Male Lead, Don’t Follow Me! - Chapter 13

“Well, honestly, it’s a bit fun too.”

“Weren’t you two close?”

I didn’t know the details, but they weren’t on bad terms. Just look at how they’re always together.

Yet Serhin didn’t seem to care much about the rumors surrounding Bishwaltz.

Rather, it would be more accurate to say he enjoyed them.

“So why did you come instead of Ephelia?”

“As a friend, I thought he wasn’t someone worth getting close to.”

“Who? Bishwaltz?”

“Well, isn’t it obvious? With the rumors, and even just from what I usually hear……”

It’s not good to judge people based on rumors, but the Bishwaltz I knew was indeed a terrible person.

“What on earth has he been doing for his reputation to be this bad?”

Serhin pondered, stroking his chin.

I hope he’s not going to tell him everything I said.

Suddenly feeling uneasy, I watched Serhin’s expression.

“Um…… Perhaps.”

You’re not the type to have a loose tongue, are you?

At least as a male lead candidate, you should have some gravitas.

He didn’t look serious at all, but maybe he was different on the inside.

“It’s impressive, isn’t it?”

“Pardon?”

“To think his reputation is even worse than mine. I need to step up my game.”

Red eyes sparkled before me.

It seems he’s not quite normal either.

***

“My lady……?”

Ena fell backward in surprise when she saw me return. Startled, I covered her mouth and tried to calm her down.

“Ena, calm down! It’s me.”

“B-but, my lady is!”

Ena kept pointing at the room, unable to close her mouth from shock.

Only after I managed to bring her into the room did I let out a sigh of relief.

“Kiara, you’re back early. How was it?”

“Hmm, there weren’t any particular problems.”

Looking at the clock, there were about 5 minutes to spare. It felt strange seeing my own face in front of me.

“W-what on earth is going on here! I thought it was odd that my lady was being so docile today!”

Ena looked back and forth between me and Ephelia, flailing about.

“I’m sorry, there was a situation.”

“Ack! Please don’t say anything. I’m feeling very strange right now. To think there are two of my lady!”

I could understand Ena’s feelings too.

“Ephelia. No matter what happens, Duke Bishwaltz is not an option.”

I told her firmly. Ena’s eyes widened at my words.

“Don’t tell me, my lady……”

“Whatever you’re thinking, that’s not it.”

I frowned at Ena’s excited voice.

“But why do you dislike Duke Bishwaltz so much….. Of course, there are various rumors, but still……”

Ena clasped her hands together and her eyes sparkled.

“He’s handsome! They say he shines just by looking at him! They say his personality is awful, but he’s perfect otherwise.”

Seeing my sour expression, she quickly closed her mouth.

As the time was up, Ephelia returned to her usual appearance with silver hair.

“Ena, look carefully.”

I stood up, grabbed Ephelia’s shoulders, and showed her to Ena.

“No matter what anyone says, Ephelia is the best.”

Smooth hair, clear and unblemished skin, a high nose bridge. Large eyes with long eyelashes, and appropriately plump lips.

She was the perfect Ephelia in anyone’s eyes.

And what about her appropriately tall height and voluptuous figure!

Whether it’s intelligence or ability as a spirit mage, she lacks nothing.

“Hmm, my lady is right too. Lady Kirin is beyond compare!”

She nodded vigorously as if agreeing with my words.

I always had her praises on the tip of my tongue.

That means Ena, who has been with me, is naturally in a good environment to become a fan.

“I absolutely can’t let someone like him take you away.”

Ephelia sighed at my resolute determination.

“But Kiara. The Duke won’t be interested in me.”

That couldn’t be true. Even today, he said he called her because he was curious about her. The talk about magical beasts was just an excuse.

“How could he not be interested in you!”

Oh no, that’s not it.

For a moment, I shouted that it was nonsense out of impulse.

I couldn’t accept that either. It’s one thing if Ephelia rejected him, but to think he might not even be interested.

That’s because Ephelia didn’t see him today.

‘He was definitely curious.’

Ephelia must not have noticed it.

What I’m worried about is that the original male leads in novels often suddenly change even when they’re not interested at first.

“Besides, he brought up the topic of marriage today. Ephelia, why didn’t you tell me about this?”

I didn’t hide my disappointment as I confronted Ephelia.

With a bewildered expression, Ephelia waved her hands.

“If you mean the marriage proposal, I already told Father I would refuse it.”

Ephelia had no reason to lie to me.

In the end, I decided to believe her.

“He didn’t seem like he’d give up easily though……”

Having given Bishwaltz a taste of his own medicine, I was a bit worried about what might happen next.

‘So I can’t let my guard down at all.’

I’ll protect my favorite character! And of course, my own life too!

***

“I had forgotten……”

That I was more dangerous than anyone else.

I crumpled the paper in my hand and tore at my hair.

It’s not like I’m a wanted criminal!

I sighed at the detailed description of the person written on it.

‘Am I going to get caught at this rate?’

The anxiety kept tightening its grip on me.

Duke Leperta Bishwaltz had officially started searching for me.

As if adding insult to injury, people began to support the Duke’s search.

“I didn’t know there was such a hidden story….. The Duke seems a bit pitiful.”

“Indeed.”

The young ladies clasped their hands together with wistful looks in their eyes.

As if hoping for someone’s love to be realized.

‘Why on earth are they cheering?’

I swallowed a sigh at the inexplicable change in people’s attitudes.

“Haven’t you heard, Lady Lowell?”

“Heard what?”

A young lady poked my side as I sat there, unable to agree with them and feeling gloomy.

“They say all those rumors about the Duke being a bastard or gay were just misunderstandings.”

“……Misunderstandings?”

I listened carefully to what they were saying. Why would such things be said?

Could it be that the Duke had employed some other tactic?

Just as my suspicions were growing, one young lady spoke up.

“Apparently, the Duke was actually seeing a woman, but someone misunderstood after seeing her with someone else.”

“So, what exactly…?”

“You know Serhin Kabel, the Magic Tower Master, right?”

I nodded.

How could I not know? Just thinking about how things got tangled because of that person makes my blood boil.

“While they were talking with the Tower Master, some dust got in her eye, and the Duke blew it out for her……”

“Oh my! So that’s what was misunderstood!”

Another young lady chimed in, making a fuss.

“Well, the two of them were always together, so it’s understandable that it was misinterpreted.”

“That’s right, and besides, they’re both so handsome.”

The young ladies smiled contentedly as they imagined the two of them.

I was the only one who couldn’t say anything and just had a dumbfounded expression in this situation.

“So…… Duke Leperta Bishwaltz had a woman?”

That’s nonsense!

I stood up, slamming the desk with a thud.

That caused everyone’s attention to turn to me.

“Th-this is indeed a sad story!”

“I think so too. So, you’ll join us, right, Lady?”

“What?”

The young lady handed me a piece of paper.

<Duke Leperta Bishwaltz’s hidden lady, please come back! It’s all a misunderstanding.>

It was a flyer searching for the unfortunate woman who had left him.

Damn it.

It seems the Duke has set a trap to find me.