My Lover Isn't Interested With The Female lead!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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My Lover Isn’t Interested With The Female lead!

✽ CHAPTER 37✽

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Lady Eskis, like other debutantes, had her platinum blonde hair elegantly pinned up and wore a dress adorned with intricate lace and a high neckline.

 

However, as the Empress had mentioned, she exuded a distinctive aura of refinement and grace that set her apart from the others.

 

‘Her posture is impeccable… and she has a certain aura about her. She truly looks like an aristocrat.’

 

Though her appearance and demeanor were those typically favored by the old nobility, the reaction from the crowd was not entirely positive.

 

Some seemed even more shocked than they had been when Letticia was announced as a diamond.

 

Nevertheless, all the murmurs died down as the orchestra changed the music and the dance began. No one dared to interrupt the minuet performed by the imperial family.

 

After the Emperor and Empress, Matthias and Letticia, along with Prince Eustace and Lady Eskis, gathered in the center of the hall and greeted each other, the orchestra began to play the elegant 3/4 rhythm of the minuet at a slow tempo.

 

Letticia, taking Matthias’s proffered left hand with her right and his right hand with her left, naturally and gracefully followed the familiar steps of the minuet.

 

In such a dance, one had to glide across the ballroom for about five to ten minutes. It was the mark of a novice to focus only on the next step, fearing a misstep.

 

A true lady could think about who her next partner might be while dancing, and Letticia had practiced so much that she could dance with her eyes closed. However, because her body moved on its own, she felt a bit bored and wished she could converse, even if it was with Matthias.

 

But according to royal etiquette, a noble should not initiate conversation with a royal unless the royal spoke first. Matthias, even while escorting Letticia, had not spoken a word, leaving her to endure a tedious five minutes of merely following the dance steps.

 

‘This bastard…’

 

In the original story, Matthias was fed up with women who approached him only for his looks and status. To avoid conversation, he would exploit royal etiquette to keep his dance partners silent. If a woman broke this rule, he would use it as an excuse to humiliate her so that she wouldn’t approach him again.

 

‘No, it’s better this way. There’s no need to fall into a trap just to avoid boredom.’

 

If she accidentally revealed her lack of interest in him during a conversation, the cliché of ‘You’re the first to treat me this way’ could kick in.

 

Letticia, having dealt with the Duke of Averil, wanted to avoid any personal entanglement with the story’s male lead.

 

“………”

 

 

Continuing her thoughts, Letticia made eye contact with Matthias and forced a bright smile, pretending to be delighted.

 

Matthias looked at her expressionlessly for a moment before turning his gaze away. His sharp features and blood-red eyes showed no trace of friendliness.

 

‘Good, let’s keep it this way.’

 

Whenever their eyes met, Letticia struggled to maintain an expression of joy, pretending to be overwhelmed with happiness. Honestly, this was more tiring than the minuet itself.

 

‘I swear I’ll never dance with this jerk again.’

 

Letticia actually enjoyed dancing; otherwise, she wouldn’t have mastered seven different dances over twelve years, even being able to think about other things while dancing. But she never wanted to dance with Matthias again.

 

Finally, the torturous time ended, and the music stopped. Letticia and Matthias exchanged bows, concluding their dance. Matthias’s expression remained unchanged, suggesting that Letticia’s act had been effective.

 

During the short break to find the next partner, Matthias escorted Letticia back to Camilla and finally spoke.

 

“That was an excellent minuet. You dance well enough to be selected as a diamond.”

 

Though his words were complimentary, his tone was indifferent. Letticia, pretending to be thrilled and moved, responded with feigned excitement.

 

“Thank you for your praise, Your Highness! I’m so glad that my hard work in practicing the minuet paid off. I was very nervous about dancing with you, but you led so kindly that it felt like a dream.”

 

‘I wish it really were a dream.’

 

Feigning naive delight, Letticia noticed Matthias’s expression becoming even colder, as if confirming his low expectations of her.

 

“You call that kind? Does that mean you get overly excited when just anyone greets you?”

 

“How could anyone compare to Your Highness? There’s no comparison.”

 

‘Anyone passing by would be more decent than you. At least they’d greet me.’

 

The disparity between her words and her true feelings reached its peak.

 

As someone who is naturally straightforward, Letticia had to use every last drop of her acting skills to pull it off. Now, she could barely maintain her expression.

 

“If you genuinely mean what you say, you are quite naive. Even if you are called the queen of flowers, you are just a flower.”

 

At that moment, Letticia was grateful she wasn’t holding a book. If she had one of her 500-page hardcover books with her, she might have been jailed for assaulting a royal.

 

“….I think it’s a nickname that’s too flattering for me! Although I love roses, being called the queen of flowers seems excessive. The other debutantes must have practiced hard too, and I worry they might be too envious of me.”

 

“Whether you are genuinely naive or just lack awareness, I can’t tell.”

 

Matthias’s slightly contemptuous gaze returned to Letticia, who had taken a few seconds to muster her patience before responding.

 

This bastard couldn’t even recognize when someone was angry.

 

Fortunately, Camilla was in sight. Thinking that liberation was near, Letticia decided to make one last lively comment.

 

“Today is truly a happy day. Being chosen as a diamond, dancing the minuet with the Crown Prince, and seeing that this dress worked out well—all of this makes me glad I wore it!”

 

“Do you not know the story of why your mother, Countess Sharon, was called Ruby?”

 

Matthias’s voice carried a hint of disdain as he uttered what seemed to be a meaningful statement.

 

“My mother? What does that have to do with this…?”

 

“Being the daughter of Countess Sharon, it was only natural for you to be chosen as a diamond.”

 

With that remark, Matthias left Letticia with Camilla and walked away, offering no further explanation.

 

‘What was that about? Why bring up my mother now?’

 

It was no secret in social circles that the Empress wanted Letticia to be chosen as a diamond. This was precisely why Letticia had made extraordinary efforts to convince people.

 

However, dismissing Letticia’s efforts entirely and failing to provide a reason for it was incredibly annoying.

 

‘Such a selfish jerk is definitely not worth my time.’

 

Matthias’s character sought someone who would understand and empathize with his feelings, someone who could heal his wounds.

 

‘He wants someone to understand his pain and sympathize with him, yet he lacks basic manners himself.’

 

Helping a man overcome childhood trauma and mistreating others requires significant effort and patience. Letticia preferred to find a decent man from the start rather than volunteer for such a task.

 

‘As long as the original story doesn’t change because of me.’

 

Although sudden changes in the storyline, where the male lead becomes obsessed with the reincarnated heroine instead of the original one, were common to the point of being cliché, Letticia couldn’t afford to ignore it.

 

‘At least until Ariette makes her debut, I’ll keep up this act. That way, he’ll think I’m just like any other girl and lose interest.’

 

By playing the role of a typical, unremarkable woman that Matthias had seen many times before, Letticia ensured she wouldn’t stand out to him.

 

Though she despised it, if she met Matthias again, she would have to pretend to be interested and smile. That way, he would mistake her for a brainless girl.

 

While Letticia was lost in her thoughts, Camilla wrapped an arm around her shoulder and offered praise.

 

“You did wonderfully, Letty. It was the best minuet I’ve ever seen you perform.”

 

“Really? I heard that debutantes nowadays don’t practice the minuet much, but as expected of Camilla’s daughter, there wasn’t a single flaw.”

 

Countess Cassilis, who had appeared beside Camilla, also complimented Letticia.

 

With a quick social smile, Letticia responded to the compliments.

 

“I’m glad you think so, Countess Cassilis. Honestly, I was so nervous I couldn’t think of anything, but it’s a relief that it went well. I never expected to dance the minuet with His Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

“For someone who claims to have been nervous, you looked quite composed.”

 

“It’s all thanks to my tutor’s education. Half of my becoming a diamond is due to my mother, and the other half to my tutor.”

 

When Letticia responded humorously, the Countess laughed and then subtly introduced the young man standing beside her.

 

“Oh, this is my son Edgar. If you don’t have a partner for the next dance, would you do him the honor?”

 

At the Countess’s introduction, the young man in a well-tailored suit bowed gracefully. He was quite handsome and had impeccable manners.

 

“I’m Edgar Cassilis. May I have the honor of this dance with the beautiful debutante?”

 

At Edgar’s request, Letticia glanced over at Camilla.

 

When Camilla smiled and nodded, Letticia placed her hand on Edgar’s with a polite smile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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To Be Continued…

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