I Like Another Man, Not the Male Lead - Chapter 33

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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 33

I swallowed hard, thinking of what was about to come next.

“Ugh! Gah!”

I squeezed my eyes shut. Behind me, there was a dull sound of The Guy being struck and some commotion.

And unlike before, a broad embrace carefully wrapped around me. A familiar scent drifted over. Caesar’s rough breathing poured down over my head.

“Are you alright?”

Just a few hours after telling him never to concern himself with me again, I was in Caesar’s arms. I could feel the strength in the hot, large hands that wrapped around me.

And then an angry voice followed.

“…Are you hurt?”

Caesar pulled me closer into his embrace.

Fear, relief, and bewilderment tangled together in one place. He held me so tightly I could barely breathe. The perfume I had worn today mixed with Caesar’s scent.

Coming to my senses belatedly, I wanted to hit my forehead.

This was just an episode meant to deepen the connection between Grace and Caesar. There was no way anything could go wrong. But an error had occurred. The person who should be in these arms had changed!

Ha, what am I going to do about this? Did I say I mistook someone else for him, or didn’t I!

＊ ＊ ＊

The blood that had been flowing from my neck had already stopped, but the shock still hadn’t subsided.

The charity banquet hall was quickly cleared up. The pink diamond disappeared, and the man who had taken me hostage attempted suicide by taking poison. Since things didn’t go as intended, he was probably hovering between life and death by now.

Released from being a hostage, I was receiving devoted care(?) from Selena and Grace while getting unlimited refills of warm cocoa. This was in the rest area that had been prepared behind the banquet hall. This place had been transformed as if it were completely my private space. Grace and Selena were stuck to both my sides like pets with separation anxiety.

Even while receiving simple treatment from the Imperial Physician, I was under devoted protection. Grace and Selena, of course, plus Caesar, Rochester, and even Young Duke Hailboard. The Imperial Physician completed the treatment while trembling under so many watchful eyes.

“Is her condition really okay? There was quite a lot of blood earlier. Wouldn’t that much blood loss be life-threatening?”

That couldn’t be. I sighed involuntarily at Rochester’s fuss.

“She’s, she’s fine, Rochester Regfield. The Princess will recover quickly. There might be some slight scarring, but…”

“What! You’re saying there’ll be a scar!”

“Brother?”

“Yes, Reina. Tell this brother of yours in detail where it hurts.”

He’s going to cry soon.

“I’m fine. Let go of that man’s collar.”

The Imperial Physician, who had been dangling in the air in Rochester’s rough grip, nodded his head vigorously. The Imperial Physician, freed from Rochester, quickly departed. He probably thought Rochester might grab his collar again at any moment.

“Rochester. This doesn’t seem like the time for that.”

Young Duke Hailboard called Rochester in a cold voice.

“Not at all! You blue-blooded types wouldn’t understand. Our Reina is so delicate and precious and small and cute…”

I struck down Rochester’s arm as he stretched it out spouting nonsense. I spoke quickly to Rochester.

“Young Duke Hailboard is waiting. Go quickly. I’m safe now.”

Rochester whined in front of me, but I pushed him away mercilessly.

Half of the Imperial Knight Order consists of nobles. At a banquet where most of them were in attendance, those guys had very boldly committed their crime. Tracking down the criminals naturally fell to the knights who had attended the banquet, and they were burning with determination to find the criminals to restore their crushed pride. It seemed like they would search every inch of the vast Empire to retrieve the pink diamond.

Countess Alize, who had put the pink diamond up for auction, had collapsed. The secret weapon that could have saved her family from ruin due to debt had disappeared. With even Count Alize pressuring the knights, one could imagine how chaotic things must be.

Moreover, the one who had to command the Knight Order today was unbelievably Rochester, who was whining over there. As the son of a ducal house and a Sword Master, it wasn’t strange for Rochester to be appointed as the chief officer in charge of this incident, but… was it right to use someone as chief officer who didn’t care about his own duties and considered his younger sister more important?

Since the chief officer was acting like that, it was natural for Young Duke Hailboard to be irritated given his personality. Rochester, caught by Young Duke Hailboard, stretched out his hand and pointed at Caesar Prince.

“Why aren’t you dragging that guy away!”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward Caesar Prince, who had been standing like a ghost in the corner. Caesar Prince was looking at us with a face much paler than usual.

I could understand Caesar Prince saving me. But I didn’t know why he still wasn’t leaving. Caesar Prince moved his lips, which were more bloodless than usual.

“I will escort Reina home.”

At Caesar Prince’s declaration, I widened my eyes.

Why? We agreed to cut ties. His words made our earlier conversation meaningless.

“What are you talking about.”

Rochester’s voice lowered. It was a danger signal.

“Reina is my younger sister, so it’s right for me to escort her!”

“I saved her.”

Caesar Prince said firmly.

“I was the one who saved Reina from that situation. So it’s not wrong for me to take responsibility until the end, is it?”

I looked back and forth between the two men.

The two were glaring at each other. It was as if they had met their nemesis on a battlefield.

Why on earth are they acting like this? Honestly, I was so tired that I just wanted to go home quickly. It seemed like I’d be fine going back alone.

“Um… you two…”

I carefully intervened. It seemed like this would never end.

“Could you please listen to my opinion too?”

Both men looked at me simultaneously.

“Reina, this Brother will…”

“Reina, I’ll take responsibility and…”

“Stop!”

I raised both hands to stop them.

“First of all, I’m really fine. The wound isn’t deep, and the doctor said it’s nothing serious. And my legs are perfectly fine, and Selena and Grace are here too. I’ll go home with them. So you two should do what you need to do here…”

“I will take you home.”

Caesar Prince’s voice lowered. His gaze looking at me was dark. It felt like he was desperately clinging to me.

“Rochester Regfield is today’s chief officer on site, and it wouldn’t be right to send Reina, who was at the center of the incident, back without an escort. So I am suitable.”

It was a rational judgment and statement. Rochester glared at Caesar Prince while moving his lips.

“…Alright, Brother.”

In the end, I gave up and took Caesar Prince’s side.

We couldn’t keep confronting each other like this. There were still things that needed to be resolved. Since there was no progress in the work, Young Duke Hailboard’s expression was becoming more distorted by the moment. His eyes glaring at Rochester were like thorns.

“I’ll go home with Caesar Prince.”

Rochester stared at me with eyes like someone looking at a cheating lover. He looked like he was about to cry.

“I’ll see you at home, Brother. You’ll finish things well and come back, right?”

Rochester’s expression improved considerably at those words. Young Duke Hailboard grabbed Rochester, who was about to say something to me.

“I am most grateful for the lady’s decision.”

Young Duke Hailboard said to me, then grabbed Rochester by the collar and dragged him away. Only then did the entire situation come to an end.

Phew, I think I’m more mentally exhausted. I really don’t understand why those guys are fighting.

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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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