The Male Lead Is Targeting Me, Not My Younger Sister - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Male Lead’s Sights Are Set on Me, Not My Sister – Episode 13
“If it’s today… Oh, could you be referring to that young lady from earlier?”
Only then did a face surface in Clarea’s mind.
A woman with an enigmatic, deep blue hair color and a youthful face.
Her dress was plain, and she didn’t seem eager to draw attention to herself.
Yet Clarea had recognized her at once. That young lady was nobility.
‘Such bearing isn’t something one acquires in a day or two of practice.’
As someone of common birth who had endured rigorous instruction in etiquette, Clarea could discern it all the more readily.
“Yes, quite a lovely young lady. And such a gentle heart too. Do you know her well?”
Ludwihi smiled instead of answering. Clarea’s confusion deepened.
It was the first time he had broached such a matter of his own accord.
‘…No, wait. Perhaps this isn’t a personal conversation. Could it be that this young lady is somehow connected to Joachim as well?’
Yet if that were the case, he would have mentioned it by now. Ludwihi still offered no further explanation.
As her bewilderment grew, Ludwihi finally spoke.
“We are acquainted. Presently, Miss Lydia is staying at my residence.”
“My.”
Clarea covered her mouth.
“I had no idea. I wish I’d spoken with her more then.”
She was genuinely astonished.
‘Of all people—Ludwihi?’
It was remarkable enough that he showed interest in a woman; that he had actually admitted her into his private sphere was extraordinary.
Knowing how fastidiously Ludwihi managed his surroundings, it bordered on miraculous.
Clarea summoned forth her memory of the “Miss Lydia” she had seen that afternoon.
Delicate, pretty features arranged in proportion. A slight, graceful frame.
Those eyes with their sharp, upturned corners had something feline about them, yet the way she darted about in her small body was rather like an industrious squirrel.
She was certainly an uncommonly lovely young lady, possessed of a rare charm…
“I shall have to pay closer attention to that young lady. If that’s the nature of your acquaintance, I may be seeing her often in future.”
At words hinting at a “special relationship,” Ludwihi made no denial.
He merely asked:
“Might I inquire what reason Miss Lydia gave for coming to this place?”
Clarea paused to consider.
“…She seemed to have a fervent wish of some kind.”
She hesitated, feeling it might be too private a matter, but upon reflection, they hadn’t really shared any particularly significant conversation to begin with.
Wasn’t it natural that someone who came to the Holy Temple would have a wish?
“Hmm…”
Ludwihi fell into thought.
Lydia Prestin.
He recalled the image of her large eyes darting about, cautiously gauging his reaction.
Her fair skin, slightly flushed at the cheeks.
Those full lips, parted softly.
The thought of that adorable face drew a quiet laugh from him.
One.
“Miss Lydia is not particularly devout, I should think. She’s the sort who would rather earn another coin than spend the time praying at the temple.”
Clarea’s expression hardened.
“Do you mean to suggest… that she approached me deliberately? Knowing who I am?”
“I couldn’t say for certain.”
Ludwihi spoke with measured ease.
“Only that it might be wise to exercise caution.”
Clarea began to feel caught between interpretations.
‘Is this not a favorable connection, then?’
Yet what to make of that subtle smile playing at his lips? Such ambiguity was characteristic of Ludwihi, but it was impossible not to feel uneasy.
When one considered their “Great Cause”…
“There’s no need to worry excessively. She’s not a wicked person… though I would appreciate your close observation of her.”
Having apparently reached his conclusions, Ludwihi drew the conversation to a close. He rose from his seat and offered a courteous bow.
“The hour is late; I shall take my leave now. Next time, I hope to bring you better news.”
That smiling face remained as inscrutable as ever.
* * *
“At last…”
Lydia held aloft the hand clutching the envelope.
“I have it! The Invitation Card!”
She was so moved that she nearly wept.
Lydia clutched the elegant invitation card to her chest, overcome with emotion.
“You don’t seem to visit often. Your wish must be terribly urgent, mustn’t it?”
How much effort it had taken to lower Clarea’s guard!
The source material had described her as gentle and naive, trusting of others—yet somehow she’d erected walls against Lydia.
But when Lydia shed crocodile tears and confessed that she needed an invitation to the Imperial Palace ball for her sister, Clarea hesitated for a moment, then…
“For your sister? Oh, I had no idea. Wait just a moment.”
She promptly obtained an invitation for Lydia.
‘There was something suspicious in the way she said it, though…’
Had she seen through Lydia’s deliberate approach?
Well, in the end things had worked out.
Clarea seemed to have reframed Lydia not as ‘a suspicious person’ but as ‘an overzealous older sister who goes to great lengths for her sibling.’
Yet something odd remained.
“By the way, Miss… do you happen to have a sweetheart?”
Each time they met, Clarea kept pressing about Lydia’s romantic affairs.
‘That wasn’t her character in the original story…’
Even when told otherwise, she’d ask again and again, as though she wanted a particular answer.
Lydia finally had to swear before God that she spoke nothing but truth before she was released.
‘I don’t understand why it’s so shocking that I don’t have a lover.’
In any case, she’d gotten past that hurdle.
The invitation was in her hands!
Just then, a voice came from beside her.
“What’s that, an invitation to the Imperial Palace ball?”
Lydia turned around.
A sullen voice, a perpetually sour face.
It could only be Ricardo.
“Apparently so. What trouble did you cause this time?”
That snippy voice belonged to Pipi, of course.
“I didn’t cause any trouble. It’s a perfectly clean invitation.”
“How curious. Is there someone who makes unconvincing excuses? Perhaps you swindled it, then.”
Unfortunately, he really had swindled it, so Lydia had nothing to say.
She grumbled inwardly and stuffed the invitation into her bag.
Ricardo perched on the chair beside her.
His chin propped on his hand, staring with an intensity that suggested discontent.
Lydia tried to ignore him at first, but eventually she couldn’t help herself.
“What now?”
“Nothing.”
When Lydia shot him a look, Ricardo answered brazenly.
“Can’t I look?”
He was so shameless that it was Lydia who felt absurd for objecting.
‘Do what you want.’
Something must have bothered him again. Lydia deliberately ignored his piercing gaze.
“Ah, I’m disappointed. I thought you’d go with me.”
“Even if you hadn’t gotten an invitation, I wouldn’t go with you.”
“That hurts even worse.”
He put on a wounded expression, though it didn’t suit him at all.
“By the way, where exactly are you staying these days? Why don’t you ever go home?”
The sudden question startled Lydia.
“What do you mean?”
In fact, Lydia was still staying at Ludwihi’s Mansion.
Unaware of her situation, Ricardo spoke carelessly.
“Well, you never said anything about it.”
“…What was I supposed to tell you?”
Ricardo let out a sound and looked her over.
“What, you really don’t know?”
A bad feeling crept over her.
“Did you do something behind my back?”
Ricardo raised both hands, as though bracing for impact.
“It’s nothing. I just sent you a gift.”
“…A gift?”
Lydia’s mind raced.
Based on Ricardo’s behavioral patterns, which she knew well,
a gift sent so unexpectedly at this moment was almost certainly connected to the ball.
Probably a dress or some jewelry?
If he’d had it sent to the house……
“Damn it.”
Lydia shot to her feet.
“Hey, where are you going!”
“Home. I need to check what you sent!”
Lydia bolted from the Research Lab without so much as a proper goodbye.
And moments later.
“Sister!”
Sylvia, her face radiant with delight, threw her arms around Lydia.
“This is so beautiful! How could it be! It’s perfect!”
Sylvia, now dressed in a splendid Ball Gown, spun once around the room.
The skirt rustled and swayed, shimmering with each turn.
“Ricardo sent us gifts! Look, there’s one for you too, sister? Try yours on right away. I’ve never worn anything this gorgeous in my entire life.”
Sylvia chattered away, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
“You’re the one who told Ricardo about it, aren’t you? I had no idea you were preparing something like this for me……. I’m really moved. I’ll be good from now on, I promise!”
“……Sylvia, what exactly did I prepare?”
“Huh? My Debutante Ball, isn’t it?”
Hell.
Of all people, Sylvia had found out about the ball!
‘This can’t be happening.’
Lydia grabbed her head in her hands.
After all the effort I put in to keep Sylvia from getting tangled up in the original storyline!
As Sylvia bounced excitedly and pulled her into another embrace, Lydia felt a cold murderous rage kindle in her chest.
‘I’m going to kill that bastard Ricardo.’
Meanwhile, the hapless Ricardo, still lingering in the Research Lab, suddenly felt an inexplicable chill run through his body.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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