The Male Lead Is Targeting Me, Not My Younger Sister - Chapter 43

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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 Targets Me, Not My Sister — Episode 43
“Well…….”
“Um…….”
“Hmm…….”
The young ladies faltered, unable to speak freely.
Their expressions showed they had much to say, yet they seemed mortified by their own conduct moments before and didn’t know what to do.
Something deflated inside me.
‘That’s what you get for not listening to me earlier.’
In truth, they’d had plenty of opportunities.
The chance to speak with Lydia directly.
The chance to watch how Silvia treats her sister.
And the chance to judge their relationship with their own eyes.
‘Yet not one of them took it.’
One can’t help but form preconceptions upon hearing ugly rumors.
They even had a powerful weapon — witnesses.
But to see Silvia and Lydia embrace each other and still refuse to apologize…… wasn’t that taking it too far?
They could have managed at least a word of gratitude.
‘So pride comes first, after all.’
It wasn’t surprising.
Lydia regarded the young ladies with fresh eyes.
Expensive dresses.
Unblemished hands that had never known hardship.
It wasn’t that being raised with privilege was the problem itself…… but honestly, how many of them had ever actually apologized in their lives?
‘True. For people like them, an apology must be harder still.’
Watching the young ladies remain silent to the end, Lydia let out a small sigh.
Rather than scold them, she said instead:
“I’m glad no one is injured. But since we don’t know what effect that smoke might have on health, I’d recommend everyone get examined.”
What could I do?
For all their titles as noblewomen, they were merely late teens to early twenties.
And girls raised so carefully that not even a drop of water had ever touched their hands — it was only natural they’d struggle with such a sudden crisis.
‘Let me show a little forbearance as the elder. If they come to their senses later, perhaps they’ll do better.’
That is, if they had any conscience at all!
“Now, we should probably organize what’s happened……. Has anyone called for help?”
Still no answer came.
“You there, Lady Dienes.”
“Y-yes……!”
At being singled out, Ellin flinched and responded.
“I’m not entirely sure what’s happened, but it appears to be an Ainsect problem, so contacting the military would be best. Please get in touch with them at once.”
Ellin seemed flustered to be taking orders from Lydia.
But Lydia had no intention of letting that concern her.
“What are you waiting for? Are we going to leave things like this?”
“Ah, understood……!”
Spurred on by her tone, Ellin spun around and hurried from the room in panic.
The other young ladies remained at a loss, exchanging only furtive glances.
‘I suppose I should settle this now as well.’
Lydia surveyed the room once more, then spoke.
“As you can see, Silvia and I are close. Very close, in fact.”
Beside her, Silvia nodded vigorously in agreement, interjecting, “That’s right, exactly.”
“Of course, I’ll admit there was room for misunderstanding. It’s a bit unfair, but it can’t be helped.”
When their eyes met at those words, Nelia flinched noticeably.
“But now everyone knows the truth, don’t they?”
The young ladies’ faces hardened with confusion and embarrassment.
“Don’t worry. I’m used to it. This isn’t a new thing for me.”
Having moved past it gracefully, Lydia then added with a touch of pettiness:
“Still, next time, please judge for yourselves rather than believing rumors. That way we can all avoid unnecessary shame.”
Heavy silence settled over the room.
Many people were present, yet none of them could speak.
Having said all she needed to say, Lydia righted an overturned chair nearby and sat down upon it.
‘Ah, such is my fate.’
Somehow, all her energy had simply drained away.
‘Why does nothing ever go my way?’
She’d been wound tight all day for Silvia’s debut in society.
Now the whole event had descended into chaos, and she’d thoroughly damaged her standing with everyone present.
‘Nothing—not a single thing—ever turns out how I want it to.’
“Unnie, are you really okay? Let’s find a doctor right away.”
If there was any consolation in this wreck, it was Silvia alone.
Lydia stanched the bleeding on her arm with the torn dress and gently stroked Silvia’s hair.
Well, what of it?
When had things ever worked out smoothly?
“I’m fine. Just wait a moment—I need to say something before we leave. Once we’re home, we’ll have something delicious to eat.”
At her sister’s words, Silvia’s face finally brightened.
“Yes!”
* * *
Meanwhile, the young ladies still stood watching one another, eyes darting nervously about.
‘What do we do?’
Their certainty had shattered.
‘Lydia Prestin.’
They had believed the rumors and suspected her; they had pitied her sister as a victim of abuse; they had convinced themselves that virtuous girls like them should “punish” her for it.
But reality had dealt them otherwise.
‘The sisters seem fine together. No trouble at all.’
‘If anything, the younger one seems to rely on her greatly.’
And beyond that……
‘If that woman hadn’t been here, we might all be dead.’
The Ainsect sprawled across the floor and the destruction all around kept driving that truth home.
Yet none of them could find their voice.
‘No. Maybe she’s just lying, after all. Who’s to say?’
Some denied the evidence before them.
‘Apologize? How could I possibly say such a thing? To a woman like that?’
Others still could not swallow their pride.
‘But…… but……’
Noble-born young ladies who had never once admitted fault in their lives stood trapped between embarrassment and shame, squirming without words.
And right beside them.
‘…….’
Sienna Edelren bit her lip.
‘Pathetic.’
She found fault with every last one of them.
‘What is wrong with everyone? Why are they all so shaken?’
True, Lydia had shown herself to be more capable than expected.
But she’d only subdued a single Ainsect, hadn’t she?
‘……She must have graduated from the Military Academy. That’s the only way. I could learn to do the same.’
Sienna forced herself to find fault, diminishing Lydia’s feat.
‘And why should we apologize anyway? She brought the suspicion on herself in the first place!’
There was merit to what she said.
Sienna had quite by chance overheard rumors about Lydia Prestin among the young ladies, and today’s gathering had been arranged to verify them. The others had come readily enough, all drawn by that same rumor.
‘If she’d simply behaved properly to begin with. Doesn’t she understand how important reputation is in society? A Declining Nobility household—what do you expect?’
Lydia Prestin had not been born to distinction.
The Prestin Barony had been an unremarkable southern house even before its fall, a family the central social circles barely acknowledged as nobility at all.
By any measure, she was beneath Sienna—that much was certain.
Yes.
It had to be that way……
“Perhaps we should apologize……?”
“Wh-what are you saying! Apologize? Why on earth would we? We had every reason to act as we did!”
“But it was a misunderstanding…….”
“Be quiet! It couldn’t be helped?”
The young ladies huddled together, whispering low.
All of them kept glancing sidelong at Lydia.
Though they tried hard to seem indifferent, it was clear they were all acutely aware of her.
Troubled and anxious, Sienna suddenly looked around the room.
Some watched Lydia with concern.
Others sought her approval, gauging her mood.
Someone was waiting for the right moment to approach Lydia.
The fact of it was unbearable.
‘……This can’t be happening.’
It shouldn’t be possible.
No—it couldn’t be allowed.
Sienna’s hands clenched into fists.
A bitter, suffocating emotion crashed over her—one she had never known before.
But she had no name for it.

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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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