I’m Looking for the Male Lead for the Ending - Chapter 78

Chapter 40.1

‘Heron is looking for someone?’

Heron Aidelis.

Whether it was because of his sharp personality or simply his preference for keeping people at a distance, his social circle was even smaller than mine, despite the countless deaths I had endured, which had made me numb to relationships. He had so few acquaintances that even someone like me, who never paid much attention to him, knew exactly who he associated with.

‘Because there were barely any to begin with.’

But now, hearing that he was resorting to an informant to search for someone only made it even more baffling.

‘Could he be looking for his mother?’

For a moment, I wondered if he was searching for his biological mother, but I quickly shook my head. As far as I remembered, his mother had already passed away before my mother and I ever set foot in the marquisate.

〈 Seeing how much the young lady has grown, it must mean His Lordship and Madam have been together for quite a long time now, right? 〉

〈 That’s right. I’m only sorry for the late Madam. I heard from Eri that she took her own life after finding out about His Lordship’s affair. 〉

〈 What? Is that really true? 〉

〈 It wouldn’t surprise me. Either way, I feel sorry for Young Master Heron as well. 〉

I found myself thinking about something that happened over a decade ago, but I quickly pushed the memory away. In any case, if what those servants said back then was true, it made sense that Heron had glared at me so fiercely the day I first came to the marquisate, holding my mother’s hand.

‘…Honestly, I should probably be grateful that glaring was all he did.’

Anyway, the important thing was that, as far as I knew, there wasn’t anyone Heron would go so far as to use an informant to find. Even Heron’s mission, which I had assumed would be an easy task, turned out to be much harder than expected, making my situation feel even more hopeless.

I dragged myself out of the alley and immediately noticed Marie pacing restlessly by the carriage. As soon as she saw me, she rushed toward me.

“Lady!”

I waved my hand, trying to wipe away the gloomy expression caused by the unresolved mission.

Regardless, the fact that I had managed to meet Allen, find a lead on the mission, and even raise his favorability was definitely a significant step forward.

̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊

“It seems like the Marquis’s daughter has been seen around you quite a lot lately, Captain.”

Juan, the vice-captain of the Adeline Knights, casually approached Heron and struck up a conversation.

Heron, who was wiping off his sweat with a towel, looked up at Juan’s words, his eyes drifting toward the entrance of the training grounds. Sure enough, as he had mentioned, Ardi stood with her maid, watching them from a distance.

Seeing Heron glance in that direction, Juan coughed lightly to clear his throat before continuing.

“Captain, is it true that the Marquis’s daughter has been meeting with Grand Duke Kaisian?”

“What?”

Heron’s gray eyes sharpened, making Juan flinch instinctively.

Then, taking a step back, he quickly added.

“I-I was just wondering if you’d heard about it too, Captain! I recently heard that Lady Ardi attended a tea party hosted by Lady Perideline and ended up being targeted by another noblewoman who has feelings for the Grand Duke.”

Heron’s eyes flicked back to Ardi at Juan’s remark.

For a brief moment, their eyes met. But as if the fleeting moment had never happened, Ardi hastily looked away and left with her maid.

Watching the scene, Juan let out a sigh and spoke with a hint of sympathy in his voice.

“Uh… I don’t mean to overstep, but Captain, you do have a rather intimidating presence.”

“….”

“If you smiled a little, maybe the young lady wouldn’t find you so hard to approach.”

Heron, still watching the spot where Ardi had disappeared, finally shifted his gaze to Juan, who was nervously watching his reaction.

Then, narrowing his eyes slightly, he asked,

“Why should I do that?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked why I should do that.”

Juan blinked in confusion at Heron’s question before stammering out a response.

“W-Well, the young lady isn’t one of your subordinates like us.”

“….”

“A-And I only mentioned it because it seems like you also care a lot about the Marquis’s daughter.”

Heron gave no response to his words.

Noticing his captain’s silence, Juan gave a small bow before quietly retreating to his position.

With a frustrated sigh, Heron ruffled his hair before turning in the opposite direction of where Ardi had disappeared.

̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊

I glanced down at the sheet of paper where I had been recording my observations of Heron for the past three days.

People Heron Regularly Talks To:

→ Sir Juan: Exchanges brief words, usually lasting less than a minute per day. (Only during training sessions.)
→ Darren: Discusses family matters. (Conversations last under thirty minutes, typically in Heron’s office.)
→ Father: Short exchanges during mealtimes. (Since the tournament, his father has been noticeably more displeased with him.)