I’m Looking for the Male Lead for the Ending - Chapter 53

Chapter 27.2

As he cut off all the words, my voice rose without me realizing it. He smiled at the sight of me before leaning forward.

“So, if there’s a chance to help Young Lady, would you grant it to me?”

“…I don’t know what Your Highness is talking about right now.”

Unsure of his intentions, I took a step back and replied. Even though Estieren observed my wary expression, he added with an indifferent face.

“Given that you’ve come with a mask early this morning to see the Duke and there’s a maid waiting behind you, it seems you might have something to ask for help from His Highness.”

“….”

“I’m saying that I, too, can give whatever it is that the Young Lady wants to get from the Duke.”

“….”

“For instance, information, gold, or connections.”

His unexpected words ignited my vigilance.

I replied to him with a firm expression.

“I don’t see any reason why Your Highness would have any reason to give me such things.”

Estieren’s azure eyes turned towards me at my words. The corners of his lips curved in an arc as he silently met my gaze.

“That’s different from what I think. I think there’s no one in Arbonis who deserves to give something to the Young Lady as much as I do.”

As he uttered so, his long fingers pointed to the lapis lazuli brooch he was wearing.

“…You rewarded me with a lily of the valley ornament last time.”

“I thought so, but this time, you saved my younger sister’s life again.”

I looked at him in surprise. Remembering Perideline’s expression the last time I saw her, which wasn’t particularly favorable, I naturally assumed she hadn’t told Estieren about what happened yesterday—at least the fact that it was Diel and I who saved her.

‘…Is it because the level of trust was high?’

I asked him, ignoring the fact that I didn’t know the answer at the moment.

“So, are you trying to help me because I saved Young Lady Perideline’s life?”

Estieren looked at me for a moment in response to my carefully asked question. He seemed to ponder how to answer but soon smiled and replied.

“To be honest, my intentions are a little different.”

“….?”

“If I help the Young Lady this time, I believe that you’ll think of me first when you need help from someone next time.”

“Yes?”

I was taken aback by his unexpected words and asked back without realizing it. He had a very serious face while wearing an inscrutable smile.

“That’s why I want to help.”

Why did he want me to ask him for help? For what reason? It seemed that the more I talked to him, the more questions swirled in my mind.

“…May I ask why you want me to think of you when I need help?”

“There are several reasons.”

“Several reasons?”

“Of course, I don’t mean to say that I hope you encounter many situations where you need help.”

“….”

“I simply wish to be the person the Young Lady thinks of in difficult situations, for whatever reason.”

“…You’re hard to understand.”

The corners of his mouth curved in an arc.

“Let’s just say today, it’s because I’m repaying a favor.”

‘What a strange person.’

Although I couldn’t put it into words, he was truly a strange person in many ways. Not only was he a character from a hidden route that I didn’t even know existed, but also in the way he spoke such ambiguous words.

Of course, what I found most incomprehensible was how, despite thinking he was strange, my heart strangely relaxed.

‘…What should I do?’

In fact, logically speaking, choosing Allen was the right decision. Even though his favorability towards me wasn’t particularly high yet, at least I knew what Allen disliked and liked. However, it was different with Estieren. Due to the system window that hadn’t appeared yet, I couldn’t tell if he held any favor towards me, and even if he did, I didn’t even know what percentage it was.

Naturally, for ordinary people, it was normal for the other person’s feelings not to be expressed in numbers. But having become accustomed to seeing emotions as numerical values, I absentmindedly glanced into an empty space where nothing was visible.

‘Obviously, there’s already an answer to whom I should choose in this situation, so why…’

Nevertheless, despite that, I felt more comfortable with Estieren than with Allen. It seemed the same for Marie as well.

‘Young Lady, why not ask His Highness the Grand Duke instead? Yes?’

Her glance seemed to suggest as much. I finally sighed lightly and replied, seeing Marie’s noticeably brightened face.

“I didn’t help Young Lady Perideline with the intention of getting anything in return, but since you’re offering to repay, I won’t turn you down.”

Upon hearing that, he smiled and bowed his head towards me as he saw people appearing one by one, glancing in this direction.

“Then, it seems we’ve settled the matter. Shall we move to another place first?”

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