The Tragic Male Lead Chose the Wrong Partner Chapter 10

Maceira stepped in front of Cynthia and loaded his gun.

 

“Follow Dahlia and get out of here.”

 

Dahlia was already making her way out of the banquet hall, cradling Eugene in her arms.

 

But Cynthia couldn’t follow.

 

Beep—

 

As the echoes of gunfire and the chaotic noise slowly died down, a high-pitched ringing filled her Cynthia’s head.

 

“Ah…”

 

Her sense of reality blurred, her consciousness slipping away.

 

It was a flashback, a manifestation of the war trauma from her past life.

 

She was also a victim of war.

 

“Cynthia!”

 

Edford reached out to catch her as she staggered, but was shoved aside and landed on his rear with a thud.

 

“Move.”

 

It was a cold voice, sharp enough to freeze the air.

 

Maceira’s eyes gleamed murderous intent.

 

Edford flinched at the overwhelming pressure and stepped back with a frightened face.

 

While supporting Cynthia, Maceira looked down as he felt her trembling hand clutch at the hem of his clothes.

 

Her dazed eyes lifted toward him. Lost in panic, Cynthia was seeing her brother from her past life in his face.

 

Her lips quivered as she barely managed to speak.

 

“Brother, don’t go….”

 

Brother? Was she calling for Carlos? Maceira’s brows furrowed deeply.

 

Whether she had an inappropriate relationship with her older brother or not, it wasn’t his concern. She wasn’t someone he’d be spending the rest of his life with anyway.

 

“I felt the same way. I fell in love at first sight.”

 

He knew the words were a lie.

 

Still, there was something deeply unsettling, like a shard of glass lodged in his chest, jabbing at him relentlessly.

 

Then, when she continued to say something, he felt puzzled.

 

“The air raid siren hasn’t been lifted.”

 

An air raid siren? The war had ended.

 

Her hazy eyes looked as though they were watching a different world.

 

“Please… don’t leave me all alone…”

 

With a voice full of desperation, her trembling arms wrapped around his neck like she was lost in a nightmare.

 

He didn’t push her away.

 

“Who are you talking to?”

 

No answer came.

 

Cynthia’s body went limp in his arms as she lost consciousness, and he was left with a strange feeling that he couldn’t explain in words.

 

Just then—

 

“Cindy!”

 

Carlos rushed in and grabbed Cynthia’s limp body, only to lock eyes with Maceira, who still held her.

 

Carlos narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased by the strange glint in Maceira’s eyes.

 

“Brigadier General, leave Cindy to me and quickly sort out the situation.”

 

The two men’s gazes clashed with sharp tension.

 

Carlos tried to pull Cynthia toward him, but her body didn’t budge.

 

“You’re quite the devoted brother, Sir Carlos. Very fitting of the eldest son.”

 

Maceira’s tone was calm, but the edge in his words was clear.

 

As he lifted Cynthia into his arms, he tilted his chin arrogantly.

 

“I’ll take care of my wife as her husband, so you should take care of your other younger siblings.”

 

He nodded toward Edford, who was still slumped awkwardly on the floor.

 

Carlos clenched his jaw and turned away.

 

‘Acting like a real husband now, after making a deal of convenience?’

 

Of course, Carlos had also used Cynthia as a pawn.

 

Still, for some reason, it burned. His chest ached with irrational jealousy.

 

The moment the gun was fired at Cynthia, it felt like his heart had stopped.

 

‘It’s probably just like worrying a borrowed item might get damaged.’

 

Trying to rationalize his feelings, Carlos kicked Edford’s butt.

 

“Stop embarrassing yourself and get up!”

 

Meanwhile, Helene watched the scene with a blank expression.

 

Her fiancé, the Duke of Lecanosa, belatedly approached.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

Helene turned her head slowly to look at him.

 

Despite the chaos, they were still in front of the capital’s high society. Even if their engagement was a political arrangement, he could at least put in as much effort as Brigadier General Vicente had.

 

She especially didn’t like how he kept glancing at Cynthia.

 

“I’m fine. Are you alright, Your Grace?”

 

She asked with a polite tone, glancing over at the captured members of the Liberty Council.

 

‘Ignorant lowborns.’

 

Escorted by the Duke, Helene curled her lips as she watched the soldiers.

 

‘Well, at least this will serve as a lesson. No filthy commoners will dare crash my wedding and cause a scene after today.’

 

The reason the Liberty Council had even made it inside was thanks to Count Queensguard.

 

Since the Queensguard would be threatened by the Liberty Council if they continued to be active in the capital’s high society, using Maceira’s hand to wipe them out had always been the plan

 

‘And maybe… just maybe… Brigadier General Vicente had the same idea.’

 

He probably hadn’t expected the Liberty Council to smuggle in guns. 

 

* * *

 

“Gasp!”

 

Maybe it was the traumatic events, but I woke in a cold sweat, having dreamt about my past life again while I was unconscious.

 

“Did it frighten you?”

 

A low voice drew my gaze upward, to find myself cradled in Maceira’s arms.

 

“The war is… over, right?”

 

I asked, even though I already knew. The horrors of my past life still lingered like ghosts.

 

He nodded when he heard my trembling voice.

 

“Yes, it’s been a year since the war ended. Did you dream of war?”

 

In this world too, the great war had only recently ended.

 

I exhaled, trying to shake off the suffocating remnants of the nightmare.

 

“Um, how long have I been unconscious? The engagement ceremony is…”

 

“Ten minutes.”

 

What? I’d thought at least a few days had passed!

 

I looked around. We were in a guest room near the banquet hall.

 

He even kindly carried me out like a princess, maybe he’s the tsundere type?

 

Feeling a little touched, I asked, “Were you worried about me?”

 

The moment the words left my mouth–thud. My body flopped down onto the bed.

 

Maceira threw me on the bed.

 

“Yes.”

 

He loosened his tie and replied with a languid look in his eyes.

 

Make up your mind! Are you being kind or just a jerk?

 

“For about three seconds.”

 

Then he reached into his coat and pulled something out, speaking in a low voice.

 

“Until I found out that you were a pretty good liar.”

 

What he held was the small hand mirror I’d used for my trick.

 

No way, he figured it out? Does he think even my fainting was fake?

 

His cold, narrowing eyes made my shoulders stiffened with the tension.

 

“Whatever past you have, or whoever else there may be, I don’t care.”

 

Past? Don’t tell me he figured out my real identity? Did I mutter something while I was passed out?

 

I felt slightly intimidated at his terrifying expression.

 

“Why are you suddenly saying all of this…”

 

“It doesn’t matter if you use me like you did today. I’ve been using you, too.”

 

So he thinks today’s incident was a staged drama by the Queensguard family? A trap to wipe out the Liberty Council?

 

Given the breach happened in a tightly guarded official residence, the Count definitely orchestrated it.

 

The servants who followed me must have cooperated.

 

At least it didn’t seem like he’d uncovered my true identity. I let out a tiny sigh of relief. only for the bed to jolt under me.

 

Maceira loomed over me, pinning me beneath him.

 

“However,  if you keep lying to me with lies that are bound to be exposed…”

 

Maceira’s eyes darkened as he got closer, like the glow of a blood-red sunset.

 

Instead of finishing the threat with words, he pressed the cold barrel of his gun to my forehead, and smiled sweetly.

 

“Then make sure I never find out.”

 

I stared up at him, pale and breathless.

 

Even if I fooled the entire world, it meant nothing if I couldn’t deceive this man.

 

But what was that look on his face? It wasn’t anger, it felt more like betrayal.

 

I could live if I didn’t get caught for being fake.

 

But that also meant one day, the truth would come and kill me.

 

‘This fraud couldn’t last forever.’

 

Only genuine feelings could stand against harsh truth.

 

‘Then I’ll become that man’s truth.’

 

I lifted my gloved hand to his cheek.

 

Smiling faintly, I recalled how he’d shielded me with his whole body when the gun went off.

 

He might hate me, but maybe he was starting to like me; maybe just 10%.

 

“Then will you keep saving me in the future? Just like earlier?”

 

Judging by the sudden engagement, I guessed he planned to eliminate threats to me in advance.

 

Eventually, you’ll fall for me.

 

Just wait, future doormat.

 

“I won’t forget what you did toni—”

 

I must have lost my mind because of the gun at my temple, because instead of a thank you, I blurted out something that sounded more like a revenge vow.

 

And with that, I passed out again.