An Extra Who Wants To Escape The Obsessive Male Lead - Chapter 37
Chapter 37
“Krua, have you been well?”
Duke Alors opened his mouth as he behaved like the warmest father figure imaginable.
“Of course.”
Hence, I welcomed him, suppressing my nausea and behaving like the gentlest daughter imaginable.
‘…Yes, it was all just an act.’
It was all a performance. The more I deceive him, the higher the chances of defeating Alors.
“You know how kind Diello is.”
He surely knew that Diello was someone who didn’t know how to refuse.
Sure enough, Alor’s gaze briefly met Diello and then quickly shifted away. He must have definitely sensed the weakened lilies’ presence. Given his nature, he would probably try to confirm if the lilies were truly gone, but for now, I considered the first act to be successful.
“….!”
Suddenly, a dull pain struck me from my back.
It was the place where Diello Argenta’s name was engraved. It seemed that Duke Alors was stimulating that place, using his ability.
“Ah.”
Unknowingly, I tightly grasped Diello’s arm in response to the pain.
It was an unexpected attack.
‘…This madman!’
“Krua?”
I heard Diello’s voice filled with genuine surprise. At the same time, the surroundings darkened in an instant, engulfed by his shadow.
Collapsing into his arms, I felt the pain subsided a bit.
“Are you okay?”
I gasped for breath.
“I’m okay. I just felt a bit dizzy for a moment.”
I couldn’t talk about the name on my back here.
I took a short breath.
In the meanwhile, Diello must have noticed that it wasn’t just dizziness. He was someone who realized that I had his name engraved just by walking towards him before.
“….”
Sure enough, his lips closed tightly in a straight line as if he were holding back. As his fingertips lightly brushed against my forehead, the sweat on my forehead was swept away by his hand, spreading a warm energy on my cheeks and neck.
“Don’t overexert yourself.”
It was a voice that sounded truly affectionate.
“It’s okay, really.”
“Can you stand up?”
As I nodded, Diello cautiously supported me.
“It seems my daughter is tense, but it puts my mind at ease to see Argenta taking care of her.”
At that moment, Duke Alors smiled as if he was pleased. However, I knew that he wasn’t smiling because he was pleased with our relationship, but rather because of Diello’s immediate reaction, a response that seemed like he had fallen deeply for me.
“Since we’re going in soon anyway, don’t worry too much.”
I replied, trying to reassure Diello. After all, we could go back after we met Pentas Alors. The next moment, I could feel his arm tightly wrapping around my waist, firmly securing me.
“If it gets too difficult, let me know, Krua.”
He whispered in a caring voice.
Meanwhile, Duke Alors passed us with a satisfied expression on his face.
“Go inside and rest quickly.”
Although Pentas also spoke as he went away, he didn’t forget to glance back at me with his gaze piercing through me. In the original story, Pentas was someone who would use his power to suppress Krua as soon as he met her.
‘I have to establish my position clearly,’ he would say. Pentas, with a mindset that seemed to have come straight out of the animal kingdom, was someone like that.
I couldn’t help but feel strange when he passed by in front of me.
The things they had set up to welcome Alors and Cartiel in the surroundings—the wide windows and shimmering water channel—I didn’t feel any pressure from the water there.
Normally, if someone with a water manipulation ability stronger than mine were to threaten me, it would be natural for the surrounding water to also pose a threat to me, just like when Duke Alors moved the name on my back before. However, even as he moved away, the water didn’t exert any pressure on me. Instead, it seemed to be comforting me.
Just like when Duke Alors stood behind me, the water should have posed a threat to me… but why was the water not threatening me?
The phenomenon indicated one thing.
…Pentas Alors and my water manipulation ability weren’t significantly different.
My eyes widened.
* * *
The assembly was relatively simple. Since it was an triennial event, there was nothing particularly special about it.
“There were no issues with the Cartiel’s defense this time.”
Siette Cartiel, the most powerful head in history, uttered as he began sharing information about the defensive situations in his family’s territory.
However, there was one specific thing mentioned this time.
“But monsters that use magic appeared.”
He continued.
It must be the same content as the original story, and it was probably the type of monster that Diello and I encountered in the Endless Sea.
“Argenta also encountered the same thing.”
As Diello responded, Siette’s eyes became interested.
“The monster that appeared in the desert would have been a difficult fight if I didn’t have my ability. It seems like you have had a hard time, Diello. I was thinking of sending support if you requested it.”
Siette Cartiel laughed nonchalantly.
‘Diello’s fire manipulation ability seems to be much better than what is known.’
It was an attack that came unexpectedly and hooked me.
This time, it wasn’t solely Diello’s ability that was needed to resolve the situation. It was my water manipulation ability. The problem was that it would never be a good thing for me to reveal that I have a water manipulation ability strong enough to turn the battlefield upside down.
So, there was only one solution.
“We barely managed to stop the monster using every ounce of our strength.”
I persisted, trying to prove our achievement.
“It was a hard battle.”
Even though Diello chuckled softly, it wouldn’t be enough to simply call it a hard battle.
“I heard a rumor that the Duchess of Argenta herself participated in the battlefield.”
Cartiel quickly caught up with the news.
Since I didn’t hide the fact that it was my ‘first battlefield,’ the story must have spread like wildfire. Although the details of the extent of my abilities weren’t widely known.
“Yes, that’s right.”
When I confirmed, both Duke Alors and Pentas Alors looked at me with disbelief. It was because they knew all too well how inadequate my water manipulation abilities were, or rather, ‘used to be,’ so there was nothing to gain from showcasing my newfound strength here.
However, I coincidentally knew how to conceal the truth.
I put on a somewhat somber expression as if ashamed of my weakened and diminished power. It was time to hide the truth.
“I barely managed to stop it by using the ‘Power of the Source’.”
I uttered.
‘The Power of the Source’ was an ability to momentarily create life by sacrificing life force. Argenta’s rampage was also a form of the Power of the Source. While it was explosive and unstoppable, quite different from Alors’ power, the concept was similar.
The banquet hall buzzed with my words.
“Wow, you even used the Source.”
Duke Alors had a regretful expression, but it was more like an expression that said, ‘There’s no way you had such a powerful water manipulation ability.’
I could tell he meant it that way.
“Oh dear.”
Siette Cartiel, who had asked the question, also looked perplexed as he stared at me.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, fortunately.”
As I replied, leaning on Diello’s shoulder, I could feel him pause for a moment. He naturally knew that I hadn’t used the Power of the Source. Instead of going on a fiery rampage like Argenta, the more blood I shed, the stronger I became.
I had planned to use that as an excuse as if the situation on the battlefield was so desperate that I had to resort to the Power of the Source.
“It was my first time on the battlefield, and before I knew it, I was at the mansion.”
I went on, glancing up at Diello with a gentle smile. Our eyes met in his pale blue eyes.
Don’t forget the sweet couples’ act!
As if he had heard my words through my gaze, his hand wrapped around my shoulder.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
He whispered softly, his eyes filled with pity.
‘Yes, that’s it, nice!’
“Thank you.”
I answered. The sorrowful voice resonated through the hall.
“Duke Argenta seems to have fallen head over heels for my sister.”
It was Pentas Alors who spoke up.
…Did he say that without thinking?
“Still, it’s fortunate that there were no casualties.”
He continued. Although he seemed concerned about Argenta, it was clear from his words that he didn’t care about me using the Power of the Source. Even if we acted like a family, it was difficult to fake our emotions.
“Pentas, why would you speak like that even though your sister used the power of the source?”
I almost made a foolish expression at Diello’s voice, which spoke while embracing me. His voice was really sharp as if filled with emotions.
“Do you know how long my wife laid down after she used the power of the source?”
…I just took a nap.
However, I couldn’t say that so I stayed quiet. On the other hand, Pentas seemed a little flustered by Diello’s sharp voice.
“No, it’s natural to be concerned, well, um.”
He rambled.
It was clear that Pentas was not better at acting than Diello.
“It was a slip of the tongue.”
He finally responded, raising both hands. When I glanced sideways, I saw Diello’s intense gaze fixed on him.
‘No, um, well…’
That gaze wasn’t just unsettling for Pentas. I was also flustered at that sharp gaze was directed at Pentas. If this continued, even the people who were careless would come fully armed, wouldn’t they?
“Calm down, Diello.”
I finally whispered as my hand touched his cheek.
“Ah…”
It was only then that the mask that thinly and wholly covered his face shattered.
“Ahem. Monsters like that haven’t appeared in Alors yet. We should also prepare a response.”
Duke Alors took advantage of the opportunity and quickly changed the subject.
* * *
The assembly continued uneventfully afterward. After it ended, there was a meal and reception scheduled, so the formal events were practically over. During that time, Krua and Diello’s gazes met.
She seemed to be asking with her gaze, ‘Why were you so agitated earlier?’
“….”
Diello pretended not to see that gaze and turned his head. More precisely, he couldn’t meet her gaze.
She remembered the fragile Diello, the gentle expression that never got angry, but he must be acting due to Pentas Alors’s words. It was because of those words that clearly showed he saw her as a tool, and he became so frustrated.
It was hard to believe, and that was why he couldn’t meet her gaze.
★ support nana on ko-fi!
≪ Discord ≫
≪ Novel Updates ≫
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
