An Extra Who Wants To Escape The Obsessive Male Lead - Chapter 45
Chapter 45
“Diello Argenta is undoubtedly smitten with Krua Alors.”
The informant declared passionately from within the rattling carriage.
“The chemistry between them resembles that of newlyweds.”
They added, sparing any embarrassing details. Nonetheless, Duke Alors and Pentas Alors knew it was true. It was evident from the informant’s flushed face.
“What about the lilies?”
Duke Alors inquired, asking about the most crucial information. Given their close relationship, it was only a matter of time before the lilies vanished. However, they still needed to assess the progress.
“Without a doubt, one of them has been erased. I witnessed it with my own eyes.”
The Alors’ informant confirmed.
“Very well. You may depart.”
Duke Alors gestured. As soon as the informant leaped off the slowly moving carriage, its speed increased.
“Now, once the lilies are completely erased, we can dispose of Argenta promptly.”
Duke Alors opened his mouth again as satisfaction evident on his face. When fire and water clash, water overwhelmingly prevails, especially when dealing with a feeble flame that has yet to fully ignite. He himself would be more than sufficient.
However, there was another problem…
“Hasn’t the mark of Alors appeared on you yet?”
As he asked, Duke Alors turned his gaze towards his son. Pentas Alors nervously scratched his bluish hair.
“It seems to be taking longer than expected.”
“Hmm.”
Duke Alors clicked his tongue.
Unlike others, he eagerly anticipated his son displaying the mark of Alors. While other families may fear their descendants manifesting the mark, he was different. Firstly, the Alors lineage was already scarce, and considering Krua’s feeble control over water, Pentas was preferable.
“But Father, must we wait for the mark of Alors to appear on me? Wouldn’t it be better for you to dispose of Argenta while you are still the head of the family?”
Pentas asked cautiously. From his perspective, it would be more convenient to push Argenta aside as soon as possible.
“You fool.”
Duke Alors clicked his tongue again.
Typically, current heads of a family did not wish for their descendant to reveal the mark of the family, as it resulted in their own powers gradually diminishing. However, he did not lament over this fact. Instead, he saw it as an opportunity.
After all, wasn’t it inevitable for the mark to manifest someday?
The transfer of the mark.
When the successor of a family inherited the mark from their predecessor, their power surged instantaneously, becoming overwhelmingly strong. Furthermore, the power of the current head did not immediately wane significantly after the mark was taken.
In other words, that moment became the pinnacle of their power.
That meant it was the perfect time to strike and extinguish Argenta’s flame. Duke Alors intended to accomplish the feat of extinguishing Argenta’s fire while still in control as the Duke.
“Hmm, it should be the time for it to appear.”
Duke Alors mused, taking a sip of his drink with a disappointed expression. Well, there was still some time remaining until the lilies were completely erased.
“There’s no need to be impatient.”
He silently chuckled.
And so, Duke Alors’ carriage gradually distanced itself from Argenta’s territory.
* * *
“Diello and the atmosphere in Argenta’s family has changed a lot.”
As the voice of Siette Cartiel echoed within Cartiel’s carriage, his wife, the Ferro, who hardly spoke throughout the assembly, glanced at him.
“I felt the same. The intensity of the flame has become more ferocious.”
Siette Cartiel was lost in thought, his mind consumed by the implications of his Ferro’s perception.
Their relationship resembled more of business partners than that of husband and wife, purely formed for Cartiel’s pursuit of power and prosperity. Duchess Cartiel possessed exceptional observational skills.
“Hmm…”
Siette narrowed his eyes, recollecting the events of the previous night.
“Alors is on the move. Rumor has it he stole Duke Argenta’s attire.”
The first thought that crossed his mind, naturally, was the lilies. They wanted to see if it had vanished.
“In that case, we should send someone from our side as well, make sure they’re not attracting any attention.”
He asserted.
Could it be that Diello’s personality was truly changing due to the absence of the lilies? Was that the reason for Duke Argenta’s newfound aggression?
To investigate the matter of the lilies, Siette had sent someone, and now, the very person he sent eventually stood before him.
“How did it go?”
With the power to manipulate wind, it was only natural that his informant possessed heightened senses compared to those from other families.
Clearing his throat, the informant spoke.
“Undoubtedly, it was a night of… passion. I felt embarrassed merely hearing about it.”
“So, they were that proactive?”
Duchess Cartiel inquired, devoid of any traces of embarrassment or emotion. She merely sought information.
Had Diello Argenta truly undergone a change?
The informant nodded in confirmation.
“Yes, the Diello Argenta we have known thus far is undeniably different.”
“It is not uncommon for people to undergo personality shifts upon awakening.”
Siette mused, somewhat perturbed, as he possessed keen perception and trusted his instincts. Was this truly the transformation that Diello Argenta had upon encountering Fero and losing the lilies?
Unbeknownst to him, Siette remained unaware of Alors’ deceitful plan involving the fake Ferro.
“Krua.”
His voice, tenderly calling out to his beloved, resonated through his mind. It was the voice of a foolish person ensnared in love, unable to break free. And just like that, Diello Argenta, aflame with desire, would lose the lilies in an instant.
What would become of his abilities once the lilies were gone? How much stronger would he become?
Siette once thought that since he was weak, it would not matter if Diello awakened fully.
“Hmm.”
Siette pondered, sensing that something was amiss. The memory of Diello Argenta’s gaze flashed through his mind—how he had embraced his beloved and foolishly attacked Pentas Alors as if he were a mindless beast protecting his family.
He smiled. Beside him, Duchess Cartiel was taken aback by his expression and averted her gaze as she lowered her face.
“Family…”
He muttered, contemplating the word.
It held little meaning for Cartiel himself, but Argenta was different. Argenta embodied a family with an unusually strong bond. Yet, they also sought a strong leader, which was why the feeble Diello Argenta had been an outcast until now.
However…
“He has changed…”
Apart from the inherent power of Diello Argenta, what troubled Siette Cartiel even more was the fact that he was now driven by a desire to protect something. This transformation was not to his liking, and the catalyst behind this change was none other than…
“…Krua Alors.”
The woman with violet hair, who was being held in Diello’s arms, now had become Krua Argenta.
“Isn’t it amusing that Alors’ daughter is engaging in love affairs with an Argenta?”
Elin Cartiel, with her belief in love and marriage, was different from Siette Cartiel as those things held no sway over him. Of course, the Duchess Cartiel, who listened to it, felt the same way.
From the start, their own relationship had lacked romance.
Regardless of the love required for the bond between Ferro and oneself to awaken, there were countless variations of love. It meant that even conditional love, which cherished solely the ‘ability of Ferro’ and not Ferro as an individual, could lead to awakening.
“I shall grant you the title of Duchess, not love.”
“How about we focus on other things instead of fixating on something as extravagant as love?”
They merely needed to understand each other’s hearts, just as the Duke and Duchess of Cartiel did.
Siette, who did not believe in love, had ascended to the position of the most formidable head through ruthlessly calculated choices. To harness his power as a leader, he had eradicated all potential blood relations, leaving only the gifted Elin and maintained a watchful eye over her.
So, it was inevitable that he would be concerned about the change in Diello Argenta.
Duchess Cartiel noticed Siette Cartiel’s turbulent feelings and held her breath. Her husband kept her as an advisor and Ferro by his side. If she were judged to be worthless as an advisor, she would simply fall into ruin, so it was better to stay silent in this situation.
“….”
Silence hung in the air, as she had expected, while Siette Cartiel grew increasingly uncomfortable.
“How much of a role will Krua Argenta play as a Ferro?”
He finally spoke, his voice calm but heavy.
Diello Argenta, who seldom engaged in confrontations, had undergone such a transformation. Therefore, he needed to know the nature of Krua Argenta, the woman who had brought about this change, even though she was clearly not worth his attention.
She was capable of transforming Diello Argenta just by herself, even without completely using the power of Ferro. It would be better to kill her early on. He didn’t want the current situation of the three families to change.
“Send someone discreetly to Argenta. And…”
He commanded, his tone cold and unwavering.
“Eliminate Krua Alors.”
“Understood.”
The informant replied, bowing deeply.
* * *
We found ourselves back at the mansion of the Argenta family, but ever since our arrival, there had been an eerie atmosphere pervading the place.
‘I thought the atmosphere would change, but…’
Of course, I knew that when Argenta welcomed a Ferro from Alors, both families would somehow be on the move.
I wanted the people to underestimate us. In addition, in the assembly, Diello did not show his abilities properly as the head, so I thought it would be enough to make the enemy let their guard down. However, a problem arose a few days later during a meal.
Diello’s face lit up with joy as he exclaimed.
“Today, let’s have your favorite dishes, Krua.”
His voice exuded affection, making it difficult to resist its charm. I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow and question.
“Didn’t you say the same thing yesterday?”
He chuckled softly in response, his amusement evident.
“You don’t have just one favorite food. I always want to bring you happiness with something new.”
With excitement in his voice, he pointed at the dish laid out before us.
“These are Tilah mushrooms. They possess a potent aroma and are known for their distinct flavor, but you do like them, don’t you?”
I vaguely recalled seeing the original Krua relish mushroom dishes, though I myself had no aversion to mushrooms.
I nodded in acknowledgment.
“Yes, but… Did you personally gather these?”
Diello beamed brightly.
“…I did it myself.”
I blinked dumbfoundedly at his words. Had he managed to obtain mushrooms that only grew deep within cliff crevices? They appeared to be from an incredibly inaccessible location.
“What if you had slipped while retrieving them?”
“I didn’t neglect my training for situations like that.”
Diello confidently replied, a sense of pride in his voice.
“Unbelievable.”
He had gone through all that trouble just to acquire these mushrooms, so I couldn’t refuse to taste them. Moreover, the mushrooms glistened enticingly, accompanied by a sweet and spicy sauce that I adored.
“Would you like to try them?”
Saying so, he began slicing the mushrooms.
“….?”
He paused for a moment, tilting his head slightly. Then, unexpectedly, he put a piece of sliced mushroom into his mouth.
“Diello…?”
I voiced my confusion. Had he noticed something peculiar about the scent or taste? His eyebrows furrowed, and he swiftly pushed the dish of mushrooms aside.
Using a napkin, he wiped his mouth and rose from his seat.
“I specifically requested your favorites…”
He spoke, his lips curling strangely.
“It appears the chef made a slight mistake.”
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