I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 10

“Why don’t you relax your expression?”

The man, who was drinking wine with a rigid face, raised his head. He then looked at the curvaceous woman smiling in front of him.

“This is a ballroom, Duke Lowen.”

As the woman pointed out, the man’s expression was utterly out of place in the context of a banquet. His face, visible through his neat, short silver hair, was aristocratic and handsome, but deep frown lines, unbefitting his age, were etched between his brows.

“No one dares to approach you when you look like that.”

The reason no one dared to approach was that he was one of the highest-ranking nobles, unapproachable even in a banquet attended only by high-ranking aristocrats. The man’s name was Claude Lowen. He was the young Chief Justice who upheld the empire’s laws and the new head of one of the Five Great Ducal Houses.

“I’m perfectly fine with no one approaching me,” he said.

Claude shot a look that said, “I wish you’d leave, too,” but the woman sat down opposite him without a care. Claude didn’t complain about her presence. The woman, who exuded mature beauty, was also one of the Five Dukes of the Empire. She was Minaz Abrote, the head of the Abrote Ducal House, which led the empire’s diplomacy, and the ruler of the East.

“If you hate it so much, why didn’t you just stay in the West? Why did you come all the way here?”

“It’s not a matter of liking or disliking. It is my duty,” Claude answered stiffly. “If it weren’t for my duty, I wouldn’t set foot in the capital.”

Minaz chuckled at his addition. The entire empire was under the emperor’s jurisdiction, but it was divided into the spheres of influence of the Five Ducal Houses that served the imperial family: Floyd of the North, Lowen of the West, Abrote of the East, Bormia of the South, and Calabria of the Center. Claude disliked the Duke of Calabria immensely. The West couldn’t be reached from other regions without going through the Center unless one used the sea route. Therefore, Claude was famous for never leaving his territory unless absolutely necessary.

“In that case, I have a story you might find quite interesting.”

“If it’s your usual lame joke, I’ll have to decline in advance.”

“It’s not that.”

Minaz shook her head and raised a hand. “Do you know why the Duke of Calabria is fidgeting like a puppy over there?”

Claude turned his gaze to the direction she was pointing. As she said, the Duke of Calabria, instead of his usual arrogant self, was restlessly pacing around.

“Why is he doing that?”

Just as he asked, a polite voice was heard beside them. “If you don’t mind, may I also hear the reason?”

The elderly man who approached was the Administrator, Duke Arthur Bormia. Despite his old age and white beard, his demeanor toward the young dukes was very respectful. Minaz gestured for him to sit and said with excitement, “I heard that our commander of the Knights didn’t come to the banquet.”

Unlike her, who was very excited, the two men’s reactions were lackluster.

“He probably has some official duty. He’ll be here soon,” Claude said.

The sycophantic nobles had prepared engagement gifts in addition to birthday presents for the princess, causing the price of rare gems to skyrocket before the birthday celebration even began.

“I’m sure something must have happened.”

“Do you have any basis for that?”

“It’s a woman’s intuition!”

Despite her confident tone, Claude immediately lost interest.

“Well, Duke Abrote’s intuition is usually right, so let’s just assume it’s true for now,” Duke Bormia said politely, but he didn’t seem to believe it at all.

“I’m telling you, it’s going to happen! Just you watch.”

Surprisingly, as time passed, the absence of the commander became undeniable, just as she had promised. The dance, which should have started long ago, was postponed for a long time, and the princess’s forced smile was beginning to fade.

“See? I was right,” Minaz said triumphantly.

“I don’t think it’s a laughing matter,” Claude said bluntly.

He was right. This was not a situation to laugh about. At this point, someone should have asked the princess to dance to salvage the atmosphere. However, since her partner was practically decided, no one dared to step forward.

Minaz looked at the murmuring ballroom and turned to Claude again. “Wouldn’t it be better if you asked the princess to dance?”

Claude, who hated dancing, immediately frowned.

“Why me?”

“Still, it’s the princess’s birthday. You have to match her status, don’t you? You’re the only unmarried young high-ranking noble here, aren’t you?”

Minaz looked around the ballroom and added with a hint of regret, “I wish Duke Phaedra were here. I heard he was in the capital, but he doesn’t seem to have attended.”

When the name ‘Phaedra’ came up, Claude’s expression hardened even more.

“Are you really lumping me with a man from that filthy family?”

“On the contrary, Duke Phaedra is much better than you. He’s a great dancer and incredibly handsome,” Minaz said.

Claude was also a handsome man, but Minaz, who had been ignored, deliberately provoked him further.

“Besides, Duke Phaedra is the empire’s best sorcerer and pharmacist. Ah, a man like him would surely have read the atmosphere and wouldn’t have embarrassed the princess.”

Before Minaz could finish, Claude slammed the table and stood up. “Even if that foreign, dissolute, fake duke came to the banquet, I would never let him attend to the princess.”

Claude straightened his clothes and walked toward the princess with a rigid posture.

Duke Arthur Bormia said to the smirking Minaz, “As expected of a diplomat, you’re good at manipulating people.”

“With the name of Duke Phaedra, I could probably manipulate even a puppy,” Minaz said.

As the two smiled, the party’s dance began with Duke Lowen’s request. The atmosphere began to liven up a little, but Arthur murmured with a worried tone, “I hope Duke Calabria returns before the banquet ends.”

Minaz nodded in agreement, but she thought there was no possibility of that happening. Something was definitely going on. Her intuition was never wrong.

“I hope this turns out to be interesting,” she thought.

With her eyes sparkling with anticipation, Minaz raised her glass for a toast to the princess.

Eleanor couldn’t move for a long time.

‘What did I just hear?’

Fallen for me?

Just a moment ago, she thought she would never see him again. She had no idea how to react.

“That, that… what in the world…” Eleanor stammered in a daze. “Suddenly, why…”

She was so flustered that she couldn’t form a complete sentence. Was he teasing her?

A scene suddenly popped into her mind.

“Didn’t you laugh when I said you might fall for me?”

Lian shook his head at Eleanor’s question. “I wasn’t laughing at you. I was laughing because you were so cute, turning red from embarrassment after saying that yourself.”

Lian smiled as if reminiscing. His cold face softened, and her own face grew hot. His clear purple eyes, looking at her, were overly gentle.

‘It doesn’t seem like a joke.’

Eleanor tried to deny that thought.

‘No. This is ridiculous. There was no reason for him to fall for me.’

They had just met for the first time in the library, had a trivial conversation, and spent the night together. The only thing she could think of was…

“Actually, I don’t really like Sir Christopher Hanzendale’s book,” she said abruptly.

Lian looked bewildered. “But you said back then…”

“I only brought it up as a topic of conversation to figure out your taste.”

This was a lie. Even so, she found it so interesting that she spent all her time cooped up at home reading only that book. She was so engrossed that she stayed up all night to finish the incredibly thick book.

Lian looked a little down but answered calmly, “I won’t force you to read it if you don’t like it, so you don’t have to worry.”

So it wasn’t because of the book? Then, was it because he liked her body? Maybe being with a woman for the first time created an imprint on him.

“Then, is it because we slept together?” Eleanor asked bluntly.

Lian blushed. “Of course, it was unbelievably good. But it’s not just because of that.”

His voice trailed off in embarrassment, but it was full of sincerity. His blushing face was fatally charming.

Did she dislike it? Honestly, she didn’t know. Anyway, it wasn’t important.

“Fallen for me…” Eleanor bit her lip and asked, “What do you intend to do by saying something like that?”

She thought this question would leave him speechless. But Lian gave a very clean answer.

“I want to officially court you.”

Eleanor’s mouth dropped open.

“Do you think that makes any sense?”

“Why not?”

“As you well know, I am a woman who lost her husband and is now alone.”

Lian blinked, as if thinking for a moment, then said cautiously, “So… isn’t it okay for us to be together?”

‘How on earth did he come to that conclusion?’

‘I’m a lower-class noble who was already married, and you’re the best bachelor in the country!’ Eleanor was dumbfounded.

Their relationship made no sense. She was the commoner-born wife of a baron, and he was the highest-ranking noble in the empire. Their social statuses were too different. They couldn’t even be invited to the same party. They were not at a level where a one-night stand could lead to anything. People around them would never leave them alone.

“Besides, the princess is involved.”

The princess, who was cherished by the emperor, liked him very much. The princess in the novel was the kind of person who wouldn’t give up in the face of any obstacles. The thought of Rian telling her that he couldn’t accept her feelings because he was dating a commoner-born baroness sent a chill down her spine.

‘The emperor might send me to the guillotine.’

She was just a low-ranking noble, not a threat to the princess. They could come up with any charge, whether it was for public indecency or anything else. She had no intention of becoming an orphan of the executioner’s block at a young age for a relationship with no future.

‘I have to send him away quickly.’

Finally, a clear thought emerged in her confused mind. That was the only way to save her life. If she could quickly make him lose interest and send him away, it might not be too late.

‘But how…’

Rian’s expression, as he looked at Eleanor anxiously, seemed completely sincere. He didn’t look like he would give up with a little shock.

If that’s the case, there was only one last resort.

“If you really want to court me…”

Eleanor used a magic phrase that was second to none in making people lose interest quickly.

“Lend me some money.”

Rian’s expression hardened.

“Money…?”

His surprised tone showed that it had an effect. Eleanor held out her hand and stepped forward more assertively.

“Yes, money. I want a dress, and I need some money.”

She even changed her tone to a harsher one and started a method-acting performance.

“I’m a thoughtless spender. So I was thinking of just stealing it, but I heard there was a source of money, so I went to the duke’s mansion.”

“…”

“I was just going to waste some time, get the money, and run away. But my habit of flirting with men just popped out, so I ran away without getting the money.”

‘Yes. I’m a vulgar, wasteful, and foul-mouthed femme fatale, like a Venus flytrap.’

‘With this much, even if he had the heart of a saint, he would lose all interest.’

Lian was silent for a moment.

“I don’t have any money with me right now,” he finally said, his expression very stiff.

Silence filled the air between them.

“Is it better for me to go back?”

‘Looks like he’s finally come to his senses,’ she thought.

She felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment. It was a good thing, anyway.

‘Yes, goodbye. Next time, don’t be charmed by a strange woman,’ Eleanor thought, saying her goodbyes in her heart.

That’s when he spoke.

“So, all I have to do is go back and get the money?”

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