I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 91

A new day, the second day of the trial, had dawned.

Eleanor, who couldn’t enter the courtroom, decided to watch from the tower again. Fortunately or unfortunately, she wasn’t alone this time.

“It’s been a while since it was just the two of us without the Count of Calabria,” Sky said, a playful grin on his face as he looked at Eleanor. He, too, was unable to enter the courtroom, so he had remained with her.

“I wouldn’t exactly call it ‘just the two of us’,” Eleanor said, looking out at the empty space. Just then, Sky spoke up as if he had just remembered something.

“Ah, are you listening carefully?”

Beatrice’s crisp voice soon responded.

[Yes.]

“I’ll be counting on you today.” Sky’s voice was uncharacteristically polite. Being a sorcerer, he seemed to have a great deal of interest in Beatrice. The fact that she was a ‘slaughterer’ didn’t seem to bother Sky, who wasn’t exactly known for his high moral standards. Once he learned her location, he visited her every day, asking questions and trying to learn new things. His attentiveness and kindness during this time had earned him some favor from Beatrice.

[I won’t interfere. Go ahead and have your fun.]

Naturally afraid of Lian, Beatrice seemed to find Sky more to her liking.

“This trial is too important to be ‘having fun’,” Eleanor said tartly, then turned her gaze downwards. There, a device that the Duchess of Floyd had procured for her was set up. The alchemist’s telescope and voice amplifier, which could magnify and project distant sounds, were as wondrous as a modern-day invention.

“You can adjust the range of sound you hear by turning this round knob,” Sky said, handling the device with the practiced ease of someone who had used it before. It wasn’t difficult to figure out, and Eleanor quickly learned how to use it. As she turned the knob, listening to the sounds around the plaza, Sky tilted his head slightly.

“You don’t seem surprised at all.”

“Pardon?”

“These devices are incredibly rare. Most people would never even encounter one in their lifetime, let alone know they exist. People are usually astounded the first time they use one.”

Having come from a modern era where she used far more complex devices, Eleanor hadn’t given it much thought. To Sky, however, her calm demeanor seemed out of place.

“I’ve had so many shocking things happen lately that my senses are probably numb,” she said, brushing off the question. Fortunately, Sky didn’t seem to care, as if he had just made a passing remark.

“Well then, what should we do to pass the time until the trial begins?”

They had about 30 minutes left until the start, not enough time to leave and return. She had expected the time to fly by with so much on her mind, but Sky didn’t seem to want to waste even this short period.

“It’s the perfect time to do something nice.”

When Sky’s handsome eyes twinkled, Eleanor’s brow furrowed in an instant.

“Don’t you think you’re being a little too obvious with your dislike? That hurts, you know.”

His beaming expression, however, showed he was clearly enjoying himself, not hurt at all. Taking the opportunity, Eleanor decided to ask him what she had been wondering.

“Why did you really do such a thing?”

“Such a thing?” Sky asked innocently, though he must have known she was referring to the Oath of Subjugation. Seeing her serious gaze, he shrugged and replied, “I told you, I couldn’t tolerate my failure.”

“You did something that dangerous for just that reason?”

“Can’t you accept the explanation that I’ve completely lost my heart to you?”

“I haven’t known you for long, but I didn’t think you were the type to make irrational decisions just because you were blinded by love.” Eleanor hesitated for a moment before adding, “And it’s still very hard for me to believe you’re that serious.”

Perhaps it was his playful attitude and lighthearted tone. Despite the fact that he had actually taken the Oath of Subjugation, she found it hard to believe him. At the same time, she felt sorry for thinking this way about someone who had made such a great sacrifice. She wanted Sky to resolve this cognitive dissonance for her.

Sky scratched his cheek with a finger, then furrowed his brow and spoke. “To be honest, I don’t understand it myself.”

“You don’t understand?”

“No. I feel like it was a very un-me thing to do.” Sky lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting a shadow. “It seems that the count’s foolish passion is contagious.”

He muttered softly, then asked the blinking Eleanor, “You probably would have believed it was for love without a doubt if the Count of Calabria had told you he took the Oath of Subjugation to save you, right?”

“That’s…” It was difficult to deny. Seeing Eleanor falter, Sky gave a bitter smile.

“I’ve heard a lot of stories during my time at the mansion. I learned about what the Count of Calabria did after he fell in love with you.” She remembered seeing him talking frequently with Blaine and the Duchess.

“The night of destiny. He threw away a marriage with the princess, whose future was guaranteed, without any hesitation and came to you, right? And when you rejected him because there was no future, he immediately decided to propose.” Eleanor recalled the night Rian had come to her, so long ago. The sight of him, a perfectly grown man, making his way through the crowd. His confession, which grew shy as he spoke. The warmth of the night they had spent together at La Floyd was still vivid.

“He bought a ridiculously large mansion like this one, and then risked his life to go on a subjugation to gain the emperor’s approval. During that time, he left his entire knighthood behind to protect you, even though they were important to him. As soon as he returned from the expedition, he jumped into a monster-infested dungeon without any hesitation. And he was even willing to cut out his own tongue without a second thought.”

With Sky’s words, Lian’s actions came back to her one by one.

“If it were someone else, I would have just laughed and called them an idiot. I mean, who goes that far for a relationship?”

She probably would have, Eleanor agreed, but Sky’s words contradicted his actions.

“If you think that, then why did you do it, Duke?”

Cornered by her justified question, Sky looked embarrassed.

“Because he did all those incredible things so casually. He moved solely for you, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. So I thought I should do something too. I started to think that if you truly love someone, you might be willing to do something like this.”

“…I think that’s a trait you’d be better off not inheriting.”

“But even you think the Count of Calabria would do anything because he loves you. You take it for granted, don’t you?”

Honestly, she did. When she was trapped in the dungeon, she believed that if Rian found out, he would come to rescue her without a moment’s hesitation, even if it meant risking his life. When Eleanor fell silent, Sky sighed softly.

“That man, whether it was back in the academy or now, always pushes me to my limits.” A sense of rivalry towards Lian was evident in Sky’s muttering.

Eleanor spoke to him, who looked lost in a memory. “I’m really grateful for everything you’ve done for me, but please don’t make a choice like that again.” Eleanor deliberately spoke in a stiff tone, hoping he wouldn’t sacrifice himself for her again.

Sky’s retort came swiftly. “You say that, but you’re just the same, aren’t you?”

“How am I?”

“Because of all the love confessions from me and the Count, you’re going through hardships you never would have otherwise. And you willingly went into that dungeon to handle it all by yourself.” Sky continued, seeing her wince. “You just accepted the unfair accusations, tried to solve things on your own, and I’ve never seen you resent, slander, or hold anyone accountable.”

She just felt there was no point in doing any of that.

“The reason why both the Count of Calabria and I are so drawn to you is because you’re that kind of woman.”

For the first time, Eleanor felt a genuine emotion in Sky’s words. Her heart pounded at the passion in his sea-colored eyes, and she subtly turned her head away. Sky, perhaps embarrassed by revealing his feelings, rubbed his face and returned to his usual playful tone.

“Alright, let’s end this discussion here. Let’s just enjoy the excitement of being alone together.”

“Excitement?”

“Yes. I’m quite excited to be with you right now.”

Even if she wanted to believe him, his easy smile made it impossible.

“You seem very relaxed.”

“My face might be, but other parts of me are not.”

Other parts? Eleanor narrowed her eyes, and he curved his lips into a smile.

“If we were in Faedra, you’d know. It’s a shame we’re in the Empire.”

“It’s a shame we’re in the Empire?” Sky nodded and leaned slightly toward Eleanor. “In Faedra, it’s not illegal to show off as you please.”

Her face flushed at his suggestive voice. If another man had said that, she would have hit him. She was surprised that she found it funny.

‘He’s so good at using his looks.’ Annoyed by his handsome, smirking face, Eleanor’s response became even more aloof.

“That just makes me think I’m glad I didn’t go to Faedra.”

“Why? Isn’t it nice to be honest and passionate?”

“I’ll pass on a sausage festival I don’t want to see.”

At Eleanor’s response, Sky burst into an unusually loud laugh. “Aha, ha ha. You really… are something else.” His joyful face, unlike the mouth that was spouting lewd jokes, was incredibly cheerful.

“Don’t regret it later. Faedra’s sausages are very famous, you know.” After saying that, Sky looked inexplicably proud. It was a joke she should have ended, but Eleanor decided to play along one more time.

“What’s so famous about them?”

“They’re much thicker and longer than the Empire’s, plump and glistening, and they have a nice spring to them when you take a mouthful.”

What was with that cocky expression? Eleanor narrowed her beautiful eyes and pouted her lips.

“The Empire’s are enough for me. I’d die trying to eat anything bigger.”

He was just talking about sausages, but Sky’s shoulders shook with laughter.

“I thought they would be smaller, at least. Tsk. How unfair.”

Eleanor almost laughed herself at Sky’s muttering. Suppressing her laughter, she turned her gaze outward. As they had been chatting, some time had passed, and one by one, the noble jurors were taking their seats in the courtroom.

“I think it’s about to begin.”

“Looks like it. Well then, shall we watch them squirm?”

Sky said it lightly, but Eleanor felt a wave of tension and gulped without realizing it. Today was the second trial. According to the Empire’s rules, it was the day the accused would make their public defense. Since only the accused’s witnesses and their pleas would be heard today, it was effectively the princess’s solo performance. It would be an unpleasant day, but she had to watch everything carefully if she wanted to overturn the verdict in the final trial.

The princess seemed to have prepared a lot, as a considerable number of people appeared in the witness stand. Seeing one of them, Sky rounded his lips. “Oh. A familiar guest has arrived.”

The person who appeared with a vicious expression was Donatella Marice.

“It seems she intends to attack your credibility by making personal attacks.”

If you can’t attack the message, attack the messenger. It was a vile but highly effective tactic in a trial with a jury. It was clear she would attack not only Eleanor, but also Adrian, Blaine, and others. This much was expected.

However…

“No, why on earth are those people…!” Eleanor’s blue eyes widened at the sight of the people who followed.

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