched it.

“

, are you not drinking it?”

Forgetting Prince Erenst’s discomforting presence, Michi perked up. “I tend to feel heavy the next day if I drink.”

“

…”

Such a concept was unimaginable to Michi, reminiscent of fitness enthusiasts from her past life who wouldn’t even cry to avoid muscle loss. Moreover, Peredo’s glass had more wine than Michi’s initial serving. This damned world even discriminated in serving sizes based on gender…

While Michi was hesitating out of jealousy and gratitude, Theonis, who was watching from the opposite side, joined in.

“I’ve already had white wine. Would you like my next glass of red wine, Lady?”

Observing this, Theonis, who knew exactly how many bottles of wine were consumed monthly in the East Wing, offered his glass.

“I’m not much into red wine, so it would be more valuable if you enjoyed it.”

“N-No…! Please, you must try the next glass.” Michi hurriedly suggested, eyeing the wine selection prepared by the waiting servants. “Wines from the Aligoté region are light with rich, fruity flavors, so even those who dislike the tannins in red wine tend to enjoy them.”

“

Is that so?”

“Yes, please, you must try it.”

“So, please try it.”

“

, alright…”

Elard’s brothers looked at Michi, who couldn’t help but show her expertise as a wine enthusiast, with astonished faces.

“…Acidity and tannins, I might not understand, but… Lady, you should have my glass too, then.”

“If you need more, just say so. I’ll call a servant.”

“T-Thank you…”

Overwhelmed by the brothers’ kindness yet exhilarated, Michi was suddenly interrupted.

“Lady Branto, are you alright? The gentlemen from Elard seem to be forcing you to drink excessively…”

“N-No! I’m fine.”

“Lady, how could you…” Prince Erenst’s eyebrows dropped in a delicate slant, misunderstanding Michi’s enjoyment of wine as she tried to protect the master’s sons, unaware of her love for wine.

As the second main course was served, and everyone began to eat at their own pace,

“Lady.” Having finished his plate, Pavellian whispered to Selleana.

, can’t we keep some personal space, even if we’re of different genders?

“I have something to discuss with you alone… Would you like to step outside for a moment?”

“

… Right now?”

“After you’ve finished eating.”

Selleana had just started her steak, but…

“N-No. I’ve finished.”

“…Really? I can’t understand how ladies manage so little. Perhaps that’s how they maintain their slender waists.

”

Selleana was about to burst with annoyance at his satisfaction with her small appetite.

Not expecting a woman to finish a steak in an 8-course meal, his disappointment wasn’t surprising.

Selleana responded as gracefully as she felt disdainful. “Yes. Let’s go before dessert arrives.”

Because your favorite chocolate cake will be served.

Pavellian stood again, pulling out Selleana’s chair in a grand gesture. Following him, Selleana didn’t forget to signal her brothers with her eyes.

Take good care of Michi, okay?

You should be careful too.

Don’t upset His Highness.

Regardless of their silent exchange, Emperor Tashur II and Duke Elard watched Selleana and Pavellian’s departure with fondness, hoping Selleana would become the crown princess despite any previous discussions. And there was one more person watching their backs.

“Excuse me…”

It was Empress Arshilla.

“Lady Branto, was it…?”

* * *

Pavellian led Selleana to the back of the orangery, along a path flanked by shrubs that led to a gazebo by the pond. The setting was quite picturesque, but…

Pavellian spoke only when they reached the gazebo. “Lady.”

“Yes?” Selleana responded with as much formality as she could muster, emphasizing their relationship as ruler and subject rather than any personal connection.

“I’ve been thinking we never really had the chance to thoroughly discuss the misunderstandings between us.”

“Misunderstandings, you say?”

“Yes. You seem to have some misunderstandings about my feelings.”

Selleana had a bad feeling about where this was headed.

“No matter how I think about it, it seems I truly love you, Lady.”

Her bad feeling wasn’t wrong… But she needed to let him speak his piece if she was going to get a chance to address her own concerns. So, Selleana let him continue unabated for the moment.

“You keep dismissing my feelings as insincere or saying that this isn’t love, but… the more I think about it, the more I am convinced that my affection for you is genuine.”

“No, Your Highness, that’s not—” She couldn’t just let him go on.

“Even if there are rumors about Lady, my feelings for you remain unchanged.”

“…Pardon?”

Rumors? The unexpected term made Selleana lose the smile she had painted on her face for a moment.

“Why? You thought I wouldn’t know?” Pavellian revealed a wolfish grin. “About your lover.”

“Yes.”

“The audacity to consort with a commoner.”

“Yes?”

Selleana was too perplexed to immediately grasp that their meeting at the night market had been discovered, leaving her simply bewildered.

“What… do you mean?”

“Exactly. Your reaction confirms it. I thought it was strange. You made up excuses about not bringing him to the hunting competition, claiming you were engaged and all…”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Really… They say that if you eat gourmet food every day, sometimes you crave junk food.”

“Excuse me?”

Was he calling someone junk food? And has he ever even tried junk food?

“But, Lady.”

As Selleana tried to offer a hollow laugh, Pavellian stepped closer.

“I want you, even though you were already involved with someone before our marriage. If this isn’t love, then what is this?”

“I’m sorry, but I was chosen to be Your Highness’s companion due to the calculation between the imperial family and Elard. I believe Your Highness has misunderstood the meaning of love.”

“Alright, since you so clearly want to argue this point, I’ll concede.”

He took another step, closing the distance. Selleana hesitated and took a step back to maintain the gap.

“You said you asked for genuine love. If you call the shabby emotional play with a commoner as love, then do as you wish. However.”

And when she was backed against the gazebo’s pillar, unable to retreat further,

“You’ll have to do it by my side.”

He planted his hands on either side of her. So, he had ‘wall-slam’ her.

Selleana’s eyes grew cold.

Completely intoxicated by his emotions, Pavellian didn’t notice her change in demeanor, his gaze burning with intensity.

After a moment of silence, a glass shattering sound was followed by…

?

At the sudden sound of a crow, both of them forgot the situation and looked up.

Out of nowhere, a large crow attacked Pavellian.

“

! What the heck is with this bird?!”