You Can Keep The Male Lead

ed the soup they served me.
I had to be healthy so that I could live long.

As I was patting my now full stomach, I heard a knock on the door.
Unexpectedly, it was Rupert.

“What’s the matter?”

“Looks like you’re awake,” he mumbled to himself, ignoring my question.

Then, without permission, he strode into the room.

I eyed him and put my hands on my waist.
“What’s going on?”

Rupert sat across from the chair at the tea-table where I was sitting, looking a little embarrassed when I asked him.

Then he placed two envelopes on the table.

“…to give this to you.”

“Oh, really?”

He was still staring at me as I took it.

“You look thinner.”

“It’s because I’ve been in bed the last few days.”

“Are you eating properly?”

“As you can see,” I gestured to the empty bowl I had pushed to one side.

I fiddled with the mail.
I wanted to open it, but why wasn’t he leaving?

“What… Do you have anything else to say?”

He slowly got up, his expression similar to the one he just had.
His move was too slow and frustrating to watch.

“No, I’m leaving.”

“Then please deliver this to the kitchen on your way.”

I handed him a tray with an empty bowl.
Rupert stood still, looking at me and the tray I just gave him.

“What are you doing? Are you going out?” I opened the door to see him off.

Phew, now that the disturbance has gone, let’s take a look.

This time, I received two mails – one colorful envelope and one white envelope.

The difference from the last time was that they were both addressed to ‘Count Spilet.’

I decided to open the colorful envelope first.

「If you’re free, I’d like to meet you at the Imperial Library.
– Enoch」

The corners of my lips tilted upwards.
No, no, I shouldn’t be so happy with such a thing.

I gathered my trembling heart and looked at the other envelope.
Like last time, it was a pure white envelope with no decorations.
Was it from the same sender as before?

When I opened it, I rubbed my surprised eyes and rechecked the contents of the envelope.

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“…Oh my god.”

Inside was a card, not a letter.

The card was none other than an invitation to the ball celebrating the Empress’s birthday.
It was for the Count of Spilet, not the Duchess of Clifford.
How did this happen?

I went down to the first floor just in case.

“Rupert…!”

The butler jumped out to my voice and answered instead.

“My Lord is now in the annex.”

“Ah, is that so?”

I was thinking of going straight to the annex, but then I stopped.
I didn’t want to run into Chloe right now, though.

Last night’s dream was too vivid, and Chloe was still the prime suspect.
I didn’t have the confidence to look at her and act like nothing’s wrong.

“Madam?”

“It’s nothing.
I’m going out, so please prepare a carriage.”

“Shall we prepare the Imperial carriage?”

“Imperial… carriage?” I asked the butler again in confusion.

“Not long ago, His Majesty the Crown Prince broke the carriage, so he sent a new carriage for Madam.”

“…Ah.”

He really replaced the carriage.
I couldn’t believe he sent it… an Imperial carriage.

I thought I should go to the Imperial library first.
I needed some imperative information to attend the ball successfully.

The Imperial library was also a social hub, so it was clear that it would be advantageous for her if the one who’d introduce her at the door were the Crown Prince.

So, the only reason I dared to accept his invitation was because of that.
I once again gathered my emotions and walked up the stairs.

I had no idea that the gifts Plada had sent me would be put to good use so quickly.

Recalling the scene I had seen in front of the imperial library the other day, I was able to dress up appropriately with the things she gave me.

“Do I look okay?”

“……Yes, you are so beautiful!”

This time, I went out with Jenny in the carriage.
Jenny said she had somewhere to go, and she had to check my outfit.

She raised the mirror to my face and said, “Look, I’m right.”

“…Hmm.”

Of course, Erin was pretty, but she looked tired because she’d been sick for a few days.
Still, she has her own charms.

Soon enough, I arrived in front of the Imperial library.
Maybe it’s because it’s an imperial carriage, but it also seemed to have a magic device attached to it.

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However, Jenny, who jumped down first, suddenly knelt on the ground.

“Jenny?”

I leaned my head out to see what was going on, but it was so blinding that I had to squint my eyes.

It was because someone shining more brilliantly in the noon sun was there to meet me.

“Your Highness.”

Before I even got out of the carriage, he offered me his hand.
Slowly, I held his hand and came down.

“I greet His Highness, the Imperial Crown Prince of the Empire,” I greeted him with a curtsy.

He politely bowed his head.
With his graceful gestures alone, this street seemed to have become a ballroom.
And, I was the lady being escorted by him today.
I couldn’t help but feel flattered.