Male Lead, Please Dump Me Three Times - Chapter 4

After that day.

I headed south.

To untangle the entwined threads… bullshit.

I just cut them off completely.

A year ago.

The crown prince eventually died of a chronic illness, and Killian took his place.

Regardless of the cause of the crown prince’s death, I sort of understood why Killian had to be the one to ascend to the throne…

But I no longer wanted to concern myself with such complicated matters that had nothing to do with me.

Regardless of the reason.

Fortunately, Delian informed me that she had broken up with Killian.

However, coincidentally, there seemed to still be no connection between Delian and Ray…

Because Delian had never brought up Ray in conversation.

Maybe this was enough to avoid the worst-case scenario?

That’s what I thought.

Until I met Delian again…

“Daisy. Do you know? We haven’t seen each other in exactly 3 years, until today.”

Delian said with a growling tone.

Delian, growling with her gentle and delicate face, resembled an angry maltese.

I was about to burst into laughter, but I clenched my teeth hard, fearing an angry bulldog instead of an angry maltese if I did.

“Daisy, how was life in the south? Is it true what you said about people walking around half-naked?”

The innocent Delian asked with puppy-like eyes.

“Puhaha! What are you talking about, walking around half-naked!”

“But that’s what you told me.”

“Of course, it was a joke. People wear clothes there too. Did you believe that?”

“Of course! I’ve never been there…”

“If that were true… I wouldn’t have come back here.”

“Ah… right… Now that you mention it, it makes sense.”

“How can you just accept that so easily?”

Delian giggled at my serious tone.

“Anyway! It was good, right?”

“Yeah. It was good. It’s definitely a warm place suitable for flora and fauna.”

“Tch… You didn’t think of me even once, did you?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I wrote to you every month.”

“That’s true, but… You never told me the real reason why you suddenly left.”

There was a clear reason, but I couldn’t tell her that directly.

“I just suddenly wanted to go far away… You know, that thing. Wanting to escape the routine of life at least once, that kind of thing.”

In my fluster, I blurted out something profound and philosophical.

Delian started rolling her eyes at my words.

“Hmm… I think I know what you mean. Actually, when I heard you had left, I wanted to go with you.”

Fortunately, Delian took my words seriously.

“Delian. How have you been lately? Congratulations on your amicable breakup…”

“Daisy, actually… I have something to tell you.”

Suddenly, Delian cut me off and dropped her gaze.

“Yeah? What is it?”

Delian was struggling to continue speaking. Her twitching lips showed how much she was hesitating.

Why are you acting so nervous for no reason?

I raised my teacup while waiting for Delian to speak.

“I….”

“Yeah?”

“I’m meeting that person again?”

‘Pffft!’

I forcefully sprayed the tea I was drinking.

As a result, droplets of water splashed onto Dellian’s hair and collar, sitting across from me.

Delian, who had been hit by the water blast, made an indifferent expression like a patient raccoon.

And.

Unable to spray it out, the tea that had been stuck in my mouth was dripping down my chin.

‘Drip’

“D-Daisy! Oh my god, what should I do!”

* * *

Delian’s cheeks were like a spread of light coral paint.

Her amber eyes rolled around as if she was embarrassed.

As I faced her familiar expression, my hands began to sweat profusely.

“Daisy.”

“Yeah…?”

“Are you feeling a bit better?”

“No…”

“Are you disappointed in me?”

“Yeah…”

“Right. I appreciate your honesty.”

“Um. Delian? I honestly don’t understand. Why meet up again with someone you’ve broken up with? There must have been a reason for the breakup.”

“When I’m with that person, it’s painful.”

“What? Are you testing your limits or something?”

“But without that person, it’s even more painful.”

My head spun dizzyingly, and I grabbed it with both hands.

“Oh, my head…”

I slumped in my chair like a slime soaked in warm water.

“Actually, there’s something I want to ask you…”

“Drop it… Delian, I’m not in the right state of mind to…”

“I’m about to be married off to a 50-year-old mining tycoon.”

“……”

Delian wore a forlorn expression.

Could it be… the episode of the marriage proposal with that 50-year-old mining tycoon?

“And apparently, he already has 25 mistresses.”

Killeopath versus a 50-year-old man… Honestly, it’s a battle of the lesser of two evils.

“Maybe that would be better…”

“He’s bald and has been divorced three times.”

“Ah… that’s a bit harsh…”

Wasn’t he just a mature 50-year-old man in the original novel…?

A 50-year-old with 25 mistresses, bald, and a triple divorcee…?

Isn’t this difficulty level just too extreme?

“Yeah. It seems like the old lady is determined to send me off there.”

When Delian was with me, she referred to Countess Ruina as the ‘old lady.’

“Can’t you just say you’re seeing someone?”

“That won’t work. He said he doesn’t want to reveal our relationship for the time being.”

“You told him about the marriage talks with the mining tycoon who has 25 mistresses and is a triple-divorced 50-year-old?”

“Yeah. But I can understand his position. He hasn’t been enthroned for long, and he doesn’t want any scandals…”

“Ha, Delian…”

I sighed and pressed my forehead again.

Killian’s attitude was not that of someone who treasured his lover.

But it seemed only Delian herself was unaware of that fact.

“…It’s difficult, isn’t it? I could just go out there and sort things out myself… but it bothered me to leave his side… I also feel sorry.”

“……”

I had nothing to say.

It was clear to anyone that Delian was not in a situation where she should be the one feeling sorry.

“Daisy, don’t worry about it! It was wrong of me to ask you. I’ll sort things out myself…”

Delian tried to sound nonchalant, but she couldn’t hide the bitter expression on her face.

I felt sorry for Delian, who was getting pushed around from both sides.

I really disliked Killian for treating Delian like that. And Count and Countess Ruina, who are trying to profit off their daughter, were no better.

‘Thinking of selling off Delian? No chance. That’s absolutely not possible.’

That’s right.

First, it would be better to get rid of that man and then think about it.

“No, I’ll help you.”

“Really? Are you serious?”

“Yes. After all, you don’t have anyone else to ask for help, do you?”

“That’s true. Daisy! Thank you so much!”

Delian said, holding my hands. Her eyes brightened with joy.

“I’m so… weak-hearted like this. Will it cause trouble later?”

But then, something caught my attention.

I grabbed Delian’s wrist and said,

“Is this a bruise?”

There was a blue stain on Delian’s wrist.

“Does your mother still hit you?”

“Ah, this is…”

“……”

Delian pulled her hand away from me and hastily covered her sleeve.

“She’s a bit strong.”

“……”

“As you know, my skin is quite sensitive, right? Maybe she didn’t control her strength well. That’s why this mark… remained.”

Delian trailed off.

No matter how sensitive the skin, could a person’s grip really cause such a dark bruise?

It was something I simply could not understand with common sense.

* * *

And that afternoon, I received a letter from Delian.

On the front of the envelope was written:

‘Do not open unless you are Daisy Carnelian.’

It was Delian’s warning, written in an unnecessarily solemn script.

⟨Daisy, this is the place and time.

Place: Atelier, window-side two-person seat.

Time: 12 PM.

Daisy, I’m always thankful. And sorry!⟩

The word ‘sorry!’ was written in an unusually lively manner.

Then suddenly, the afterimage of someone I had consciously suppressed came to mind.

“I wonder… how Ray is doing?”

The last image I had of him appeared in my mind.

Ray, with his languid smile, handling me a flower.

“Why on earth?”

I still hadn’t solved that question.

* * *

Atelier was a patisserie popular as a dating spot in the capital. It was very famous for its delicious beverages and desserts.

Especially on weekends, it was so busy that you couldn’t get in without a reservation.

Fortunately, the inside was quieter than I expected during a weekday lunchtime.

Blind dates or whatever.

My nerves were entirely focused on the bruise on Delian’s wrist.

“Ha…”

Right. Let’s deal with that 50-year-old man first and then think.

I naturally planned to ruin the arranged meeting.

‘It was the window-side two-person seat, right?’

I hastened my steps while looking at the note in my hand.

At the window seat where the light poured in, I saw the back of a man.

He was a man with black hair.

‘Could it be him?’

The man’s gaze was outside the window. So all I could see was his back.

‘But didn’t she say he was bald…? Even if he stood on his head, he wouldn’t be bald… Did he spray on hair fibers?’

I approached the man and said,

“Hello. We were supposed to meet today…”

I suddenly had a bad feeling.

Because the man turning around looked strangely familiar.

“……”

Familiar red eyes, and a fierce expression. And on the center of his face, a high-bridged nose…

‘Why is this man here???’

“I’m sorry. I must have mistaken you for someone else.”

The man sitting by the window waiting for me was…

None other than Ray.

Just as I was about to turn around and leave with my head spinning,

His low and deep voice reached me from behind.

“Where are you going?”

“I… I got the wrong person…”

“What should I do about this.”

“……”

“It’s me.”