I’m Looking for the Male Lead for the Ending - Chapter 8

Chapter 5.1

“…Why do you think that way?”

Seeing his forehead crease at my question, I involuntarily flinched at the intense, unpleasant emotion that was clearly revealed on his face.

Avoiding his gaze, I heard his voice mixed with a sigh above my head.

“Ardi Aidelis.”

“….”

“You’re not that stupid.”

I couldn’t understand at all why he was saying such words to me. The person who had been looking at me with a displeased expression all along was none other than him.

He continued in a composed voice.

“Father was aware of the fact that I would meet the Crown Prince due to the competition. Besides, you must have known the reason why he specifically asked you to deliver the letter to me and not anyone else.”

“….”

“Even though he said it was urgent, didn’t the excessive grooming of the servants, more than usual, serve as evidence supporting your thoughts?”

I stopped breathing for a moment as Heron spoke as if he had seen it happen right before his eyes. I knew he was more perceptive than most, but I hadn’t realized that I was included in his observations. The hope I had pushed far away resurfaced in the rush to avoid this moment.

During countless cycles of reincarnation, I had never once questioned myself about Heron’s role.

‘Well, the biggest reason must have been that I didn’t realize opening the route of the existing protagonist would reveal other characters…’

Above all, it was because Heron didn’t like me. I had realized on the day I first arrived at the Aidelis mansion that, to him, both my mother and I were merely annoying and unpleasant presences.

Whenever I saw him looking at my mother and me together, his expression, which seemed fabricated, would briefly come to mind. I sought refuge in my mother’s embrace every time I met his gaze, which was filled with negative emotions. When I was young, I was too afraid to approach him, and as I grew older, I saw no reason to become close to him.

I desperately wanted to escape from my father’s influence somehow, and for that, the farther I could get from Heron, the better.

The result of repeating this life countless times was the present.

As a result, despite being my only stepbrother, Heron was the person I knew the least in this game. I was concerned about the interest he had expressed in me for the first time. Perhaps I was also afraid of ruining this relationship, which might never be the same after today.

‘What should I say in a situation like this…’

Since gaining the favor of the target characters was important, I always engaged in conversations while monitoring their favorability levels. Of course, not all of them had their favorability displayed, so there were times when I didn’t care about what the other person thought.

Still…

At least in this moment, when Heron was showing me favor for the first time, I wanted to give him the answer he wanted.

Maybe due to the silence that stretched on as I struggled to come up with a response, a brief sigh escaped his lips. Knowing that it was a habit he had whenever he felt uncomfortable, my gaze involuntarily shifted back to the part where my health was displayed once again.

‘Heron isn’t a target character, so there’s no need to keep checking your health. Get a hold of yourself, Ardi Aidelis!’

It seemed like I was still reeling from what had happened with Vien earlier. I found myself unconsciously checking my health over and over again, which led to a sense of self-reproach.

Fortunately, Heron spoke up before I could blame myself any further.

“No, there’s no need to respond.”

“Yes?”

“After this, His Highness the Crown Prince will no longer approach you, so please refrain from getting involved with him in the future.”

His hand naturally moved toward the hilt of the sword at his waist. Despite his nonchalant expression, he gripped the sword handle so tightly that the white of his knuckles showed, and he spat out his words as if chewing it out.

“The palace is always a place where danger lurks inside and out, and His Majesty isn’t so kind as to protect the daughter of a vassal he doesn’t like very much in such a place.”

Saying so, his gray eyes were fixed on me. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from those indifferent eyes that still didn’t seem to convey any emotions, as if I were entranced.

Heron spoke to me in a low voice.

“You did well, Ardi Aidelis.”

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