Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 227
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 227
I soon realized how the employees had come to such a misunderstanding.
“If I’m not mistaken, doesn’t His Grace act particularly… how should I put it, ticklish when dealing with Marquess Blanche?”
“You too? When I see His Grace’s expression while conversing with the Marquess, it strangely reminds me of my honeymoon days.”
Lord Cheri’s attitude of treating me specially, which was obvious to anyone, was the first reason.
“Come to think of it, the Marquess was once engaged to His Grace.”
“She also possesses the family heirloom that only the lady of the house can wear.”
“Even now, the Marquess calls His Grace by a pet name.”
“Could this possibly be…?”
Our past known to the people was the second reason.
On top of that, when word spread that I had given advice about household matters to the butler and head maid…
“She’s our future madam.”
“She’s our future lady of the house.”
“She’s our madam.”
Before I knew it, all the castle employees had come to believe and follow me as the madam of this castle.
From their warm smiles as they showed me excessive courtesy, I could guess that uprooting this misunderstanding wouldn’t be an easy task.
‘Wait a minute. Do I really need to uproot it?’
Perhaps this could be an opportunity. The perfect time to make the confession that failed last time!
From that previous incident, I learned that conveying one’s feelings to someone you like puts tremendous strain on the heart.
My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst through my ribs, my mind went blank, and the simple words “I like you” just wouldn’t come out of my mouth.
‘So this is an opportunity. If I confess my feelings to Lord Cheri in a roundabout way, saying I want to become the lady of this castle…’
While running confession simulations in my head and looking for Lord Cheri, I found him giving an uncharacteristic lengthy speech to the gathered castle employees.
I quietly approached and stood there, waiting for his story to end, when I heard Lord Cheri’s stern voice.
“So everyone, make sure not to be rude to the Marquess.”
The Marquess? Is he talking about me?
As I stood there bewildered, the employees who noticed me bowed their heads in apology.
“We’re truly sorry for troubling the Marquess with our misunderstanding.”
“We got carried away with excitement…”
“We’ll be more careful with our words and restrain ourselves from now on.”
Beyond the employees bowing toward me, Lord Cheri stood like a large dog begging for praise.
“I’ve firmly disciplined them so as not to tarnish the young lady’s honor. So please don’t worry.”
“…”
“Young lady?”
“You really are… the type who always loses out because you’re unnecessarily honest.”
“Did I do something wrong again…?”
Even shameless as I am, I wasn’t thick-skinned enough to launch a confession attack in this atmosphere.
I eventually pressed my forehead and trudged away, turning around.
What really drove me crazy was that now even such clueless behavior looked cute to me.
* * *
Around the time the Duke’s castle finished preparing to receive guests.
The mages from the Gray Tower arrived at the castle.
The massive two-story carriage was moving not by horses but by magical power, clearly announcing to anyone who saw it, ‘There are mages riding here.’
The three elders who disembarked with about thirty high-ranking mages were groaning while rubbing their knees and lower backs, but when they spotted Chaser who had come out to greet them, they rushed over in one breath.
“Oh my, our Lord Ru. Your face has become half its size!”
“You should have come with us instead of going ahead because you were so busy.”
“The ride in the magic carriage is so comfortable.”
Chaser grumbled irritably at the elders who were chattering in turn.
“Am I crazy? To be stuck with old folks for a whole month and a half. Trying to turn someone into a pig being raised during the journey.”
Wow, even if he’s their superior, isn’t that a bit too harsh?
“Anyway, you old folks. Groaning like you’re about to die any moment.”
Chaser, who muttered irritably to the end, clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers. Then steaming water pouches were summoned in front of the elders.
The elders, as if accustomed to it, supported their backs with the water pouches and entered the castle under Chaser’s guidance.
Next to arrive were the guests from the distant Holy Empire.
Given who they were, Cesar personally came out to greet them.
Forty holy knights wearing ivory armor and riding white horses.
The one leading the group jumped down from their warhorse and stood before Lord Cheri.
When the opponent removed their helmet, a face I had seen before was revealed.
“I am Lionel Aria Minerva, Knight Commander of the Holy Light Knights belonging to the Holy Empire and a Cardinal. Thank you for informing us of the traitor’s whereabouts.”
With military precision in her tone, she finished her introduction in a manner that was plain to the point of being resolute, then offered her hand to Lord Cheri for a handshake.
“Thank you for accepting the invitation.”
The moment Lord Cheri grasped that hand, sharp killing intent leaked from the Cardinal, enough for even me standing nearby to feel it.
Lord Cheri slightly twisted his body to protect me from her.
“How could I refuse? Especially after you spoke so rudely about Grand Archbishop Giuseppe.”
If it had been Giuseppe, he probably would have smiled warmly while saying such things.
In contrast, Lionel was the type who wore all her emotions on her sleeve.
‘She’s probably putting a lot of force into that handshake.’
I stepped out from behind Lord Cheri before the atmosphere could become more hostile.
“It’s been a while, Sir Lionel. Or rather, I should call you Your Eminence the Cardinal now.”
Lionel’s fierce expression turned toward me and became strange for a moment. She frowned as if recalling memories, then opened her eyes wide.
“Blanche… young lady?”
“It’s Marquess Blanche. Just as Cardinal Lionel is no longer the vice-commander of the knights.”
Fortunately, it seemed she hadn’t forgotten me.
The current Knight Commander of the Holy Light Knights and one of the four Cardinals.
When I met her in that mountain village where Cerberus had been sealed, she was the aide to Giuseppe, who was a Cardinal at the time.
“I apologize for my rudeness.”
Lionel hurriedly withdrew her killing intent, released Lord Cheri’s hand, and stepped back. It seemed she hadn’t noticed I was there, blinded by anger.
Soon, as if the puzzle pieces in her head had fallen into place, she exclaimed “Ah!” in admiration.
“The northern knight who was protecting the Marquess back then… was His Grace the Duke.”
Delight spread across her face.
“This might sound like empty words, but I’ve always wanted to find you both to express my gratitude. Thanks to you, we could save the villagers and Giuseppe could remain safe.”
Thanks to her straightforward manner of getting to the point without flowery language, her words didn’t sound like empty flattery at all.
Though this was only our second meeting, I could be certain. Honesty and integrity were both her strength and…
“However, I’m also regretful to meet you under these circumstances.”
Her weakness.
The next moment, her face, drained of warmth, became as cold and stern as if not even a needle could penetrate it.
I could understand her anger.
After the fact that Ophelia was an Ascetic was revealed, the Holy Empire became desperate to capture Ophelia.
It was natural. Of all people, the Saintess, who could be called the face of the Holy Empire, was the leader of a black magic organization.
Even considering public attention, the Holy Empire had no choice but to move for justice, and that was why a Cardinal had come all the way to this northern region.
However, it wasn’t a coincidence that Lionel, of all the four Cardinals, had come here.
When my Lord Cheri and I informed the Holy Empire of Ophelia’s current location, we added one piece of information.
Though he used extremely verbose descriptions and elaborate phrases, what he wanted to say was just one thing.
[Hey, you guys know this or not? That kid Giuseppe you sent to our country as High Priest is complete trash. He joined hands with Ophelia, the leader of the Black Mages.]
And I anticipated several possible scenarios that could come back as responses to that.
They might respond with no reply, or immediately send a protest letter claiming it was an outrageous false accusation.
If Giuseppe had many enemies, they might send back a response subtly encouraging us to tell them more details.
…Or perhaps the forces that followed Giuseppe might come to protest.
It was a gamble for us too, but fortunately it was a hit. Seeing how Lionel came all the way to the North like this.
I smiled brightly toward Lionel, who was frozen with anger, and gently appeased her.
“I think we both have a lot to say to each other. How about we go inside and have our conversation instead of doing this here?”
Fortunately, Lionel also seemed to have no intention of having a confrontation here.
Soon she led the elite knights who came with her and entered the castle.
I watched her retreating figure, then met eyes with Cheri and nodded.
With this, all the actors who would take the stage had gathered.
Now it was time to reveal to them the truth hidden behind the curtain of the stage.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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