Instead of the Heroine, I Married the Male Lead

Kaien was working late into the night as usual.

 

“Duke.”

 

At that moment, Gio entered the office and handed something over.

 

“This is the evidence of embezzlement and bribery from the slave trader’s safe.”

 

Kaien smiled satisfactorily.

 

“As expected, I like people like the master. They make evidence like this.”

 

Those who operate in the underworld, like slave traders, betray and collaborate with each other for profit.

They always have an escape plan, or they gather evidence to suppress their opponents.

 

“If we just organize this and hand it over to His Majesty right away, it should be sufficient to justify the sudden raid on the auction house.”

“Good work. You may leave now.”

“Yes. Oh, and Duke, the lady is outside.”

“The lady?”

 

Kaien checked his watch. It was already past midnight.

 

“I ran into her in front of the office, but she asked me to see you first, so she’s waiting outside.”

“Tell her to come in.”

“Yes, understood.”

 

Gio placed the documents he brought on Kaien’s desk.

 

“Gio.”

 

Just as he was about to leave, Kaien called Gio back.

 

“Has the matter regarding the lady’s family been resolved?”

 

Gio replied with a bright smile.

 

“Yes. They all seem to have lost their minds.”

“Bring them out in a fortnight.”

“Yes, I will also proceed with placing them in the closed hospital then.”

 

It was a decision that seemed to read his mind. Kaien nodded with a faint smile towards Gio.

Gio moved again and opened the door. After a brief exchange, Philome entered the office.

 

“Um, I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“No, this time is actually for the final report. Please sit, Milady.”

 

Kaien rose from his chair and headed towards the sofa.

 

“Did you see Harnen off properly?”

“Oh, yes. Thanks to you, Duke. Anyway, I have something to tell you.”

 

Philome was the first person Kaien had met who spoke straight to the point before him. Her straightforwardness was both intriguing and comforting to him, mainly because he detested long-winded introductions.

 

“What is it?”

“Could you possibly find out where Emon is?”

“Of course I can do that, but why all of a sudden? Are you starting to feel like he’ll be out on the streets soon?”

“Well, that’s part of it, but Harnen seems to have spotted Emon in the square.”

“…It should be quite a distance, though.”

 

Kaien tilted his head, recalling the area where Emon had been staying since the last report he saw.

 

“I’m not sure if it’s a mistake, but I want to know for sure.”

“Alright, it shouldn’t take long.”

“Thank you.”

“By the way, you came at a good time. I had something for you, Milady.”

 

Kaien handed something to Philome.

 

“…An invitation?”

“Yes, it’s a mandatory royal party.”

 

Kaien washed his tired face dry.

 

“It doesn’t happen often, but it’s unfortunate that it’s right after our engagement ceremony, so I feel bad for you.”

“I have to keep attending these kinds of events from now on anyway. I’ll be in the spotlight quite a bit, but I’ll have to endure it. That’s the role of a future Duchess, right?”

 

Hearing Philome say the words “future Duchess,” which he always used, felt somehow new.

 

“Speaking of which, you’ve had your pajamas altered?”

“Yes. They’re old, but I couldn’t change them, so altering was the only option.”

 

Suddenly, seeing Philome’s pajamas reminded him of something.

 

“Now that I think about it, it brings back memories. The night we watched the moon together.”

 

Philome’s expression froze in an instant.

 

“I still vividly remember what I read that night. For example, my three sizes…”

“I’m so nervous thinking about the royal banquet in two days! I should go now!”

 

Philome let out a deep sigh and jumped up from her seat.

 

“Good night, Milady.”

 

Philome, who was about to rush out, paused and slightly turned her head.

 

“…I hope you have sweet dreams too, Duke.”

“But Milady, about my three sizes…”

 

Bang—!

Philome closed the door faster than Kaien could finish his sentence.

How could she have the same reaction even after being teased about the same thing several times?

It was so amusing that Kaien couldn’t help but laugh.

 

‘I wish I could tease her for a long time.’

 

With a smile still on his face, Kaien turned his gaze away from the door where Philome had disappeared.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

There were only a few royal banquets that high-ranking nobles were required to attend.

Usually, they only had to show up for the birthdays of royals or significant national anniversaries, but this time, the banquet was held for a new occasion.

It was to celebrate the Third Prince’s return from abroad.

When the news of the Third Prince’s return spread, he announced his homecoming by attending the engagement ceremony of Duke Wintbell.

However, since it wasn’t a wedding, the reception was brief, and naturally, the nobles who had hoped to greet the Third Prince were left disappointed.

The Empress seemed to notice their disappointment and decided to hold a banquet.

 

“So, to summarize, this banquet is the first time Duke Wintbell will be attending with his fiancé, and both the Third Prince and the Empress will be present, so we must absolutely attend.”

 

The young ladies, who had made the effort to attend the royal banquet, gathered in small groups to chat.

 

“I went to the engagement ceremony, but I didn’t get to see the Duke’s fiancé, which was disappointing.”

“Don’t be too disappointed. Since there are only a few people today, you’ll definitely get to meet both the Duke and his fiancé.”

 

Before the words could finish, the announcer cleared his throat abruptly.

 

“Announcing the arrival of Duke Wintbel and the lady of Count Bonita!”

 

Since it was still before the royal family entered, the nobles’ gazes were focused on the entrance. Kaien, with his hair neatly swept back, had his head slightly tilted to the side.

 

“Are you nervous, Milady?”

“…I’m less nervous than at the engagement ceremony.”

“You’ve gotten quite used to it.”

 

Philome wanted to argue against Kaien’s words, but as soon as they took their seats, nobles began to approach, so she kept her lips sealed.

It felt like having a second engagement reception. Just as she began to feel dry-mouthed from exchanging pleasantries, Kaien stopped the conversation.

 

“Let’s take a short break.”

 

With the Duke suggesting it, no one objected. Philome thought it was a relief that her trembling legs were hidden by her dress as she followed Kaien’s lead.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

It dawned on Philome that Kaien had stopped the conversation to consider her well-being.

 

“Thank you. I can still manage. It’ll be better once the Empress or the Third Prince arrives.”

“Indeed. It seems we arrived too early.”

“Oh, Mel?”

 

Philome turned her head.

She hadn’t expected to encounter someone in this secluded corner. Kaien just gave a quick greeting before attempting to move.

However, the lady who spoke approached Philome.

 

“Is that you, Mel? Oh my, oh my. It’s a pleasure to meet the Duke.”

 

The lady, who had been glancing at Kaien from the start, pretended to be surprised to see him and greeted him. Kaien could see through her intentions and merely nodded his head.

 

“Mel, I’ve heard the rumors. You’ve become Duke’s fiancé, huh? You never mentioned the Duke to me, and I’m a bit hurt.”

“Oh… I’ll tell you more next time we meet, Milady.”

“Oh my, why are you suddenly using formal language? I’m a bit hurt, Mel. Anyway, I’ll contact you through the Duke, so you must invite me, okay?”

 

The lady kept glancing at Kaien until the moment she disappeared.

 

“You’re not close with her, right?”

 

Philome, standing there with a dazed expression, nodded.

 

“Yes… We’ve only seen each other once at the banquet hall. We didn’t really talk then, and I don’t even know her name, so how does she know my nickname…?”

“From now on, people like that will show up constantly in front of the Milady. Just ignore them. It’s fine for a future duchess to do that.”

 

Philome smiled and nodded at Kaien’s words.

 

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

 

Kaien also smiled lightly in response, but suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu as he looked in the direction where the lady had disappeared.

 

‘Oh my, Mel? Is that you, Mel?’

 

Mel.

It was Philome’s nickname, a name he had heard somewhere before.

At that moment, a voice flashed through Kaien’s mind.

 

‘Mel?’

 

…How does the Third Prince know the lady’s nickname?