I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 23

With a tumultuous cry, the horses’ frantic neighing brought the carriage to a sudden stop. Due to the abrupt halt, Blaine almost fell to the floor.

“What are you doing! Are you crazy?”

“I have to see Eleanor.”

Blaine barely managed to steady himself and desperately grabbed onto Lian, who looked like he was about to jump out of the carriage.

“Give up on that woman, Lian!”

“I can’t.”

“It’s too late! It’s already morning! She must have spent the night with that man!”

Lyan paused for a moment. Then, an icy aura emanated from him, so intense that Blaine worried he might get stabbed with a real sword. This was the first time he had ever seen Lyan, a man he had thought incapable of emotional fluctuation, this angry.

“Even if that’s true…”

Lian’s voice, gritted through his red lips, was barely a whisper.

“I can’t just stand by and watch her be with him.”

To go and beg her even though she might have been in another man’s arms—he was out of his mind. Blaine tried his best to stop him, but Lian, as if he had eaten a polar bear the night before, had immense strength that made it impossible to hold him back. Dragged along, Blaine didn’t stop talking.

“What do you plan to do when you get there?”

“I’ll meet Eleanor and talk to her directly.”

“Do you think Duke Phaedra will just let you two meet?”

Instead of answering, Lian drew his sword. It seemed he intended to cut the reins and ride the horse himself. Looking at the intense glint in his eyes and on the blade, it was clear that if anyone blocked his way, Duke Phaedra’s head might be in for a “goodbye kiss” from his body.

“Are you going to cut him down? On what authority? You two aren’t even in a relationship.”

Blaine’s shout finally had an effect. Lyan’s movements came to a complete stop.

“Didn’t the Baroness formally reject your proposal? Do you really think she’ll see you if you show up like this?”

In truth, because of Lian’s immense wealth, prestige, and good looks, this fact was often overlooked, but he had indeed been soundly rejected by Eleanor. Seeing that his words were having an effect, Blaine’s voice grew louder.

“Are you going to threaten the Baroness with a sword too? If you act like that, she’ll grow to resent you even more.”

Lian’s face turned pale, and the killing intent dissipated. Blaine stepped forward, took the sword from his hand, and calmly patted his back.

“Let’s just go back to the mansion. The first thing you need to do is calm down.”

Blaine led the frozen Lian back into the carriage. The rocking carriage was filled with silence. Lian had become quiet, but he looked like his soul had left his body. Lian being angry was one thing, but a sad Lian was just as hard to get used to.

“Just forget about her. She’s not the one for you.”

Blaine never thought he would live to see the day he would have to comfort Lian over a woman. He had always assumed that if a woman met him, she would cling to him desperately. After all, he was the most eligible bachelor in the world.

But with Sky appearing, the story was different. Unlike Lian, who had to face the massive ordeal of a conflict with the Imperial family, Duke Phaedra was relatively free. He had more wealth than he could ever spend in a lifetime and was devilishly handsome as well.

‘This must be the solution.’

While the Baroness’s behavior was a bit annoying and vexing, if she went to Sky, all the problems would be solved. Lian would be disappointed, but he would marry the princess anyway and eventually forget about Eleanor.

Just as Blaine was entertaining this hopeful thought, a low voice came from Lian.

“If I could have given up, I wouldn’t have started.”

“What?”

“It’s not over until I hear it from her own lips.”

But you were already rejected, Blaine thought.

“I’ll meet her and resolve this directly.”

It was a simple sentence, but the low, sinking tone made it sound ominous. Is someone going to die today? A cold sweat ran down Blaine’s back from the chilling premonition.

Eleanor woke up to the feeling of sunlight on her face. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but since the sun was high in the sky, it must be midday. She squinted her eyes open, and an unfamiliar ceiling came into view.

‘Where am I?’

As she thought blankly and turned her gaze, Eleanor was shocked. A man with beautiful black hair was sitting at the head of the bed, looking down at her.

“Sleep well?”

Seeing him smile, the name “Sky Phaedra” came to mind. At the same time, a hazy memory of last night vaguely surfaced.

‘I met this man on the terrace, and I definitely went outside after that…’

The rest was extremely blurry. Eleanor furrowed her brows and asked, “What exactly happened to me?”

“Well, what you see is what you get.”

She was in comfortable loungewear, and Sky was wearing a robe. A man and a woman had spent the night together in the same room in loose clothing.

“You don’t seem surprised. Are you used to this kind of situation?”

When Eleanor sat up calmly, Sky raised an eyebrow. If it was already done, what was the point of screaming? Still, she didn’t feel like she had slept with him.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I’m thinking your reputation is overrated.”

Sky raised an eyebrow, as if to ask what she meant.

“I heard you were quite a passionate lover, but my body doesn’t feel tired at all.”

Eleanor’s composed words seemed to stun Sky for a moment before he burst into laughter.

“You’ve got me. For the sake of my honor, I can’t let you keep your mouth shut.”

With a cheerful face, Sky asked a question.

“Do you know of a poison called Pyranetarium?”

When Eleanor shook her head, he explained it lightly.

“It’s a deadly poison made by boiling a wildflower called ‘Pyratt,’ which grows on the outskirts of the Empire. It has almost no scent when you drink it, but once you swallow it, you vomit blood that smells sweet.”

“And I drank that?”

“Yes. I knew it when I smelled the scent on you.”

After hearing his words, a little more of last night’s memory came back. The sensation of pain she felt after drinking the wine. And also who had given it to her.

“It’s very rare, so not many people know about it, and only the extremely wealthy can get their hands on it.”

It was a poison Eleanor had never heard of.

“Then you saved me?”

“Yes. You should consider yourself lucky.”

Sky said it boastfully, but then corrected himself.

“I’d like to say that, but actually, you survived because you didn’t drink a lethal dose. This poison has no antidote; if you’re poisoned, you’ll vomit blood until you die. Since it’s stopped, you’re alive.”

Even so, it was a fact that she had received his help. Eleanor straightened her posture and honestly thanked him.

“Thanks to you, I’ve seen the morning. I won’t forget this grace.”

“I’ll gladly accept your gratitude. I suffered all night nursing you. The scent was so strong it gave me a headache.”

Sky extended his finger and lifted Eleanor’s lowered chin. Soon, his jewel-like green eyes met hers. He stared at her intently and then gently stroked her lips with the finger that had held her chin.

“It was so sweet that even knowing it was poison, I wanted to kiss you.”

His gaze held a strange heat. The atmosphere grew awkward, and she felt uncomfortable. She had no intention of experiencing his passionate lovemaking as a token of her gratitude.

“Thank you for saving me.”

With a sense of distance in her greeting, Eleanor subtly moved her body back.

“You’re still wary of me. That’s not the look you give to someone who saved your life.”

Eleanor didn’t bother to deny Sky’s observation.

“Why did you help me?”

“Is ‘because I like you’ not a sufficient answer?”

Eleanor’s furrowed brow answered for her.

“You don’t believe me, do you?”

“I’ve been living as a criminal’s widow since I was a teenager.”

Sky gave a look that said, “So what?” He probably had already investigated her entire history before coming to her.

“It’s hard to be naive enough to believe the affections of a high-ranking noble who suddenly appears.”

Sky didn’t lose his smile at her sharp response. He even seemed satisfied.

“Then is that also why you rejected Count Calabria’s affection?”

“I didn’t reject him.”

“Well, if you want to leave it at that, let’s just say that.”

He didn’t seem to believe her at all. Eleanor had no intention of arguing with him over something that wasn’t important.

“What do you want in return for your kindness, Duke?”

She returned to the core issue and asked him directly.

“Isn’t it obvious why a man is kind to a woman?”

Eleanor didn’t even flinch at Sky’s sly words and countered.

“I won’t be the kind of person you want.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It means I can’t warm your bed.”

“What if you refuse me? Surely you’re not planning to go outside in that state?”

“My legs are fine, so there’s nothing I can’t do.”

She had no intention of begging for her life with empty promises. Seeing her boldness, Sky raised both hands and said with a cool tone.

“Alright. Then I’ll show you my passion when you’re in the mood for it.”

As he backed down, Eleanor felt some relief. She then asked the next question that was on her mind.

“What happened to Marchioness Vice?”

“I haven’t taken any action yet.”

Recalling the situation before she lost consciousness, only Sky had noticed that Eleanor had drunk poison.

“Did that woman give you the poison?”

“Probably.”

“Should I send someone to the Legal Tribunal?”

The Legal Tribunal was the judiciary of the Empire. After thinking for a moment, Eleanor shook her head.

“No. For now, I’d rather not let the outside world know until I’ve sorted out my thoughts.”

There were many questionable things about Biancasta’s actions. Until that was resolved, she wanted to avoid making the House of Vice an enemy. Sky readily agreed.

“Alright. I’ll do that.”

“And there are several things that need to be dealt with. First, at the House of Litrael…”

“Wait, wait.”

Sky raised his hand to stop Eleanor from speaking.

“Let’s do that slowly. Stability is the priority right now.”

“I’m fine now.”

Instead of trying to persuade Eleanor, Sky opened the side table and tossed something to her. She caught it; it was a beautiful hand mirror with a jeweled setting.

“I’ll believe you’re fine when your lips look like mine again.”

Her lips, reflected in the mirror, were as pale as her skin. It seemed that her lips returning to their original color was a sign that the detoxification was complete. When Eleanor nodded, Sky gracefully got up.

“Then just stay put. I have things to do.”

“Wait a moment.”

Eleanor called out to Sky, who was about to leave the room.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“If possible, I’d like to bring my assistant, Ms. Graham… here.”

“Assistant?”

“Yes. She might be in danger, too.”

The real reason was that she needed the help of a trustworthy person to proceed with various matters. Sky gave a skeptical look but readily agreed.

“Alright. I’ll bring her. In return, you focus on your recovery.”

After saying that, Sky left the room. Her mind was complex with various thoughts, but as he said, recovering her body was the first priority. Eleanor decided to rest until Graham arrived and nestled herself in the bed.

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