This was a kind of hurdle she had to overcome with her own strength. She had to realise that she was now stepping out of the shadow of her parents, from her safe childhood, into the cold world as an adult.
Leah Saturanos, with a flushed face, managed to respond to the young ladies surrounding her.
“I will try a bit harder… to be as sophisticated as you all. I still have a lot to learn… But I hope you enjoyed it.”
Sigh. It’s irritating to listen to, especially with that lack of confidence. It’s as if she’s apologizing for something she didn’t really do wrong. She was acting as if she made a sincere apology when there was no need for it.
Listening to her apologize and bow her head as if she had done something wrong, all while seemingly apologetic and humble, was displeasing.
Most of all, I didn’t like seeing her so pitiful when she would become the lover of the man I loved, Ares Stanley. It made me feel unjust.
At least, I hoped she would become a noble lady worthy of Ares Stanley’s dignity. That way, I would feel a bit less aggrieved.
After the young ladies retreated, leaving Saturanos alone, I approached her with a clacking sound of my heels, looking at her, who seemed unsure of what to do with her flushed face.
“Young lady Saturanos, I have something to say.”
She looked at me with tearful eyes as if pleading for help. However, I didn’t smile at her.
I straightforwardly expressed my thoughts to her.
“You haven’t done anything wrong, so why are you begging so pathetically?”
“Wh-What?”
“I’m talking about just now. Didn’t it feel like they were deliberately picking a fight?”
I spoke a bit coldly on purpose. I didn’t want to appear as if I were comforting her.
Young lady Saturanos seemed bewildered. She probably didn’t expect me to be like this. Just by looking at her reaction, I could tell how naive she was. I helped her once at the dress shop, and now she thought I was on her side.
“I-I knew that, but I didn’t know what to do…”
My anger bubbled up inside. Despite standing next to the one I admired, she couldn’t be more assertive about her role as the leading lady!
Despite my boiling frustration, my expression remained quite icy.
“Just speak confidently. Don’t show any sign of being intimidated. If someone tries to pick a fight again, say, ‘Not recognizing this dignified decoration, your discernment is lacking.'”
Then I added a sincerer comment.
“You are the protagonist in this world.”
I don’t know how she would take my words, but this is the truth of this world.
However, after saying out loud that she is the protagonist, I felt a melancholic sadness deep inside.
‘Yeah. You’re the protagonist, not me’.
What’s the use of dressing up so splendidly? Even if I gain the reputation of being the flower of society, what’s the point? I’m just a supporting character who will end up rebelling and dying for those two protagonists anyway.
Leah Saturanos’ pupils slightly widened. Although she stared at me with wide eyes, I felt a somber emotion as if tears were about to fall. Ignoring her gaze, I turned my head.
Feeling the need for a slight change of mood, I went out to the terrace. The modest garden of the Saturanos estate was neatly arranged outside the terrace.
“Sigh…”
I wasted emotions unnecessarily. I needed to quickly lift this somber mood and return to the reception hall to chat and laugh with others.
Taking a deep breath and trying to control my emotions, I heard footsteps coming towards the terrace. Somehow, I didn’t give Leah Saturanos my attention. Perhaps I was in a melancholic mood, thinking that I would only be a supporting character rebelling and dying for those two protagonists.
Realizing that I didn’t lower the curtains, I scolded myself for missing such a basic thing. I closed my eyes tightly, feeling pathetic.
At that moment, I heard a familiar, deep voice.
“Young lady Uranos.”
Oh, this gloomy mood is going to get worse. It was Ares Stanley.
I barely managed to put on a smile and turn to him.
“Oh, I forgot to lower the curtains. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you would come here.”
“No, I knew. I saw young lady coming this way.”
Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only
With a puzzled expression, I looked at Stanley.
“Well… Do you have any business with me?”
He lowered his head slightly and said, “It’s not something special, but I heard what you said to Leah a while ago.”
“Oh…”
The smile on my face involuntarily disappeared. What did she mean by calling her the protagonist? What if he asks me what that means?
He spoke to me without a smile, unlike me.
“I don’t have anything special to say, but I wanted to thank you for giving Leah the advice she needed. She needed a mentor to teach her the reality so coldly.”
A mentor, huh! Hello, I’m the villain here.
Without responding with a word, I kept a stern face. He continued without being bothered by my lack of response.
“And… I was impressed by what you said. Saying that you are the protagonist of your own life in this world.”
Ah, luckily, he interpreted my words that way. I’m glad I didn’t step on anyone’s toes for no reason.
Feeling a bit relieved, I responded with a wry smile.
“It’s a metaphor for hoping for a confident attitude. I just read it in some book.”
Actually, I heard it from the ‘author.’
Ares Stanley responded with a bright smile, seemingly content with my words.
“lady Uranos, you’re also the protagonist of this world, aren’t you?”
Haha, I burst into laughter involuntarily. At least, I can confidently answer this question.
No, I’m not. I’m just a supporting character.
But how can I reveal this fact? So, I could smile and respond to him as if nothing was wrong.
“Prince Stanley, you’re also the protagonist.”
My words were just a polite greeting, unlike your words, which are an unmovable truth.
Now, I really needed a change of mood. So, I asked him with a slightly sarcastic tone.
“But here you are, and I’m afraid your lover is once again dealing with people alone. Aren’t you going back to her?”
“Lover? What are you talking about?”
Prince Stanley looked genuinely surprised and asked. Surprisingly, I was the one taken aback.
“Oh, naturally, I’m talking about Saturanos. I already know everything, from your public kiss in the bustling street to all your dates. What are you talking about?”
“Oh, that’s a misunderstanding on Leah’s part.”
“Indeed, it’s true that there was an incident in the busy street, but it was nothing more than an accident.”
“What? But your actions after that…”
“Well, I must admit that I found myself in a bit of a predicament because of that, but even Leah didn’t think that way.”
My face involuntarily wrinkled. I didn’t expect this person to be so narrow-minded, not knowing how his actions would be perceived by others.
Regardless, he continued his explanation.
“Leah, coming from a provincial territory, is innocent and easily follows people. And I have a somewhat lenient attitude towards her bright personality. Somehow, as we shared stories, it seemed like we could open up to each other quickly.”
His explanation sounded like he was justifying himself, maybe because of my twisted perception. So, I coldly smiled and cut him off.
“It sounds like you’re making excuses. Is there really a need for that?”
“I didn’t want any unnecessary misunderstandings, so I felt the need to clarify before rumors spread.”
Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only
His face had stiffened a bit. Taking the opportunity, I pointed out something else.
“I misunderstood, but so far, the only person you, addressed by name was Lady Saturanos. Anyone would think you two are lovers.”
“Well, yes. Isn’t there someone who calls your name by your first name among your close friends?”
True. But isn’t that reserved for friends?
“As for me, I’m just friends with Lea. I helped her as a partner today because she didn’t know anyone in the capital.”
Even though he is explaining her as a friend now, I know he’ll fall in love with her soon. However, I couldn’t just tell him, ‘Watch out, you’ll fall in love with her.’
If I delve into this further, it might seem like I’m jealous of Lady Saturanos. I decided to pretend to accept his explanation for now.
“Oh, I see. Understood.”
I thought I responded gracefully with a perfect smile, but apparently, I didn’t.
Ares Stanley frowned quickly and said to me.
“It doesn’t seem that way. You still seem to have different thoughts.”
“I’m sorry it seemed that way. However, Prince, in the future, you’ll have to clarify with similar words several times. It’s not just me who misunderstands; there are others too.”
His face darkened.
Misunderstandings between men and women are common. Hadn’t he, too, been careful with his actions around the young men and women? Yet, by breaking those boundaries only with Lady Saturanos, she had quickly become someone special. It was disappointing.
I lowered my head gracefully and excused myself, leaving the terrace. His words felt like a whip, and my heart felt heavy. Even though there was a sense of truth in Ares Stanley’s words, I couldn’t figure out how to control these emotions.
Leaving him lost in his thoughts, I exited the terrace.
As I returned to the banquet hall, the party was still in full swing. Lady Saturanos
Hm. I need to think more about the original novel’s content.
I had assumed quite simply that the two would fall in love after accidentally kissing in the street. Given that they called each other by name and spent a lot of time together, it seemed logical. There were certainly many events that would make them consider each other as lovers.
However, Ares Stanley had just made an unexpected statement. Lea Saturanos was just a friend, he said. What about Lady Saturanos? Did she think the same?
If both of them genuinely considered themselves not deeply involved but just friends, how would the novel progress from here?
