The Male Lead Is Targeting Me, Not My Younger Sister - Chapter 9

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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 9
The people of this world originally believed that Creatures were monsters of low intelligence that obeyed their base instincts.
In truth, the Creatures that poured through the Rifts had never displayed any sign of sentience.
But an event that would occur that day changed people’s perceptions in an instant.
‘Creatures aren’t actually the real threat. They simply receive orders and obey them.’
In other words, it meant that Creatures were not the true body of the invasion—there were higher beings commanding them instead.
‘They’ were different from Creatures; they possessed intelligence and knew how to employ strategy.
Some even resembled humans in appearance, using their abilities to disguise themselves as human, slip in unnoticed, and weave their conspiracies.
That was why humanity would later call them the Ai Race.
‘That banquet was the day the Ai Race revealed their true nature for the first time.’
In the original work, the male leads, all high-ranking nobles, happened to be gathered in that very place.
They would wage a great battle against the Ai Race, and in the process discover that Silvia was a Purifier.
It was, in other words, the moment when the male leads’ obsession with the female lead was triggered.
The problem was……
‘This complicated event was simply glossed over in the original, so there’s barely any information to work with.’
That was right.
This wretched original work, true to its purpose, explained nothing beyond the relationship between the female lead and male leads, glossing over everything else with minimal detail.
Even Lydia, who remembered every word of the original thanks to her possession buff, could barely find anything useful!
‘So I need to gather as much information as I can, to minimize any damage at all.’
Naturally, Lydia had no intention of sending Silvia to that dangerous place.
It was a dilemma.
If she sent Silvia, Silvia’s future would become bleak.
If she didn’t send Silvia, one wrong move could spell humanity’s extinction.
There was only one way to resolve this tragic dilemma!
‘I have to step up……!’
She hadn’t wanted to play the part of a possession-novel protagonist, but there was no help for it.
She couldn’t sacrifice her sister.
“What, you seem to be really looking forward to it?”
Of course, Ricardo, unaware of this sad backstory, saw Lydia only as a woman obsessed with attending the banquet.
“I had no idea you were so eager to attend the Imperial Palace banquet… Anyway, here.”
Lydia readily accepted the invitation Ricardo handed over.
Date, location.
It was indeed the place from the original work that Lydia knew.
But……
‘Wait a minute?’
“Ricardo.”
“Hm? What.”
“This—surely only people with an invitation can enter?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Lydia let out an inward scream.
‘But then, how did Silvia even get in, in the original!’
Lydia and Silvia’s family, Prestin, was a fallen noble house.
Originally a minor barony, it lost its footing when Lydia’s parents passed away when she was ten, and declined rapidly.
Fortunately, when Lydia recovered the memories of her past life, she managed to keep the lineage alive somehow—but she might as well not have been treated as a noble anymore.
There was simply no way they would ever be invited to a gathering where all the major noble male leads assembled.
“…… Do you really want to go that badly?”
Ricardo glanced sidelong at Lydia, who was internally screaming, and asked.
“It’s not that I want to go—I need to go.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“It’s different.”
What was she going to do?
Of course, there was time until the banquet, so she could find a way before then.
But Lydia had so much to do: earn money, research Purification Agent with Pipi, continue the business venture to recover the family’s former wealth, and sometimes entertain Silvia!
The prospect of adding one more massively annoying task made her feel like she was losing her mind.
‘Life’s already so hard! Why does it have to get harder!’
“Want me to help?”
At that moment, a voice as melodious as an angel’s harmony reached her ears.
“…… How?”
“It’s simple.”
Ricardo casually flicked the invitation with his finger.
“Come as my partner.”
Ack.
Lydia’s face contorted.
“……what’s with that expression? You’re hurting my feelings.”
But Lydia’s scowl showed no sign of softening.
‘Have I lost my mind? I’m creating more trouble just to avoid trouble.’
Ricardo was a incorrigible womanizer.
If he were merely an average philanderer, it might be bearable, but his specialty lay in seduction.
“If I stand beside you at the reception, your female friends will be clawing at me to tear me into five pieces.”
Lydia had already experienced this firsthand during her Military Academy days.
This damned Ricardo hadn’t even bothered to explain things properly to the women—he’d simply trailed after Lydia like a puppy.
It wasn’t until Lydia finally shouted at Ricardo to get lost, until she’d proven she wasn’t his girlfriend, that the ordeal finally ceased.
‘Who else are you trying to torment?’
Yet at Lydia’s blunt reaction, Ricardo arched an eyebrow in displeasure.
“Female friends?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t have a girlfriend.”
He was lying through his teeth.
“Come on, you don’t believe me?”
Ricardo pinched Lydia’s soft cheek with his fingers and stretched it outward on both sides.
“You should be ashamed, suspecting your own friend like that.”
“Ow!”
“That’s what you get.”
After a good while, Lydia finally freed herself, pressing her aching cheeks as she grumbled.
‘Acting innocent when the original work itself marks you as a philanderer.’
Besides, she’d witnessed firsthand on multiple occasions just how quickly Ricardo cycled through women.
It was clear the man had no conscience whatsoever.
“I’m hurt.”
And yet there he was, his expression turning pathetic, which only left Lydia exasperated.
“Anyway. You have time to think about it. There’s no partner more convenient than me, trust me.”
In a way, he wasn’t wrong. It would certainly be far easier and simpler than Lydia trying to procure a new invitation from scratch.
The only problem was the aftermath would be a nuisance to deal with.
Having made his case, Ricardo rose from his seat. After loosening up lightly, he spoke to Lydia one last time before leaving the Laboratory.
“And I really don’t have a girlfriend. Haven’t had one for years now.”
Lydia nodded with indifference.
Sure you don’t.
* * *
It wasn’t until after sunset that Lydia finally returned to the Grand Duke’s Mansion.
‘……is it too late?’
To make excuses, she’d already been away from home by afternoon when she’d escorted Silvia back.
And then she’d stopped by the Laboratory on top of that, so being late was inevitable.
‘It’s only late because the sun’s gone down—the actual time isn’t that late. The sun only just set, after all!’
As Lydia inwardly defended herself, a thought suddenly occurred to her.
But why do I need to make excuses about this……?
“You’ve returned.”
As Lydia descended from the carriage and began tiptoeing forward, she jumped in surprise.
An elderly butler with graying hair bowed respectfully.
“The master is waiting for you. Do come inside at once.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Why on earth would that man be waiting for me?
But Lydia had no choice but to follow the butler obediently.
If she’d been able to resist in the first place, she wouldn’t have decided to stay here to begin with!
“My lord.”
At last, following the butler, Lydia arrived at the Grand Duke’s study.
“The guest has returned.”
Ludwig, who had been reading a book, lifted his head at these words.
“Welcome back.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled as he formed a smile.
Of course, each time Lydia saw him, she felt an inexplicable sense of dread wash over her.
After the butler had withdrawn, Lydia sat demurely across from Ludwig.
“You’re late.”
Though his voice was gentle, there was something reproachful in it, and Lydia launched into a hurried explanation.
“I apologize. But truthfully, one cannot really call this late—if you consider the time elapsed from our departure here, not that much time has actually passed. Of course, I’m aware it’s terribly presumptuous of me to stay in someone else’s home, but I can’t help feeling somewhat wronged on this particular point, so perhaps you might reconsider…….”
“Hm……, I see.”
Ludwig cut short Lydia’s seemingly endless excuse and asked a question.
“Have you taken your medicine?”

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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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