Instead of the Heroine, I Married the Male Lead

I was startled when people suddenly entered the spacious drawing room.

Gio and Kaien, on the other hand, seemed calm.

 

“I greet the Duke of Wintbell. I am the Madame of the Beaute Salon. You may simply call me Madame.”

 

Kaien gently nodded his head as she greeted me.

 

“Nice to meet you, Lady Philome. You are as beautiful as I’ve heard.”

 

I was initially overwhelmed by the number of people, but I was surprised again when I realized that the person greeting me was the Madame of Beaute Salon, known for dealing only with royals and high-ranking nobles.

 

‘Wow, have I really… become the Duchess?’

 

As I was realizing how high the position of a duchess is, dozens of jewelry boxes were placed in front of me.

Madame crouched down to meet my eye level and began opening each jewelry box, providing an explanation.

The rings were all beautiful and had large gems. 

The most expensive ring I knew was my mother’s, but now it seemed insignificant. I felt sorry for even comparing it to these rings.

I was nodding absentmindedly when Madame brought the largest jewelry box in front of me.

 

“This is a new product that hasn’t been shown to anyone yet, milady.”

Madame carefully opened the jewelry box with her gloved hands.

“Wow.”

 

I couldn’t help but exclaim unconsciously at the beautiful colored gemstone.

 

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? We’ve been trying to color diamonds for a long time. It was difficult to work with diamonds, but we finally succeeded in coloring them.”

 

As Madame said, the gem had a faint green tint. It was slightly different from an ordinary emerald; it was lighter and clearer.

 

“Oh my, it really seems to suit you, Milady. It matches your eye color exactly.”

 

Even Kaien, who had been watching indifferently, showed interest. He took the ring, examined it, and then slipped it onto my left ring finger.

He then lifted my hand and brought it next to my face. He looked alternately between the ring and my face, then smiled and nodded with satisfaction.

 

“It looks great. How about using this as your engagement ring, Milady?”

“This… as an engagement ring? Isn’t it too much? I mean, we also need to get a wedding ring.”

“Don’t worry, Madame will find something even more expensive and beautiful.”

 

Kaien laughed, as if wondering why I would worry about such things.

When I handed the ring back to Madame, she carefully placed it in the jewelry box.

I thought that was the end, but Kaien nodded slightly while sitting still.

 

“Show the next item, Madame.”

“Yes.”

 

At Madame’s clap, the people behind her took away the jewelry boxes and brought in dozens of dresses.

I blinked, unsure of what this was all about, and Kaien spoke up.

 

“Come to think of it, you might need more clothes.”

“But I already have many clothes.”

“These were hastily prepared without taking your measurements.”

 

As I was trying to decide how many to choose, Kaien added.

 

“Is there a dress you want to wear today?”

“Yes?”

“They’re all yours anyway, so there’s no need to look at them all.”

“…They’re all mine?”

“Madame will adjust them to your measurements.”

“Lady Philome, please come this way.”

 

In a daze, I was led by Madame to get my measurements taken. After removing my dress, I was measured in various places.

 

“With your long limbs and slender, graceful neck, you’ll look good in anything.”

 

Dazed by Madame’s flattery, I moved this way and that, then finally returned to the drawing room, where only Sebastian was waiting.

 

“Where did the Duke go?”

“Milady, the Duke had some business to attend to and has left.”

 

I decided not to think much of it.

But then I remembered what Kaien had said.

 

‘You’ll find out more tomorrow. I’ll be going to meet him.’

 

“……Sebastian!”

 

I called urgently.

 

“Milady? What is it?”

“Can you prepare a carriage for me quickly? The fastest one available, immediately!”

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

As soon as the carriage stopped in the square, I flung open the door and ran.

 

“Miss?”

“I’ll greet you later!”

 

I rushed past the fruit juice vendor, then quickly turned back and spoke rapidly.

 

“Sir, can you close the shop and go home for today? Hurry! I’ll pay you later!”

 

Without waiting for his reply, I sprinted up the stairs. 

Climbing these stairs usually felt like a sign of business growth, but now they just seemed unnecessarily high.

Sweating profusely, I reached the top floor and opened the door.

The office was still messy.

I urgently woke Harnen, who was buried under piles of paper.

 

“Harnen, Harnen! Wake up!”

“Ah! Ouch! What is it?” 

 

I slapped his cheeks until he opened his eyes, wincing.

 

“Huh? Boss?”

“Quick, wake up. The Duke of Wintbell will be here soon!”

“Your fiancé is coming here? Did he find out already?”

“He hasn’t found out yet, which is why we need to hurry!”

 

Harnen blinks a few times in confusion, then jumps up as he grasps the situation.

 

“Boss, put on the robe first! We don’t know when your fiancé will arrive.”

 

I rummaged through the papers and found a robe. I covered my face carefully.

I then sat on the sofa to hide my figure.

 

‘He should be here soon.’

 

If it were Jack, he’d probably be stalling on purpose, pretending to get lost to buy time, regardless of whether he knew I’d caught on.

I trusted Jack. Given his sharp instincts as someone from the underworld, he’d handle the situation well.

…Hopefully.

As Harnen hid the finished magic scrolls under the floor and sat beside me, the door opened.

 

“This should be the place…”

“If you’re wrong again, I will…”

“Ah, this is the place! Boss~!”

 

Behind Jack, who looked like he’d been punched in the face a few times, I saw Kaien and Gio.

 

“Hey, Jack. What’s going on here?” 

 

Harnen immediately addressed Jack. 

Jack, bowing obsequiously as usual, pointed with both hands to Kaien and Gio behind him.

 

“Haha, it’s good to see you again. These two are the nobles I told you about the other day.”

“Are you a broker? I asked, what’s going on.”

“Well, these gentlemen roughed me up a bit and then inquired as to where I obtained the magic scroll that was created by the boss and the young master…”

 

Jack’s eyes welled up with tears.

 

“Shut up; you’re not pitiful.”

 

Harnen growled at Jack, then looked back at Kaien and Gio.

 

“Are you really nobles? What’s with this lack of etiquette?”

“I’m only a gentleman when I feel like it.”

 

Kaien pushed Jack aside and stepped in. He then looked around the room.

 

“Well, there’s nowhere to sit.”

“The sofa in front of you must be just for decoration, then?”

“Oh, that’s a sofa? I thought it was just a stack of papers.”

 

Gio spotted the couch buried in papers and cleared them away.

 

“Your Grace, please sit.”

 

Kaien took a seat.

Though I couldn’t see above his shoulders because of the robe, I could feel Kaien’s piercing gaze on Harnen and me.

 

“You seem to already know who I am. You don’t look particularly surprised.”

“…….”

“Then do you also know why I’m here?”

“How would I know that? Your face is recognizable from the newspapers.”

“I see.”

 

Kaien acknowledged this and then cleared the papers from the table, placing something on it.

 

“Since you made it, you should recognize it; it’s a magic scroll from Menen.”

 

It was the new magic scroll we had given to Jack just a few days ago. 

Harnen and I simultaneously turned to look at Jack.

He awkwardly smiled and turned to face the wall.

 

“Why did you come here?”

“Do your customers know that this isn’t really a magic scroll?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Are you a half-elf?”

 

At the mention of that word, I grabbed Harnen’s hand. He clenched his fist so hard that his hand turned white.

His hand trembled reflexively.

Knowing his fear, I needed to protect him from Kaien’s gaze.

 

“Relax. I’m not interested in half-elves. I’m not here to threaten or blackmail you.”

 

That was unexpected.

 

“I’m actually here to propose a partnership.”

“…A partnership? You want to do business with us?”

“Was it your idea to use the power of spirits and sell them as magic scrolls?”

 

Kaien directed his question precisely at me.

I hesitated, worried that he might recognize my voice if I spoke.

I opened my mouth, but Harnen spoke first.

 

“The boss can’t speak.”

“Can’t speak, or won’t speak?”

“Can’t speak.”

“Is there a reason?”

“Just can’t.”

“I see there is a reason.”