I’m Looking for the Male Lead for the Ending - Chapter 63

Chapter 32.2

After my accident eight years ago, my father replaced many of the servants, blaming them for not taking proper care of me as a child. As a result, it became an unspoken rule among the Marquis’s servants not to mention that day… but I did overhear the servants talk about it once.

It was the very day I regained consciousness.

〈 Did they really say she was found in Neitzia? Is that even possible? 〉

〈 I don’t know. From what I heard, there were rumors she traveled through the teleportation stone in the Marquis’s residence. 〉

Even though I didn’t know the exact circumstances, I was certain they were talking about me.

For some reason, it was said that I had used a teleportation stone to travel from the Marquis’s residence to Neitzia, where I was later found unconscious. However, I couldn’t explain all of this to Estieren in detail. It wouldn’t benefit anyone if rumors started spreading, and even I couldn’t clearly remember what had happened that day.

Just as I was about to mention that Perideline must have mistaken me for someone else, a sharp knock echoed through the room.

Before anyone could respond, the door swung open.

“Fairy!”

Perideline rushed over to me, her ebony hair flowing behind her. Behind her, I noticed Emma, looking pale and hurriedly bowing her head.

“I-I’m so sorry, Your Highness. Upon hearing that Lady Ardi was still at the Grand Duke’s residence, Young Lady Perideline became so excited that she…!”

Estieren brushed his face with a troubled expression.

It seemed that Perideline didn’t even notice her brother, who had his hand on his forehead, as she took both of my hands and began chattering excitedly.

“I’m so glad you haven’t left yet. You were really upset earlier, right? I should have stepped in, I should have intervened, but I thought it would be more natural for you to handle it in your own way than what we had originally planned. I’m really sorry.”

“L-Lady Perideline?”

I was taken aback, seeing her sincerely apologizing for something that had already gone over smoothly. At the same time, I could see Estieren narrowing his eyes at her words.

“First, please calm down, Lady Perideline. I’m fine.”

“No, this is definitely my fault. And it’s also my brother’s fault for not handling things properly beforehand.”

Estieren’s face crumpled at the sudden accusation thrown his way.

Then, as she naturally took a seat across from me, Perideline continued her words when she noticed her brother’s confused expression as if asking what she was talking about.

“Why on earth are you staying in the capital for so long this time and causing all this trouble?”

“I don’t even understand half of what you’re saying, Perideline.”

Her voice rose in response to Estieren’s exasperated words.

“I’m not blaming you for meeting other ladies, but if you’re going to do that, you should at least make sure it doesn’t affect Fairy!”

Despite her insistence, Estieren still wore a confused expression. And I, too, couldn’t understand why Estieren meeting other ladies would cause me any harm.

“There’s a rumor spreading widely among the ladies right now. They say you gave the jewelry you won in the martial arts tournament to Fairy!”

Jewelry won from the martial arts tournament…?

Estieren and I exchanged a brief glance at her words. In the meanwhile, oblivious to our reaction, Perideline glared at her brother as she went on.

“I heard everything from Pale. Apparently, the Countess of Frejian quarreled with Fairy today because of that rumor.”

“….”

“And who were you with at the cafe three days ago?”

As I involuntarily flinched at the irritation in Perideline’s voice, I noticed Estieren smiling softly at me. Perideline, who hadn’t noticed my reaction, glared at him and added.

“The ladies who saw you at the cafe that day are spreading rumors all over Arbonis. They say you’re very affectionate with your lover.”

She chattered on about how the fact that Estieren was a regular at that cafe was widely known among the ladies, so she had advised him not to go there.

At her words, I felt a throbbing in my forehead.

‘So, that’s why there were so many female customers at the cafe that day.’

I wasn’t sure why Perideline was convinced that the stories she had heard were all nonsense. But aside from the fact that Estieren and I weren’t actually lovers, most of the rumors were true.’

As I thought about where to begin my explanation, Estieren, who had been quietly listening to his sister, raised the corner of his mouth and spoke.

“Apart from the misunderstanding that the lady and I are lovers, it seems most of the stories are true.”

“….”

“What do you think, my lady? How about we take this opportunity to become real lovers?”