I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 12

“Of all days for the Count to get injured, today. What a mess.” “I know. Her Royal Highness the Princess was looking forward to this day so much.”

Biancasta watched the sighing young ladies in silence.

The Duke of Calabria, who had been absent from the banquet all evening, approached with a pale face in the late afternoon and announced that Lian could not attend the ball due to a sudden injury. The Princess immediately retreated to her room, saying she wanted to be alone.

Biancasta was deeply worried about the repercussions of this incident. It was obvious that those involved in Rian’s absence would be forced to disappear. Despite her worries, the funereal atmosphere of the party gradually began to stir as time passed.

“If the ladies keep acting like this, Her Royal Highness will only be more saddened.” “Would you care to dance with me?”

Lighthearted young nobles approached and asked for a dance. They didn’t want to go home without any accomplishments from a ball they’d dressed up for with such high spirits. The young ladies felt the same, and one by one, they reluctantly rose to their feet. Soon, the tables were deserted, leaving Biancasta all alone.

No one asked the young woman, who was rumored to be a villainess, to dance. She didn’t particularly want to dance, but as a teenager, she was embarrassed to be sitting alone at the table. Her cheeks turned crimson, as she felt everyone was staring and laughing at her. She wanted to go home immediately, but she knew it would be bad if the Princess later heard that she’d left before the birthday celebration was over.

As she sat there miserably, unable to do anything, a long time passed.

“Are you alone?”

Biancasta lifted her head at the peculiar accent. She met a pair of green eyes and a head of bright red hair.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Adrian Eunice.”

Eunice. That was the name of the Count’s family that governed the southern territories. The region was famous as a resort, but it was so far from the capital that Biancasta had never once been there.

“If you don’t mind, would you care to share a dance with me?”

Adrian had a mischievous face that seemed to have just shed its boyishness, and a strikingly tall frame, making him an amiable and charming young man.

But Biancasta was flustered and bowed her head low.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not much of a dancer…”

He must have been from a distant land and was unaware of her reputation. It was obvious that dancing with her would draw him into bad rumors. She didn’t want to bother anyone.

“I think I need to get some fresh air. Please excuse me.”

As she tried to refuse and leave, Adrian grinned.

“That works out well.” “Pardon?” “To be honest, I hate dancing, too. I’d like to get some air, but I’m not familiar with the grounds. May I come with you?”

His friendly attitude made it impossible to say no. The two of them left the ballroom together. As she walked beside him, she felt an odd sense of excitement.

“May I ask for your name, Lady?” “Biancasta Weiss.” “Biancasta. A very beautiful name.”

His gentle tone and the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled were incredibly charming. Her heart, always timid and low, thumped loudly, announcing its presence.

When they reached a less-crowded area, Adrian amiably asked,

“I don’t know anyone here. If it’s alright with you, may we talk for a while?”

It had been so long since she had met someone who didn’t dislike her that she felt like crying with relief. Biancasta looked around, but there was no one. Just talking for a little while would be fine.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

Biancasta smiled shyly. She was completely unaware of the cold gaze watching them from a terrace on the castle.

“This way.”

Rian took Eleanor’s hand and led her up the stairs to the second floor. The moment he pushed open the huge door decorated with golden carvings, Eleanor had to bite her lip to keep from gasping.

The room was not just the height of wealth, but a work of art. Beyond the terrace, a vast plain and magnificent mountains unfolded beneath a sky filled with stars. The furniture, each piece seemingly the work of a master craftsman, was an inspiration just to look at.

“You’ll be staying here.”

To stay in a room like this, something out of a dream… Eleanor was about to step inside when she suddenly stopped. The room was immaculate, with not a speck of dust, but it gave the distinct impression that it had been customized for someone. It wasn’t a guest room; it was clearly the room of the master.

“This room…”

She turned and asked, and Rian placed a light hand on her shoulder and whispered.

“It’s my room.”

Eleanor looked around the room. There was only one huge bed in the center.

“Weren’t we just supposed to spend the night together?”

Eleanor stood at the door and asked, her voice full of caution.

“There’s no need for us to share a bed, is there?”

“Hmm.”

Lian wore a thoughtful expression, as if trying to come up with a reason. But it seemed he couldn’t find a suitable one.

“Do you not want to share a bed with me?”

It was a similar tactic to how he had brought her here. She saw the refusal in Lian’s beautiful eyes.

“…Of course, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to.”

Her face felt hot as Lian revealed his true feelings. Had he been thinking such things with that expressionless face?

“But if you truly don’t want to, I won’t do anything.”

As he said that, Lian looked at Eleanor with a wistful gaze. That subtle longing made her body ache, and the firm resolve she had just made wavered.

‘This is dangerous.’

Just that very day, she had been unable to sleep properly because of how sensitive her body had become from Lian’s touch. Even if her reason held up for now, would she be able to refuse him if he reached for her? It would be difficult. But to be honest, she didn’t want to sleep separately, either.

“I can’t trust that.”

Eleanor said in a hesitant tone, lost in her conflict, and Lian tried to persuade her.

“I truly mean it. If you don’t trust me, you can tie me up.”

At his words, a clever idea came to Eleanor.

“Fine. Then I’ll tie you up.”

Lian tilted his head slightly.

“You know I can untie or break the ropes freely, right?” “It’s okay. Just turn around and put your hands behind your back.”

Lian looked at her, clearly amused for a moment, then asked with a look that suggested he was prepared to sacrifice something,

“Do you like being tied up?”

“I absolutely do not!”

Eleanor retorted curtly, but deep down, she thought that if the usual Lian was a 10 out of 10, a tied-up Lian might be a 10.5.

“Are you really going to tie me?” “You’re the one who brought it up first.”

Eleanor had him put his hands behind his back and tied a very cute ribbon with a scarf.

“This ribbon is a sign.”

She showed him the ribbon in a hand mirror to confirm it.

“If this knot isn’t exactly as it is until morning, I’ll never see you again.”

No matter how strong he was, he couldn’t tie a ribbon on his own arms. It was only then that Lian’s expression became slightly regretful.

“Well, shall we go to sleep now?”

Eleanor quickly jumped into the blanket and nestled into one corner of the very wide bed. She felt the presence of Lian getting into bed after turning off the lights. She had her back to him, but even that made her so nervous she had to gulp.

‘Well, I tied him up.’

With that, she thought she could get through the night without any internal conflict.

Just then, something warm and solid touched her back. The bed was wide enough for them to lie across it, yet Lian had pressed himself close to her back. Rian whispered into Eleanor’s ear, surprised as she was.

“Don’t be scared. I won’t do anything.”

Then, as if to soothe her, Lian gently nuzzled his face into her hair.

“I promise. I’ll just stay like this.”

Lian’s voice was gentle and without any ulterior motives.

But…

“…Something is touching me.” “That’s an unavoidable force, so there’s nothing I can do.”

An unavoidable force?

Even after creating such a suggestive situation, Lian’s voice was sweet. He whispered to the tense Eleanor as if to calm her,

“I’m doing this to make you develop feelings for me faster.”

Did he still believe that rubbing bodies together would make feelings grow? While part of her thought it was ridiculous, a small part of her wondered if it might be true. Lian’s body, pressed against hers, felt warm and pleasant, just as it had when she touched him before. The feeling of being protected by his large body and the subtle sensation she felt every time he twitched wasn’t bad, either.

‘One night will be okay.’

Since she had come this far, Eleanor decided to enjoy the moment. Whether she worried now or put it off until tomorrow, the outcome wouldn’t change.

‘Today is Deneb’s night. I’ve lived my whole life desperately; maybe one night I can be forgiven.’

When this night passed and morning came, and Deneb disappeared, she would wake from the dream. Eleanor resolved that even if it didn’t disappear, she would leave on her own two feet.

Her heart felt at ease. The slightly peculiar sensation near her waist could be considered Lian sleeping with his sword on, as he was a knight. She buried her face in his chest and felt his strong heartbeat. She hadn’t slept well for days, but being close to Rian made her feel safe. Eleanor fell asleep with rare speed.

“Eleanor?”

About ten minutes after Eleanor fell asleep, Rian called her name. Eleanor was already in a deep sleep, breathing peacefully.

“Are you really asleep…?”

And here he was, on the verge of going crazy from wanting to touch her.

A sigh escaped Lian’s lips. He hesitated for a moment, then gently tilted his head and kissed her cheek. It seemed he would have to hold himself back with just this for today. He buried his face in her soft hair, suppressing the impulses that kept rising.

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