Male Lead, Please Dump Me Three Times - Chapter 35

“Stop looking now.”

I said, lowering the hem of my dress to my feet.

Ray was still not taking his eyes off the wound.

Embarrassment flooded into me as Ray looked down so seriously that even the lines between his eyebrows narrowed.

“No, leave it until it dries.”

Ray quickly grabbed my wrist and said.

“Okay. But besides that… what should we do?”

“What do you mean?”

“We ended up not sleeping after all.”

“It’s okay. I slept a little earlier.”

But in reality, it was only for a very short while.

Because of my wound getting worse, we couldn’t really sleep even for an hour.

Even after treating the wound, Ray didn’t suggest lying down again.

Wait a minute.

Speaking of which, next weekend is…?

“Right! Ray!”

I called out his name in an excited voice.

“Yes?”

“Are you busy next weekend?”

“Not busy. Why?”

“Should I come again next week? Actually, this is sort of a gift… since we couldn’t sleep properly today.”

Ray tilted his head slightly and looked down at my words.

“Would that be okay? I feel like I’m making you go out too often…”

While saying that, Ray trailed off.

Even though we were the only two people in this spacious office, I whispered in Ray’s ear as if telling a secret.

“Actually… my house is empty next week.”

Ray’s red eyes wavered slightly at my words.

“Oh. Is that so? If it’s uncomfortable, just…”

“It’s okay. I’m free.”

“Really? That’s good. To the servants, we can just say we’re going to visit Delian.”

I smiled broadly, twirling my hair that had fallen below my shoulders.

This…

Now I’m even going out overnight.

For a moment, I felt a slight guilt towards my parents.

“Then I’ll come pick you up that day. It doesn’t seem right to leave you outside.”

“Hey. That’s an overreaction. I’m a grown adult.”

“I can’t let you out in case you get hurt somewhere and lie to me again.”

“I won’t do that anymore.”

Ray looked down at me with a doubtful look, as if he didn’t believe me.

“Really. I promise.”

I took Ray’s hand and interlocked my ring finger with his index finger.

“Daisy.”

“Yes?”

Ray grabbed my hand again as it was moving away from him and said,

“Then, do you want to spend next weekend at my house?”

“Uh… Can I? But the house is a bit…”

“Oh. Sorry. It must be uncomfortable, right? Then…”

“No, that’s not it. It’s not that it’s uncomfortable, but a home is a place to rest.”

“Being with you is resting. There shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Hmm… Even if the sofa is wide, the bed would be more comfortable, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Then, let’s promise again!”

I grabbed Ray’s hand, which was tightly holding mine, and hooked our pinkies again.

My small hand, holding his large one, looked like a baby’s hand.

Ray, resting his chin on the back of the sofa, gazed at me and said,

“When should I come to pick you up?”

“Hmm. My parents will be going away that day… They’re probably leaving early in the morning? They said they would leave at five.”

“Then I’ll come to pick you up by six.”

“Six? You mean six in the evening?”

“Of course, six in the morning.”

Ray said in a firm voice, as if it was obvious.

“No, not at the crack of dawn like some chicken…….”

“We have to eat breakfast. I’ll prepare it in advance.”

I usually wake up at 8……

To leave by six in the morning, I’d have to wake up at five, which is quite painful……

Wait a minute.

Then when does Ray have to leave?

He would have to leave by five to arrive by six.

“Won’t you be tired? It takes an hour to get to our house.”

“I can’t sleep without you anyway.”

Ugh.

I feel like I could drown in those eyes right now.

I need to stay focused.

Thinking about it, I had to wake up at five to see my parents off anyway.

“Okay. Then I’ll be ready by six.”

“Then I’ll come to pick you up this weekend. I think I need to check on that wound on your leg a few more times.”

Ray’s lips curved into a gentle arc.

His gaze dropped slightly and then moved towards my lips. For a moment, his soft red pupils seemed a bit cloudy.

‘Did something get on it……?’

I fiddled with my lips for no reason.

Ray’s pupils, which had been lazily relaxed, soon found their focus and became clear again. Only then did his gaze move away from my lips.

“Your condition isn’t great today, so I’ll take you home early.”

Ray skillfully picked me up from where I leaned against the sofa.

“Wrap your arms around my neck.”

“I’m okay. I can walk.”

“The wound might get worse. I’ll carry you to the carriage, so just stay still.”

“I can walk. I think I could even run…”

“Daisy.”

“Yes…?”

Suddenly, Ray’s arms tightened around me.

He pulled me closer and pressed my body against his, then leaned down to bury his head near my ear.

“Please, just go.”

His voice, mixed with grunts of discomfort, reached me.

I felt like a child who wouldn’t listen. Quietly, I nodded.

* * *

“Haahmm…”

After finishing my shower, my body felt like it was melting in hot spring water.

A pleasant drowsiness, accompanied by lethargy, came over me.

Yawns kept breaking out between my lips.

“Miss, have you been secretly training your stamina these days?”

“No…. Well, maybe that’s right…”

At my words, Ellie looked worried.

“You’re not feeling unwell anywhere, are you?”

“Yeah. No. I’m just a bit tired.”

“That’s a relief. If you feel even a slight discomfort, you must tell me.”

“Of course, Ellie. Thank you, as always.”

Ellie nodded her head with a pleasant smile at my words.

“By the way, miss. While I was organizing the luggage, I found something I hadn’t seen before, so I set it aside.”

“What is it?”

At my question, Ellie handed me a faded purple book.

“Wow…! Why did I forget about this? Where was it?”

“It was under the nightstand next to your bed? Maybe you looked at it briefly before going to sleep and forgot about it?”

I have been so busy these days that I completely forgot about the existence of this book.

“Thank you, Ellie! I would have forgotten it if it weren’t for you. I bought this book from Livro last time.”

“Oh, really? No wonder the cover seemed mysterious. It felt like it had an indescribable aura?”

“Right? That’s actually why I chose it. Though I almost lost it to some annoying guy.”

I said to Ellie with a chuckle.

“Miss, even so, you know you should always be careful when you go out alone, right? I was so worried that day…….”

“Yes. Sorry. I’ll make sure to go out early and safely from now on!”

“If you must go alone, please take me, Ellie, with you.”

“Yes! Got it, Ellie. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Ellie nodded as if she understood and handed me a cup of warm chamomile tea.

“It smells nice. Oh, Ellie. You mentioned my parents are going on a trip next week.”

“Ah, are they going to the villa for their wedding anniversary?”

“Yes. When did they say they were leaving?”

“They originally said they would leave at 5 in the morning, but it might be moved up a bit.”

My parents, always in a hurry.

I said with a sly smile.

“Hehe. They really look good together. How can they be so affectionate?”

“That’s what I’m saying. They’ve only had eyes for each other their whole lives. I admire them for that. They’re truly the ideal couple I envision.”

“You’ll meet someone great too, Ellie. Definitely.”

“Even hearing that is nice of you, miss.”

“Hey! I mean it!”

“So, how have you been lately?”

“With what?”

“With Duke Croit.”

“Ellie. There’s really nothing between him and me.”

Ellie looked at me with a skeptical eye again.

“Not him?”

“Well. There’s really nothing special between us.”

We just meet and sleep together.

Well.

It’s not unreasonable for Ellie to have such a misunderstanding.

Ellie was well-informed about the social circles and was sharp with rumors.

She even went out of her way to tell me that Duke Croit was famously cold and distant towards women.

I’m not sure why she felt the need to tell me something I hadn’t asked for……

It’s suspicious for someone like him to show kindness towards both Ellie and me.

‘Even back in the Academy… he was someone around whom cold winds blew.’

“I’ve heard the rumors about him too. He’s received so many marriage proposals.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Honestly, he’s a catch for any lady. Handsome, tall, powerful, and even the richest man in the empire at such a young age.”

“Right……. He is really handsome.”

“No, miss. It’s not just about his looks, really.”

Ellie sighed lightly at my words.

“He’s popular for a reason. Since he shows no interest in any woman, everyone thinks they might be different and sends in their marriage proposals.”

I see. The character setting is more detailed than I thought.

Wait……

Character setting……?

“A celibate… man.”

“What? Miss, are you okay? Your face is……”

At that moment.

Something strongly brushed through my mind.

‘Could it be? Is that why I feel guilty? Because I’ve seen those two doing various things…?’

It seems likely.

The original <I Pity You For Not Knowing Love> was a romance novel with incredibly deep emotional lines.

Since it was an adult novel, there were many explicit scenes.

Having learned about romance through literature, I lightly skipped over grand world-building explanations and diligently read, focusing on the love scenes between the protagonists.

The setting itself was also substantial – Ray could only fall asleep in Delian’s arms.

Adult men and women lying together…… It’s not like they’re just holding hands and sleeping……

Right… That’s why the guilt felt even stronger……

“Listen. Right now…… I remembered every single scene in detail…… Even the positions…… It seems like I unconsciously remembered…… I want to drown myself in lake water……”

“No, miss. What are you talking about right now?! What kind of talk is this? Why are you suddenly saying you want to die……”

Ellie’s words didn’t reach my ears at all.

I recalled the provocative scenes from the original novel that I had pushed to the back of my mind.

Cruelly, every letter in my head was vividly replayed.

And even the few illustrations.

Yes.

Ray was……

Truly an impressive man.