Male Lead, Don’t Follow Me! - Chapter 20

***

In my life, I’d never have reason to go to the Imperial Palace except for the Crown Prince’s birthday or national holidays.

Yet here I am, entering the Imperial Palace on the Crown Prince’s invitation.

Is this the kind of absurd thing that happens when you’re around the female protagonist?

I suddenly felt my position acutely.

“What a predicament.”

If I had just lived pretending not to know, I wouldn’t be summoned here and there like this.

This meddlesome nature of mine, who else can I blame but myself?

Trudging after the guide, I entered a well-maintained greenhouse inside the garden.

“I am here to see Your Highness.”

Such is the power of authority.

I smiled brightly and greeted Liandore. He welcomed me quite warmly.

‘What’s he plotting?’

He didn’t mind my obviously guarded appearance. Rather, he seemed amused by it.

Perhaps none of the people here have proper personalities.

Giving up on thinking, I blankly focused my gaze on one spot.

“Yes, I’m sorry for calling you here during your rest.”

“If you know that, why did you call me?”

He laughed heartily at my curt response.

I must have left my sense of self-preservation somewhere. Maybe I’ve built up a tolerance to these situations and they no longer surprise me?

“Ah, Lady Kirin recommended you, you see.”

My eyes softened at the mention of Ephelia’s name. I looked around, but couldn’t see her.

“Did you only call for me?”

“Lady Kirin will be here soon too.”

I nodded, relieved at his words. Perhaps it’s a recommendation for the Kaibern region? That would be nice.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

With a familiar voice, Bishwaltz entered.

‘Why is he here?’

Seeing my contorted expression, he seemed too tired to say anything and just plopped down in front of me.

“I’ll only be here for a moment, so there’s no need to dislike it so much.”

“Was it that obvious? I’m sorry. I have a personality that shows everything on my face.”

Liandore chuckled at my monotone voice.

Realizing how embarrassing this behavior was in front of the Crown Prince, I hurriedly cleared my throat.

“But Duke Bishwaltz, you seem busy these days.”

“I have some matters to deal with, that’s why.”

“I hear you’re quite popular in the rumors lately.”

I almost laughed at Liandore’s sarcastic remark.

I tightly closed my lips and glanced at Bishwaltz’s face.

His sour expression and furrowed brow were quite satisfying.

“I’m in the process of dealing with that matter as we speak.”

“Have you found a solution?”

“Not entirely without one.”

I shuddered at Bishwaltz’s sharp voice.

There shouldn’t be a solution, so what could he possibly be up to?

I hadn’t been going out much lately, so I hadn’t heard any news from the other ladies, but the situation was quite unsettling.

‘Well, what’s the worst that could happen?’

As long as I don’t get caught, everything will be fine. Besides, how could they possibly find me now that the rumor has spread to everyone like wildfire?

“I called you to give you this, but the introduction got long.”

Liandore handed me a document. The support application for the Kaibern region that I had been wanting so much, stamped with the imperial seal!

“Thank you!”

I was so surprised that my emotions were fully exposed.

Judging by their expressions, it’s too late to hide it now.

“But is it okay to abuse power like this?”

To get my hands on the application documents before the official announcement has even been made.

Such is the power of authority indeed.

Liandore shrugged with an arrogant expression.

He seemed to know exactly what I was thinking.

Really, each character’s personality is a gem.

“You don’t need to thank me. It’s a request from Lady Kirin who helped with the investigation. Consider it a reward.”

Liandore glanced at his watch and stroked his chin.

“She’s a reliable spirit user, so if you go with her, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.”

“I’ll do my best!”

Once I get to the Kaibern region, I won’t have to worry and feel anxious anymore.

I clenched my fist with determination and smiled brightly.

I can finally escape.

***

“Have you heard about that lately?”

“You mean about Duke Bishwaltz?”

While eating dessert at a cafe with Ephelia, whom I met after a long time, I heard the voices of whispering ladies.

‘Really, everywhere I go, it’s all about Duke Bishwaltz.’

By this point, I felt a bit guilty. Remembering the shadow under his eyes, I felt slightly sorry.

“Are you well prepared for Kaibern?”

“There’s not much to prepare, you know?”

I said, taking a bite of cake. Although I was facing Ephelia, it felt like my ears were open in another direction.

‘Ah, it’s bothering me.’

Well, it won’t matter once I leave. Kaibern was quite far from the capital. Although gossip always circulates, it’s quickly forgotten.

“I won’t be kicked out if I can’t contract with a spirit, right?”

“Of course not, Kiara. You can summon, even if not perfectly, and you can handle spirit power, so you’ll be fine. I’ve heard it can take quite a while for some people to awaken their full potential.”

I nodded, reassured by Ephelia’s words.

Due to my weak innate mana, no spirits had chosen me yet.

Whenever I attempted to summon, I only managed to bring forth strange entities, which made the round spirits I’d seen in the Forbidden Forest all the more fascinating.

During the blessing ceremony, some spirits revealed themselves, while others remained hidden.

‘After all, they’re not obligated to show themselves just because they’re summoned.’

Feeling disappointed, I put cake in my mouth and looked out the window, when I saw Bishwaltz.

“Oh? Isn’t that the Duke over there?”

“You’re right. And next to him looks like Lady Erin.”

They seemed to be having a serious conversation.

But soon, tears started rolling down Lady Erin’s eyes.

At that moment, her hand went up.

Slap!

“Gasp!”

Startled, I dropped the fork I was holding the cake with.

“Bishwaltz, you bastard!”

With a sound cutting through the air, Lady Erin cried out with a sobbing voice.

Right before my eyes, I saw Duke Bishwaltz’s reddened cheek along with eyes full of certainty.

He looked quite calm and composed, as if he had confirmed what he wanted.

I blinked, frozen in place.

‘What, what’s this? He’s not even surprised at all?’

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one caught off guard.

The entire store fell silent, everyone momentarily paralyzed with shock.

After what felt like an eternity, Duke Bishwaltz simply strode past Lady Erin without a word.

“Could it be? Are those rumors actually true?”

“I’ve heard that Duke Bishwaltz has been meeting with every eligible lady in the area recently.”

“There were rumors that he’s been accepting all who come to see him.”

In an instant, the cafe was filled with conversations about Bishwaltz.

Some had met him for two days before parting, while others said he suddenly asked them to curse at him.

They say he even asked some ladies who claimed to be the hidden woman to guess where he had a mole on his bottom.

‘Has he finally gone mad…?’

Surely, that guy isn’t thinking of meeting every woman to figure it out, is he?

To go this far just to catch me… I was newly impressed by his persistence.

My body trembled with anxiety.

“My goodness, you’re right. Duke Bishwaltz seems to have a lot of issues.”

Ephelia looked out the window with pitying eyes before turning back to me. She said I did well to stay away from him, as he wasn’t as good a person as she had thought.

“But it seems he’s been suffering quite a bit. I heard he hasn’t been sleeping well lately?”

“…Really?”

My heart ached with guilt. But it was a necessary choice for my survival.

I just hope nothing happens until I leave this place.