I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 40

You want to tie me up?

Eleanor blinked in confusion, and Lian chuckled.

“This time, I’ll be the one to tie you up.”

With that, Lian fumbled in his pocket. Eleanor watched, wondering if he was about to pull out a rope, but a moment later, what he held was a small box.

It was an exquisite gold-trimmed box decorated with black velvet. When he opened it, a brilliant light reflected off it, making Eleanor flinch. Lying on the red silk was an incredibly expensive-looking necklace.

“Is that…?”

Lian put his arm around Eleanor’s shoulder and led her to the mirror. He stood behind her, a head taller, and they looked at their reflections together. Lian took the necklace out with his slender fingers and held it up to Eleanor’s neck.

“When on earth did you get something like this?”

“I found and purchased it on the very first day I went to the auction house to buy the mansion.”

The dazzling pure gold and the large blue diamond at its center, surrounded by countless other diamonds, were, in Eleanor’s expert opinion, an immense treasure. It wasn’t the kind of item you just stumbled upon and bought on a whim.

Lian slowly fastened it around Eleanor’s pale neck. Eleanor, who had been gazing at it in a daze, flinched the moment Lian’s fingers touched the nape of her neck.

“Huh?”

Eleanor was startled and instinctively recoiled. For a moment, she had seen something red behind Lian.

“Is something wrong?”

She turned to look at Lian, but whatever she thought she saw was gone. She was left with an unsettling feeling, but she couldn’t immediately recall why.

“No, I must have just seen something wrong.”

Not wanting to ruin this beautiful moment, Eleanor quickly brushed it off and turned back around. Fortunately, Lian had already fastened the chain, so the necklace didn’t fall off.

“Now that I’ve tied you up with this, you must never take it off,” Lian whispered with a content voice, looking at Eleanor through the mirror.

Eleanor, too, gazed at the necklace with a sense of pride. The necklace itself was thick, and the combination of gold, the large blue diamond, and the many small, colorful diamonds gave off a brilliant light that was radiant and had an overwhelming presence.

“Is this… a historical piece?”

“It’s a necklace that the fourth king of the Colonta Kingdom had made by artisans from across the nation to celebrate marrying the woman he had long loved.”

It was incredibly valuable, but that also meant it was very old. How could she possibly thank him for such a gift? Though she had received countless presents, this was the first one that made her feel so happy.

As Eleanor thought about this with a moved heart, an idea to tease Lian popped into her head. She smiled to herself, then deliberately hardened her expression and spoke.

“It’s not really in style these days.”

At the words of Eleanor, a fashion leader who dictated trends in high society, the smile on Lian’s face faltered, replaced by a look of panic.

“Oh, is that so? I’m not very knowledgeable about those things…”

“A large necklace like this won’t match any of the dresses I own.”

That was true. However, if she wanted to, she could easily have a dress made to perfectly match the necklace.

“Ah, I… I thought you would like it…”

Lian’s flustered appearance was uncharacteristically adorable. Who would have thought this man, so fun to tease, was the cold, expressionless Stellaire? Eleanor suppressed the urge to laugh and continued with a stern tone.

“Well, since I’m tied up, I have no choice. I guess I’ll have to keep wearing it.”

Eleanor said this coquettishly as she turned around. She pulled on the necklace with the tip of her finger and looked up at a helpless-looking Lian.

“When you return, please come and take it off yourself, Count.”

Lian’s expression changed subtly at her charming words. For a while, he remained frozen, not moving an inch.

His lack of response started to make Eleanor uneasy. ‘What if he thinks I’m genuinely complaining because I don’t like it?’ She didn’t dislike it, nor did she mean to be so capricious.

Just as Eleanor was about to make an excuse, Lian spoke in a low voice.

“Somehow…”

Lian trailed off, clearing his throat. Then he leaned close to Eleanor’s ear and whispered softly.

“I’ve become excited.”

Why would he be excited about her asking him to take off the necklace? Her relief was immediately replaced by embarrassment.

Eleanor’s face turned beet red as she hit Lian’s arm and stepped back.

“Don’t say such strange things! Go and prepare thoroughly for your departure from the capital!”

Lian looked incredibly regretful but silently stood up. He had likely only managed to squeeze in this visit with great difficulty.

“Promise me you’ll give me an answer when I return,” Lian said with a serious expression before leaving.

Eleanor felt a tingly sensation, which was both wonderful and difficult to endure. She looked away and answered in a small, strained voice.

“…Alright. Just make sure you come back alive.”

“I won’t die while you’re waiting.”

Lian’s red lips, in her line of sight, were smiling. He lingered for a moment even after finishing his sentence, then pulled Eleanor into an embrace.

“I know I shouldn’t do this, but…”

Lian bent down and placed a long, lingering kiss on Eleanor’s forehead. The warm touch reawakened the familiar fire within her. He kissed her for a long time, and yet it seemed he couldn’t bear to leave. He toyed with her lips as if wanting to kiss her, then reluctantly pulled away and whispered in her ear.

“I love you.”

The warmth of his voice lingered in Eleanor’s ear long after he was gone.

Knights were lined up on parade in the vast training grounds of the Imperial Palace. The sight of the knights, in black uniforms with golden insignias, standing solemnly with their silver swords held upright in front of their bodies, was a magnificent spectacle, but the atmosphere was somber.

Minaz and Claude, who were walking out of the VIP room to attend the send-off ceremony, stopped for a moment to watch the scene.

Soon, Minaz broke the silence and spoke her thoughts.

“Sigh. Even on his way to his death, Lian looks so handsome.”

Claude, who had been wearing a serious expression beside her, frowned and rebuked her.

“Is this really the time to be swooning over the Count of Calabria in such a grave situation?”

“So you’re saying I should only think of him during my suspiciously long showers, like you do?”

Claude’s face flushed in horror at Minaz’s subtle jab.

“Please, behave like a Duke of the Empire!”

“I’m just healthy and honest. You’re the one who should stop fawning over the Count of Calabria and pay some attention to women, like a Duke of the Empire should.”

“Who said I’m not interested in women?”

“So you are?”

Claude was about to say something in response to Minaz’s question but furrowed his brow instead.

“Never mind. I shouldn’t even bother.”

Seeing Claude start to walk away, Minaz pouted her lips.

“Hey, don’t get sulky, let’s go together…”

As she followed, Claude suddenly stopped, and she bumped her face into his back. At the same time, a strong force pulled her behind a pillar.

“What are you…”

“Shh.”

Claude put a finger to his lips to silence Minaz, then pointed in a certain direction. Minaz gulped as she saw the Duchess of Floyd leaving the VIP room and the Princess approaching her.

“Duchess!”

The Duchess turned slowly to face the Princess. The Princess grabbed her skirt, clinging to it, and pleaded in a desperate voice.

“Please stop him! You can’t send the Count to his death!”

The Princess’s pale face was a mess, as if she had cried all night because of Lian’s departure. Her usually neat clothes were disheveled, and her hair was a tangled mess, a truly pitiful sight.

The Duchess helped the Princess, who could barely stand, and said, “How can I stop His Majesty the Emperor’s decision?”

“Even now, if the Count changes his mind, everything can be canceled. I will plead with His Majesty. Please, Duchess, persuade the Count.”

It seemed the Princess knew what choice Lian had made that led to his departure. Was she unable to let go of him even in this situation? Her unwavering devotion was admirable, but there was also something a little unsettling about it.

The Duchess stroked the Princess’s tangled hair and said, “In that case, Your Highness could more easily dissuade His Majesty.”

“I’ve begged him many times, but His Majesty said this was the only way.”

“No. With just one word, His Majesty will surely show mercy.”

The Princess blinked, looking at the Duchess. The Duchess wiped a tear from the Princess’s cheek with her finger and spoke clearly.

“Go to His Majesty and tell him that you will not marry Lian.”

Her voice was soft but carried a resounding weight. Claude and Minaz both clapped their hands over their mouths. They were afraid a gasp of shock would escape otherwise. The Princess, too, seemed stunned, then began to tremble.

“Wh-What on earth do you mean?”

“Just as I said. If Your Highness says you no longer intend to marry Lian, His Majesty the Emperor will withdraw this incomprehensible decree.”

The Duchess’s request was so outrageous that the two of them couldn’t believe their ears.

“Lian’s misconduct is a fact. It would not be strange for you to seek a new fiancé after being betrayed.”

“No, the Count is my rightful match. Such misconduct will just become a colorful indulgence with time.”

The Princess shook her head, muttering like someone who had been brainwashed.

“If I’m not bound to the Count, it will be a great threat to the Empire and the imperial authority…”

“It won’t be a threat. Lian will remain a loyal subject to Your Highness the Princess.”

It was hard to imagine Lian starting a rebellion for an unjust reason. His current defiance was justified because the Emperor had violated the fundamental principle of the Empire: the freedom of the nobility.

The Duchess’s shocking words continued.

“And if His Majesty is still not convinced, Lian will willingly return one of his ducal titles.”

Claude and Minaz gulped. A Duke valued their title and pride above all else. Relinquishing a title was tantamount to renouncing one’s life and the history of one’s family.

“But… a head of a distinguished ducal family could never allow such a thing.”

“Once the title is passed to Lian, it is no longer in my hands. It is his choice.”

The Duchess was subtly and cleverly cornering the Princess psychologically.

“If Your Highness does not stop this now, Lian may die. Please, give him up and let him live.”

“That, that’s impossible. I can’t… I can’t…”

The eloquent Princess was now floundering, unable to find her footing. She shook her head and took a step back.

“I can never give up the Count and live. You know that, Duchess.”

“Then you will maintain your stance? Even if Lian goes to his death?”

The Duchess’s eyes, as she asked the question, gleamed as sharp as a hawk’s.

Support