The Tragic Male Lead Chose the Wrong Partner Chapter 29

‘Can you get jealous without having any feelings of affection?’

 

Maceira, lost in thought, finally spoke in a serious tone.

 

“Major Rodriguez is with the Federal Army Headquarters.”

 

“Wow.”

 

Was that supposed to be a problem? It’s not like he’s a spy.

 

He added in with the same solemn tone.

 

“I’m part of the Joint Headquarters.”

 

“Whoa.”

 

I gave a more dramatic reaction this time, just in case he got sulky again.

 

He stared at my clueless face for a long while, then let out a sigh. It was the kind of sigh that said, ‘I give up trying to explain this to you.’

 

“Just… figure it out yourself.”

 

“Ah, why do you sound like you’re giving up on me?”

 

Honestly, I had a good guess at what he was trying to say.

 

After the war, the three victorious countries established the Joint Headquarters, which now politically opposed the existing Federal Army Headquarters.

 

Brigadier General Steve, who attended the banquet only to nitpick and withdraw investments, was a senior staff member at the Federal Army Headquarters. Naturally, he didn’t get along with Maceira, who was the Joint Headquarters’s Chief of Staff.

 

Since Major Rodriguez was Brigadier General Steve’s direct subordinate, Maceira probably meant I shouldn’t get involved with ‘his people’.

 

However, ‘Cynthia’, the supposedly suspicious ‘princess’, acting like she knows all the insider politics? Wouldn’t she be suspected?

 

A master in hiding their power knows when to play dumb.

 

“Oh my, are you jealous? I didn’t think you had any such feelings before, Brigadier General.”

 

I showed the villainess’ sneer. On top of that, I could say things that would bother Maceira. Two birds, one stone, mock him and annoy him.

 

But Maceira just gave me a leisurely smile.

 

“Of course. I can’t let ‘Princess’ steal away Major Rodriguez.”

 

But Maceira was no pushover. 

 

Wow, you’re going to drag this into a battle for the handsome major?

 

And he had the nerve to add seriously.

 

“Don’t get close to him. He’s my man.”

 

Whoa! So childish!

 

Leaving behind a ridiculous warning, he walked off in perfect military stride. His ears were turning red. Probably embarrassed.

 

“How cute.”

 

I muttered like some arrogant noble lady, my lips curled into a smirk.

 

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had just lost that round.

 

At that moment, Diego came running from afar.

 

“Princess, we need you to check the guest list for the wedding invitations. They’re scheduled to go out tomorrow.”

 

He was panting, probably from running around looking for me.

 

Diego… you too, huh? Now even you call me Princess.

 

“Sir, what will my title be after I get married?”

 

Surely I won’t still be a ‘princess’ even when I become a grandmother, right? 

 

At my question, Diego adjusted his glasses and thought for a moment.

 

“Since you won’t hold an official rank, it will likely be ‘madam,’ ‘ma’am,’ or ‘lady.’”

 

Madam felt a bit embarrassing, but ma’am and lady had a nice ring to them, strong and respectable.

 

Still, I needed something more distinctive.

 

“What about something that sounds more powerful? Something that looks dominant.”

 

Diego answered my pointless concern seriously.

 

“If you enlist and earn a rank, or enter politics and become a member of the National Assembly,  that could help.”

 

The idea of a royal-blooded fallen noble entering politics was… well, unless I were a true lunatic, that was never happening.

 

“Do you by any chance dislike being called Princess?” Diego, a capable and quick-witted aide, asked gently.

 

“I want to be called by my name. I like being myself.”

 

“Then I’ll call you Lady Cynthia from now on.”

 

Diego gave me a rare, warm smile.

 

Everyone at this residence seems so kind.

 

Except Maceira, of course.

 

* * *

 

Major Rodriguez arrived at the temporary quarters where Brigadier General Steve was staying.

 

Since Brigadier General Steve was his direct superior, he had to respond to his call even though it was a holiday.

 

“Did you deliver the documents?”

 

“I delivered them to the aide without any problems.”

 

While Major Rodriguez stood upright like a textbook posture of disciplined soldier, Brigadier General Steve sprawled on the couch with his legs crossed.

 

“Even if it is a holiday, isn’t it basic military etiquette to show up in uniform before your commanding officer?”

 

“I’ll correct that, sir.”

 

Major Rodriguez, dressed in civilian clothes, bowed his head low.

 

Brigadier General Steve looked him over with obvious disdain.

 

“You’re only treated as a real soldier because you risked your life for the Federal Army.”

 

He was one of those who openly discriminated and looked down on the fallen Esatians.

 

Even though Major Rodriguez’s war achievements could have easily earned him a promotion to colonel, Brigadier General Steve, who had the authority to appoint him, was only promoted him to major.

 

It was blatant injustice, but it was nearly impossible to raise an objection in the strict military that followed the hierarchy.

 

“Major, have you seen the princess? The woman who will marry Brigadier General Vicente.”

 

“I haven’t met her yet, sir.”

 

He didn’t know what the princess looked like or what her name was because he had no information about her.

 

His fellow officers, envious of his outstanding talent, often withheld any non-essential information from him.

 

“It’s ridiculous that a lowborn man coveted a royal wife because he earned a few stars. The result was a princess who was nothing more than a facade.”

 

Brigadier General Steve would often call Major Rodriguez over just to unload his petty gripes and gossip. The major, who had no connections, let alone a backer, was a bamboo forest where he could scream as much as he wanted, Major Rodriguez was his emotional trash can.

 

“You used to be a noble, right? From some high and mighty house?”

 

“That’s all in the past.”

 

“That’s right. These days, nobles fall below commoners, and war orphans rise as heroes.”

 

Major Rodriguez listened to his superior’s nonsense with his hands folded politely. His eyes were counting the patterns on the floor.

 

‘How pitiful, finding comfort in other people’s misfortune to validate his own worth.’

 

Despite being from a wealthy noble family and had no shortcomings, Brigadier General Steve acted like a petulant child, always needing to feel superior.

 

While others saw Major Rodriguez as the poster child of misfortune that filled Brigadier General Steve’s sense of superiority, Major Rodriguez had never actually thought of himself that way.

 

People around him either pitied or insulted him, assuming they understood his life. But Major Rodriguez never cared about what others said in the first place.

 

But the woman named Cynthia that he met at the residence felt different from other petty people.

 

She didn’t judge him based on his appearance alone.

 

That alone had left an impression.

 

He thought that maybe she would be the first person he could show his true feelings to, rather than just a fake smile and kindness.

 

Beyond his thoughts of counting the floor patterns while thinking of Cynthia, Brigadier General Steve’s sneering voice cut through.

 

“You canceled your application for the Autonomous Region, huh? Got greedy after your promotion? You do realize I have been looking out for you, right?”

 

“I’m always grateful, sir.”

 

Major Rodriguez said exactly what Brigadier General Steve wanted to hear, like always.

 

Brigadier General Steve frowned as he looked at his subordinate who responded lukewarmly to whatever he said.

 

‘The Essatians are always so gloomy. Never know what they’re thinking.’

 

With a scoff, Brigadier General Steve pulled out a wedding invitation and flicked it toward Major Rodriguez. He caught it effortlessly while looking at the floor.

 

“You go in my place. Give the gift too.”

 

Major Rodriguez’s pale blue eyes, which had been fixed on the floor all this time, shifted to the invitation. For a moment, his eyes, which had been as calm as a lake, began to ripple.

 

The bride, Cynthia Queensguard of the Royal House Bariesa.

 

“Cynthia Queensguard….”

 

Brigadier General Steve stared at the Major’s blank face as he muttered.

 

A man who fed off others’ misfortune, he was incredibly good at understanding any shift in other people’s emotion.

 

“Why?”

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

Major Rodriguez quickly erased the flicker of emotion and lowered his head.

 

‘So, she is Brigadier General Vicente’s princess.’

 

He knew the kindness she showed was clearly not a romantic signal. Still, something in his chest felt strangely hollow.

 

“You do realize that ‘princess’ is hated by everyone, right? She’s basically a national traitor.”

 

Brigadier General Steve was a man who had risen to this position through sowing discord and schemes. He had caught the shift in his subordinate’s face immediately.

 

“Even in the official residence, she is despised. It’s obvious she will live a lonely, unhappy life without being loved by anyone.”

 

The Major, who had lowered his head, was no longer counting the patterns on the floor. His somber blue eyes had etched in them the image of Cynthia’s radiant smile.

 

The Brigadier General opened his mouth with a sly smile toward the Major, who was lost in thought.

 

“I feel sorry for the poor princess who will be used and abandoned.”