I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 3

“I’ll say it again, you must make it look like a coincidence.”

The middle-aged man who introduced himself as Zeppelin repeated what he had said several times already. Eleanor smiled patiently, refraining from showing her annoyance.

“I understand your concerns, Count.”

“It would be a disaster if they found out we were plotting something. If their guard goes up, things will only get more difficult, which is why I’m so worried.”

“Don’t worry. Even in the worst-case scenario, our identities won’t be revealed.”

Despite her reassurance, Zeppelin remained unconvinced. Considering the personality of Lian, as described in the beginning of the novel, his worry was understandable.

“I don’t mean to interfere, as you are the expert, but may I ask what you plan to do?”

“I’ll just be reading a book here.”

The two were currently in Count Lian’s private study on the third floor of the Calabria ducal mansion. Zeppelin wore a dubious expression.

“Won’t he ask why you’re here?”

“I’ll say that I got lost after visiting the mansion for an errand.”

Zeppelin seemed flustered by Eleanor’s relaxed tone.

“He’ll probably just send you away. Count Calabria is a very cold man.”

“Why don’t you trust me and wait to see how things unfold?”

Eleanor understood his concern, but the repetitive questioning was starting to bore her.

“But you don’t know him well, ma’am. He’s very different from the young men who are eager to talk to you because of your beautiful appearance. You might be coldly sent away without even getting a word in.”

“If I don’t get a word in, my identity won’t be revealed, then.”

Eleanor didn’t budge. In truth, her composure wasn’t due to a meticulous plan, but from her foreknowledge that the matter would work out regardless. Furthermore, Zeppelin was wrong. Eleanor knew Lian Calabria well—his personality, his likes and dislikes, and even his future.

“It’s possible that a conversation will happen, against your expectations.”

“I don’t doubt your conversational skills, but what could you possibly talk about with a complete stranger?”

“This is his private study, so there are plenty of topics. Isn’t this a perfect example of Count Calabria’s tastes?”

“The Count is busy with his duties and is an active man who enjoys swordsmanship, so he doesn’t really read…”

“Even so, he must have a favorite book. For example…” Eleanor reached for a bookshelf and pulled out a book. “Something like this.”

The Count’s lips parted when he saw the cover.

“You just guessed?”

There were thousands of books in the study. The book she had chosen looked brand new and well-kept, reflecting Lian’s neat personality, so it didn’t look like a book that was frequently read.

“I am thorough in my research on my clients.”

In reality, she had no intention of going to the trouble of doing research for a job that was so easy to pull off. The novel simply mentioned that he liked that book, without any details, so she couldn’t even guess what it was about.

“Alright. I’ll leave it to you.”

Eleanor’s words succeeded in silencing Zeppelin. Now that she had gained his trust, it would be easier to get involved in the upcoming events.

‘Once Count Lian gets together with the princess, all I have to do is pretend that it was all thanks to me.’

A huge fortune was within her reach. Eleanor, in a pleasant mood, walked over to the red armchair in the center of the study and sat down.

“I’ll see you later, then.”

They exchanged goodbyes, but Zeppelin didn’t leave and watched her for a moment.

‘Why isn’t he leaving?’

After a moment of deep thought, he spoke. “You are much younger than I expected, ma’am. And as I’ve heard, very beautiful.”

A compliment after a moment of deep thought?

“Thank you for the kind words.” Eleanor offered a conventional thank you.

Zeppelin looked as if something was bothering him, but he said no more and left the study.

‘Hmm. So what should I do to pass the time?’

There was no telling when the Count would return. Left alone, Eleanor decided to pretend to read the book she was holding. The title looked boring and her hand was heavy as she turned the first page, but her pace quickened after a while.

‘It’s more interesting than I thought.’

It was an educational book on a heavy topic, but it was easy to get into thanks to its use of humor and accessible language. She also liked the gravitas of the profound sentences.

Deeply engrossed in the book, Eleanor suddenly sensed a presence. She slowly raised her head, and her eyes widened. She knew immediately without having to ask.

Lian Floyd Calabria was standing there.

He had perfectly chiseled platinum blond hair, fair skin, and crimson lips. His delicate, fine-boned face was completed with a sharp nose, a well-defined jawline, and neat eyebrows, while his vivid purple eyes gave him a mystical aura.

She had met countless socialites, models, and celebrities, but she had never seen a man like this. The original novel, which had embellished him with excessive flattery, was not an exaggeration. He was more than just handsome; he was unreal, and the aura he exuded made it almost overwhelming to look at him.

While Eleanor was mesmerized, Lian remained silent.

‘Why is he just standing there?’

He didn’t ask, ‘What are you doing here?’ or say, ‘Get out.’ He just stood there, expressionlessly looking down at her. Eleanor, who had regained some of her senses, decided she should speak first.

‘What should I say…’

Offering the excuse that she was lost without being asked would sound pathetic, as it was basically asking him to show her out. As she fumbled for words, she suddenly felt the weight of the book in her hand. A brilliant idea came to her.

“‘Space is infinite and eternal. People divide it with walls, creating their own places and etching history into them.'”

At Eleanor’s quiet words, which flowed from her crimson lips, Lian’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“Have you read Sir Christopher Hansendale’s ‘The History of Space’?”

His chiseled face, which had been as still as a statue, slowly smiled.

“I love it very much.”

His voice was low and sweet, like honey. Even though he was talking about the book, her heart almost skipped a beat as if she had received a confession.

Eleanor tried to hide her pounding heart and made a clear suggestion. “Would you like to have a brief chat with someone who loves the same book?”

She didn’t show it on her face, but she was very nervous during the short time it took for him to react. Eleanor watched Lian approach her with a sense of trepidation. He stretched out his long legs and sat down with her on the armchair.

“What do you want to talk about?”

From his dry question, Eleanor knew she had at least avoided the embarrassment of being immediately kicked out. However, a hurdle still remained. From now on, she had to lecture him about how he should take an interest in women and how he needed to approach them first to win their hearts, as if he needed a theory for such things. With his looks and power, he could honestly get away with anything.

He could tell a nonsensical joke, like how when several Mrs. Pages gather, they become Mrs. Books, or spend thirty minutes explaining an uninteresting fact about how a 483-grit sandpaper is best for sharpening a sword, and there would still be a line of women waiting for him. If looks were power, this man would be King Platina, a legendary figure famous for unifying the continent.

Eleanor tried to push away her embarrassment and steel herself. She had no choice but to be shameless.

‘I’ll never see him again anyway.’

She was already a divorcee, unlike a maiden who might have a chance with him. If she endured a moment of embarrassment, she would never have to face him again. She had even read sensual novels to old people in a market to survive, so she could handle this.

“The book has this passage…”

‘A mansion must repay the human heart in proportion to the effort put into it. If it can satisfy any expectation…'”

“‘…it can be called a good mansion.'”

Lian finished Eleanor’s sentence. She subtly steered the conversation to the main point, trying to calm her fluttering heart.

“Have you ever considered responding to a fervent expectation, Count?”

“An expectation?”

“The expectations of the countless women who love you.”

Lian raised an eyebrow slightly. Eleanor quickly added, as if he were about to get angry. “If you show some interest, you’ll realize that women are truly lovely beings.”

This time, Lian slightly furrowed the eyebrow he had raised. She shrank back, thinking he was about to tell her to leave, but an unexpected response came from his lips.

“It’s not that I’m not interested in women.”

At this point, was Lian originally interested in Princess Eileen? She didn’t know. The novel didn’t mention that part.

‘Well, what does it matter…’

If he was interested in women, that was good. It meant the conversation would go smoothly. Eleanor flinched as she was about to speak. Lian’s face had moved to be very close to hers.

“I just don’t give my attention to anyone but the women I’m interested in.”

Her face grew hot at his low, whispering voice. Eleanor knew his words were the truth. He was the male lead of the novel she had read repeatedly. She hadn’t just read it because it was fun; she had fallen completely for his character, which was exactly to her taste. A man who was cold but infinitely gentle, upright, and sexy to his woman.

He was smiling as he looked at her.

‘Why is he looking at me like this?’

She felt as if the violet-colored eyes had taken on a strange light. As she stared at him, her heart, which had been still for years, began to beat rapidly. Even if Lian was a bad boy in the original story, a woman who owned a chaste lady’s monument and was a devout believer in the ascetic school would not be able to endure being looked at like that.

‘What am I thinking? This man is going to get married soon.’

Eleanor tried to move away from him by leaning back slightly. But before she could create some distance, he moved even closer. Soon her back hit the back of the chair. There was nowhere else to go. Lian leaned over her and placed his hand on the armrest behind her, trapping her within his arm.

‘How did this happen?’

She couldn’t understand the situation. Had something happened that would lead to this? None of the scenarios she had imagined before coming here were anything like this. As she panicked, the sweet, spicy scent of the man’s body wafted over her. Her body grew hot. The pomegranate-like lips that had been holding her gaze were now right in front of her eyes.

“The reason you’re here…” His low voice asked her, “Did my father send you?”

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