I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 27

Blaine scowled, staring at the towering detached palace before him. Though he frequented the imperial palace, his steps had never felt so heavy.

‘I made it this far, but is this really okay?’

The reason for his sullen expression was his troublesome friend, of course. It had been four days since Baroness Eleanor took up residence in Duke Phaedra’s detached palace. He had only made things worse by bringing up her whereabouts, creating a problem where there wasn’t one.

Far from giving up on the baroness, Lian had been holed up in Blaine’s mansion, radiating an aura so murderous it was terrifying to approach him. Blaine had desperately tried to talk him out of meeting Eleanor. The social circles were already in an uproar, and a rumor that Lian had gone to Duke Phaedra’s to get Eleanor back would have been catastrophic.

‘If I could, I’d knock him out and tie him up.’

He would have, too, if Lian wasn’t so much stronger than him. Luckily, there was one way to break through Lian’s stubbornness.

“You’ve already been rejected. If you go barging in and get rejected again, you’re done for! If you don’t listen to me and just rush in, she won’t just dislike you; she’ll despise you!”

In reality, Blaine had no real dating experience and a terrible track record with women, having been dumped six times after introducing them to Lian. Any reasonable man would have ignored his dating advice, but Lian was even more inexperienced than Blaine.

“She wants something concrete, right? Look at Duke Phaedra—he brings her to his detached palace, and she accepts him immediately. Instead of acting like a stalker, you need to prepare to officially win her over.”

That quieted him down, but Lian then told Blaine to deliver a letter in his stead. This, at least, prevented a situation where Duke Phaedra might get stabbed by Lian’s sword.

‘The problem is, I might be the one getting stabbed by Duke Phaedra’s sword.’

Blaine approached the entrance, hoping that in the Phaedra Duchy, delivering a love letter from another man to a lover wasn’t considered a breach of etiquette.

Soon, an elderly man approached and spoke to him politely. “May I help you?”

His foreign accent suggested he was the duke’s butler, not the palace groundskeeper.

“I’ve come to see Baroness Eleanor.”

“Ah, I see. Please wait a moment.”

Blaine waited nervously in the hall.

‘If he rejects me, I’ll just give up and go home.’

He was certain he would be rejected. He could just tell Lian he did his best, but there was nothing he could do. Just as he finished steeling himself, the butler returned.

“His Excellency, Duke Phaedra, is waiting for you.”

“What? No, that’s not… What did you say?”

The worst-case scenario, even worse than rejection, had just happened.

“Please follow me.”

The butler led Blaine with flawless composure. The corridor looked like a path to the gallows, but as a member of the Imperial Knights, Blaine couldn’t turn back and cowardly followed the butler.

He was soon led to a heavy wooden door that seemed impossible to open alone. Seeing Sky seated in his study, Blaine subconsciously gulped.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Viscount Canterbury.”

Duke Phaedra, though only a few years older, naturally spoke down to Blaine. However, perhaps due to the huge difference in rank and the charisma radiating from his handsome face, Blaine didn’t feel angry.

What were young men eating these days to be so tall with such small faces? Blaine cursed the unfairness of the world under his breath.

“You said you came to see the baroness?”

Sigh. Even his voice is nice.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What message do you wish to convey?”

“With your permission, I’d like to deliver it directly.”

Sky flatly rejected Blaine’s surprisingly courageous request.

“Unfortunately, the baroness is not feeling well at the moment. It would be difficult for you to see her directly.”

“What’s wrong with her?”

“It’s a sensitive matter. You can ask her yourself later, once she’s feeling better.”

If Rian found out she was unwell, he’d go crazy again.

“How long will the baroness be staying here?”

“Hmm. For as long as she wishes.”

She’s not leaving anytime soon, then. Blaine sighed, pulling the letter he had prepared from his pocket.

“Please give this to her.”

“You came prepared with a letter?”

“The message isn’t from me.”

“I see.”

He must have known Blaine was here on Lian’s behalf. The fact that he was playing dumb showed he was a cunning man. Sky took the letter from Blaine’s hand just as he was about to place it on the desk.

“Are you going to open it first?”

“Of course.”

The answer was utterly unapologetic. It was a little late now, but Blaine prayed the letter didn’t contain any insults or murder plots against Duke Phaedra.

“Lian said to tell her she can use what’s inside freely,” Blaine added the short message. Sky nodded as if he understood.

His business was concluded, but Blaine didn’t turn to leave immediately. He was curious on his own accord, separate from Rian.

“Excuse me, but before I go, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Are the two of you currently lovers?”

“Well. What do you think?”

Sky neither confirmed nor denied it.

“What does the viscount think?”

Sky’s smiling face, as he turned the question back, was like a skilled diplomat, revealing nothing.

“Judging by the fact that you’re using separate rooms, I’d say no.”

Blaine answered audaciously to test him. Rian’s trusted servant was incredibly capable and had even infiltrated the detached palace to protect Eleanor. According to his reports, the two had been staying in separate rooms since the first night. Without that report, there’s no way he could have stopped Rian from rushing over.

“Is Count Calabria monitoring even this far? He is truly a remarkable man.”

Duke Phaedra looked intrigued but showed no fear despite the infiltration.

“Do you have feelings for her, Duke Phaedra?”

“I do.”

Blaine was taken aback by the frank answer. He had expected another ambiguous response, but this was the first time Sky had confirmed it. Blaine had wondered if this was all for political reasons, to keep Rian in check, but this made things even more complicated.

“So, for the future, I can’t let you see her. You should go now.”

Sky said flatly, ending the conversation unilaterally. Reluctantly, Blaine turned to leave, but at the door, he asked the one question that bothered him the most.

“Just answer me one thing. That night you slept in the same bed, did you lay with her?”

It was a rude question, no matter who the other person was. Blaine was very nervous, but Sky didn’t look displeased.

“I’ll tell you, since your life is on the line.”

Sky slowly rose and approached Blaine. He tapped him on the shoulder and said in a low voice, “Tell him not to worry. I was tied up.”

Blaine’s jaw dropped.

Baroness Eleanor. What a fearsome woman! To make both Lian Calabria and Sky Phaedra her bondage slaves!

Why did all the handsome men of the empire have such consistent tastes? Maybe the reason he wasn’t popular was that he didn’t have a bondage fetish. Blaine left the detached palace, still reeling from the shock.

Eleanor sighed, closing the book she was reading. She had come to the library to learn more about magic but had no luck. The detached palace’s library had a small collection, and there were no books on sorcery, no matter how hard she looked.

‘Is this my only option?’

She lowered her gaze to the plain ring on her finger. It had a strange jewel that appeared red or blue depending on the angle. This was the String Stone that Graham had procured for her. She had managed to acquire it for a large sum but hadn’t had a chance to use it for days.

Biancasta Weiss was reportedly holed up in her mansion, not going out at all. That meant she couldn’t hope to run into her at a party.

‘I guess I have no choice but to go to her directly.’

She could accuse her of being a poisoner, which would lead to an official investigation, but the risk was too great. For a baroness of commoner origin to point fingers at a marquess’s daughter, she needed irrefutable proof. But for now, there was neither evidence nor a witness. Of course, it would be different if Duke Sky Phaedra testified on her behalf…

‘He’s the most suspicious one.’

Though she was indebted to him for now, her suspicions grew with each passing day. A master of pharmacy who was also knowledgeable in magic. He could create rare poisons and, with his charming looks and speaking skills, it would be easy for him to manipulate an innocent girl and cast a spell. On top of that, he was there that very day.

‘I have to investigate Biancasta without him knowing.’

How could she evade his surveillance? As Eleanor was pondering the matter, a voice suddenly startled her.

“You seem very busy.”

Eleanor looked up. A man had approached and was standing behind her.

‘Who is this?’

He was a tall man with distinct features, despite his middle age. His bright brown hair and beard, tanned skin, and exotic clothing were unfamiliar yet somehow familiar.

“Are you the widow who caught Lian Calabria’s eye?” the man said with a thick foreign accent. His manner was a bit rude, but he carried it with an air of superiority.

“Who… are you?”

She had a rough idea of who he was, but Eleanor asked for confirmation.

“I am the current owner of this detached palace.”

Just as she suspected. He was Sky’s father and the owner of the Phaedra Duchy, Grand Duke Robert Phaedra.

“I didn’t recognize Your Highness. Please forgive my rudeness.”

Eleanor quickly rose and paid her respects.

“It’s not the first time my son has brought a woman here, but it’s the first time I’ve seen one stay past the next morning.”

Cold sweat ran down her back from the tension. She had to quickly defuse the situation before he flew into a rage like the Duke of Calabria.

“Please don’t worry. I’ll be leaving soon myself.”

“What did you say?”

“His Excellency and I have no relationship whatsoever.”

She felt like she was saying this a lot lately. Eleanor’s words, meant to reassure him, only made the Grand Duke’s expression harden.

“That’s a problem.”

Grand Duke Phaedra exclaimed ominously, his face turning pale. “The guy whose relationships with women don’t even last half a day finally has a woman he’s been with for days! And you’re leaving right away! No, you can’t!”

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