I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original Chapter 41

Rakrensius firmed his lips as if making a significant resolution and stirred the air with his hand. What shimmered into existence from his hand was a small necklace. Selleana instinctively took it, and a vintage locket made of brass rested in her palm.

 

“What is this?”

 

“It’s a kind of emergency summoning magical device… sort of.”

 

“A summoning device?”

 

“You mentioned you had used up the light source scroll earlier. There’s no guarantee similar incidents won’t happen to the Lady in the future…” Rakrensius paused as if realizing something. “That is, not that they should happen again.”

 

“I know.”

 

 Selleana didn’t mind the man’s cautious way of speaking, even for trivial matters.

 

“It seems there wasn’t much among what I gave that could be useful at a banquet. Didn’t the duke also scold you for that?”

 

“You’re so considerate.” Selleana chuckled inwardly, thinking Saendi would have been shocked to hear such a thing.

 

“So, does that mean Master of Tower will come if I use it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Well… Think of it as change. I took too much for the initial fee…”

 

Rakrensius scratched his chin, looking embarrassed… but Selleana couldn’t respond as usual. Her heart was pounding. By now, Selleana couldn’t ignore it. Just today, she had felt flutters for Rakrensius several times.

 

“But… Master of Tower can’t just appear anywhere, can you?”

 

“A magician will handle that.”

 

“No, I mean…” She couldn’t find the words to continue.

 

It wasn’t her first time receiving such kindness. She should just be grateful, flash that universally enchanting smile, and move on. But somehow, that wasn’t easy. Her reply came out more petulantly than intended.

 

“Instead of spending time giving me things like this, please find that person quickly. You are working on it, right? You haven’t just been slacking off because I haven’t been nagging you, have you?”

 

“Wasn’t reporting forbidden? Why keep asking?”

 

“Why do you seem flustered?”

 

“I’m not flustered.”

 

He was, but as always, Rakrensius pretended not to be.

 

An awkward silence followed again. Both were too caught up in their discomfort to make much of it. Rakrensius was the first to speak.

 

“That, Lady.”

 

“Yes…”

 

“This might be an impolite question.”

 

“Master of Tower usually never being impolite to me.”

 

At Selleana’s sharp retort, Rakrensius smiled briefly.

 

“What if… we find him, and he doesn’t want to advance his relationship with the Lady. What are you going to do then?”

 

“I told you, I’ll manage somehow. Using financial, psychological, or physical means.”

 

“And if that doesn’t work?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“If he refuses the Lady’s proposal regardless.”

 

For some reason, Rakrensius’s tone carried an urgency. Expecting his usual nags…? On closer inspection, his gaze, deep as the ocean blue, seemed to ripple with anxiety… almost as if he was nervous.

 

“Well, I’ll have to think about it when that comes…”

 

Selleana found herself giving an answer she had never considered before.

 

* * *

Why did he ask that?

 

It was the next day. Selleana lay in bed until late in the morning, replaying last night’s conversation with Rakrensius.

 

Did the detection magic work?

 

No. If he had found him, he would have said so. The success fee was a whopping 300 million Reot. And recalling Rakrensius’s serious demeanor yesterday…

 

Hmm.

 

In fact, Selleana had felt for some time that Rakrensius’s behavior towards her was somewhat special. Despite repeatedly telling her not to come, he never truly rejected her. Looking forward to her visits as if he had been waiting all day, worrying about her running away, casually giving her various scrolls, holding on to the things she teased him about, remembering the little things related to her, and even showing anger at the indignities she faced yesterday… The root of those feelings seemed somewhat different from simple friendship.

Maybe it’s because I’m his first friend…

 

Regardless, what Selleana felt for him was a kind of romantic interest. But his demeanor was very straightforward, and that was far from the frivolous manner of Nepelsian gentlemen, making him all the more appealing. Sometimes, he even made her reconsider her rashness, so she genuinely liked the thoughtfulness of him.

 

Perhaps it’s because he’s someone humanly…?

 

Selleana fiddled with the locket of the necklace. The magical device Rakrensius gave her yesterday had a thin cord and a small locket, perfect for hiding under clothes or pairing with other necklaces.

 

“Open this locket when you need it.”

 

“How many times can I use it? Just once? Eh, that stingy?”

 

“…It depends on the situation. Since it’s the change, I’ll figure it out.”

 

Would he secretly come and take care of bothersome people like yesterday? Selleana chuckled at the thought, startled by her sudden imagination.

 

Why did I go to the magic tower yesterday?

 

On a day like yesterday, when she felt down all day, why did she think of meeting Rakrensius instead of resting at home and chatting with Michi, even making up a playful excuse like giving a live review of the scroll?

 

Probably because…

 

His genuine lack of displeasure at her sudden visits. Listening earnestly to her without expecting flattery, treating her as an equal, and the human decency of respecting her as a conversational partner. Showing more anger than her family at the rudeness she endured. Combining all that…

 

Because he’s more considerate than my brothers?

 

“Why do you like that abandoned prince so much that you’re treating your brothers like this?”

 

“It’s because he treats me better than you do.”

 

Satisfied with that simple justification, Selleana mentally retorted to Peredo’s annoying comments. She was unaware of the undeniable blush spreading across her face.

 

“Lea!”

 

That’s when Michi burst into the bedroom.

 

“A messenger from the imperial palace has arrived.”

 

“Imperial palace?”

 

“Pavellian has summoned you.”

 

* * *

“Ah, you’re here. Sit down.”

 

Pavellian had summoned Selleana to his office. Called abruptly without mentioning the purpose, Selleana had scrambled to get dressed and head out from her aimless lounging in bed. Pavellian made her wait for a while, not moving from his desk.

 

You summoned me first. This isn’t some power play. Selleana secretly rolled her eyes and sipped her tea. Her gaze, wandering aimlessly, landed on a shield hanging on the wall.

 

It’s been a while since I’ve seen that holy relic… It was small and worn compared to modern standards, but its faint glow hinted at its extraordinary nature.

 

There was quite a fuss when Pavellian brought out a holy relic-level treasure from the treasure vault.

 

The imperial family had a tradition where direct descendants received a right to the throne at the age of ten and chose a treasure from the imperial vault. Not just any treasure could be chosen; it had to resonate with the individual. Twelve years ago, Pavellian obtained the first emperor’s shield, a relic-level treasure, making him the primary heir to the throne and the owner of a holy relic.

 

Master of Tower owns a holy relic too, right? That’s why he’s constantly under scrutiny from the imperial family…

 

Ah, Master of Tower again. No, this is a natural association of thoughts about relics.

 

It was when Selleana fought with her own thoughts.

 

“Yesterday, a party was held at the Rondel townhouse for Prince Erenst.” Pavellian finished his work and sat down in the main seat in front of the reception table.

 

“Yes. Prince Erenst seemed to have left a good impression on his visit to the empire.”

 

However, that impression was problematic since it involved Michi.

 

“I heard the Lady attended as Elard’s representative.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

“I’ve been informed about an unfortunate incident involving the Lady there.”

 

“Ah… It was nothing.”

 

Selleana had expected Pavellian to mention the previous day’s party the moment he brought it up since discussing her social life had become a kind of ritual at their tea meetings.

 

“I heard Viscount Miniel behaved unpleasantly towards the Lady, showing you his true colors.”

 

“I regret causing concern. I was worried about imposing on the Rondel family, but…”

 

“Also, there were ladies speaking ill of the Lady in her presence.”

 

“…”

 

Pavellian, deeply reclined, tapped the armrest with his fingertips. “Lady.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“All this happened because Lady decided not to participate in the selection for the crown princess, didn’t it?”