I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 32

Biancasta’s already pale face shrank even further with tension.

“She’s the one who attempted murder, but I look like the criminal.”

Her pitiful appearance softened Eleanor’s guard, which she had tried to keep up.

Muttering at her own soft-heartedness, Eleanor approached Biancasta.

Then, she extended her hand toward the hesitant woman.

“Take my hand.”

“What?”

“There’s nothing weird on it, so don’t worry.”

Biancasta couldn’t bring herself to take it and just stared at Eleanor’s outstretched hand.

“We don’t have time. Just grab it. I’m not trying to hurt you.”

She deliberately spoke in a sharp tone.

Biancasta flinched, trembling, and slowly reached out.

Her hand was small and thin like a dry twig. When Eleanor grasped it, a jolt like static electricity ran through her.

And in the next moment—

Eleanor bit her lip as she saw a vivid red line slicing through the room.

“So she really is under a spell.”

She had expected it, but the actual line was so surreal it was hard to believe.

It extended from Biancasta’s body in a straight line toward somewhere.

Fortunately, that direction pointed to a window.

“Madam?”

Eleanor tugged on Biancasta’s hand to confirm, and the woman responded in a flustered voice.

“Come this way.”

Biancasta didn’t budge.

This time, rather than pressuring her, Eleanor knew she had to change her approach.

Nothing was certain yet, but it was increasingly likely that Biancasta was a victim.

Eleanor bent down to meet her eyes.

“Maybe I can help you.”

Her tone was calm and businesslike, but the impact of her words was immense.

Even Eleanor, whose job was to move people emotionally, had never seen such an expression.

Biancasta’s green eyes welled up with tears.

“But I… I put poison in your cup…”

“I know. And I know it wasn’t your intention.”

Biancasta, her voice heavy with guilt, trembled and fell silent.

She clutched Eleanor’s hand tightly, as if she had found a rope after ten days trapped in a collapsed cave.

“You might be able to help me too?”

Biancasta nodded blankly.

“Then hold onto me and stand up.”

Eleanor supported her frail body and led her to the window.

When she opened the curtains, a wide view unfolded.

Beyond the cool marble plaza stood the towering imperial palace.

But what caught Eleanor’s eye wasn’t the majestic view admired by all visitors—it was the red line pointing directly toward it.

The two people Eleanor suspected most were there.

“Biancasta.”

Eleanor asked in a low voice.

“Was it Duke Sky Phaedra who ordered you to harm me?”

Biancasta looked sorrowful and shook her head firmly.

“No, no.”

The clear answer was reassuring, but it also sent a chill down Eleanor’s spine.

That left only one possibility.

“Then… was it the princess who tried to kill me?”

Biancasta collapsed into Eleanor’s arms.

Her body was so thin and dry it felt like only bones remained.

It was clear how much she had suffered.

“I… I…”

Biancasta sobbed and stammered.

“I feel like I could die right now and be okay.”

She seemed deeply relieved that someone finally understood the truth she couldn’t tell anyone.

The princess could control Biancasta at any moment.

Even if Eleanor told the truth to the marquis’s household, judging by how the maids treated Biancasta, it was doubtful they’d believe her.

And it was uncertain whether they’d protect her against the princess.

“But someone like me would just be a burden to you…”

Her words showed she had no shred of self-worth left.

Eleanor stroked her small face and shook her head.

“That’s not true. I need you too.”

It wasn’t just sympathy.

Nobles needed justification for their actions.

Biancasta was proof of the mask the princess wore.

She could legitimize Eleanor’s reason to stand against her.

“Biancasta. Is the princess watching you?”

“Probably.”

That meant if they left together, the princess would be informed soon.

Eleanor had come in disguise, so her identity hadn’t been revealed yet—but it was only a matter of time.

After a moment of thought, Eleanor spoke.

“To be safe, let’s say I kidnapped you.”

She said it calmly, then swiftly turned Biancasta around.

“Excuse me.”

Before Biancasta could react, Eleanor struck the back of her neck.

Her frail body collapsed instantly.

“Good thing I learned self-defense just in case.”

Eleanor muttered to herself as she looked down at the unconscious Biancasta.

She hadn’t expected it to work so well on the first try.

While admiring her own skill, she realized something she hadn’t considered.

“I should’ve asked her how to get out before knocking her out.”

But Biancasta didn’t seem like the type to sneak out of the house regularly.

There probably wasn’t a secret passage or escape hatch in the marquis’s daughter’s room anyway.

“Let’s just try to get out.”

Biancasta’s room was in a tower annex, not the main building.

No one had seen Eleanor come in, so with luck, no one would see her leave either.

It was a risky plan relying entirely on luck, but better than wasting time.

Eleanor threw a coat over Biancasta’s nightgown, slung her over her back, and boldly stepped out.

She was small and light, like a child.

“Graham. Let’s go to the hideout first.”

The pursuit didn’t begin until Eleanor had completely disappeared from the mansion’s front.

After switching to a lady’s carriage at the hideout and circling the capital, Eleanor fell deep into thought.

“Where should I go now…”

She had mercenaries and safe houses prepared by Graham.

But those were places a baroness of common birth could find with just a few days of searching.

And Sky had probably placed spies on her.

Considering the powerful enemies she’d face, she needed a more secure hideout.

“In a crisis, use everything you can.”

Eleanor had plenty of connections who would hide her for days—even if she showed up covered in blood.

But choosing poorly could mean going from “Baroness Eleanor” to “the corpse formerly known as Baroness Eleanor.”

“I can’t go to Duke Phaedra.”

Her suspicions of Sky had been cleared, but she still didn’t know why he kept her close.

Without knowing his true intentions, she couldn’t trust him in a dangerous situation.

She needed someone trustworthy, powerful, and above all, someone who would never harm her.

Only one person came to mind.

“Lian.”

She still carried the key he had given her, just in case.

He had promised not to come until called, and if he had prepared the place, it would be well protected.

Her feelings were complicated, but there was no time to dwell on them.

Encounters with patrols were becoming more frequent.

Though disguised as a noblewoman’s carriage, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t be caught if she delayed.

“Graham, to the Shankarn Hotel.”

Eleanor gave the order calmly.

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