I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original Chapter 40

Whether it was bitterness or not, a twinge of pain went through the pit of her stomach. Selleana, instead of figuring out the nature of this emotion, changed the topic.

 

“It was nothing. Do you know what’s more astonishing? As a daughter of Elard, I must endure such things for a while.”

 

“…Yes? Why…”

 

“Lady of Elard must dominate the social circles, especially after refusing the position of the crown princess. The delay in the selection process leads to such situations… I absolutely cannot run away.” Selleana’s words sounded like a firm resolve.

 

“If you’re moving with Elard’s interests in mind, you won’t neglect your duties as an Elard.”

 

Yes. Lady of Elard cannot escape the social circles, which is why, as Theonis said, she attended today’s party. But why did she confide this story to Rakrensius?

 

“… I’m sorry.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Master of Tower was resting, but I suddenly came and disturbed you.”

 

She thought a snide remark would follow, but none came. Selleana smiled, her nose wrinkling as if holding something back.

 

“Since Master of Tower doesn’t participate in social activities, it’s easy for you to say such things. You won’t go around talking about me, will you?”

 

“…”

 

It was said as a joke in a now heavy atmosphere, but Rakrensius still didn’t reply. The man chewed on his lips for a while as if pondering something, then said something unexpected.

 

“Hmm, what kind of cake do you like?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“They say sweets are good when you’re feeling down… The tower has many who thrive on sweet foods, so we have everything. Strawberry cream cake? Chocolate cake? We also have opera cake or tiramisu… Oh, perhaps you don’t like something too sweet? There’s cheesecake too.”

 

Rakrensius’s rambling went on for a while. Listening to him, Selleana’s heart strangely fluttered, leaving her unable to respond immediately. Cake in the magic tower… It reminds me of the five-layer cake at my twelfth birthday party…

 

A banquet was held by the imperial family at the imperial palace to celebrate Selleana’s recovery. The cake, made without asking for Selleana’s preference, was a chocolate cake. Selleana didn’t dislike chocolate cake but had they asked, she would have preferred a fruit cream cake. Since her past life, birthday cakes for Selleana have always been fruit-cream cakes.

 

The problem is the chocolate cake was Pavellian’s preference.

 

Men aren’t supposed to like sweets, or so they say, but Selleana, who had attended dozens of tea parties with him, knew he liked chocolate. The young Pavellian had enjoyed something he couldn’t openly admit to liking.

 

If only I had been a friend of Master of Tower…

 

Selleana took another look at the man sitting across from her. Perhaps it was easier for him to hide his true self due to his status in the imperial family. He always met her wearing a hood deeply pulled down and a monocle that seemed to serve no function. Yet, his concern and care for her were always evident. She wondered what expression lay beneath that seldom-seen face, so often expressing annoyance yet never refusing her requests.

 

There are people in the world who are kind even to complete strangers. There were also those who, even thinking of them as future spouses, did not care for their preferences. Such was the fate decided in her youth.

 

Selleana forced a smile, trying to shake off the growing bitterness. “I’m not really craving sweets. Maybe it’s because I ate too much at the banquet.”

 

“Ah, is that so…”

 

“Do you have any alcohol?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“When I’m feeling down, it’s not sweets but alcohol. I don’t know about the people who do the research, but I’m the type who prefers to drink and sleep it off.”

 

“That, alcohol… you say.”

 

Selleana kept it light, but Rakrensius’s heart sank heavily. After all, wasn’t it alcohol that had entangled him and Selleana so intricately?

 

…I just need to be sober.

 

Truth be told, he hadn’t been very drunk that day. Merely overwhelmed by the revelation that the angel was Lea Kim, he had uncharacteristically followed his impulses… Fortunately, his current appearance differed from that day, so there was no risk of her tempting him.

 

Rakrensius sighed as if he had never been nervous. “Even if you’re completely drunk, the magic tower has no guest rooms to offer you.”

 

“I won’t get that drunk! Do you see me as a drunkard?”

 

“Then why did you mess with someone’s head during His Majesty’s birthday party?”

 

“That’s because I was curious… you always hide it.”

 

“There’s an excuse for everything.”

 

Rakrensius chuckled and waved his hand through the air a few times. Several bottles of alcohol, glasses, and ice appeared in his room. “I’m not sure if it’s to your taste…”

 

Following Rakrensius’s gestures, the bottles and glasses danced in the air. Gin and liqueur flowed into glasses filled with ice, swirling within.

 

“Wow. Master of Tower, do you know how to make cocktails too?”

 

“…”

 

He remained silent as if focusing, but in reality, he had nothing to say. Meanwhile, two glasses settled in front of each other. The only triangular glass became Selleana’s. Eventually, the cocktail was evenly divided between their glasses.

 

“Is it a martini?”

 

“Yes…”

 

Rakrensius felt extremely uncomfortable, not being entirely honest, but he wanted to give her something she liked. It was hard for him to see her dispirited. He watched Selleana sip the martini with a nervous expression.

 

“Oh. Master of Tower, you’re quite skilled…!”

 

“Is it good?”

 

“It’s delicious! I love the martini from Arnhem Hotel, and it tastes just like that.”

 

Selleana’s face brightened genuinely. Only then did Rakrensius feel a deep sense of relief.

 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a cocktail outside of a banquet.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“It’s been a while since I ran away. I couldn’t take the chefs with me, and all we have at home is wine.”

 

“It seems Lady Branto is quite the aficionado, then.”

 

Rakrensius chuckled knowingly, causing Selleana to tilt her head.

 

And then at His Majesty’s birthday party… how did he know Michi likes wine? Was this also due to background checks? Even if she’s a notable figure in society, to know about her maid…

 

Could I be tracked? With that ambiguity, Selleana only peeked at Rakrensius, her lips touching the glass.

 

After a moment of silence, Rakrensius slowly spoke. “That, the social gatherings… can’t you take a break for a while?”

 

He chose his words carefully, his tone cautious. “I heard that because of this incident, the number of Lady becoming the target of hostile groups has increased. If it’s such an uncomfortable place…”

 

“Thank you for your concern, Master of Tower.”

 

Selleana smiled as she put down her glass. Her lips, effortlessly beautiful without trying, turned the hidden tips of Rakrensius’s ears red under his hood.

 

“My reputation won’t be tarnished if I neglect it for a moment, but…”

 

Selleana leaned forward, tracing the rim of the glass. Rakrensius’s gaze was fixed on her fair fingertips.

 

“As I said, this is the gamble of my life, and I want to handle it impeccably.”

 

“Is struggling in society the impeccable path?”

 

“I want to be proud in front of my family. They say it’s for my good, but my father, being human, probably wants to be the father of the most noble lady in Nepelsian.”

 

“Is it right to unilaterally respect your father’s desires?”

 

“Respect…”

 

Selleana was pleased with his choice of words. It made her relationship with her father feel somewhat equal. Is it because I lived in the empire with the concept of filial piety that I can’t completely against my father?

 

Enduring her father and family, who impose things she doesn’t want under the guise of doing it for her. Even in a patriarchal world, it seems pointless to rebel without considering duties. After all, she is an Elard.

 

A pained smile spread across Selleana’s face. The distinction between her past life and her upbringing as Lady Elard was meaningless. What mattered was her desire to perfectly execute this once-in-a-lifetime deviation. Thus, she could not abandon her duties.

 

“Maybe not now, but my father could become my ally. I’m currently fighting against the imperial family. It’s a bit strange to say this in front of Master of Tower, but…”

 

“No. If my question was rude, I apologize.”

 

“Yes? Not at all.”

 

“As you know… I have a faint connection with my father, so it’s difficult for me to understand.”

 

“Ah.”

 

“It’s not that I find the Lady bothersome.”

 

“I know.”

 

Selleana smiled again at Rakrensius’s hurried explanation. At some point, she had come to believe he would never treat her badly.

 

“Well, even if Master of Tower finds it frustrating, I understand. It’s annoying to me too. The power of society was convenient and thrilling, but now it’s a bit cumbersome.”

 

“Regardless, it must have been truly unpleasant when the man who wouldn’t dare to flirt with Lady before now to be so forward…”

 

“Thank you for understanding.”

 

Rakrensius’s hand, holding the glass, trembled slightly. Selleana failed to notice the anger that surged again.

 

“So, you used that scroll…”

 

“It was no big deal. He kept interrupting and trying to kiss the back of my hand…”

 

“Kiss on the back of your hand?”

 

His voice sounded unusually angry.