I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 110

Lian opened the golden door and entered a large bathroom decorated with white marble. In the center, a huge bathtub was filled with warm, fragrant water, its color a subtle purple like his own eyes. Lian approached it and tugged at the cord of his robe. He was about to take off the robe and reveal his toned body when his movements stopped.

“Do you want to go back to the dungeon?”

His voice echoed in the empty bathroom. When there was no response for a moment, Lian’s white brow furrowed. He was about to turn, his robe still tied, and pick up the sword he had left leaning against the entrance when a voice full of complaint echoed from somewhere.

[How in the world do you know?] [No human has ever detected me watching before.]

“I believe I already gave a clear warning about the act of peeping.”

Lian cut in with an uncompromising tone, and Beatrice complained even louder.

[Damn it. I’m bored, so what else am I supposed to do? If you don’t like me watching, give me something to do.]

“I cannot let you go.”

Although he said that, Beatrice wasn’t completely confined. Lian had threatened to kill her instantly if she left the mansion, but he had granted her a certain degree of freedom to move around inside. Since the mansion was so huge, she could get some sun and take walks, which was a vast improvement compared to her previous life in the underground prison. However, Beatrice hadn’t set foot outside her room at all.

[Who said I want to go out? I’m sick of wandering around.]

Perhaps it was due to her long life. She had no particular curiosity about the outside world and no desire to socialize with people.

“Then what do you want?”

Lian couldn’t think favorably of Beatrice, a former murderer, but he didn’t intend to persecute her either. This was because Elenoa had a strangely good relationship with her.

[If I tell you, will you listen?]

“I will consider it, as long as it’s not something like regaining your power.”

To Beatrice’s subtle question, Lian replied stiffly.

[Oh, it’s nothing too difficult. I just need something to pass the time.]

Lian thought of various items Beatrice might want. Jewels, crystal balls, various magical artifacts, or spellbooks? However, what came out of her mouth was something completely different.

[Get me a book that your lover wrote.]

Surprised by the unexpected request, Rian slightly tilted his head and double-checked.

“Eleanora’s… writings are what you need?”

[That’s right!]

Beatrice spat out the words quickly in a sharp voice.

[I’ve been reading them while peeping into your mother’s room, but lately, she doesn’t stay there much. Do you know how terrible it feels to have a story cut off in the middle of reading?]

Her tone was somewhat defensive, as if she were embarrassed to ask for a book.

“If I get you that, will you behave?”

[Yes.]

It wasn’t a difficult request. Rian was about to readily agree but stopped as something occurred to him.

“You have tormented many people in the past. I am debating whether it is right to give you a pastime.”

[What? That old stuff doesn’t matter anymore!]

Beatrice’s voice became desperate when Lian, who seemed like he would agree, said that. As expected, she didn’t show any sign of remorse. Lian intentionally put on a strict expression and continued.

“But on the other hand, you also have the power to help many people. If you serve the empire in various ways, I might consider it… but I don’t know if you will do that.”

[Are you trying to boss me around, you sly brat!]

“There’s no reason to help someone who doesn’t help others. Do as you please.”

After he spoke so bluntly, the sound of Beatrice grinding her teeth could be heard. She sounded resentful, but seeing that Lian showed no sign of relenting, she spoke in a grudging voice.

[Don’t be so petty! If you give me what I want, I’ll do what I can on my end.]

At Beatrice’s answer, Lian smiled. To have a legendary witch become his helper for such a small price… For the sake of the empire’s peace, it seemed he shouldn’t stop Eleanor’s writing activities.

[Don’t laugh with that wicked face! You’ll even make an old woman’s heart flutter.]

Beatrice grumbled discontentedly. Seizing the opportunity, Lian pressed on with one more condition.

“I will bring you the books you want, but you must promise never to peek into the room where Eleanor and I are.”

[Not watch the fun stuff?]

“I will not forgive you for breaking a ‘very important atmosphere’.”

Lian emphasized the phrase “very important atmosphere.”

[Tsk. And if I don’t?]

“Then I will have to use a different method.”

His tone was calm, but Rian’s gaze subtly shifted back to the sword he had set down.

[You don’t have a sense of humor. Fine, just get me a lot of books!]

With that, Beatrice’s presence disappeared. Lian slowly let his robe fall to the floor. Soon, his perfect nude body, as if sculpted from light, was revealed. Lian entered the bathwater and leaned back leisurely in the tub. Today’s dressing up had to be perfect. As he recalled the preparations he had made for this day, a smile formed on his lips.

“Baronesssssssss!”

Around the time Lian was lost in his rosy thoughts in the bathtub, Eleanor was surrounded by people. She had decided to come to the ballroom for her return, as she had no intention of living in hiding forever. Everyone was desperate to shake her hand and exchange at least a word.

“Will you continue to hold public readings?” “Please come to our mansion! I’ll pay twice as much as before, no, as much as you want!”

Eleanor, who was quite used to dealing with people, became exhausted from the identical questions pouring in from all sides. What saved her from the seemingly endless crowd was a voice with a rich resonance.

“The dance has begun. May I have a dance with you?”

Sky politely asked for a dance. Dressed in the traditional attire of the Phaedra Duchy for the first time in a while, he looked like he had just stepped out of a storybook. The loose-fitting clothes that revealed his broad shoulders drew enchanting glances from the surrounding women. A normal man would not have dared to break through the immense wall of women, but a path seemed to automatically open for him.

“Gladly.”

To escape the crowd, Eleanor readily took his hand. He escorted her to a relatively secluded balcony and said in a low voice,

“Is it alright to dance with me?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

Dancing was no big deal, and Eleanor had already danced a few songs since coming out.

“The Count of Calabria might get jealous.”

“It’ll be fine.”

At the mention of Lian, Eleanor’s face flushed a little out of reflex.

“We are going out together around seven.”

In fact, the reason she had deliberately come out to this boisterous ballroom was that she felt restless just waiting alone in her room. She felt awkward and couldn’t stand being by herself, so she had joined the crowd to distract herself. Sky raised his handsome eyebrows slightly and asked,

“Are you two dating?”

“…I said I would decide after we go on one date.”

Although it was pretty much already decided. At Eleanor’s words, Sky shrugged and held out his hand.

“Shall we dance one song first?”

“Here?”

“Why not?”

It was a balcony, not the dance floor, but the music was easy to hear and it was spacious. As he said, there was no reason not to. Just as she chuckled and was about to take his hand to start dancing,

“Oh dear.”

Sky stopped dancing and looked in one direction, clicking his tongue.

“What’s wrong?”

Asking, Eleanor looked to where he was looking and let out a small hiccup. The Grand Duke Robert Phaedra was standing near the mansion’s entrance.

“Did the Duke invite him?”

“No.”

Sky shook his head.

“Why is a man who should be at the imperial palace as a congratulatory envoy here?”

His low murmur sounded somehow unsettling. The two of them observed the ballroom through the curtains instead of dancing. As they watched, Grand Duke Phaedra entered the center of the mansion. His steps were headed towards a table set up in the middle of the floor. In front of it stood the hostess of the party, the Duchess of Phaedra. Grand Duke Phaidra’s voice boomed as he approached her.

“I was told my son is here. Where is he now?”

Even without a greeting, the Duchess answered calmly without any sign of panic.

“I wonder. He’s somewhere around here. You’ll meet him soon as you enjoy the party.”

“Then where is that woman?”

Eleanor had a hunch that “that woman” was her. She hiccupped again.

“Eleanor is also in the ballroom. She was over there just a moment ago…”

As if ignoring the Duchess’s answer, Grand Duke Robert raised his voice again.

“Why are you keeping that woman? Are you planning to take her in as a daughter-in-law?”

At his question, everyone’s gaze in the ballroom instantly turned like a wave. The relationship between Lian and Elenoa was still a matter of extreme interest. As Eleanor’s heart pounded, the Duchess’s elegant lips opened.

“That is my intention.”

At the clean answer, a gasp went through the ballroom. Eleanor hiccupped again, and Sky furrowed one eyebrow. And Grand Duke Robert’s face was filled with utter indignation.

“You mean to say you’ll take her in as a daughter-in-law now, after you persecuted her with private soldiers?”

“I don’t recall persecuting anyone.”

“Are you going to pretend you don’t know what your husband did?”

Grand Duke Robert’s voice, which was about to continue complaining, stopped.

“Is there something wrong with my wife?”

The Duke of Calabria was glaring at Grand Duke Robert, his brow furrowed as always.

‘When did he come out?’

Eleanor was greatly astonished as she hadn’t seen the two men because she was surrounded by people. Was he here to interfere again? As she watched anxiously, Grand Duke Robert shouted again.

“I have already chosen that woman as a match for Sky. So I will take her back to our Phaedra Duchy.”

It looked as though the Duke of Calabria would immediately agree. However, he raised his chin and retorted indifferently.

“That’s your wishful thinking.”

“What did you say?”

“No one can take the woman my son wants.”

After he spoke so low, but with such a strong, blunt finality, the Duke of Calabria turned his back. At the dismissive attitude, Grand Duke Robert raised his voice even more.

“Don’t be ridiculous! That woman suits my son better!”

“Nonsense. That woman is as good as a member of our family!”

Sparks flew from the eyes of the two dukes. Soon, the voices of the two dukes, fighting over who would take in the widow as their daughter-in-law, boomed throughout the ballroom.

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