My Lover Isn't Interested With The Female lead!

 

 

 

 

“Letty, what exactly happened earlier?”

 

“I heard there was a drunkard. Are you hurt anywhere?”

 

At the question from Lenard and Kenneth, who had retreated to the corner, Letticia recalled the man from earlier and grimaced.

 

“A crazy man tried to throw wine at me, so I had him isolated. I assigned a servant to keep him in the guest room on the second floor.”

 

“What?”

 

Lenard’s expression turned icy at Letticia’s words. Kenneth also looked at her with wide eyes.

 

“You mean he tried to throw wine at you, but you weren’t hit?”

 

“Yes, lord Bright lifted me up and helped me avoid it.”

 

“Ezkhiel, was it you?”

 

Ezkhiel nodded awkwardly in response to Lenard’s gaze.

 

“When I saw that man sneaking up behind the Lady, I found it suspicious… Also, the angle of the wine glass he was holding seemed odd.”

 

“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, Letticia would have been drenched in wine and made a laughingstock by now.”

 

“And this party would have been ruined. If one of the main promotional models were in such a state, what would people say?”

 

Kenneth muttered with a serious expression at Letticia’s cynical remark.

 

“It’s not uncommon for women to throw drinks at each other, but if a man did it… it wouldn’t be a simple matter.”

 

“If it’s not a simple matter, does it have to do with some crime?”

 

Surprised, Ezkhiel asked, and Kenneth hesitated, unsure whether to tell the truth. Instead, Lenard spoke in a low voice.

 

“So, this time, it wasn’t the staff but the guest who was the problem.”

 

“It seems that way.”

 

When Letticia nodded, Lenard looked around at Kenneth and Ezkhiel and spoke as if giving them instructions.

 

“I’ll go tell Father and check the second floor. Meanwhile, you two stay with Letticia.”

 

“Alright, Lenard.”

 

Kenneth nodded willingly, but Ezkhiel’s expression wasn’t as agreeable.

 

“Lenard, wouldn’t it be better if you stayed by her side as her brother? Even though Lady Letticia is a brave person, she nearly got hit with wine at the ball, so she must be feeling uneasy.”

 

“No, we don’t have much time to deal with that man since he’s still a guest. We need to make sure there aren’t more people like him, or Letticia might go through something similar again.”

 

“Well, that’s true, but…”

 

When Ezkhiel trailed off, unable to argue, Lenard continued, half-jokingly.

 

“And besides, she’d be more uncomfortable if I stayed here. She’d think I’m just killing time instead of doing my job.”

 

“You know me well. Go quickly.”

 

Letticia waved her hand, letting her brother go. If Lenard wasn’t there to physically protect her, there wasn’t much he could do by staying around anyway.

 

After Lenard left, Letticia glanced around the ballroom. As the waltz ended, several servants appeared to announce that the meal was ready.

 

“It seems like the meal is prepared now. Everyone’s moving.”

 

“That’s good. Lord Bright, are you getting hungry? You arrived right before the waltz, so you didn’t get to enjoy the tea room properly.”

 

“Yes? Oh… yes. Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

 

At first bewildered, Ezkhiel soon nodded as if he understood.

 

If a debutante and her partner wanted to spend more time after dancing, they would move to the tea room or dining room to enjoy snacks or a late meal together while chatting.

 

He seemed to have concluded that Letticia was asking him to escort her to give her a chance to rest.

 

“Then, may I escort you to the dining room, Lady? I believe a warm soup would help calm your nerves.”

 

“It is an honor for me. Please, I humbly ask for your favor, Lord Bright.”

 

Letticia smiled at Ezkhiel’s warm words.

 

Kenneth, after glancing at the two, spoke to Ezkhiel in a casual tone.

 

“That’s a considerate suggestion. Please enjoy your time with my cousin.”

 

“…I assure you, I will never cause any worry to you and Lord Lenard.”

 

Ezkhiel gently linked arms with Letticia and escorted her. Seeing Letticia looking pleased with this rare opportunity, Kenneth narrowed his eyes slightly and added a couple of words.

 

“At this time, no more guests are likely to arrive, so if you’re too tired, don’t feel the need to return to the ballroom. Just rest slowly. I’ll inform Aunt.”

 

“Got it. Thank you, Big Brother.”

 

Letticia mentally gave a thumbs-up to Kenneth, who faithfully fulfilled his duties as a chaperone until the very end.

 

Unaware of the communication between those two cousins, Ezkhiel thought that Letticia, despite not showing it, must have been greatly startled. He walked her to the dining room at a leisurely pace, being considerate of her.

 

***

 

Not all the guests at the ballroom could be seated in the dining room.

 

The minimum number of people required to call it a ballroom was 200, and for that many people to be seated, everyone would have to sit on the floor.

 

So, while the tea room was being transformed into a dining room, the host ensured that the highest-ranking guests were still present and, once the preparations were complete, guided them in first to maintain order.

 

When it was the tea room, people arrived at various times, so there was relatively more flexibility. However, when the meal was served, some level of control was necessary.

 

Moreover, for the original purpose of the ball, which was the ‘meeting of men and women,’ seats needed to be secured for those coming to the dining room to enjoy a late meal together.

 

Therefore, aside from one table reserved for high-ranking guests and a few for the chaperones, the rest were usually left open for the young men and women.

 

Letticia and Ezkhiel were also guided to that area.

 

Seeing Letticia, the host’s daughter, enter with Ezkhiel as her escort, some people began whispering. Before Ezkhiel could react, someone called out to him.

 

“Sir Bright, you’re here too.”

 

“…I greet Your Excellency the Chancellor, Your Grace the Chairman, Duchess, Countess. I hope you have all been well.”

 

At the table sat the Speaker of the House of Nobles, Duke Dinever, and his wife, along with the Chancellor, Count Freke, and his wife—senior aristocrats gathered together.

 

Ezkhiel quickly stopped in his tracks, bowed his head, and greeted everyone at the table.

 

His previously slightly timid demeanor instantly changed to one of seriousness and propriety.

 

“I heard you took a vacation after the Grand Assembly, but I didn’t expect to see you here. Was it Lord Lenard who invited you?”

 

“Yes, I was on vacation when I was invited to attend by his courtesy.”

 

Duke Dinever spoke in a friendly tone, but Ezkhiel maintained his serious and composed demeanor.

 

If it were just the amicable Duke Dinever, it might have been different. However, with the strict and etiquette-conscious Duchess beside him, he couldn’t afford to let his guard down.

 

Moreover, next to her was Count Freke, who seemed to embody the words strict, solemn, and serious.

 

Although the Countess, who was known to be lenient with young people, was also present, she was by no means an easy person.

 

“His courtesy, you say. Then, is escorting this season’s top debutante also part of his courtesy?”

 

Duke Dinever’s jesting gaze turned to Letticia, who was linking arms with Ezkhiel.

 

Noticing his gaze, Ezkhiel was momentarily at a loss for words. Letticia quickly stepped in and answered.

 

“Of course not. No matter what my brother says, I choose my own partner.”

 

“Oh, so that means Sir Bright has caught the Lady’s eye?”

 

“Duke, you’ve seen us coming here together for a late-night meal. Do you really need to ask?”

 

When Letticia pouted playfully, the Duke burst into hearty laughter.

 

“Haha, I’ve been too clueless. Indeed, such things don’t need to be asked.”

 

“That’s right, Duke. It’s best not to meddle in young people’s love affairs, or you’ll be called an old nag.”

 

“Oh dear, Countess, you’re delivering quite the stinging blow.”

 

As the elderly gentleman and lady exchanged light-hearted banter, Ezkhiel stood stiffly, clearly uncomfortable.

 

He had merely intended to act as an escort, but being perceived as having a good rapport with Letticia left him unsure of what to do.

 

Letticia was about to bid farewell and leave quickly, but this time, Count Freke interrupted.

 

“Sir Bright, regarding the meeting on the southern trade tariffs three days from now, could you inform His Highness that it may need to be postponed?”

 

“Is there an issue?”

 

“There has been a report of a change in the situation in San Severo. I’ll send a detailed report, so please convey that accurate information collection should be prioritized.”

 

“Oh my, even here you’re talking about work?”

 

The Countess sighed in exasperation, and Duke Dinever shook his head as well.

 

“Count, while your dedication to state affairs is commendable as a citizen of the Empire, could you give the young people some breathing room? How can you subject them to the torture of discussing work with an old man when they barely have time to chat with a beautiful young lady?”

 

“Merely informing him of a schedule change hardly qualifies as torture.”

 

“It is torture. Talking about work even after office hours is incredibly exhausting. That’s why I never discuss work once I leave the meeting room.”

 

“Your division is too strict, Duke.”

 

Caught between a workaholic and an advocate of work-life balance, Ezkhiel, though feeling awkward, tried his best to mediate without showing it.