I Like Another Man, Not the Male Lead - Chapter 46

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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 46

The small tea table set up in the Hailboard tent was filled with charming refreshments. Thanks to the maids rolling up and securing the tent fabric, the entire interior was flooded with bright afternoon sunlight. With several noble young ladies gathered together, the tent that usually maintained a comfortable silence was now bustling with activity.

With Duchess Hailboard’s absence, the atmosphere was comfortable and free. Duchess Hailboard had gone on a trip with her lover. Though everyone was keeping quiet about it, rumors were already famous that the duchess was completely infatuated with her lover who was 13 years younger and was moving all sorts of household goods for him. On top of that, Duke Hailboard was participating in the hunt, and Matthias was handling knight order duties, so only the young ladies were in the tent.

Since I wasn’t used to this kind of atmosphere, I sipped my tea while observing my surroundings. I didn’t miss how the young ladies’ gazes kept turning toward Selena. It seemed like interest in Selena had exploded ever since Rochester received the five-colored ribbon.

“Hailboard Princess.”

A young lady from a count’s house carefully spoke up.

“How did you become so close with Lord Regfield? He’s really… difficult to approach. And he doesn’t like others approaching him either. He’s never accepted a five-colored ribbon even once before.”

Selena gracefully set down her tea cup.

“It’s still too early to say we’ve become close. I simply got to meet him naturally thanks to Reina.”

“But you received his five-colored ribbon! And for the first time too! Oh, did Princess Regfield perhaps act as a bridge for you?”

Excitement slowly spread among the young ladies. They were all looking at Selena with eyes soaked in anticipation.

“That must be it, right? That’s why Lord Regfield came to regard Hailboard Princess specially! Right?”

My eyebrows twitched without me realizing it. Is that supposed to be a question? They’ve already reached their own conclusion.

Selena also pressed her lips tightly together. She seemed to be in a rather unpleasant mood. Ever since coming here, they had only talked about men the entire time. It’s not like that’s the only conversation topic available when young ladies gather. Even their words about wanting to become friends with Grace were all lies. They hadn’t said a single word to Grace. It had been an approach with ulterior motives from the beginning.

“Actually…”

Anna said hesitantly.

“There’s another reason why we gathered like this today.”

Selena raised an eyebrow.

“Another reason?”

Selena’s face had hardened coldly.

In this context, there’s only one thing they could want to talk about.

“We wanted to ask about Lord Hailboard. We’re curious about Lord Hailboard.”

Ah, as expected. I sighed inwardly.

One young lady said with reddened cheeks.

“Lord Hailboard has never accepted a five-colored ribbon either. Do you perhaps… know if there’s someone he likes? We’re also curious about what food he likes and his taste in music!”

Grace stared at Selena with a flustered expression. Selena remained silent for a moment before speaking.

“Matthias… well. As far as I know, there doesn’t seem to be anyone he’s particularly set his heart on.”

“Really?”

The young ladies’ eyes sparkled.

“Then that means we have a chance too!”

“Lord Hailboard is really handsome. He looks cold but I heard he’s actually a warm person.”

“I have no idea where you heard such nonsense.”

Selena muttered coldly, but her words seemed to go unheard. The young ladies chattered away with excited voices.

“Besides, he’s the heir to House Hailboard. How wonderful would it be to become the mistress of the great Hailboard estate? I’ve been preparing to become the mistress of a great house since I was young.”

Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen someone count their chickens before they hatch to this extent.

And to babble about it in front of someone from House Hailboard no less. I don’t know if that’s brave or stupid. There are quite a few servants hovering around here to attend to the noble young ladies, and who knows what rumors might spread and how.

The young ladies’ chatter continued. All sorts of topics came up, starting from Matthias’s appearance to his swordsmanship skills and even the family’s wealth.

Grace seemed uncomfortable with this tea time. And rightfully so. Who wouldn’t be uncomfortable having their family’s wealth discussed right in front of them? They should know when to stop. I clicked my tongue inwardly. I wanted to tell them off to stop, but it was difficult since I wasn’t the one who invited them to this gathering, nor was I the owner of the tent. High society has so many strange rules of etiquette.

While I was swallowing a sigh, Grace stepped up as the owner of the pavilion. Grace spoke carefully.

“Brother is so busy with Knight Order duties that he doesn’t even think about romance.”

“Still, couldn’t we at least try?”

“That’s right. He has to get married, doesn’t he? High Nobles have a duty to continue their family lines!”

It was one of the laws established in the early days of the Empire’s founding. High Noble Families were those who shared the power that supported the Empire. They had to continue their lineage, even for the sake of the Empire. So that there would be no vacuum of power.

One Young Lady spoke with a hopeful voice.

“I think this hunting competition will be a good opportunity.”

“I think so too! It seems worth challenging!”

“Rochester Regfield received the Five-Colored Ribbon in the end. Nothing seems impossible.”

I picked up another cookie. If I couldn’t stop them, I at least didn’t want to get involved in that conversation. Selena’s expression was also growing increasingly stern. She’ll say something soon.

“But.”

One Young Lady suddenly turned to me and asked.

“What about you, Reina Regfield? Is it completely over between you and Caesar Prince now?”

The pavilion suddenly fell quiet. Everyone’s gaze focused on me.

Were we close enough to have such conversations? They were clearly crossing the line under the pretext of building friendship. Without knowing how rude they were being. Or pretending not to know even if they did.

“Hey, what’s there to end? There had to be something between them first. Reina Regfield was just chasing after him. It was purely one-sided love.”

“Ah. That’s true, isn’t it?”

I smiled calmly. Selena, who was getting angry, said.

“This is crossing the line…”

I grabbed Selena’s hand tightly to stop her. The topic of conversation had shifted to me. This means soon…

“Well. Are we close enough to have such conversations? I’m seeing you all for the first time today. Besides, ever since coming here, the Young Ladies have been talking non-stop about only what you want.”

It means I can be just as rude as they are being rude.

The Young Ladies’ faces turned red at my question.

“Th-that…! This is the process of building friendship!”

“For building friendship, you’ve never once asked about our stories, have you? You’ve been talking only about Hailboard the whole time, haven’t you? Oh wait, no. Did we also talk about Rochester?”

“No…!”

One of the Young Ladies seems to be quite hot-tempered. She screamed loudly.

“You could give up your claim! Anyway, would Hailboard Princess have even dreamed of Rochester Regfield if it weren’t for Reina Regfield! He has to get married anyway! Our family is nothing to scoff at either! No wait. If you had any sense, you should have said you’d give up your claim from when the topic first came up! That’s why you get ostracized in High Society!”

“Ah.”

Oh no. Selena is really angry now.

Right now, Selena is tolerating their rudeness to some extent, so they seem to be greatly mistaken, but Selena was originally someone who used to ostracize the world. Her thorny way of speaking and cold attitude that pushed people away were the original characteristics of Selena Hailboard, High Society’s black rose.

Sure enough. Selena spoke.

“I have discerning eyes, and so does Matthias.”

“What does that…!”

“It means we don’t want to bring women like you Young Ladies into our family. Does Hailboard look so easy that we’d bring in someone who runs their mouth without knowing their place?”

“A-are you saying we don’t know our place right now?”

“You understood well.”

Selena lifted her chin arrogantly. Her downward gaze was full of contempt toward them. It felt like she was looking down on them.

…Villainess Selena has entered the scene.

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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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