I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original Chapter 74

It was the first time Selleana heard Rakrensius’s voice laden with emotion. Startled by his barely expressed sincerity, she stared blankly at his face.

 

“I want to be completely honest with you, Lady, but I cannot speak any truth.”

 

“…”

 

“Even speaking like this now, fearing that it might cause you even the slightest harm… I’m terrified.”

 

It was a fervent confession. There were no words of love or fondness, but his earnest expression said it all.

 

Her brief joy was overtaken by the seriousness and gravity of his revealed feelings, leaving Selleana unable to even blink properly.

 

“What should I do to make it right…” His hands on her shoulder trembled.

 

Rakrensius closed his eyes for a moment, childhood memories flashing through his mind. Alone, recognized by blood as part of the imperial family, he entered and then exited the imperial treasury. The moment he reported what he had taken out, everything was decided.

 

“But I would never want the throne…!”

 

“Well, considering who you are ── I cannot trust you.”

 

Between moments in time, the boy was threatened for reasons he could not understand.

 

“Only you and I should know that what has fallen into your hands is Orot’s reverse scale.”

 

The ensuing words bound him for life.

 

“For your lifetime, do not even dream of serving a cause. Do your best to remain harmless. Ensure that you do not influence the path set by the imperial family in any way.”

 

So, he pretended to be lacking.

 

When he was old enough to leave the imperial palace, he entered the Magic Tower, where he didn’t have to bow down to the imperial family. He hadn’t anticipated that he would obtain the position of its master, thanks to the power inherited from his mother.

 

“Do not cherish anything. Only covet what is most trivial. Do not covet anything carelessly.”

 

Thus, he gave up on everything.

 

Rakrensius’s yearning for the angel wasn’t passionate. He delayed inquiring about her for three years after leaving the imperial palace, thinking there was still a possibility as long as they breathed under the same sky. But when he met her at the masquerade ball, which was themed around his friend’s story, Rakrensius dared to think of it as fate. He wondered if perhaps he could covet this. He even felt excited.

The moment Rakrensius learned Selleana was Lady Elard, he realized once again that nothing was permitted to him. Yet, the angel who stirred his heart with repeated coincidences whispered sweet futures to him, making him unwilling to give up on anything. She took away his last conscience of giving up to protect her.

 

“So, Master of Tower.”

 

When Rakrensius opened his eyes again, Selleana’s eyes were shining crimson. He recognized that look.

 

“Why don’t we start with something very small?”

 

Her determination not to give up on anything.

 

“Tell me one of the lightest secrets you haven’t told me.”

 

Rakrensius’s brows furrowed slightly. He thought he had nothing light to share…

 

“And let’s see. Whether I become in danger or not.”

 

“Lady.” The man’s expression twisted. It looked like he had already witnessed Selleana in danger, his face gravely serious.

 

“Master of Tower, I am an Elard.”

 

Selleana smiled faintly. Her guilty smile that enchanted all of Nepelsian society. Though her lips were pale and roughened from days of illness to Rakrensius, even that was enchanting.

 

“Is it really such a serious matter for me to be pushed into the lake?”

 

“It doesn’t seem like something someone who was just in a coma should say…”

 

“Do you think they knew I had hydrophobia? That’s a complete secret. They must have been surprised too, right?”

 

“…”

 

Her logical agreement didn’t convince Rakrensius. His brows narrowed in dissatisfaction.

 

“If it worries you, think of it as part of our bet.”

 

“A bet… you say.”

 

“I still think the situation will be simpler than you think.” Then came Selleana’s confident smile.

 

The lady might say this out of ignorance…  But he didn’t wish for her optimism to be wrong. Rakrensius’s eyes reluctantly shifted away, his expression reluctant.

 

“Master of Tower. How about it?”

 

Selleana continued to appeal with her gaze, and even without looking, Rakrensius could guess the expression she wore. A look he absolutely couldn’t refuse.

 

After much deliberation, he finally parted his lips. “…Lady once asked what my relic was.”

 

His blue eyes turned back to her, still trembling with unease. Really, is this okay? His lips moved slowly as if taking a difficult step.

 

“That is… the founding king’s treasured sword.”

 

“The founding king’s… treasured sword.”

 

“They say that King Asmion of Nepelsian was able to overthrow the old regime entirely thanks to this sword.”

 

It was the story of a slave-turned-founding king who succeeded in a revolution in the ancient kingdom that once stood where the current imperial city is located. The rise of someone from the lowest ranks to become king owed much to the efforts of Elard’s ancestor, who was originally a noble, so this was also the history of Elard.

 

“But it’s the first time I’ve heard that the sword used by the founding king has remained as a relic.”

 

“You must have found out from your investigation… I am the first of his descendants to obtain this holy relic.”

 

“It’s amazing. Something so important, and yet no one knew.”

 

Even though the imperial treasury’s collections aren’t cataloged… Selleana swallowed her words.

 

The fact that master of tower is being checked by the imperial family because of that sword… must mean there’s a deeper significance.

 

As Selleana continued her deductions in her mind, the man’s eyes watching her trembled slightly. He was full of concern about how much Selleana would deduce from the clue he had given.

 

If Father’s speculation that the holy relic is connected to the temple is correct… then the one whom master of tower fears so much must be… The one person said to hold the power to decide Rakrensius’s fate. Her Majesty the Empress.  That might explain why he was so sensitive about the harm she suffered from the empress’s faction.

 

The empress… So, what does the saintess and the holy relic have to do with each other? She wanted to dig deeper, but she couldn’t press further on someone who was already so afraid. It was clear that Rakrensius had truly mustered his courage.

 

Selleana smiled brightly. “Thank you, Master of Tower.”

 

Selleana’s hand cupped Rakrensius’s cheek. Just as he had done when he had rescued her.

 

“Thank you for believing in me and for saving me.”

 

Unlike that time, Selleana’s hand was neither cold nor wet. And… among the many emotions on Rakrensius’s face, there was no fear or sadness. Selleana watched with a tender gaze as his lips softened and the tips of his ears turned red like when he appeared disguised as Collin and acted so vulgar when she first saw his true face, realizing everything.

 

“The reason I believe I’m not in danger as you think is partly because I am an Elard…” Selleana’s thumb traced under his eye socket and slid down to his cheek. “But also because I believe you won’t let me be in danger.”

 

Like this time, her thumb pressed gently on his cheek instead of a kiss.

 

“Isn’t that right?”

 

Perhaps recognizing the meaning of her gentle touch, his face flushed with color. But unlike usual.

 

“That’s correct.”

 

His large, knuckled hand covered the hand that was touching him. The feel of her delicate hand was fully imprinted in his palm. As he leaned in, his shadow fell across Selleana’s face. They looked directly at each other, his long bangs tickling Selleana’s pale cheek…

 

“You will be alright, Lady.”

 

Their foreheads touched silently. Though it was a small touch, his heart beat faster than it had on that night at the Arnem Hotel.

 

“It will be… alright.”

 

Not pushing Selleana away anymore, no longer hiding that he cherishes her more than anything, and taking responsibility so she won’t be unhappy because of him. It was all a difficult decision for Rakrensius.

 

* * *

[Who my first contractor was… Yeah. That’s appropriate.]

 

That evening, in the master of tower’s quarter.  Rakrensius shared a brief summary of his conversation with Selleana with his friend, excluding the emotional parts, only as a part of their bet. He decided to reveal one of his secrets and see the reaction. Just that much.

 

[Well done. Whatever your future relationship with the daughter of Elard, you won’t live your whole life alone. You can’t keep everything secret forever.]

 

“You don’t have to tell the wizards about your true identity.”

 

The wizards saw Di as just an ordinary ego sword or a kind of thought form. While this was extraordinary, it was at least more mundane than the true identity that had significantly contributed to the founding.

 

“You will have to prove it with your life.”

 

And there was no need to tell the wizards that he was being monitored to prevent any reckless dreams because of this.

 

“Di, you say you are Orot’s reverse scale.”

 

[Yes.]

 

“What exactly does that mean? Can you explain now?”