I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 41

“Yes… perhaps the Count is… safe…”

The Crown Princess was on the verge of a panic attack. She had forgotten her initial pleas for her own safety and was now talking about how Roan would return safely.

The Duchess persisted with her questions. “Is that Your Highness’s choice?”

Finally, unable to endure any longer, the Crown Princess stiffened her neck and gave a barely perceptible nod.

And with that, the compassionate look in the Duchess’s eyes vanished.

“So that’s what your love is like.” The Duchess let go of the hand that was supporting the Crown Princess.

“Duchess. Don’t do this. You used to be so fond of me. Please, help me change the Count’s heart.”

“I was indeed fond of you, Your Highness.” She shook off the Crown Princess’s hand, who was clinging to her, bewildered by the change in atmosphere. “However, my son is more precious to me.”

The Duchess’s violet eyes were utterly frigid, as if the northern snowfield had been transported to Pellis City.

“Please let go now. I must go to my son’s send-off ceremony.”

The Crown Princess couldn’t bring herself to hold onto the Duchess any longer and released her hand.

The two people watching breathlessly saw the Crown Princess collapse to the floor.

“She failed the test,” Claude muttered under his breath, and Minaz inwardly agreed.

The Duchess of Floyd turned and walked with a rigid gait toward the send-off ceremony. Her presence was so intimidating that the two of them flinched as she passed their hiding spot.

“I really don’t want to make an enemy of that Duchess,” Minaz mumbled, scratching the goosebumps on his arm. “I hope the Baroness, wherever she is, is hiding well.”

“I wonder…” Claude replied softly, his gaze fixed on the Duchess’s retreating back. “Maybe she’s already been killed and buried.”

As if on cue, a cold wind blew, rustling the hem of the Duchess’s red skirt.

Shortly after, the sound of trumpets announced the start of the send-off ceremony. The two emerged from behind the pillar and hurried away.

At the same time, unlike the two Dukes’ worries, Eleanor was very much alive. In fact, the man who commanded the greatest knight order of the era was standing guard in front of her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Eleanor Mariche.”

She offered a friendly greeting, but the only response was a faint nod.

“What should I call you?”

The grim-faced, red-haired man on the left didn’t even reply. The slightly younger man with mustard-colored hair on the right answered in a blunt voice.

“Call me Ilay.”

He’s obviously not fond of me, Eleanor sighed inwardly, though she had already expected this reaction. While she held a family crest, Eleanor’s social status was probably not as high as the knights present. And she knew that they likely considered her the cause of their master being in a dangerous situation.

‘But I can’t be worrying about their feelings when my life is on the line.’

Eleanor steeled herself and brought up the words she had prepared. “I’m sure the Count has already told you everything you need to know, but I’ve brought you here to ask one favor.”

At first, the two knights reacted as if she dared to give them an errand, but their expressions changed after hearing what Eleanor had to say. The grim-faced man’s face was filled with a look of incomprehension. Fortunately, the command seemed to please them.

“We will see it through without fail,” Ilay replied on behalf of the man on the left, who seemed to be of higher rank.

“That’s all I wanted to say. You can go now.”

The men vanished as quickly as they appeared, as if they were smoke.

Eleanor, who found this strange, added something that came to her mind. “Please stand guard outside when I take a bath.”

“…Understood.” The response came back with a hint of what sounded like regret.

Eleanor shrugged and slowly stood up, heading toward the window. All morning, knights with red flags were marching in formation from the distant Imperial Palace. She didn’t know what it was, but it was surely related to Roan.

‘I hope it’s not something dangerous.’

Eleanor tried to calm the ominous feeling that rose within her.

‘If worrying won’t help, I’d rather do what I can instead of getting anxious.’

Even with that resolve, Eleanor couldn’t leave the window until the procession of knights had disappeared.

A week passed in a blur after the send-off ceremony. Trapped in the hotel, Eleanor did her best to maintain her composure, but her anxiety was growing. There was so little she could do. Blaine seemed busy with his duties for the knight order while Roan was away. The Duchess, whom she expected to be petty, had secluded herself in her room and was difficult to even see.

Eleanor spent her time looking after Biancasta and leafing through the hotel’s sparse collection of books, all while waiting for news. Fortunately, they hadn’t stopped her from sending letters.

She had heard the name for the first time. Fortunately, she had found out his identity, but the problem was that his whereabouts were unknown. He had already left the hotel he was staying at, and since the birthday celebration, he had not been seen, so there was no trace of him in the capital.

‘He could have just gone back home since the birthday celebration is over…’

She had sent a letter to the Eunice family, but it would take a long time to get a reply from the southernmost part of the vast continent. She couldn’t just wait around, so she had also requested the help of mercenaries and guilds, but they were only eating up her money without any news. She felt so frustrated that she considered putting out a public bounty, but decided against it for his safety. If Eunice was simply on his way home, looking for him so noisily might give his enemies an excuse to find him.

‘I shouldn’t make a rash move and provoke them. I must be careful.’

Eleanor quelled her impatience and waited for news. And finally, the visitor she had been waiting for arrived at the hotel.

“Duke Phaedra has arrived,” said the butler of the Canterbury family whom Blaine had summoned for Eleanor.

“Yes. I’ll be right there.”

Eleanor put down the duster she was holding and hurried toward the drawing room.

The Shancarn Hotel—or rather, the building that had now become Count Calabria’s residence—had a large hall on the third floor. From the giant windows that filled the walls, you could get a panoramic view of the magnificent garden, and the floor was covered with a beautiful carpet with patterns intricately woven by foreign artisans.

It was a splendid room that would make most people feel small, but today’s visitor was as comfortable as if he were the owner of the house. Sky was sitting on a velvet armchair, his long legs crossed lazily, a smile on his face.

“It’s been a while.”

His relaxed attitude surprisingly felt welcoming, which meant she had really been starved for company.

“Duchess’s in-law life must be quite a trial, huh?” Sky said.

Eleanor looked down at herself. She had put down the duster, but her skirt was… He motioned toward the enormous table with its heavy furniture. The space was too wide for the two of them to talk comfortably. Eleanor shrugged and went to sit on the end of the long armchair where he was.

Sky turned his body, rested his arm on the backrest, and leaned his face on his hand as he spoke. “Why did you look for me? Have you finally decided you want to experience my incredible virility?”

When Eleanor laughed at his joke, Sky raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t think you’d laugh.”

“I have a favor to ask you.”

Sky smiled. “Still as calculating as ever.”

“And you’re still as flippant as ever.”

“Oh? That’s not fair. I’m being as well-behaved as a priest right now.”

Eleanor snorted at Skye’s playful protest. “You must be busy, so let’s get straight to the point. The reason I looked for you is…”

“Is Biancasta Weiss under a spell?”

Eleanor’s eyes widened at Sky’s uncanny guess. “You… you knew?”

“I was keeping an eye on your surroundings. You were looking for books about magic, you bought a string stone, you kidnapped Biancasta, and then you called for me… it wasn’t a difficult deduction.”

He said it simply, but it couldn’t have been such an easy answer to reach. Eleanor was once again impressed by his sharp intelligence and asked, “Is there a way to break the spell?”

“It depends on the spell.”

“I think it might be a Silence Vow.”

Sky asked a few questions about Biancasta’s symptoms and then nodded. “It does sound like a Silence Vow.”

“Do you know how to break it?”

“You can cast a counter-spell. A more powerful sorcerer than the one who cast the spell can seal the mark, and the spell will lose its power and disappear.”

“A more powerful sorcerer?”

“Yes. The Crown Princess’s spell was likely cast by the Imperial Palace’s exclusive sorcerer, so it’ll be difficult to find a more powerful one.”

Eleanor directly asked Skye, who was speaking as if he were distracted. “Can you break it?”

“Of course.”

He sounded so confident despite not even knowing who had cast it, showing just how sure he was of his own magical abilities. Sky smiled widely and looked at Eleanora. The mischievous look on his face suggested he had no intention of making a generous offer to break the spell for free.

“Please, I’m asking you to break the spell on the Marchioness Weiss.”

“You know I’m just as calculating as you are, right?”

Eleanor sighed softly at Skye’s words. Just as I expected.

“If I do that for you, what will you do for me?”

“You came here because you were curious, didn’t you? Can’t we just consider it a mutual exchange of information?”

“I can accept a question since there’s something I want to ask you too. But moving me in person is expensive.”

He was articulate and knew exactly what he wanted. It would be difficult to convince him with just words. Eleanor sighed and said, “It’s a favor. If you need a bed partner, I can introduce you to plenty of women who are much prettier and who will adore you, so…”

“Do I look like I’m lacking women?” Sky’s question left her speechless, considering his beautiful features. Of course, a man with his looks would not be lacking for women.

“Even if I give you what you want, it’s only a temporary fix. You’ll just get caught up in another crisis.”

“I didn’t call you here to give me commentary on my life.”

“Doesn’t it get tiresome, being caught up in situations you don’t want to be in?”

“If you know that, why don’t you help me?”

Eleanor turned her head away petulantly, and Sky chuckled, moving a little closer. “Just say the word, and I’ll solve all your problems.”

His beautifully tanned face was close to hers, and he whispered temptingly. “All my problems? How?” Eleanor asked, trying to avoid his gaze. She could feel his masculine scent close by.

“The answer is both the solution and the price I’ll be paid,” Sky said, lifting Eleanor’s chin to face him. Then, with a seductive turn of his lips, he said, “Come with me to Feidra, Eleanor.”

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