Instead of the Heroine, I Married the Male Lead

 

“…That would be impossible.”

To become someone precious to everyone, one would first need a high status. No matter how esteemed the position of the Duchess of Wintbell might be, it could not compare to that of royalty.

Realizing that Kaien wasn’t joking, Philome’s expression turned serious.

“If the Emperor heard that, it would be a serious issue.”

At her words, Kaien burst into laughter.

“Why would His Majesty care? No royal would dare object.”

His comment was laced with a certainty that the Emperor would remain indifferent.

Philome was about to ask why, but she quickly closed her mouth. It was clear that Kaien would reveal the reason without hesitation, and she suspected that knowing it would deeply entangle her with the Wintbell family.

‘I’m planning to get a divorce, after all…’

Philome awkwardly looked away.

Then she noticed something attached to Kaien’s chest, and her eyes widened.

The earrings Philome wore today were adorned with unique patterns and jewels. The brooch on Kaien’s chest had the same pattern.

The only difference was that the gem on the brooch was green.

Philome instinctively glanced down at her hand. The jewel in the ring on her ring finger was identical.

“Yes, it’s the same jewel.”

Noting that Kaien lowered his head to follow her gaze, he answered before she could even ask.

“I wanted to match them, so I bought it secretly, but it seems I was caught.”

“… You don’t seem to be trying very hard to hide it.”

“I got caught at that, too.”

Philome, though bewildered, couldn’t help but smile slightly.

“It suits you very well, Duke.”

“Like how you look good with those earrings?”

The earrings and the brooch each had jewels matching the color of each other’s eyes.

It was special, if anything, or nothing significant otherwise, but Philome felt her face heat up at Kaien’s question.

Philome couldn’t respond and looked away, fidgeting.

Kaien playfully smiled before staring directly at Philome and asking, “But why don’t you call me by my name like you did before?”

“…Did I call you by your name?”

“You’re bad at lying.”

Kaien lightly tapped the corner of her mouth.

“The corner of your mouth is trembling slightly.”

Philome involuntarily raised her hand to feel the corner of her mouth. Seeing her seriously check if it was trembling made Kaien burst into laughter.

“You’re lying.”

“Oh, that’s right! I’m quite the actor, you know.”

Philome calmed her startled heart.

However, since her reaction had already given away the lie, she decided to be honest.

“The thing is, when you kissed my cheek… it felt strange to call you ‘Duke’ in that kind of situation.”

She was more embarrassed than when she realized Nadia and Emmon had run away on her engagement day.

“The world already knows that I’m completely smitten with my fiancée, so I should be able to kiss you on the cheek, shouldn’t I?”

Kaien hesitated before adding,

“…Did I perhaps make you uncomfortable?”

If someone with that face kissed her cheek, she should have been grateful.

However, since she couldn’t speak her true feelings, Philome turned her slightly reddened face away and responded.

“That’s not it, but I was a bit surprised. I think it would be better to set some rules. For situations where physical contact is necessary, we could allow kisses on the cheek.”

“Hmm. On the cheek?”

Kaien seemed lost in thought for a moment before continuing.

“Well, if it’s just pretending, wouldn’t a kiss on the lips be possible?”

“Lips?”

“Yeah. Why not? Listen.”

Kaien nodded casually with the same expression as usual. Philome wondered if her reaction was unusual and paid close attention to Kaien’s words.

“Actually, our agreement doesn’t specify that we need to show we’re on good terms, but there’s no need to act like we’re on bad terms either, right?”

“I guess that’s true.”

“So, we might have to pretend to kiss in front of people sometimes. As I said, it’s already known in the social circle that our relationship is very close.”

Philome nodded seriously, reflecting on Kaien’s words.

Upon reflection… there was no room for argument. It wasn’t entirely agreeable, but it wasn’t completely wrong either, which gave her a strange feeling.

‘And he said it was just pretending.’

Even if it was just acting, if they actually kissed, she might have thought it over more, but since it’s just “pretending,”

“Alright. Let’s go with pretend kiss.”

As Philome nodded, Kaien’s mouth twitched slightly before he managed a nonchalant smile.

Just as Kaien was about to discuss the rules again,

The carriage, which had been moving steadily, suddenly stopped. It was unusual because they weren’t passing through the square, so it shouldn’t have stopped.

While they were puzzled, Gio approached them urgently.

“Your Grace, it’s a royal carriage.”

“Who is it?”

Gio hesitated briefly before responding.

“…It’s the Third Prince.”

Kaien’s face hardened, and at the same time, the sound of the carriage door opening could be heard.

“Kaien? Is that you?”

It wouldn’t do to just sit there when royalty had arrived.

“You stay here. Don’t come out.”

Kaien instructed Philome and then quickly stepped down from the carriage.

“I greet the third glory of Vernum.”

Unlike his casual greeting, Kaien’s formal address made Winston slightly embarrassed, and he asked,

“Where are you coming from?”

“I stopped by the Countess of Pesain’s tea party for a while.”

“Oh, I was on my way to the Countess of Pesain’s myself.”

That made sense.

It was well known that Winston took great care of his people. However, only Kaien knew that the Empress’s word could make him abandon them without hesitation.

“So why did you attend the Countess of Pesain’s tea party?”

“My fiancée was invited.”

“Oh, right. You have a fiancée now. It’s something I keep forgetting because it’s so unexpected.”

Kaien, with a bored expression, interrupted Winston’s words.

“Shouldn’t you be on your way?”

“Oh, yes, I should.”

Winston agreed readily but still did not leave.

As Kaien’s patience began to wear thin, Winston, who had been just moving his lips, finally spoke.

“…I wanted to meet you again. My dear friend, Kaien Wintbell.”

Kaien doubted his hearing but soon realized from Winston’s expression that he had heard correctly.

Indeed, the Third Prince was exceptionally kind and innocent. He wanted to be friends with the brother of the man his mother had killed.

Kaien gave a bitter laugh, looking at Winston, who seemed to have lost all sense of innocence and ignorance.

“Do you truly believe that’s possible?”

“Kaien, I…”

“I’ll be on my way now.”

Kaien interrupted Winston and turned away. He glanced at the fidgeting Gio, boarded the carriage, and knocked twice on the wall.

The carriage, which had stopped, picked up speed and started moving again.

“Philome.”

Kaien turned to look at Philome.

“Do you know the Third Prince?”

This had been on his mind for a while.

Although he thought it might be his imagination, Philome had always seemed particularly flustered whenever Winston appeared. The reason Kaien had not been sure until now was that Winston did not seem to recognize Philome.

“Mel.”

Philome looked at Kaien.

“Is that your nickname?”

“Yes.”

She nodded calmly.

Kaien pondered whether hearing this information would be good or bad for him.

He was aware that he was particularly sensitive regarding Winston. What would be insignificant if done by others took on a different meaning when done by Winston.

That’s how much Winston affected him.

Kaien was afraid that he might feel disappointed or betrayed by Philome.

Even though he had suspected it for a long time, he had been unable to voice it. In front of Winston, Kaien was nothing more than a foolish person consumed by past vengeance.

Philome, seeing Kaien’s reaction, began to speak.

“I met the Third Prince ten years ago.”

It was when she was fifteen, right after she had realized she had been reincarnated.