I’m Looking for the Male Lead for the Ending - Chapter 4

Chapter 3.1

“Why are you here, Ardi Aidelis?”

The brilliant silver hair, shimmering in the sunlight, tumbled disarrayed before my eyes. I replied, hastily averting my gaze from his creased forehead.

“Uh, I…”

The words didn’t come easily. Perhaps it was because I knew what situation would follow the moment I uttered the words and delivered the letter. I even thought about tearing the letter up, but I was already aware that it wouldn’t yield a favorable outcome.

As I was lost in thought for a moment, a voice tinged with displeasure flowed above my head again.

“Don’t disgrace Aidelis’s name, Ardi Aidelis.”

“….”

“I don’t consider someone who can’t even explain their own situation as an Aidelis.”

Seeing me with my lips tightly sealed amidst my tangled thoughts, he seemed to assume that I was struggling to even speak properly.

Yes. He was an Aidelis who couldn’t help but boast about it.

Heron’s words, which were full of thorns, naturally leaked sarcasm. As I lifted my lowered head, feeling the sharp gaze that pricked at my forehead, emotionless, gray eyes were staring back at me.

“Ardi Aidelis.”

At his urging call, I pushed aside the thoughts that had been swirling in my mind. Dragging it out and avoiding the situation was only a temporary solution anyway, so I thought it would be better to quickly finish the mission and receive the reward.

I extended the letter I had been holding towards him.

“Father told me to deliver a letter to older brother.”

[ 〈SYSTEM〉 MISSION CLEAR!

You have successfully delivered the letter from Baltanium Aidelis to Heron Aidelis! ]

[ 〈SYSTEM〉 MISSION CLEAR REWARD!

Baltanium Aidelis’s trust increases by 2%.

Baltanium Aidelis’s current trust: 11% -〉 13% ]

[ 〈SYSTEM〉

The maximum holding amount is increased. (Maximum thirteen gold)

Ardi’s current possession: Eight gold ]

I turned my head to look at the system window that popped up intimidatingly as I handed over the letter. Heron, who had been looking at me for a moment, opened the envelope he had just received. His face, which was now examining the empty letter, visibly hardened compared to a moment ago.

Look at this. He hated it, too.

Seeing the letter crumpled miserably in Heron’s hand, I let out a shallow sigh.

At that moment, a man’s voice cut in between Heron and me.

“I was wondering why you were in such a hurry to go somewhere. Turns out you went to see a lady, Heron.”

The man who smoothly inserted himself at the right moment approached, his hair scattering like molten gold. His golden eyes, as if they held the essence of the sun, were full of curiosity. Without missing a beat, he intervened and repeated the dialogue as if it had been rehearsed, and the situation remained unchanged.

As disappointment grew as my expectations were met, weariness washed over me.

‘Then, who was that child? It couldn’t possibly be that even illusions are visible now, right?’

A momentarily surfaced thought cast a gloom over my mind. Just as the notion of giving up crossed my mind, a shadow fell over me.

…Shadow?

When I blinked my eyes in surprise at something I had never noticed before, I raised my head to see a large figure standing before me. It was a large back standing as if to shield me from the man.

‘…What’s happening? Is Heron blocking my path?’

Why?

“I apologize, Your Highness the Crown Prince. It seems that my father has sent someone in a hurry to deliver something to me.”

“She’s quite a well-dressed lady to be called someone who had been sent hastily.”

As I absentmindedly gazed at Heron’s back, I met gaze with the man who had poked his head over his shoulder curiously before his eyes widened as if taken aback.

I clenched my fists, still staring at Heron’s back, which was in my line of sight.

‘Certainly, this is the first time I’ve experienced this situation. Heron has never shielded me from the Crown Prince’s gaze before.’

A frightening realization of the truth and perhaps a glimmer of hope crossed my mind. Even though a mixture of confusion and anticipation prevented my brain from functioning properly, the corners of my lips, which had been downcast in hopelessness, curved upward on their own for the first time.

“I should probably thank Marquis Aidelis for this.”

“….”

“I never thought I’d see Arbonis flower in a place like this.”

Flower of Arbonis.

The unwelcome words that had granted me an endless life spun in my mind, but that lasted only a moment.

My head, which had been eroded by hope, had already lost its reason due to the uncontrollable soaring anticipation. Turning my attention away from him, who seemed to be smiling as if finding the situation amusing, I focused my gaze on Heron, whose face was crumpled in disapproval as he observed the unfolding events.

For a moment, I was filled with a renewed determination.

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