My Lover Isn't Interested With The Female lead!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Sir Paulette, would you mind passing me the bread over there?”

 

“Ah, here it is.”

 

When one of the ladies spoke to sir Paulette, his gaze turned in her direction.

 

Taking advantage of this opportunity, a young woman who seemed to be the woman’s daughter began to speak to sir Paulette continuously.

 

“Sir, this roasted duck is delicious. Could you possibly share the recipe with me? I would like our cook to prepare it as well.”

 

“I will have a servant convey it to you later.”

 

“Is saffron the spice used? Dishes using spices from the South are quite popular these days. Do you also like such dishes?”

 

“Yes, I do like saffron.”

 

“We recently hired a cook who specializes in southern spices. Would you like to join us for a meal?”

 

“If you invite me, I would be delighted to come.”

 

Although his responses were polite and somewhat different from when he spoke with Letticia, the conversation continued nonetheless. Seeing this, other mothers began to speak to men they had in mind as potential suitors for their daughters.

 

As a result, Letticia was momentarily freed from the attention of the men, but it was not entirely a cause for joy.

 

“…This isn’t a good sign.”

 

“I agree.”

 

Kenneth muttered softly, and Letticia agreed.

 

Not only had she become a coveted catch among the noblemen of the social circles and their mothers, but she was also becoming a prime rival to the other women and their mothers.

 

‘I should stick close to my brother from now on,’

 

Letticia thought to herself as she took a bite of a slice of cheesecake.

 

For now, no man particularly caught her interest, so if she could just enjoy the scenery and the fresh air and then return, there wouldn’t be any problems.

 

Not knowing how seriously the women who were eyeing suitors would take the competition, she just had to hope for the best.

 

***

 

After lunch, the second act of the picnic began.

 

“On a day like this, you can play cricket. While the ladies enjoy a boat ride, how about the gentlemen try some cricket?”

 

At the words of the Viscountess, most of the men nodded happily, but Kenneth’s face showed concern.

 

Kenneth generally disliked exercise, especially sports involving competition.

 

However, in noble society, sports for gentlemen were not just recommended but practically obligatory.

 

While hunting had recently become more of a personal choice, sports remained a compulsory aspect of a gentleman’s education.

 

Thus, to avoid cricket, Kenneth needed an appropriate excuse.

 

“…Letty, you’re going boating, right?”

 

“Yes. Big brother, come with me. You’re my chaperone.”

 

Letticia immediately picked up on her cousin’s indirect plea and agreed, as she had promised to rescue Kenneth whenever a sports event arose.

 

Since boating was done with a group, there was no issue of being alone with a man, and having a chaperone along was not unusual.

 

However, the Viscountess, overhearing their conversation, raised her voice slightly and addressed Letticia.

 

“Oh my, does lord Sharon plan to join the boat ride as well?”

 

“Yes, I cannot leave Letticia alone.”

 

At Kenneth’s answer, the Viscountess squinted her eyes but did not object. It would be considered rude in social circles to prevent a chaperone from accompanying.

 

But mothers with marriageable sons always found ways around such rules.

 

At the lake shore below the hill, a boat large enough to hold about twenty people was anchored. Kenneth boarded first, followed by Letticia, but the Viscountess quickly intervened.

 

“The boat seems quite unsteady. Rowan, help Lady Sharon aboard.”

 

“Oh, I’m fine. Big brother Kenneth can help me.”

 

Letticia tried to decline, but the Viscountess was insistent.

 

“No, as our guest, it is only proper that someone from our family assists you. Rowan, please.”

 

“My mother is right, Lady Sharon. Please take my arm.”

 

In perfect sync with his mother, sir Paulette extended his arm. Reluctantly taking his arm, Letticia could not prevent him from sitting beside her on her left.

 

‘They should have just gone to play cricket…!’

 

With Kenneth on her right, the arrangement satisfied the chaperone requirement, leaving no room for escape.

 

As Letticia resigned herself to the situation, the others took their seats, and soon the boat set off with the wind.

 

With most of the men off playing cricket, the only male on the boat, aside from the chaperone Kenneth, was sir Paulette.

 

Naturally, the women began to converse with him, but sir Paulette’s attention remained on Letticia.

 

As they enjoyed the cool breeze and scenery, they passed a field of daffodils. The Viscountess spoke to Letticia.

 

“Lady Sharon, did you enjoy the view of the daffodils?”

 

“Oh, yes. They are very beautiful.”

 

Since the scenery was innocent, Letticia answered honestly. At her response, sir Paulette quickly started a conversation.

 

“While it is nice to view from the hill, the view from the lake has its own charm. Should we steer the boat closer if you’d like to see it up close?”

 

“No, there is no need…”

 

“Please don’t hesitate. It is my small wish that you fully enjoy the beauty of our estate.”

 

Had they been alone in the boat, it might have been different, but to act without asking the other guests was neither polite nor proper.

 

Sir Paulette’s blatant favoritism towards Letticia finally wore out someone’s patience among the women.

 

“Oh my, Lady Sharon only has eyes for roses, doesn’t she? Being called the queen of flowers, would any other flowers even catch her eye?”

 

The woman who had been incessantly talking to sir Paulette earlier now glared at Letticia and sneered. Letticia recalled that she was introduced as the daughter of Count Eunice, an old noble family.

 

Lady Eunice’s words instantly created a chilly atmosphere, but Letticia, expecting such a moment, responded calmly.

 

“Of course not. All flowers are beautiful, and I always enjoy admiring beauty.”

 

“If you say so, you must know a lot about poems related to flowers, right? Poetry is the most appropriate literature to praise beauty.”

 

“I don’t have extensive knowledge, but I know a bit.”

 

Letticia smiled leisurely, which made lady Eunice bite her lip slightly and glance toward the daffodil field.

 

Watching the yellow daffodils swaying in the wind, a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

 

“Speaking of which, didn’t lord Blunt write a poem praising the daffodils of Rodinia thirty years ago? How about reciting that poem while admiring the daffodils?”

 

Lady Eunice’s words made people murmur.

 

Lord Blunt was a master of contemporary poetry, known for his prose poems. His famous work, <Moments of Waiting for Love>, consists of hundreds of characters even in just one verse. While his poem praising the daffodils isn’t that long, it’s not short either.

 

Memorizing such a poem would be something one wouldn’t do unless for a literature exam. Moreover, the daffodil poem isn’t very famous and rarely appears in exams.

 

So, lady Eunice was confident that Letticia wouldn’t be able to recite it.

 

“Lord Blunt’s works are certainly excellent, but they are too lengthy to memorize. While reciting or reading poems is indeed a way to enjoy the scenery, isn’t it also good to simply appreciate the scenery as it is?”

 

Sir Paulette’s hastily defended Letticia from lady Eunice’s remark.

 

However, other women, seeing an opportunity to criticize Letticia, began to side with lady Eunice.

 

“Oh my, wouldn’t sir Paulette’s want to see the famously refined manners of Lady Sharon?”

 

“They say she excelled in the Duchess of Dinever’s literary meetings. No wonder it was published in ‘Lucinella.’”

 

“I’m looking forward to it as well. I’m sure Lady Sharon will give an excellent recitation. She is called the queen of flowers, after all. Surely, she must be prepared.”

 

The women now openly mocked her. Letticia, finding their transparent tactics amusing, looked at them coldly.

 

‘Is this a picnic or a poetry reading? Talking about waltzing at a tea party…’

 

Originally, picnics were about strolling, enjoying the scenery, and dining outdoors. Reciting poetry was for literary gatherings or tea parties.

 

So, even if Letticia refused, it wouldn’t be a problem. Moreover, the poem wasn’t famous, so not knowing it by heart wasn’t odd.

 

Despite this, they were very confident, believing this to be a point of criticism.

 

What was more astonishing was that the surrounding people, siding with the women, were looking at Letticia with mixed expectations and pressure.

 

Seeing their daughters act this way and not stopping them, they clearly thought this was an opportunity to eliminate a rival.

 

‘So, society is just a marriage market? They want to eliminate a strong competitor like me as quickly as possible?’

 

She’s already knew it, but it was a moment that could make her develop a real hatred for humanity.