I Like Another Man, Not the Male Lead - Chapter 51

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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 51

The whistle sound stopped.

Matthias pulled himself together. He was the senior officer at this scene. He needed to assess the situation. A Sword Master wouldn’t die from something like that. Since he saw Caesar wrap his entire body around Reina before they hit the water surface, Reina would be safe too. He didn’t know where those rapids would carry the two of them, but this wasn’t the time to stand around.

Matthias sharply gave his orders.

“You two follow those rapids and search for the two of them. And you return and report the current situation!”

The wolves were slyly preparing to slip away. Caesar’s judgment had been correct. They had been targeting Reina from the beginning.

“And the rest of you will search for the criminal with me.”

The criminal would have already left the scene. They were probably getting farther away by the minute. He mustn’t be impatient. Since he had sent someone, reinforcements would arrive soon. He just needed to take it step by step.

Matthias gritted his teeth.

Caesar would protect Reina. Since Caesar had entrusted him with the rear, Matthias had to find the criminal. The two of them would be fine. Matthias reassured himself. Reina’s smile lingered in his mind like an afterimage. Endlessly. He couldn’t bear to imagine losing that smile.

＊ ＊ ＊

Rochester returned to the pavilion first. Behind him followed a cart loaded with half of a massive bear carcass. An adult male brown bear. It looked like it easily weighed over five hundred kilograms. It was an enormous size. A squire was struggling to push from behind while Rochester lightly pulled with one hand from the front. He had returned first because of this massive bear that took up the entire cart.

If he bragged about this to Reina, she would congratulate him with a surprised expression, right? Rochester imagined this and felt proud. Those who saw the bear carcass murmured among themselves.

“Impressive. A Sword Master really is different.”

“That size… Victory is as good as guaranteed.”

“He’s proven once again how fearsome the Regfield sword is.”

But Rochester had no interest in the surrounding praise. He just wanted to find Reina quickly. The tea party would be over by now, so she would probably be resting in the pavilion.

Rochester dismounted from his horse. He needed to remove his armor. He couldn’t appear before Reina in such a blood-soaked state. It would be good if there was somewhere he could change clothes.

Rochester was looking around for an empty pavilion when…

“Rochester Regfield!”

Someone came running urgently. It was Matthias’s squire. A young knight apprentice who was usually a calm youth. But now his face was deathly pale. The way he ran while gasping for breath was like someone who had witnessed death.

“What’s the matter?”

Rochester asked indifferently.

“It’s terrible! Reina Regfield…!”

In that moment, Rochester’s entire body froze.

The squire gasped and panted for breath. Then he poured out words incoherently. Reina had encountered wolves, and now Matthias had tried to protect Reina from the wolves, Caesar Prince had, the rapids had… Unable to bear listening to what became increasingly just a string of words, Rochester grabbed the squire by the collar.

“Speak properly! Where is Reina and what happened to her!”

His voice dropped low. The air grew heavy. People around instinctively stepped back. Rochester’s eyes had changed.

“Reina Regfield has gone missing!”

The squire’s cry echoed between the pavilions.

Time stopped. Rochester’s heart felt like it was freezing. He heard a buzzing sound in his ears. His vision blurred and then became clear again.

Rochester slowly closed his eyes. Then he took a deep, very deep breath. It felt like his lungs would burst. It felt like his chest was being torn apart.

‘Reina… missing?’

It was nonsense. Reina should have been at the pavilion. She should have been laughing while drinking tea with Selena and Grace. She would have sparkled with excitement hearing about the bear he had caught.

That’s how it should have been.

Rochester picked up his sword again. Without even removing his armor. He felt no fatigue, no hunger, nothing at all. Only one thought filled his mind completely.

‘I must find Reina.’

He had to bring that child back to the family’s embrace. If he failed to protect her again, he would be disqualified both as a brother and as a knight.

“Lord Regfield! Wait…!”

Someone called out to him, but Rochester didn’t stop. It was the moment Rochester was about to mount his horse.

“Lord Regfield!”

Another voice was heard. This time it was a woman’s voice.

Rochester turned his head. It was Anna Chase. She stood with a pale face, both hands clenched tightly. Her lips trembled. Anna flinched at Rochester’s cold and emotionless gaze. But she gathered courage and took a step closer.

“Um… excuse me… Princess Regfield…”

Rochester’s gaze sharpened. Anna swallowed. Cold sweat ran down her back. But it seemed like there would be no opportunity if not now.

“I saw her. I saw Princess Regfield entering the forest. She went inside on her own.”

In an instant, Rochester’s gaze changed. Something sharp and dangerous filled his eyes completely.

“I’d like to hear the details.”

“It was during the Imperial Consort’s tea party. Princess Reina staggered into the forest. She didn’t seem to be in a normal state. As if… as if she was drunk, or perhaps drugged.”

Murmurs arose from here and there.

“And then?”

Rochester’s voice was still calm. But within that calmness lurked something terrible. Anna’s legs trembled. Rochester took a step closer. Anna instinctively stepped back. Anna bit her lip. Then she played her final card.

“I… I’ll tell you everything I saw in detail. Where Princess Regfield went, what state she was in. Everything.”

Anna stopped speaking. She took a deep breath. Then continued with a trembling voice.

“I have a condition.”

Instantly, the air froze. Everyone around held their breath. Someone let out a small groan.

“…A condition?”

“Please… please go on a date with me. Just once.”

Selena had said to seize what you want yourself. Whether it was Rochester or Matthias didn’t matter. As long as they could elevate her status! So this time Anna planned to seize it herself. That Rochester whom Selena had desired.

Rochester smiled sharply. Only the corners of his eyes curved strangely.

“In a situation where my sister might be dying.”

Rochester didn’t even continue his words. Anna stepped back. Her instincts screamed at her to run.

“I… I…”

Rochester’s gaze was filled with contempt. Anna trembled. She had clearly shown courage, but all Anna gained was that look. Rochester mounted his horse as if she wasn’t even worth listening to anymore.

“Lord Regfield!”

Anna called out to him in a shrill voice, but Rochester never looked back again. Only murmurs and Anna’s shame remained.

“Talking about dates when Princess Regfield has gone missing.”

“The Chase family is finished now. Would the Regfields just let this slide?”

Whispers surrounded her. Anna staggered and collapsed on the spot. Tears flowed.

‘What did I do wrong!’

She had only tried to get what she wanted, just as Selena had said. She didn’t understand why Rochester looked at her with such eyes, why people criticized her best efforts. When everyone else’s true intentions were just as dirty!

Just then, Anna’s eyes caught sight of Grace and Selena. They were looking at her with pale, frozen expressions. Anna’s anger ignited.

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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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