I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 53

As the music stopped, the princess gracefully bowed to her dance partner and left the floor. Approaching a table to get a drink, she heard the voice of a young lady who was standing with her back to her.

“The atmosphere feels a bit strange,” the young lady said, looking around worriedly.

It wasn’t just her; anyone sensitive to shifts in mood would have noticed that something was subtly off at the banquet. The hall was still bustling with people and seemed to be in full swing, but there were many odd things afoot. The host, the Duchess, and the Emperor had left the hall a long time ago, and the imperial dukes, the main guests, had also disappeared.

“I heard the Imperial Guard has been lined up outside the mansion for a while now.”

“Someone said His Majesty the Emperor returned to his residence through the west gate just now.”

“What? But Her Highness the Princess was just here…”

The woman who was chattering paused abruptly as she looked around the hall. She was startled to find the princess standing right behind her. When their eyes met, the princess smiled warmly.

“His Majesty must simply be tired, I’m sure.”

“P-Pardon me, Your Highness! I didn’t mean anything by it…” The noblewoman apologized, not knowing what to do with herself.

The princess quickly waved her hand and spoke gently, “Oh, it’s quite alright. You don’t have to apologize!”

After reassuring them, the princess picked up a drink and left the table. In the past, she would have remembered these tactless young ladies and made sure they couldn’t get a foothold in high society. However, the princess was in a good mood.

Finally, His Majesty is making a move.

Now that he had taken direct action, that irritating woman would surely be captured and brought to her knees. A genuine laugh bubbled up from deep within her for the first time in a while.

The princess looked around the hall with the corners of her mouth turned up.

It’s a shame I couldn’t run into the guest I brought with me.

The guest she had invited from afar to ruin Eleanor’s party, Baroness Donate Marice, was dutifully performing her role even without Eleanor there.

“So where did that good-for-nothing girl go?” she was heard saying.

“That girl was originally a woodcutter’s daughter who fed pigs and delivered firewood to the castle. My son saved her, but she showed no gratitude at all.”

Eleanor’s past, which had been half-shrouded in secrecy, was being spread with crude descriptions.

“Even when my son was imprisoned, she never once visited him. Who treats their benefactor like that? She was full of airs, not fitting for her status, and looked down on everyone else.”

“What kind of person was Baroness Marice, Eleanor’s husband?”

“Ah, my son was a pitiful boy who fell into a trap. This misfortune must have happened because that girl brought bad luck into our family.”

Through Donate, the wicked deeds of Baroness Marice were being revealed. Even though she embellished the story significantly, no one would agree that he was a pitiful man. However, the fact that Eleanor was the wife of such a man was now a new subject for discussion, causing a stir.

‘Finally, a chess piece that’s good at what it does,’ the princess thought.

Donate, who had no title since Eleanor inherited the family, eagerly took the bait of having her Baroness title restored. Now, once that woman was dead and this insufferably vulgar Baroness was kept in the capital, she would automatically go around tarnishing Eleanor’s reputation.

This is why a person’s background is so important.

This was the problem: being born into a base status from the start. The gap between her and someone of noble birth was revealed with such a small trigger.

Once the Count returns to the capital, he’ll come to his senses.

With that woman gone and only her scandalous reputation remaining, Lian would surely get his head on straight.

Just as the princess was about to enjoy the banquet a little more, she heard whispers.

“Oh my, look at that person.”

“Huh? Is that young lady…?”

Hearing the murmuring crowd, the princess turned her head. Her face hardened immediately.

So she’s been alive and here this whole time.

Biancasta, who had disappeared, was coming into the hall alone. The princess had expected Eleanor to have taken her, but she couldn’t hide her surprise. The Biancasta who always wore dark colors and comically large dresses to cover her small body was nowhere to be seen.

What in the world is she wearing?

With her perpetually dark hair half-braided up, revealing her slender shoulders, Biancasta had captivated the attention of everyone in the hall. Her dress had a simple, girlish cut, but it shone brilliantly under the lights.

“There was a misunderstanding. All the rumors circulating are completely wrong,” Biancasta said, her newfound confidence apparent in her voice. Though still a little quiet, she spoke clearly to the people. “I was just consulting with Baroness Eleanor about my troubles with social etiquette.”

“You, the Princess’s childhood friend, sought help from that person?”

“Yes.” As she spoke, Biancasta glanced back. Seeing the Duke and Duchess of Weiss standing there with disapproving faces, it seemed they had, for some reason, decided to go along with Biancasta’s story.

“The Baroness helped me to get dressed up, and thanks to her, I’ve solved my problems and been able to change myself.”

A new, irritating current began to swirl around Biancasta.

“She looks like a different person. That woman really has a unique eye for things.”

“Her insight is amazing; just talking to her feels like therapy.”

People who had always thought well of Eleanor gathered and chattered. They asked Biancasta about her dress and were eager to hear about her conversations with the Baroness. The princess knew she had to stop this atmosphere from spreading quickly.

At that moment, Biancasta’s eyes met the princess’s.

“I think this new me will be of even more help to Your Highness. No one needs a gloomy, disliked friend.”

Her voice trembled, but her tone was quite defiant. Despite the chill in her heart, a bright smile appeared on the princess’s face.

“Of course, Bianky!”

She pushed through the crowd with a welcoming expression and approached Biancasta.

“I was so moved to hear this. I never thought Bianky, who always complained about how loud and annoying it was to socialize after every party, would change like this.”

Of course, Biancasta had never once badmouthed anyone. If she had, the princess would have liked her a lot more. But the princess felt she could say whatever she wanted.

“I never tried to seduce Count Calabria. In fact, I’ve been rejecting him for Your Highness’s sake.”

Biancasta’s bombshell statement caused a huge uproar. After a moment of silence, a flood of questions poured out.

“Is that true?”

“Wow, did Baroness Eleanor say that?”

“No. I overheard their conversation and asked Count Canterbury, the Count’s friend.”

“Oh my! Please tell us more!”

This conversation couldn’t be allowed to continue. The princess quickly approached Biancasta and linked arms with her.

“Bianky, we agreed you wouldn’t lie for attention anymore.”

“I’m not doing that right now…” The princess pressed Biancasta’s inner elbow with her own arm. Just then, Duke Sky Phaedra looked down at her.

“My father wishes to speak with Your Highness.”

Why Duke Phaedra? The princess wanted to finish what she was saying, but Sky Phaedra’s eyes shone too sharply. She had no choice but to step back from Biancasta.

“I’m sorry for leaving first, Biancasta,” she apologized to the stiffened girl and quietly added in her ear, “I’ve prepared a gift for you, so be sure to open it with the Baroness. I’m sure you’ll love it.”

With those words, the princess waved affectionately and left the banquet hall.

Eleanor suppressed her pounding heart and turned her head. Lihann’s beautiful face was there, a slight frown on his brow. The doubt in his purple eyes soon turned to joy.

” Eleanor!”

Lian approached Eleanor in a single stride, his face bright. The knights surrounding him, who were used to a perpetually stoic and never-smiling Lian, seemed flustered and murmured among themselves, but he paid them no mind.

“How in the world did you get here?”

“Count, I have something very important to tell you.”

There was no time, but she couldn’t speak in front of others. As Eleanor stopped and looked around nervously, Lian, noticing her concern, said, “Ah, then to my quarters…”

“No, we can’t. It’s urgent.”

Ten minutes had already passed, and she didn’t have time to travel to Lian’s quarters, wherever they were.

“I need to be alone with you, right now.”

Eleanor spoke with urgency, her expression pleading with him not to ask why. Lian blinked his purple eyes once, then quickly turned his head.

“Everyone, get out.”

At his short command, his subordinates looked a little dumbfounded but soon rushed out of the barracks.

“What in the world…?” Lian, now alone with her, was about to ask what was going on when his face flushed. Eleanor had rushed straight into his arms. She frantically checked his pale face, neck, and hands. They were spotless. There wasn’t even a single mark, let alone a brand.

” Eleanor?” Lian asked in a flustered voice.

Eleanor quickly explained, “I came here with a warp stone. I only have a few minutes left, and there’s something I absolutely must do before I go.”

“What is it?”

“There’s no time to explain in detail. Just…” Eleanor clutched his clothes tightly and demanded, “Please take off all your clothes.”

Support