I Like Another Man, Not the Male Lead - Chapter 4

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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 4

As soon as I returned to my room, I collapsed face-first onto the bed. I wanted to deny this situation. Just when I had finally gathered my courage, something like this had to happen. My personal maid Jane carefully sat on the edge of the bed and asked.

“Miss? Miss! What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you couldn’t make even one friend?”

“It’s not that.”

Rather, I had made a friend too easily and now I was in big trouble. I didn’t know I had such excellent social skills.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

I had sorted out all the past issues, only to mess things up with my own hands. Jane approached me with a worried expression. Jane asked me anxiously.

“Then were people whispering that you’re a stalker?”

“That’s not it either. Wait. People said that?”

When I quickly turned my head at the triggering word, Jane pressed her lips together and rolled her eyes. She must have heard the other maids gossiping. I could imagine what high society was saying about me. But I couldn’t deny it. I had been stalking like that, so it was understandable… Looking back at Reina’s past actions, there was more than enough material for gossip. In my previous life, I probably would have been called something like ‘Reisery’ – a combination of Reina and misery.

Jane cleared her throat.

“…Then what happened? I’m really dying of worry. My one and only miss is in tears every day, so what joy do I have left to live for?”

“…I made a friend, but she doesn’t seem like a very good person.”

“That’s what you feel?”

What I feel, huh.

Had I ever properly made a truly personal friend before? When you’re struggling just to survive, you can’t look around you. Even my closest friend eventually got exhausted and gave up.

‘Are you the only one who’s busy? I’m busy too. But you’ve never contacted me first, not even once. Do you really want to see me? Do you even consider me a friend?’

Saying I didn’t have time to make such contact was nothing but an excuse. Actually, she was right. I didn’t have the mental space to reach out. Honestly, I didn’t even have anything to talk about when we met. Compared to her sparkling world, my life was just part-time jobs, work, part-time jobs, part-time jobs, and more work.

So I wanted this life to be different.

I tried to make friends to make it different. Since I’m living a new life anyway, it would be nice to enjoy it properly.

What would someone like me feel?

I buried my face in the pillow.

Looking at it now, I don’t have good judgment either.

“Ughhhh…”

“Don’t tell me she bullied you?”

How could that be? Rather, Selena was delighted.

“No.”

“Then did she say something mean?”

“No. Actually, I was invited for tomorrow.”

Selena had said to me with a shy face.

‘Will you really come? This is the first time I’m inviting a young lady my age to the mansion. Actually, no one has ever tried to get close to me. I thought there was something wrong with me all this time. Reina, I really hope you’ll come tomorrow. I’ll be waiting.’

It was an honest yet calm voice. Selena seemed already accustomed to loneliness. That’s why her face looked so excited when inviting me. Jane asked with sparkling eyes.

“Oh my! Which noble house is she from?”

“Selena Hailboard. She’s the Duke of Hailboard’s daughter.”

“Oh my my my!”

Jane made a big fuss. Why is she so surprised? Is there something about Selena that would shock Jane? I jumped up from my seat and grabbed Jane’s shoulders.

“If you know something, tell me quickly.”

Thinking about the original story, House Hailboard was practically a minefield. Bombs here, bombs there. There’s the Female Lead and the villainess too. Just thinking about going there and being on edge makes me feel like I’m already withering away.

Even though it’s before the original story begins, the Female Lead must already be living at Hailboard under persecution. It’s probably gorgeously and prettily packaged on the outside, but rotting on the inside.

I was curious what had caught the Maids’ network.

Isn’t Selena severely bullying Grace? The Maids witnessed it. So maybe Selena’s reputation has hit rock bottom? As I was imagining based on the original story, Jane spoke.

“Actually…”

“Yes, tell me quickly.”

“She’s really pretty, they say. Is it really true? I heard that up close, she really sparkles brilliantly?”

Is that all the rumors are about? Of course it would be. Even I, who am satisfied just looking in the mirror, could stare at that face for days without getting tired of it. That beauty was so captivating that other things might not even register. I was quite looking forward to seeing the Female Lead I haven’t met yet.

The current Duke Hailboard’s appearance was famous in High Society. So many women spent their wedding day in tears because of him. And Selena Hailboard was famous for having a face that greatly resembled Duke Hailboard. There would be one more person who would become that famous in the future – the Female Lead. In High Society, the Female Lead was called Hailboard’s diamond. Selena was already being called Hailboard’s black rose.

“Anything else besides that?”

“Oh, um. This is actually… not certain. You have a sister, don’t you? A half-sister.”

“That’s right.”

As I thought, there’s something there!

“They don’t get along well, they say.”

“Why?! Who’s bullying whom?!”

That’s probably Selena, right? Is Selena bullying Grace! As expected, a villainess is a villainess!

“No. It’s just, you know. Grace is very gloomy, they say. She rarely comes out of her Room. Since she came from the Street and all… so the atmosphere is a bit…”

Ah, so Grace is like that… But what I was curious about wasn’t Grace, it was Selena. After all, Selena was the one I had to face tomorrow.

“Not Grace. What about Selena’s side?”

Jane tilted her head.

“Oh, well? I don’t think there was anything particular said? Ah! Was it before Grace came? Selena was so excited, they say. About her sister coming. But how could their relationship turn sour like that?”

Jane tilted her head.

She was excited about her sister coming.

The female protagonist Grace is a child the Duke brought from outside, even though the Duchess is still alive. Naturally, she’d have a target on her back.

So Selena also hated Grace to death for making her Mother suffer.

But she was excited? That’s a bit confusing. I thought she just kept hating her. Something’s different from the original story.

“But don’t worry too much, my lady! I heard that Selena, though strict, is actually a very kind person. Really!”

…I felt a little courage.

Actually, the Selena I experienced today wasn’t that strange or scary either.

‘I really hope you’ll come.’

She was being shy.

Alright, let’s go!

＊ ＊ ＊

I brushed off my skirt.

Father was so moved by my words about going to visit a friend’s house that he showed tears, and Mother swayed on her feet. For a future villain’s family, weren’t their hearts a bit too soft? And the future mastermind,

‘Brother will take you there. I’ll wait there and when you’re done playing, Brother will bring you back…’

‘Just go to work, please.’

He looked ready to follow me without even going to work. His eyes were brimming with emotion. Anyone would think he had raised Reina himself.

Anyway, surrounded by such passionate love and attention from my family, I came to a friend’s house for the first time.

Come to think of it, this really is my first time. Who would have thought visiting a friend’s house would feel like this? My heart was as bright as the weather.

I had prepared a gift, dressed nicely in something both modest and cheerful-looking, and my makeup was decent too. Good. Let’s get out.

Feeling slightly nervous, I practically tumbled out of the carriage.

Ah, I almost fell.

I was trying not to show my embarrassment when Selena came out to greet me.

“You really came!”

She smiled brightly at me, and from Selena’s face, ugh, I thought light was actually shining. Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle. Light was pouring out. Was she someone who could smile like that? So dazzling…

“Yes? Yes, since I promised.”

“Thank you so much for really coming, Reina. I thought maybe you wouldn’t come. The Young Ladies my age avoid me, so I thought you might do the same. But I’m happy you came like this.”

Ugh. Why does she say such things so casually? I quickly held out the gift.

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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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