The Male Lead Knelt Before Me

He portrayed Vivian as an outsider…… It’s a lot worse than I imagined.

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Of course, in a few months, that statement will be adjusted differently.

Somehow my heartthrobs.

But I merely smiled and said.

“I’ll do it next time.”

* * * * *

“Young Master, The Madam is looking for you.”

That was the butler’s first words to Edmund as he entered the Marquis’ mansion.

He frowned at the same moment.

Damn it.

Edmund sucked the curse in.

It was exactly what he had dreaded and expected upon his return to the Marquis’ mansion.

She had to have informed their mother what had transpired earlier in the Royal Knight’s office.

But it was difficult for Edmund not to go because his mother was looking for him, so he dragged himself to walk.

 

The Marchioness was having tea with Vivian in the backyard.

“You called me, Mother.”

“Welcome.
Have you just returned from the Knight’s quarters?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry you’re weary.
Sit down because your legs will ache.”

Edmund sat calmly on the armchair, even though his legs couldn’t suffer after standing for a while because he was a knight.

The seat opposed Vivian, yet it was still familiar to him.

This was something his mother used to do whenever she sought to reconcile Edmund and Vivian.

“But Edmund, your hair appears to be moist…… Did you wash up in the Knight’s quarter?”

“Yeah, well.”

Edmund brushed his damp hair.

He didn’t truly wash up.

He deliberately walked to the faucet and poured cold water on his head to cool off.

“Why didn’t you thoroughly dry it after washing it? What happens if you catch a cold?”

“It’s alright because the weather is warmer today.”

 

“That’s true, but……”

The Marchioness’ words were veiled by a troubled expression, and instead of condemning him for his conduct, she just sent a servant to fetch Edmund a towel.

“I called because I have something to explain to you.”

“Something to explain?”

“I heard there was a misunderstanding between you two because of me.
I’m sorry I sent Vivian to the Knight’s quarter without informing you.”

Edmund grasped his fist slightly and released it, already irritated and annoyed, but he couldn’t behave recklessly since the opponent was his own mother.

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“The Royal Knights is my workplace.”

“Yes, I was rash.
I’m so curious about the identity of the lady you sent gifts to.….”

“Let me be clear here that she is not my lover.”

Edmund drew a firm line recalling what Vivian had said.

In fact, the look on his face when he said that was the face of a man who chewed on shit.

‘The Lady really is not his lover.’

Because of that, the Marchioness thought Edmund’s words would be true.

His son’s face wasn’t an expression when thinking about his lover.

“I heard it from Vivian, though.
I’m sorry I let it slide.
It’s the first time you’ve given a woman a gift, so I thought it would be your lover.”

“……”

“Anyway, Vivian went to the Royal Knight’s quarter at my request, so if you have any disappointment towards her, I hope you’ll let it go.”

“I understand what mother says.
But I hope this doesn’t happen in the future.”

“Yes, this won’t happen anymore.”

“I will never do that again.
I’m sorry, brother.”

Vivian added, following Marchioness.

He knew he had to say ‘it’s okay for the atmosphere, but Edmund didn’t want to.

He just couldn’t wait to leave this place.

“……if this was all you had to say, I’d better get going.”

“Yes, go in and rest.”

Edmund said his goodbye and got up.

It was when he was walking back to his room.

He heard the sound of footsteps.

“Hold on, brother!”

He looked back and saw Vivian.

Her cheeks were red even though she had only run a short distance.

“Could you please convey this to Lady Oreu?

” Vivian handed out a small package wrapped with ribbons.

“What is this?”

“This is a box of satin ribbons that I embroidered myself; I noticed that Lady Oreu frequently ties her hair, so I wanted her to use it as a hair tie.”

“So why are you giving this to me?”

“I would like to apologize not only for my brother but also for being rude to Lady Oreu,” Vivian added hesitantly.

“I intended to present it to her in person, but I don’t believe I’ll be able to see her for a while; I have no shame, but can I ask you for a favour instead?”

Edmund was unfamiliar with Vivian’s other side.

He acknowledged that his younger sister was not a child who could make a request for herself.

‘If she did, she would come to me for aid so she could get close to Commander without selling my name.’ Of course, the response was predetermined.

Even if she is his sister, he would never seek her for aid.
Because that meant he was being impolite to someone he respected.

“And, once again……I realize that you are upset today.
It’s something I’ve done before,”

Edmund noticed Vivian talking, referring to when she had previously entered the Knight’s quarter to look for Caleb under his identity.

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Edmund grimaced as a topic he didn’t want to think about was brought up and was taken aback by the remark.

“I don’t believe I’ll visit the Knight’s quarter in the future.
I don’t like him anymore, and even if the mother requests me to, I’ll surely refuse.”

“Wait a minute.
Are you referring to our commander?”

“That’s right.”

Edmund couldn’t hide his displeasure at Vivian’s affirmation.

Vivian tried everything she could to see Caleb until a few months ago.

It was still clear how she shook her hands that day and insisted on meeting Caleb.

‘And now she says she no longer likes him?’

Nothing could be better if Vivian’s statements were true.

He no longer had to be concerned about his sister’s misbehaviour.

But Edmund couldn’t put his faith in Vivian.

“Don’t tell any lies.
You don’t like him? How long ago did you sell my name and set up to meet the Commander?”

“I honestly don’t have anything to say about it.
But, as my brother pointed out, it was a few months ago, and I really regret it.
….
I’ve cleansed my thoughts in my own way.
Now I’m not sure why I did it.”

Vivian took a deep breath and bent her head.

“It will not happen again in the same way.
I guarantee it.”

Edmund shook his head as he gazed at the top of Vivian’s head.

That’s because her current demeanour did not appear to be that of a liar.

‘Is she telling the truth?’

Vivian also stated that she did not come to visit Caleb this afternoon.

Of course, it was difficult to accept Vivian’s sudden change of heart, but he couldn’t help but relax.

‘Wait a minute, did I overreact?’ Should I also apologize?’

Of course, the thought immediately vanished.

Maybe all of this was simply her method of distracting him and catching him off guard.

And if it was Vivian he had seen, it was plausible.

However, he was constantly shaken by the thought of ‘just in case.

Edmund, who didn’t enjoy being shaken by Vivian, stretched out to her intending to immediately do her a favour and let her go.

“……brother?”

“I’ll give it to her as you request.
Please give it to me.”

“Really? Thank you very much!”

Edmund turned around as soon as Vivian smiled warmly and handed up the package.

* * * * *

“……Eun~ah.
So Eun~ah.”

Ugh, Who is it that keeps talking to me like this?

I’m exhausted.

I ignored the noise and snuggled up.

However, the person who was speaking to me shook my shoulder as if they were refusing to leave me alone.

“Hey, Ji So Eun!”

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“Why do you keep… Huh?”

The vision of a middle-aged man flooded my eyes as soon as I regained consciousness.

“Ji So Eun.”

In contrast to the voice that awakened me up, a heavy voice entered my ears.

I regained consciousness for a brief period, as though dazed.

“Professor?”

“Yes, I’m your professor.”

A booming chuckle pierced my ears for a brief period.

I could see the expressions on my colleagues’ faces as I shifted my gaze sideways.

“If you’re tired, get up, stand in the back and listen.
After class, go home and sleep.”

“Oh, yes.”

I quickly took my big book and pen from the desk and headed out to the back.

Only then did the professor stands on the podium with a pleased expression on his face.

Followed by the steps, I can see a presentation by the beam project.

“So, allow me to continue explaining…….”

The professor’s voice could be heard across the classroom.

As I stood, my thoughts gradually cleared.

I afterwards discovered that I had dozed off during a lecture.

‘It’s unusual.’

It was extremely humiliating to fall asleep in class, since I seldom do, no matter how exhausted I was.

Time passed and the class was over.

I’ve been standing for a long time, and my legs are aching.
It was time to pack my books and writing equipment into my bag, battling the ache.

“Let’s go, So Eun~ah.”

When I peered next to the source of the familiar voice, I noticed a woman with bobbed hair and a half-worn perm.

‘…Yoo Young?’

No doubt, We’ve been friends since college for roughly four years.

“Have you finished packing your belongings? Let’s grab it and get out of here as soon as possible.”

“Oh, oh, wait a minute.”

With a rushed voice, I finished packing my suitcase.

Yoo Young crossed her arms as we exited the lecture hall and proceeded down the corridor.

“You must have been exhausted.
Even if I woke you up, you wouldn’t get up, but you barely got up because the professor was just around the corner.”

I believe the first voice I heard was hers.

“Did you sleep late at dawn while doing your homework?”

“No, that’s not the case……”

What did I do yesterday?

‘I’m sure I’ve gone through a lot.’

However, nothing specific occurred to mind.

It was all blurry in my memory.

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“Or, as expected, because of that?”

“What exactly do you mean?”

Yoo Young took a minute to glance around.

And when she noticed that there were still people surrounding the building, she spoke to me in hushed tones.

“”

“Huh, huh?” “From the reaction, I guess it’s true.
You slept late while reading it again, huh?”

I just chuckled and didn’t say anything.

I couldn’t recall what I had done the day before.

“I, too, piled it up and read it after a long time, and it was still enjoyable.
But then a female supporting role appeared out of nowhere.”

“A supporting character……?”

“I thought it would finish soon, but I didn’t like it when I read the part where she was fed up until the emperor’s birthday banquet.” “Birthday banquet……?”

I simply had a random notion.

“Why is the Emperor’s birthday feast conducted concurrently with the New Year’s party? After reading the comments, everyone was worried that the supporting female character would become a villain and torment the female lead.”

“A villain…?”

“Did you read that section as well? What are your thoughts? Do you believe she will truly become the villain and torture the female lead?”

“A supporting female character? Who?”

“Hmm, I don’t recall her name.
There’s a female supporting character who used to be an actor but joined the Knights as a deputy with the Count as her guardian.”

“Elena Oreu?”

A name came out of my mouth before I knew it.

Oh, how did I come upon this name?

“I guess that was the name.
You recall the name of the supporting character, too.
You’re a huge admirer of that one, as expected.”

Yoo Young burst out laughing.

“Anyway, during the birthday banquet, the male lead was filling in for that supporting female role.
That is why the female protagonist is ignored and treated as if she is an idiot! It’s really annoying!”

There wasn’t anything like that.

I was convinced there was a scene at the birthday banquet where Caleb was having a fling with Vivian……?

A scene sprang into my thoughts.

Inside the office, a silver-haired man speaks coldly to a pinkish-blonde woman.

It wasn’t like what Yoo Young had said.

The location and time zone were both entirely different.

It wasn’t even from the original storyline which I read.

I’ve never read it, but I’m sure I’ve skimmed it.
”

“As a result, there was a lot of rage in the comment section, with people questioning whether that was truly the male protagonist, and if we should switch the male protagonist to the Crown Prince instead, and……”

The voice from the other side gradually faded away.

Rather, the scene in my imagination became clear.

The silver-haired man stated to the pinkish blonde woman.

‘I’m not sure how you managed to get through the main gate guards for that purpose.’ 

‘I believe it is time for you to go now.’

And my eyes opened wide.