I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 13

“What happened?”

The Duke of Calabria demanded as soon as Blaine entered, as if pouncing on him.

“I tracked the carriage and found that Rian had entered the La Floyd Dukedom.”

“Dukedom? La Floyd?”

The Duke’s face soured. The five ducal families of the empire had small territories granted by the emperor as a sign of respect for their service in saving the imperial family during times of crisis. Unlike typical estates, which were technically lent by the emperor to his vassals, these ducal territories were the personal property of the dukes. They were entirely extraterritorial, and the duke’s power within them was absolute. Even the emperor had to seek permission from each ducal family to enter.

‘Judging by his expression, it seems he’s never been given entry permission,’ Blaine thought, looking at the Duke of Calabria’s face. Unlike Lian, who was of the La Floyd ducal bloodline, the Duke of Calabria had no right to enter the territory. Even as a husband, trespassing on the dukedom was a taboo that would tarnish the honor of the other family.

‘He played his cards pretty well,’ Blaine mused inwardly, as the Duke threw another question at him.

“What about the woman who was with him?”

“Her whereabouts haven’t been confirmed.”

A deep fury settled on the Duke’s face.

“Damn it. I should never have let that socialite clown into my house!”

Blaine had just heard from Count Zeppelin about how Eleanor and Lian had met. Count Zeppelin would probably do well to avoid the Duke of Calabria for a while.

“What do you plan to do now?”

“Bring that boy back right now!”

“But if he’s hiding there, there’s no way to get him out.”

“We have to find a way, no matter what! Before the story gets out!”

The Duke seemed terribly anxious that his family’s shame would become public knowledge. Blaine, however, already thought it would be impossible to stop. They might have been able to silence the private soldiers, but with Rian having made a public appearance, a scandal was inevitable.

“Shall I go and try to persuade him?”

The Duke’s face brightened at Blaine’s suggestion.

“Would you really do that?”

At this moment, Blaine was probably the only person in the capital who had a chance of being let in if he went to see Lian. Lian’s mother, the Duchess of La Floyd, was recuperating in the La Floyd territory.

“Please do your best.”

“I’ll do my utmost.”

He said it, but Blaine had no confidence whatsoever that he could persuade Lian. Lian was a man who never went back on a decision once it was made. However, Blaine might at least be able to find out why he had done such a thing. Blaine quickened his pace and left the Calabria Dukedom.

La Floyd, in the morning light, shone as brilliantly as the sun.

Inside the room, Eleanor watched Rian, who was massaging his wrists.

“Are you okay?”

“I think so.”

Lian’s deep-set eyes were a little more shadowed than usual.

“Did you… get any sleep?”

“Hardly any.”

“I slept really well…”

“So it seemed.”

Eleanor’s face turned red at Lian’s words. She had been so comfortable in someone else’s house that she had slept soundly until the sun was high, without even a single dream. Thanks to her oversleeping, Rian had been bound and waiting for her until this late hour.

“Did I tie you up too tight?”

Eleanor looked at Lian, who was rubbing his wrists as if they were numb, with concern.

“No. I was just tense because I was worried they would break if I put any pressure on them.”

Hearing that made her feel even more guilty about oversleeping. His arms were tied, and he couldn’t move for fear of breaking the binds, so it must have been an ordeal for him.

“It seems I unintentionally tortured you.”

“The torture was quite severe.”

Eleanor flinched, but Lian smiled instead.

“Every time you moved, I was going crazy.”

Eleanor’s face reddened at the sudden, brazen words spoken in a calm voice.

“You burrowed into me, making the cutest little sounds.”

“…”

“If I were a prisoner, I would have spilled all state secrets immediately in exchange for having my hands untied.”

His joking suggested he wasn’t angry. But his face was definitely tired, with slight dark circles around his eyes. The dark circles, or perhaps the fact that he hadn’t been able to sleep because he was struggling with desire, made him look wistful.

“I’m fine, so don’t make that face.”

Lian said, poking Eleanor’s worried cheek.

“This is nothing compared to spending a night of destiny with you.”

When Lian came closer and smiled, her face flushed completely. The moment their eyes met, a strange atmosphere filled the air.

The two of them were still in bed. Lian had just had his bound hands freed. He looked at her with moist eyes and placed a hand on her shoulder. His gaze revealed the desire he wanted.

Eleanor felt herself being drawn in but recalled the resolution she had made before she fell asleep and moved her body back.

“It’s about time I went back.”

“Can’t you stay a little longer?”

“You clearly said it would only be for one night.”

As Eleanor got up, Lian followed, taking her hand.

“There’s something I need to say before you go.”

Lian’s eyes were extremely serious. She had a rough idea of what he was about to say.

“Eleanor. I want to formally…”

“I refuse.”

Eleanor’s firm voice echoed in the room.

And for a brief moment, she saw an astonishing array of emotions flash across Rian’s face. She was probably the only one who had ever seen such a variety of expressions on him.

“Eleanor, but…”

“No matter what you say, it won’t change anything.”

It would be a lie to say her heart wasn’t stirred, but the wall of reality was too deep. Even though she had never met her husband, she was still Baroness Marice. The ducal family would never approve of their official relationship, and a princess was also involved. They could never be together unless they eloped.

Their relationship would only end up hurting both of them.

“Did you not develop any feelings for me at all?”

“That’s not the issue. We have to be realistic.”

How cliché to be saying something out of a melodrama like this. But in the five years she had lived as Eleanor, she had experienced all sorts of discrimination and humiliation. She knew from bitter experience that the world was not so easy.

“Are you okay with never seeing me again?”

She couldn’t answer. Rian’s low voice rang in her ears as she remained silent.

“I can’t be. Never.”

Even though she had hardened her heart, seeing Lian’s beautiful eyes made her waver. Eleanor turned her gaze away and deliberately said in a cold, sharp voice.

“Shouldn’t you be saying those things after you’ve created a situation where I can accept them?”

Eleanor quickly poured out her words to the flinching Rian.

“If I have a relationship with you, I’ll lose my status as a baroness and return to being a commoner. I won’t be able to enter noble society, and I’ll lose everything I’ve worked for.”

In reality, she wouldn’t lose her title as baroness immediately unless she remarried. But her mother-in-law, who was always looking for a chance to reclaim the barony, would never let things be. If Eleanor didn’t give up her title, she would surely be accused of adultery to try and leech off Lian as well. Eleanor didn’t want to drag him into such an ugly mess.

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