Male Lead, Don’t Follow Me! - Chapter 5

A man’s voice was heard from behind the tree. I held my breath and crouched down.

‘It’s not just one person?’

Why would they come to the forbidden forest at night when monsters are said to appear?

I tightly gripped the teleport scroll in my bosom, preparing for any possibility.

“There’s no way a person would be in a forest where monsters appear, right?”

“That’s true, but we received a report.”

Along with rustling sounds, voices were heard nearby. A tense atmosphere continued, with me just behind the tree.

“What kind of sound did you hear that made you personally investigate? You used to hate this kind of thing.”

Investigation? Could it be Duke Bishwaltz?!

Drip.

As I recognized who he was, cold sweat ran down my back. If I were to encounter him here, I’d undoubtedly be pointed out as a suspect.

‘No. If I get caught like this, what should I say? It’s strange to say I was picking herbs at this hour.’

No matter what I said, it wouldn’t make sense. Who would believe that a Count’s daughter was peacefully picking herbs alone in a place where monsters appear?

I prepared to run away at the right moment, slowly regulating my breathing.

“Let’s just say we heard a report of a monster’s cry.”

“…A monster? In this forest? Well, that sounds plausible. There were such rumors going around.”

The man spoke to Bishwaltz in an uninterested tone, as if giving up.

‘Yes, go away! Why are you doing this here of all places!’

I had to stay put right behind the tree because of them talking there.

“That monster’s cry.”

Bishwaltz, who seemed unlikely to speak, opened his mouth.

His low resonating voice made my body flinch.

“What about it?”

No way, did he notice something…? Could it have already reached his ears?

Judging by Lady Haley Pone’s belated mention, it shouldn’t have been long since he obtained the information.

My mouth went dry.

Honestly, that cry would sound nonsensical to anyone who heard it. Whoever spread it must be an idiot.

‘Well, I might have believed it too if I didn’t know.’

Of course, no one had noticed the monster’s existence or heard its cry.

So they had no choice but to believe it.

But didn’t the quick-witted ladies bring similar, albeit slightly off, information?

I tried to shake off my anxiety and listened to Bishwaltz’s voice.

“It must be son of a b*tch.”

“What? A son of a b*tch?”

“Yes, if you look at this place, there are mountains around, and assuming it was heard from afar…”

“It echoed twice because of the echo?”

Wow. What! He’s smart! Is this the male protagonist buff?

I applauded in my mind, newly impressed by Bishwaltz’s extraordinary intellect.

“It doesn’t make sense for it to cry ‘gay bastard.”

“Well… it was a bit strange.”

“So you think it was a person, not a monster?”

That’s right. These guys are good at deduction.

I nodded in agreement with their words.

This was proper reasoning, but the flow of conversation at that day’s gathering with the ladies was indeed strange.

As expected, being swayed by people’s words clearly paralyzes rational thinking.

What’s with saying ‘gay bastard’ anyway.

I felt sorry for spreading false rumors. Even if Bishwaltz was a son of a b*tch, he wasn’t gay.

“And I heard another sound too.”

Wait, what other sound?

My heart raced at Bishwaltz’s words.

It was confirmed that what I said could be heard through the echo, but I hadn’t even figured out another route myself.

“Ah, right. You would have heard the echo properly.”

“My mana naturally picks up vibrations.”

“But why are you suddenly emitting such a scary killing intent?”

The killing intent the man mentioned was soon felt. It was so strong that it made my skin tingle, making it hard to breathe.

“It seems someone saw my butt, which I’ve never shown to anyone.”

Thud.

At that moment, a hand was placed on my shoulder as I turned around.

“Ah!”

I let out a short scream, swatted the hand away, and immediately tore the teleport scroll.

I heard the man shouting behind my flickering vision, but fortunately, my hand seemed to have been faster.

Having returned to my room at the right moment, I sat down on the floor, exhaling in relief.

“Whew… That was close.”

But what was the last thing I heard?

I was so startled that I forgot Bishwaltz’s voice, which had been full of anger.

The sound of my heartbeat still echoed loudly in my ears.

***

“Young lady, please be honest.”

“Hmm?”

“You went out yesterday, didn’t you?”

Ena put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes.

If I avoid her gaze here, my lie will be exposed. Judging by Ena’s behavior, she was clearly testing me.

‘If she was certain, she wouldn’t ask like this and would have gone straight to tell Mother.’

Although it may not seem like it, I’ve known her for over 10 years.

Just as Ena knows me well, I also know to some extent what kind of person Ena is.

“What are you talking about? I was sound asleep in bed yesterday.”

“…Really?”

“Ena, do you think I could jump out of here?”

I asked her casually.

The original me would have been certain it was absolutely impossible.

I was someone who was timid and valued my own life.

Ena seemed to ponder for a moment, then shook her head decisively. Only then did she erase the doubt from her face and smile brightly.

“I just thought I heard something at night, so I was checking.”

“Could it be mice?”

“No way! I should go right away and ask them to pay attention to cleaning!”

At the word ‘mice’, Ena exclaimed in horror, throwing a fit.

She still hates mice. Hmm, I feel sorry for the cleaning maids.

Unintentionally, it seems the mansion will be undergoing a major cleaning for a while.

“By the way, didn’t you come to tell me something?”

I asked Ena before she left the room. As she was opening the door, she made an ‘oh’ expression and turned her head towards me.

“Ah, that’s right!”

“Ena, I… don’t think you need to tell me.”

Ena tilted her head slightly towards me.

I silently raised my head and gestured with my chin.

“Oh! Ah, young lady.”

“I came up because you didn’t come even though I waited.”

Ephelia smiled and shrugged at Ena.

“Was I a bit rude after all…?”

Her appearance, carefully asking me while looking at me, was unbearably lovable.

Ugh, when you look at me like that…

Seeing her slightly drooping shoulders and downcast eyes, my heart ached.

She was too beautiful, befitting the female protagonist of a novel.

Ephelia was unparalleled not only in appearance but also in her inner self.

Her flowing silver hair, and eyes were so clear they seemed transparent. An appearance that would make anyone turn to look twice.

In short, she was perfect.

I fiddled with my pink hair, inwardly relieved.

If I had been a villain opposing her, what position would I be in now?

‘I probably would have survived until the end, only to die painfully at Bishwaltz’s hands.’

Although my appearance wasn’t particularly striking, I was generally satisfied with my existence itself.

The only problem was my somewhat mischievous personality.

“No, it’s okay. Did you wait long?”

I patted the bed and gestured to Ephelia. Ephelia slowly approached the bed and examined my body.

“I heard you were sick, so I came because I was worried.”

Ah, right. I’m sick?

I hurriedly hardened my expression and nodded weakly.

Even with my awkward acting, Ephelia didn’t remove her worried gaze.

As I was recovering my strength with Ephelia’s warm spirit power, I felt a pang of conscience.

‘Actually, I’m not sick at all…’