Male Lead, Please Dump Me Three Times - Chapter 24

Surprised, Baron Schwald’s shoulders rose sharply at the sound of the voice. It threatened to rise and pierce the ceiling.

“Wha-what brings you here, Your Grace…?”

“Didn’t you know that Lady Canelian is my partner? That’s hard to believe.”

“I-I was just wondering why she was alone here, so…”

“Just standing here alone?”

“I-I had no idea she was the Duke’s partner! I-I was just chatting for a moment… Ah!”

“How dare you lay a hand on her. Right now.”

Ray grabbed Baron Schwald’s chubby hand.

“Don’t you understand when I say no? I don’t think you’re deaf.”

The Baron couldn’t respond to Ray’s question.

“I-I just…”

Baron Schwald’s voice was trembling like a bamboo in the wind.

Ray’s eyebrows twitched nervously as he looked down at the Baron.

The Baron’s stammering response was quite irritating.

Ray glared at the Baron with a fierce look in his eyes and asked, 

“So, did you have a conversation with my partner? I’m curious to hear what great things you talked about.”

Baron Schwald’s hand, held by Ray’s strong grip, was trembling.

Despite seeming to exert all his strength to break free from Ray, Baron Schwald seemed helpless.

Whether it was due to the difference in stature or strength…

He was no match.

It was natural.

Because Baron Schwald was about my height.

Before Schwald could come up with a lame excuse, I struck back.

“What kind of conversation…! I clearly said no, yet you grabbed my wrist as if you were going to break it and spoke informally… Ouch…, it hurts… Hmmh….”

I touched my sore wrist where Schwald had grabbed me and started crying.

As my scolding intensified, the color drained from Schwald’s face, gradually turning pale.

“Hmph. How annoying…!”

Schwald’s mouth gaped open. His gray eyes were shaking fiercely.

“It seems you have no intention of answering my question, Baron Schwald.”

Ray asked as he twisted the hand he held.

For a moment, it seemed like a ‘snap’ could be heard.

Schwald was writhing like his twisted hand, his body contorting like a pretzel.

His eyes widened and bulged out like a frog’s.

“Ah, no… ugh!”

“Tsk.”

“Ah…!”

Ray, seemingly annoyed, finally released Baron Schwald’s hand.

The staggering Baron Schwald stumbled and tripped over his own feet as if his legs had lost their strength.

Amidst his humiliation, the murmurs of the crowd grew louder.

Schwald lay on the ground, holding his trembling wrist.

“What on earth is happening? That… is that Baron Schwald again?”

“He secured a business deal with the imperial family and has been acting too arrogantly lately.”

“How did he even get invited… Tsk. Is there no one to restrain him?”

“So, now Baron Schwald was trying to molest Lady Carnelian and got caught by Duke Croit, her partner? Quite bold of him. He doesn’t know his place…”

Many people looked on as Baron Schwald lay on the ground.

Ray looked down at the Baron with a sharp gaze. Deep wrinkles furrowed his forehead.

“You don’t have anything better to do?”

Schwald’s face turned from red to almost purple as if he were about to burst into flames.

“Make sure you stay out of my sight in the future. And my partner’s too.”

Ray added coldly as he stared down at the flattened Baron on the floor.

“Or else, you might never be able to use that wrist of yours again.”

Even in his low voice, a chilling coldness could be felt.

Schwald simply lay flat on the ground, still holding onto his wrist. His body was trembling.

Ray’s behavior seemed quite unfamiliar to me.

‘I should probably stop him… Did I overreact too much…?’

I continued to hold my still throbbing wrist while watching him.

I was just about to approach him because I thought it couldn’t go on like this.

Luckily, Ray moved away from Schwald.

He came over to me and firmly grasped my wrist. Then he led me away somewhere.

“Hey, Ray…?”

His gaze as he looked down at me at that moment was so stern it was almost scary.

“It hurts… Can you be a bit gentle…?”

“Ah…”

Ray seemed to realize something at that moment and gently loosened his grip on my hand.

He then began to carefully examine my wrist with his soft and warm hands.

“I’m sorry.”

“….”

“I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s okay. You didn’t do it on purpose. Are you very angry?”

“Yeah. A little.”

“It’s okay. Really. Don’t worry too much.”

“Yeah.”

“By the way, that man, I wonder if he’s going to harass other women again. Should we have really slit his wrist?”

I smiled lightly, trying to lighten the mood.

“I didn’t mean to push him away from me…… I’m sorry. Does it hurt a lot?”

“No. It’s fine now. Don’t worry.”

But even with my efforts, Ray’s gaze remained fixed on my wrist.

The deep wrinkles on his forehead made me uneasy.

“Ray. This isn’t something you need to apologize for. It’s Baron Schwald’s fault, he’s a pervert. You understand that, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“And you handled it so well. Thank you.”

Ray’s furrowed brow softened at my words. Then he nodded.

“Okay. Then… I want to wash my wrist. Can you wait for a moment? There seems to be a restroom on the second floor.”

I gently smiled at him.

“Then let’s go together.”

Ray firmly said without any hesitation.

“How can we go together to the restroom… Just wait here for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”

“I don’t want that.”

Ray’s tone was resolute.

It seemed that perhaps due to the recent incident with Baron Schwald, he was concerned about leaving me alone as his partner.

Ray took advantage of a moment and brought my hand up to his lips.

‘Kiss.’

He kept his lips on my hand, pleading softly. 

“You never know what might happen. I’ll come with you.”

He insisted with a determined look, his eyes fixed on me.

Why is he so natural at doing skinship¹the act of touching a romantic interest/before the relationship like this…!

Is it common for partners to naturally share physical contact at social events? Well, a hand kiss is a casual greeting after all…

My face burned as his lips continued to touch my hand so casually.

“Ah… I got it! Then wait under the staircase! It’s not good if you wait right in front of the women’s restroom… It looks bad with other ladies around…”

He made another kissing sound on my hand before finally removing his lips from me.

“Got it. But come back quickly.”

“Yes…”

When Ray finally released my hand, his narrowed eyes showed slight concern.

I lowered my gaze and nodded while blushing, feeling awkward.

I left him behind and hurried up the stairs. 

I could still feel his soft lips on my thin flesh, and I could still see his gaze as he kissed the back of my hand.

My heart tickles. 

And so, I fled towards the restroom. 

As I vigorously scrubbed my wrist that had been caught by Schwald, I thought to myself, 

“So much for the asshole’s law of conservation of mass… Social events are certainly a gathering place for a diverse range of people. I should look for Delian a bit more and then I’m off.”

I dried my hands thoroughly, tidied up my clothes, and wiped my hands clean with the handkerchief I took out of my pocket.

* * *

Just as I exited the restroom, I once again hid in the restroom. 

‘Delian…?’

The girl in a delicate pink silk dress was none other than Delian. 

‘You came after all!?’

But why is she rushing off somewhere like that? 

I took out a fan from my pocket and covered my face with it, then followed her while keeping a distance from her. 

‘Creak.’

Delian opened the door at the innermost part of the second floor and walked gracefully into the terrace. 

I pressed my body against the wall and stealthily made my way towards the innermost terrace. 

‘Wait. Come to think of it, about the terrace…’ 

A story I had heard from Ellie flashed through my mind.

— The terrace is a place that is both beautiful and secretive.

— Huh? Why secretive? Isn’t it a perfect place for a romantic date under the night sky? It seems like it would be very romantic…

— It’s a space where only two people can be together. 

It’s a place where partners go not only to share confessions like the Miss said but also for intimate physical contact. 

Personally, I wish your partner was a man like the former.

— We’re not like that!

But if it’s a terrace, it connects to the outdoors… Oh my… Then outdoors…? 

Right… 

It was a cultural shock at that time.

‘Wait. Why did she go in there alone? Is she just going to get some fresh air for a moment?’

Before I knew it, I found myself standing in front of the terrace door where Delian had entered. 

The terrace door was firmly closed. 

I swallowed nervously. 

‘It must be Delian… Right…? Maybe I should go in, say hello, and subtly ask about Killian…’

“Hmmhng…” 

That was when I heard a muffled moan mixed with a woman’s voice from beyond the door. Along with the rustling sound, I heard the lips of a man and a woman sticking together followed by the sound of them separating. 

“Hmm…” 

It felt like all my senses were entwined as a deep, low moan from the man, resonating deeply. 

“……”

Suddenly, heat bloomed on my face.

It was so hot that it radiated to my earlobes.

Soon, along with the sound of lips parting, a voice began to drop. 

“Killian… hmm… just a moment…” 

‘Damn it. Is she with that XX…?’ 

My hands, holding onto the dress, trembled slightly. 

My stomach twisted. 

But even so, I couldn’t eavesdrop on my friend’s private life while standing in front of the door like this. 

‘Alright. For now, let’s avoid this…’

It was at that moment. 

Delian, who was moaning softly, called my name in a trembling voice. 

“…Daisy, hmm… she… told me.”

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  the act of touching a romantic interest/before the relationship