An Extra Who Wants To Escape The Obsessive Male Lead - Chapter 38

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Chapter 38

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The atmosphere at the assembly was subdued. Of course, that didn’t mean that the heads of the three families were all gathered together, laughing and chatting. It was more of not creating conflicts between members of different families.

“It’s my first time trying Argenta’s seafood. I can’t believe they have sea creatures even in the Endless Sea.”

“Of course. It’s like how food is gathered from Alors’ ‘Endless Forest’.”

I could hear the voices of the knights conversing like that.

If they had met elsewhere, they would have been hostile and confrontational, but it was time for the assembly now. It was an unwritten rule not to attack each other during the assembly period.

Even during times of war between the three families, the rule of non-aggression was upheld, and even those who clashed with swords until yesterday enjoyed the assembly, clinking glasses together. As a result, it made the relatively peaceful atmosphere even better.

“Lady Krua Argenta, no, Lady Krua Alors!”

However, there was someone who livened up the atmosphere even more. A girl came running toward me with sparkling eyes.

“… Aren’t you the one who was behind Lord Siette of the Cartiel family earlier?”

…That girl?

The girl running towards us, with her emerald hair shining, seemed incredibly pure and innocent.

“That’s right. I’m Elin Cartiel.”

She held the ends of her dress and slightly bent her knees. Just by looking at her twinkling eyes, I felt like I could instantly understand her personality. She was a mischievous girl who didn’t fit in with this formal occasion.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too! I’ve been wanting to ask you something since earlier…”

I blinked at her words.

I didn’t know if she noticed that she was attracting attention by coming all the way here, away from the table where the Cartiel people were gathered.

“What is it?”

I replied and looked around.

While the Cartiel people were shaking their heads as if they had given up, the Argenta people were looking at Elin with a mix of wariness and curiosity. And among them, there seemed to be no other girl of Elin’s age who could have a conversation with her.

‘…I guess I’m the closest one to her age?’

With that, I could guess why she came running toward me. There was no one else to play with.

“Can I really ask you?”

Elin asked me again.

I didn’t know what kind of question she was hesitating to ask.

“Of course.”

I’d answer everything except for the impossible questions!

Elin, with a somewhat relieved expression, asked me.

“Do you really love Duke Argenta?”

As she dropped a bombshell question, Diello, who was sitting next to me, and many others who were looking at her turned their gaze towards me. Of course, everyone in this room knew that Diello and I had entered into a strategic marriage.

Although many knew me as Diello’s Ferro, the girl was unaware of who I was.

“Argenta and Alors didn’t get along. The old man said that even if they got married, it would take time for them to love each other.”

As she said that, Elin glanced towards the head of Cartiel.

Siette Cartiel had a slightly hardened expression compared to before. It was evident that he didn’t expect her to come running to me and ask directly.

“Still, how can you live as a couple if you don’t love each other? Doesn’t it feel uncomfortable?”

While she spoke about sharing bedrooms and such, her innocent face blushed like a pure girl.

Around that time, I felt that not only Cartiel but also the Alors people were watching us. Despite the fact that everyone knew it was a strategic marriage, they must have been curious as well. Did we really fall in love? Was that why the lilies were almost gone?

Elin probably didn’t know, but this was like an exam question.

The next moment, Diello suddenly wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

“If we don’t love each other, being this close would have been uncomfortable.”

His gentle voice echoed in my ears.

Elin looked up at him before she blinked her eyes and burst into a giggling laughter. Her cheeks were flushed with a blush.

“You seem closer to him than the old couple!”

It was obvious who she was referring to when she said ‘the old couple.’ She must be referring to the Cartiel couple.

“Hahaha…”

“Duke Cartiel, what do you think about that?”

Laughter spread among the people. Even the Duke of Alors smiled and exchanged words with Duke Cartiel.

“… Isn’t there more to married life that children can’t see?”

Duke Cartiel said that and held his Ferro’s hand. It was a hand that had never been held until now. Still, why did Elin called Siette’ an old man’? If she used the Cartiel surname, she must be blood-related to them somehow.

“Yes.”

Meanwhile, Diello laughed softly as Elin giggled.

“But how did you two become close?”

As she said that, she tiptoed and whispered softly, “I also have someone that I like, you know? I want to become close to him.”

It seemed like she had come to seek advice on love.

“How can he…fall in love with me?”

Elin asked timidly.

It would’ve been nice if it had ended as a shy question from a child, but it could only be another exam question.

To others, it was no different from asking if we had ‘truly fallen in love’ or ‘how did we end up like this.’ In other words, it was a great opportunity to find out if we had fallen in love to the extent that I could truly remove the lilies from Diello’s body.

In this situation, Elin was the only one who remained oblivious.

“Well… I don’t know how Elin could become close to your crush, but—”

“What about you?”

In the end, she wanted to know about my love story. I eventually gave in to her persistent question and shook my head. I should’ve expected this kind of question to come up.

“Well, we…”

Should I make up a plausible love story?

Hmm, the first image that came to mind was Diello standing by the sea. He was standing on the battlefield. Even though it was a battlefield covered in monsters, blood, and screams, for a moment, it seemed as if all that disappeared.

As I reminisced, I realized that was indeed the case. Droplets of water clinging to his black hair, a reflection reflected in his wide eyes full of surprise… it was me.

I was reflected in his eyes.

“We fell in love on the sea.”

I replied without realizing it.

It was only a beat later that I realized what I had just said. If I said us, did that mean Diello also fell in love with me? Fortunately, Diello was only listening to the story with a gentle smile. He seemed to treat the love story as if it was a real one he knew.

“On the sea?”

“Yes.”

Fortunately, I had some talent for making up stories, so I spoke as I remembered.

“As you know, Diello could control fire. Since he controls fire, I thought he would naturally dislike water.”

I looked at him and laughed. Of course, it was purely acting.

‘A sweet smile! A smile of falling in love…!’

Fortunately, Diello’s faint laughter was enchanting enough to help me smile.

“He willingly came into the water to spend time with me.”

Splash!

Even on the battlefield, it felt like I heard the sound of water dripping from Diello’s hair. As I recalled that moment, I opened my mouth again.

“It felt like we were the only ones there.”

I didn’t know about anything else, but this was the truth. It was true that my gaze was stolen by him.

“Wow…”

Elin’s eyes sparkled.

However, she also seemed a little disappointed.

“Weren’t there any monsters or any dangers? Like him rescuing you…”

There were such stories, but it was me who rescued Diello. Instead of telling the truth, I shook my head.

“Love doesn’t have to blossom in such intense situations, right?”

I turned to Diello. With the hand that embraced me, he gently brushed through my purple hair.

“Yes. That day, I also learned for the first time that the sea could be so beautiful.”

Diello added.

For someone who supposedly couldn’t act, his lines were convincing and long. Has he been practicing?

“Argenta has the destiny to stop the Endless Sea. That’s why the sea, the water, was my enemy.”

The corners of his mouth drew a smile. His voice was serious yet soft, to the point that it couldn’t be considered acting.

“I saw the water shining so brilliantly for the first time.”

His whisper reached my ears.

Unbeknownst to me, my cheeks reddened.

“It was so dazzling and beautiful that I couldn’t take my eyes off it.”

His words were so piercingly poignant. Despite knowing it was acting, I was completely engrossed in his skills. He had an acting talent that stood out beyond the ordinary.

“Kyaa!”

As Elin covered her face with both hands, soft laughter filled the banquet hall.

“Now, for the sweet newlyweds!”

Duke Alors raised his glass with a satisfied expression. There was not a hint of disappointment on his face. It meant we appeared to be a sweet couple, and he undoubtedly believed that I had succeeded in tempting Diello according to his plan.

‘It went well. It went well…!’

He was also fooled!

Without realizing it, I lowered my face deeply, a beat too late, and raised my glass.

Clink!

Diello’s glass lightly tapped against mine, making a clinking sound.