I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original

That embrace was a fall. Unable to hold on any longer to the tightrope of taboo and reason, he dared to throw himself into the paradise never allowed to him. In one sense, it was an escape.

Whenever those amber eyes, branded onto his heart, spurred him on, Rakrensius felt miserable for not being able to respond with equal greed. At the same time, that greed was so base that his angel could never imagine it, and it could never be revealed.

Thus, he withdrew from her sight. Hiding behind her shoulder so that Selleana would not notice his wretchedness. The embrace, burying her delicate shoulder into his arms, was urgent. In case of emergency, he cast a confusion spell to make them appear as they had a few minutes ago.

Even at that moment, he was filled with shame at having to make such calculations. He really wanted to kiss her. To taste her tender flesh as he once did, to bury his nose in her neck and fill his nostrils with her soft, fresh scent. He wanted to reawaken the overwhelming sensations he had learned from her. He didn’t want to part from her even for a moment. He wanted to be closer, to touch her more. He wanted to take even a single breath of hers for himself. But,

“Why is everything so easy for you…?”

The words that barely escaped his lips were filled with resentment. There was only sadness and apology in them, so Selleana did not misunderstand him.

“I am cautious about everything, fearing that I might lose you and regret it to the point of wanting to die. But in front of you, all my worries seem trivial….”

“It’s okay.”

It’s okay, it’s okay… Selleana looked at the sky over his shoulder and murmured softly.

It wasn’t that Selleana didn’t feel frustrated. The sole reason he rejected her did not make any sense to her. But she managed to find solace in the occasional signs that he was trying to open his heart to her. She was convinced only by the times he became excited and shy with her, trusting in the warmth collected in his firm embrace, his rapidly beating heart, and the blush at the tips of his ears.

Fully wrapped in his sincere feelings that he could not express in any form, Selleana smiled as she looked at the night sky over his shoulder. “Didn’t I tell you? The situation is simpler than you think.”

“…That’s.”

“Yes, of course, our bet isn’t over yet.”

Selleana’s slender arms wrapped around his broad back. Although she was already tightly embraced, the action itself was a response. Feeling reassured by that, Rakrensius felt like crying.

Selleana’s voice rang out blandly, almost indifferently. The fact that she responded to him itself was an honor for him, yet he hated himself for feeling regret by interpreting her tone as he pleased. Instead, he tightened his arms around Selleana. Her slender shoulders and her supple skin were all enclosed within his embrace.

Before long, Selleana’s hand slowly rubbed his back.

“Maybe I was born as such a beautiful and clever Elard, knowing that Master of Tower would be in such a difficult situation.”

“…”

“Right?”

Feeling sorrowful that he couldn’t fully revel in her undeniable words, Rakrensius’s shoulders trembled slightly again. He tightened his embrace around Selleana once more.

* * *

“Rosi! How have you been…

”

“…What’s with your clothes?”

It was a few days later. When Selleana and Michi entered Doloret’s office, delighted at the news that Rosalli’s probation had ended, both of them were left speechless at the sight of Rosalli.

“Have you sold all your dresses already?”

“Did you even own a dress like that?”

“

? No, it’s just…” Rosalli awkwardly fiddled with the dress she was wearing.

A plain dress of pearl-colored silk with minimal embroidery and lace. It was a far cry from Rosalli’s usual attire.

Eight years ago, after becoming friends with Selleana, Rosalli had realized that Duke Glen wanted her to cultivate influence comparable to Lady Elard. She had worked tirelessly to groom herself, wrapping in all kinds of expensive and glamorous clothes and accessories. At the same time, those things became Rosalli’s tangible assets for the future.

But the dress she was wearing now, though somewhat luxurious, looked modest for Rosalli Glen, the swan of the social world.

“Don’t tell me you lost your whole dressing room to that person?”

“No, it’s not like that…” Rosalli bit her lip, cutting off her words.

Rosalli’s cheeks and lips, usually flushed with a rosy tint, were now barely colored. Her hair, which normally took at least an hour to style, seemed to have been done in less than thirty minutes.

“It’s just…. I realized that I’ve been enjoying things beyond my means. So, the clothes I used to wear started to feel a bit burdensome…”

Selleana and Michi hastily glanced at Doloret. She also shook her head with a troubled expression.

“Rosi…. Are you really having a hard time?”

“Is Eirene’s meddling that bad?”

“No, it’s not that. She’s actually kind.”

“The nasty girl is just good at pretending, knowing that the original Rosalli is kind-hearted. She acts pitiful in front of her but badmouths her behind her back. She’s got the whole strong-bullies-the-weak thing down…”

This was just like the recent case with Agnesia. Selleana glanced at Doloret again, just in case, but she shook her head once more. According to Doloret’s information network, Eirene was acting just as the original story dictated.

Swallowing her astonishment, Selleana patted Rosalli’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Rosi. Just hold on a little longer. I intended to settle things at the Enet Palace banquet, but we ran out of time because of Pavellian. Next time, I’ll definitely….”

“No, it’s fine. More than that….” Rosalli smiled sadly. She usually only showed either scorn or laughter among friends…. “I think I won’t go to Laten after all.”

“

?”

Why did the conversation take such a turn? Her friends’ eyes widened.

“When I actually thought about packing up and running away… It felt like I’d really be advertising that Duke Glen raised a direct descendant as a commoner orphan from an orphanage. I’ve received so much that it feels like I’d be stabbing them in the back if I did that.”

“Aren’t they treating you badly right now?”

“If I had been a more affectionate daughter in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened, right?”

Selleana and Michi exchanged glances.

No way…

Like the frustration of swallowing a ton of sweet potatoes, both tried hard to hold back from pounding their chests.

At that moment, Selleana’s eyes caught a strange sight. Various types of pink roses are decorated on Doloret’s office desk. There were several vases as if they had not come from one bouquet. Moreover, even in this situation, whenever Doloret’s eyes glanced at them, a faint smile appeared on Doloret’s face…

“No way, Doli, you…”

“

?” Doloret looked at Selleana with that smile still lingering.

Come to think of it, her attire was also different from usual. A two-piece dress with frills and jewelry decorations in bright colors…. Doloret, who usually pursued extreme efficiency, often wore similar clothes repeatedly. And the subtle makeup on her face….

Rosalli suddenly became soft-hearted, and Doloret seemed to be advertising that she was in a romantic relationship. There was no room to even ask about Agnesia’s well-being.

Selleana could hardly remember how she spent the remaining time.

* * *

“Why is everyone acting so strange?”

In the carriage on the way back to the duchy, Selleana burst out her pent-up frustration.

“Both Rosi and Doli… How can they change so suddenly?”

“That’s what I’m saying…”

It really made her head throb.

“Michi, you too… suddenly get involved with Prince Erenst and those guys like Artur Marderung and Tiel Orelli,

? Just try it?”

“Milady, mind your own business. Didn’t you say Tower Master saw you get wall-slam by Pavellian?”

“

, well, that…”

Maybe because they had become sensitive to their friends’ changes, the two barely stopped bickering. This wasn’t the time for this.

…. Only sighs came out. Knowing too well that they had been overly sensitive, a heavy silence fell between them.

Meanwhile, the carriage arrived at the duchy.

“…You know, Milady. Since we’re both feeling down, let’s have something sweet to eat.”

“Something sweet? Like what?”

“I’ll get some pudding. Your favorite, Rollina’s pudding.”

“Are you going alone?”

“I’m going with Joel. I also want to get some fresh air….”

Joel was the name of the coachman of Selleana’s carriage.

“And here, I brought Tower Master’s glasses too.”

“Oh my, you’re well-prepared.”

“You never know what might happen.” Michi smiled.

There was nothing Selleana could say to that face. She still felt guilty for almost snapping at Michi earlier. And, there were things to check, too….

“Okay, be careful. Make sure to wear those glasses.”

“Don’t worry, I’m a year older than you, remember?”

At that moment, the carriage door opened, and Selleana got off first with Aiven’s help.

“Don’t be too late.”

“Yes, Milady.”

The carriage door closed with a click, and it slowly rolled out of the duchy. And when the carriage was no longer visible,

“Andy.” As Selleana spoke, her expression had long gone.

Andre, the guard Duke Ellard had assigned to her, appeared.

“Follow Michi.”