I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 14

The annex palace of the Haskator Empire was bustling with foreign envoys gathered for the Princess’s birthday celebration. The accommodations were strictly arranged based on the power and status of each nation. At the heart of it all, in the most lavish and majestic palace, stood Duke Robert of the Phaedra Principality, who was visiting his son’s room.

“It seems it would be best to postpone your return home.”

Duke Sky Phaedra, who was reading a book, frowned and looked up.

“For what reason?”

Although he had come to Felicity for the Princess’s birthday, Sky’s true purpose was to secure a business deal for his principality. He planned to leave the conservative and tedious empire as soon as the meetings were concluded.

“I believe a rather good opportunity has presented itself to you.”

“What kind of opportunity?”

Sky assumed it was another business deal, but Duke Robert’s words were completely unexpected.

“It appears the Princess is going to cancel her engagement.”

Sky’s eyes lit up slightly at the news, which had the potential to shake global politics. His principality had become independent by receiving a title. While that might sound impressive, in reality, it was more of a detachment from the empire than an acknowledgment of merit. The Phaedra Principality was the shadow of the Empire of Light, Haskator. It was a place of breathtaking coastal views, contrasted with a vast, barren inland. The entire principality was a city of pleasure, filled with entertainment and cultural venues, and the hub of a massive underground economy that ran through the heart of the continent.

“The Princess would never consider me.”

The Haskator Empire was an overwhelmingly dominant power; it was more beneficial for its highest-ranking nobles to marry within the empire than to seek matches with other great kingdoms. While Sky Phaedra was a prince of the underworld with immense wealth and influence, his profession made him an undesirable match. The empire’s five dukes didn’t even show a shred of respect for Robert, a grand duke who was technically their superior, and often treated him with disdain. The gulf between Sky and the Princess was, of course, immense.

But the Duke of Phaedra was persistent.

“You know about Lian Calabria, don’t you?”

“Who doesn’t?”

Sky nodded as if it were a given. Everyone knew the name of the Knight Commander Lian Calabria, a man straight out of a fairy tale, even if they didn’t know the names of the Emperor or Princess. As was common for royalty, Sky had studied in the Haskator Empire during his youth and had seen Lian on a few occasions.

“I hear the Princess chose him purely of her own will. If she’s a girl who falls for a handsome face, couldn’t you have a chance?”

Sky was handsome enough for Duke Robert to make such a comment. With his smooth black hair, a pleasant tan, and sharp, ocean-blue eyes, his distinct features exuded a powerful masculinity that stood out among male royals who often looked rather delicate. Despite being the heir to the infamous principality, he received frequent marriage proposals from kingdoms due to his widely known good looks.

However, Sky simply scoffed.

“A woman who loves a man like Lian Calabria wouldn’t even give me a second glance.”

“Oh, really?”

“Besides, I have no interest in such a child.”

A sweet, angelic girl was not his type at all. It wasn’t just the age difference; Sky simply found no appeal in that kind of woman. His ideal woman was intelligent, elegant, and refined, with a contrasting charm that allowed her to be infinitely sensual at night. He wasn’t a womanizer, but his sensuous looks were matched by his enjoyment of relationships. He detested being caught up in drama with multiple mistresses and wanted a wife with a similar temperament. He couldn’t expect that from the Princess, who had been raised in the strict confines of her high status. If he had to choose a wife for a political alliance, he’d prefer an intelligent, sensible woman who could help grow the principality, even if her background was weaker.

“If you win that girl’s hand, you could stand at the pinnacle of the world.”

“That won’t happen,” Sky said bluntly.

“Even if a Phaedra like me were to marry the Princess, I would only be a puppet emperor.”

“What’s wrong with that? You could sit at the top and leave the annoying tasks to the dukes.”

“But the banquet was very somber. Rumor has it that Lian Calabria fell for a low-status woman and rejected the Princess.”

Sky, who had been listening casually, straightened his posture and asked,

“He fell for a low-status woman? Lian Calabria?”

“Yes. They say he’s completely smitten with a beautiful widow.”

Sky had assumed the cancellation was for a political reason. The timing was quite late. Duke Robert never interfered in Sky’s affairs, but he was concerned about his son’s complete lack of interest in marriage. He had likely brought up the Princess not because he seriously wanted Sky to woo her, but to pressure him into marrying soon.

“I’ll do it, so please stop nagging.”

Once Sky agreed, the Duke left the room. Left alone, Sky sank into his armchair, deep in thought, toying with a grape. Ordinarily, he would have been focused on the geopolitical shifts resulting from the broken engagement, but his attention was elsewhere. His mind drifted back to the first time he had seen Lian.

It was the year Sky turned 14. He was studying in the empire. The noble school was relaxed and easygoing, so with his natural intellect and talent, he easily became the best at everything. Everywhere he went, people welcomed and praised him, but he found it all tedious and boring. He was going through an arrogant and cynical adolescence. Even the capital of the world’s most powerful nation failed to hold his interest. He had been considering dropping his studies and returning to the principality to begin his political training.

‘That’s when he appeared.’

Lian, who was 11 at the time, enrolled in the same noble school. This was their first meeting, as Lian had been living in the Floyd territory since Sky had enrolled. Sky remembered the moment he first saw him vividly. Lian immediately captivated his attention. Even as a young boy, he exuded a powerful, dignified aura. Lian surpassed him in subjects Sky found uninteresting, like herbal medicine and sorcery. But Lian showed no signs of being upset by their academic rivalry. In fact, he showed no interest in Sky at all. Nothing but his sword seemed to capture his attention. This was a man who had no one in his sights. And now, for the first time, he had shown interest in someone.

‘He fell for a beautiful widow?’

The Lian Calabria he knew was a stoic swordsman, indifferent even to women who threw themselves at him. He couldn’t imagine such a man, no matter how much he had changed since his youth, getting entangled with a socialite.

‘What kind of woman is she?’

She had to be extraordinary. Instead of staying on the sidelines, he felt a desire to see for himself. Having made up his mind, Sky let out a low whistle. A figure suddenly appeared in the seemingly empty room.

“Zenith.”

Sky called out the name without any hint of surprise. Zenith was Sky’s loyal aide. While nobles in the empire, with its good public order, didn’t typically have such aides, they were common in the Phaedra Principality due to the frequent assassinations tied to its deep involvement in the underground economy.

“You called, my lord?”

“I want you to find something out for me.”

Zenith gave a slight nod, indicating he was listening.

“Investigate the woman the Count of Calabria has fallen for. Get as many details as possible.”

While monitoring the movements of Lian Calabria, a key figure in the empire, was important, this was driven more by personal curiosity.

“I will carry out your command.”

Zenith replied and vanished from the room. Sky leaned back deeper into his armchair. He had a feeling something interesting was about to happen.

At the same time, a major commotion was erupting at the House of Calabria, which stood tall in the center of the capital. The Duke of Calabria rose to his feet and roared,

“What kind of ridiculous thing are you saying?!”

The normally composed duke’s face was red with anger, his veins bulging. His bloodshot eyes and fierce expression were utterly terrifying. However, Lian, the target of his fury, remained calm. When Rian showed no reaction, the duke’s roar echoed through the study once again.

“You want to marry a widow?! Are you even serious?!”

Support