I’m Looking for the Male Lead for the Ending - Chapter 60

Chapter 31.1

Michelle’s face turned as red as a tomato, perhaps thinking I was laughing at her.

“W-What kind of rudeness is this?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Lady. It’s because your joke was just too funny.”

“A joke?”

“I thought you were joking. Could it really be that His Highness, who runs such a large merchant guild, has offered nothing more than the distribution rights to green grapes in order to welcome his consort? That’s too ridiculous to believe.”

“….”

“Unless it is a statement that disregards His Highness’s wealth.”

I looked around as if to ask if anyone else agreed. The ladies sitting around glanced at Michelle, whose face looked like it was about to explode.

I sipped my tea with a nonchalant expression, noticing that no one dared to speak up.

‘No matter how rich Allen is, would he really give the exclusive distribution rights to green grapes to someone with just a 2% favorability rating?’

Michelle, who had been exhaling exasperatedly, glared at me with a venomous expression and spoke.

“Okay, let’s set aside the rumors that the Lady might become the consort. Still, isn’t it undeniable that the Marquis family is selling the green grapes brought from Efren?”

“It seems there’s been some misunderstanding about that.”

“A misunderstanding?”

“At the Aidelis family, we’re not selling the green grapes. We’re simply in charge of storing them.”

Michelle’s face was filled with venom as I spoke with a bright smile.

“But isn’t it true that His Highness is interested in Lady Ardi?”

“While I don’t think so, the only one who knows for sure is His Highness himself, right?”

I continued to smile as I spoke, but the atmosphere at the table became so solemn that it was almost suffocating.

In the tense atmosphere, which felt like walking on thin ice, I thought it was actually a good opportunity and stood up from my seat. In a situation like this, getting up wouldn’t likely cause any strange misunderstandings. Of course, this might not have been the ‘right time to get up’ that Perideline or Estieren had in mind.

“It seems I’ve been sitting here without realizing how out of place I was. I’m sorry if I’ve ruined the mood of your lovely party. I’ll take my leave now.”

As I bid my farewell, I could sense that the other ladies were unsure of how to respond.

‘Even if Michelle is the one who ruined the mood, they can’t possibly side with me in this situation.’

It was my first time attending this party, and everyone else seemed to already know each other. Although I understood the situation, there was a strange bitterness in my mouth.

“Lady Ardi.”

I turned at the sound of Perideline’s voice calling me. Without even glancing in my direction, she continued speaking.

“The maid who came with you should be in the Grand Duchy’s annex by now. I’ve instructed the maids to bring the refreshments separately as well. Emma, please escort Lady Ardi.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Young Lady Perideline.”

Relieved that I wouldn’t have to wander around the garden suspiciously and ask about Marie’s whereabouts, I quickly followed behind Emma.

̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊

Pale observed the atmosphere around her while watching Ardi’s back as she went out with Emma’s escort.

Aside from Perideline and Ardi, the influence of the Countess of Frejian was the most powerful among those present, so even though they knew she was being unreasonable, it was difficult to side with the Marquis’s daughter. It was likely that everyone gathered around had the same thought.

After subtly checking Perideline’s expression, Pale realized just how angry she was at that moment.

Of course, Michelle, who was now sipping her tea with a triumphant expression as if a bothersome tooth had just been pulled, was oblivious to all of this.

“I thought she’d sit there cluelessly until the end, but thankfully, she left. Now, we can finally enjoy the party properly.”

Pale swallowed dryly at Michelle’s words before she involuntarily flinched at the dangerous glint in her eyes.

“I think you might be mistaken about something, Lady Michelle.”

As Michelle’s gaze shifted toward Perideline as she heard her calm voice, Perideline smiled gently at her before she continued her words.

“Actually, the truly clueless person hasn’t even left yet.”

Their gazes clashed.

Michelle, who had been squinting, asked with an incredulous expression,

“Are you perhaps talking about me?”

“Fortunately, you’re not completely clueless.”

“Young Lady Perideline!”

Despite Michelle’s raised voice, Perideline remained seated with a nonchalant expression and parted her lips.

“And I’m not sure where you heard such strange things or if you have some other motive for saying those things, but it’s actually me, not His Highness the Grand Duke, who has an interest in Miss Ardi.”

“…I beg your pardon?”