I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original

“Ah, that’s…”

Surprised by Selleana’s direct question, Margrave Gotenfrid’s slightly tanned face flushed with a faint blush.

“I’ve heard that Lady is good at reading people’s minds, but I didn’t know you were this sharp…”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

In reality, it was easy to read people’s intentions when everyone was so eager to make a good impression on Selleana, and above all, thanks to the information pouring in from Doloret.

“Yes. I wanted to get to know you better after seeing her for the first time at His Majesty’s birthday banquet, but I heard she doesn’t usually participate in social circles. So, after several failed attempts to arrange a meeting…”

To say they had met was an overstatement since their only interaction had been bumping due to an accident, and his attempt to arrange a meeting was essentially stalking. There was much to criticize in his words, but Selleana and Rosalli patiently listened without comment.

“I wonder if I could make a small request since she attended His Majesty’s birthday banquet with Lady.”

“

…”

Selleana frowned with a worried look on her face.

Just as Selleana recalled the promise she made with Agnesia, Karl Gotenfrid quickly added, “It’s nothing special. I wrote a letter to her, and I would be grateful if you could deliver it.”

“

…”

What emerged from the man’s possession was an envelope that looked comically cute in his thick hands. The envelope was decorated with a stencil of dainty flower patterns as if advertising a love letter.

And yet, he approached Selleana, enduring the embarrassment, to deliver it.

The same goes for Prince Erenst, who suddenly adjusted his return schedule and held a party. They fall in love with her friends once they see their faces and even approach her friends without any prior closeness?

Is this the force of the original story?

Her friends were trying to escape, weren’t they?

Selleana took the letter from him without showing her discomfort. She couldn’t refuse as it would be impolite not to accept it. Margrave Gotenfrid’s face brightened with a smile.

“Alright. I’ll make sure to deliver it to Agnesia.”

“Thank you so much!”

“But…” As Selleana tucked the letter into her clutch and slowly continued, “I must cautiously mention that Agnesia is a priestess and has been devoted for a long time… It might be difficult to expect any kind of relationship development.”

“

! Of course… But still, I wanted to, well, at least build a personal relationship…”

Karl Gotenfrid’s cheeks deepened in color. Seeing this, Selleana’s heart grew even colder.

An attitude fixated only on expressing one’s feelings, regardless of the other person’s situation. Just because he’s fallen for someone.

To Selleana, such disappointment wasn’t new. For ten years since remembering her past life, she had dealt with Pavellian, including men of Nepelsian, in such a way. There was just a little difference.

Tower master? No, Collin came first!

Selleana scolded herself for her wayward thoughts and gave Karl Gotenfrid a bright smile.

“Yes, well. Friendship is good. I’ll pass it on for now.”

Anyway, Agnesia was likely to burn it without reading.

“Thank you very much!”

“Then, until next time.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Enjoy your evening.”

“You too, Lady Glen.”

Selleana and Rosalli moved away from Margrave Gotenfrid, who bowed gracefully, to a quieter place.

“What’s going on today… I’m dizzy from all these original story male leads.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Could your original story’s male lead also appear out of nowhere? Leaving his rightful place as the grand duke’s grandson?”

“Well, I don’t mind if he comes… but really, if that happens, it would be creepy, right?”

As Selleana and Rosalli strolled through the garden, chatting,

“Oh my, there’s the fallen chain over there.”

“She was with that prince earlier. Is she aiming for the Laten royal family?”

“Having received all sorts of privileges as a companion to the crown prince, and now, a small kingdom’s prince…”

“Did you see her flirting with Margrave Gotenfrid earlier?”

The sinister snickers followed.

“Who’s gossiping so cowardly?” Rosalli stepped forward, shooting a glance in that direction, but Selleana knew without looking who was behind it.

They had been leading the gossip since His Majesty’s birthday banquet.

The empress, being a saintess herself, received blind support from a few families. They resented Selleana for allegedly disrespecting the empress through this incident, even though they technically belonged to the same crown prince faction.

Theonis sending her alone to a social gathering under the pretext of fulfilling her duties as an Elard, knowing this atmosphere, was probably intended for her to reflect.

But being unpleasant was still unpleasant. Since His Majesty’s birthday banquet, the stress built up against Selleana was substantial, and today’s onslaught from the original story’s male leads was pushing her to her limit…

“I heard she went in and out of the magic tower until the door wore out. Perhaps begging to have a fake husband made?”

“She might be tempting that idiot prince. What a loss to substitute a pheasant with a chicken.”

The unpleasant laughter resumed.

“…

.”

“Lea?”

That limit was finally breached. Selleana began to down her wine. Staring down the empress faction’s young ladies as she drank.

The light golden fruit wine flowed down her throat in one go. As every eye turned to Selleana with her act, she gracefully traced an arc with her hand holding the lace glove…

“

!”

The wine glass shattered against a garden bush a short distance from the empress faction’s young ladies.

“Oh gosh, my hand slipped.” Selleana feigned disappointment with a slight frown and a sweet smile.

“Are you alright!”

“Did you get hurt anywhere!”

Several gentlemen rushed over, each offering their handkerchiefs. Selleana picked one and winked at its owner.

“Is it because of the summer? Since His Majesty’s birthday banquet, the mosquitoes have been buzzing…”

“

… mosquitoes, you say? Butler!”

“Yes! Did you hear that? Hurry up, light the double dose of scented candles to repel flying insects!”

“Yes!”

The gentlemen urged Rondel’s butler, and the butler urged the servants. The servants, knowing how much their young lady admired Lady Elard, rushed into action. In all the commotion, the empress faction’s young ladies were completely excluded.

“This isn’t an imperial banquet, and there’s no one here to praise you for biting me,” Selleana said as she pretended to wipe her hands, which were never dirty to begin with. “Besides, the ones more anxious right now are…”

Selleana’s amber eyes rolled toward the empress faction’s young ladies. “The imperial family, isn’t it?”

As if in response, the whispers around her rose.

“It seems those young ladies were picking on a fight with Lady Elard.”

“It’s true what she said at His Majesty’s birthday banquet. The imperial family seems more anxious.”

“Would she even be tempted by Prince of Laten or Margrave when she already refused the crown princess’s position?”

“Besides, doesn’t she have a lover?”

As the murmurs intensified, Selleana impassively faced the empress faction’s young ladies.

“I-I need to use the restroom!”

“Oh my, it’s time to go home already!”

“The canapés were delicious earlier…!”

The empress faction’s young ladies eventually turned tail and ran.

“See, they’re doing this because they don’t know you. Crown princess or not, you are you.” Rosalli’s whisper seemed to echo her feelings, but Selleana wasn’t satisfied.

As expected, Selleana’s troubles didn’t end there.

“It’s been a while, Lady Elard.”

“Hello, Viscount Miniel.”

Rosalli, who had been with her, left to not miss her favorite dance song, the Ranteta. The man’s timely appearance was unsettling, but Selleana greeted him politely. Viscount Miniel is a family intertwined with Elard in business matters.

“You look lonely by yourself.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Typical of men in this world, he was impressively handsome, but to anyone, he was clearly a man in his 30s. In Nepelsian, where reaching mid-20s is considered past marriageable age, he was well into being considered an old bachelor.

A few gentlemen lurking nearby dispersed upon seeing the older guest. Selleana subtly increased the distance, but he closed it again, standing beside her.

“Last time you came with the priestess, but today you’re alone?”

“

, yes…”

“You must feel lonely.”

“Pardon?”

“Everyone kept their distance, thinking you’d become the crown princess. Now that it’s come to this, there’s not a single gentleman to escort you, is there?”

“I suppose not really.”

“How about making me your exclusive partner in that case?”

“Excuse me?”

Selleana looked up at Viscount Miniel in astonishment. Misinterpreting her gaze, Viscount Miniel winked/

“Surely, with my years, I have more experience than those youngsters.”

If he puts it that way, she’s also inexperienced too then.

“Of course, if your… lover? Were to appear, I would gracefully step aside… Until then, I offer to take responsibility for you as a gesture of respect towards the duke.”

“

.” Overwhelmed by absurdity, Selleana let out a chuckle.

“You understand my intentions quickly, don’t you?”

Misinterpreting her laughter, Viscount Miniel took another step closer. His sleazy smile deepened.

“Shouldn’t we get to know each other better, then?”

“

, I think there’s a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding? But you understood my intentions so well…”

Then, he half-bowed, reaching for Selleana’s hand to kiss it. A chill ran up her arm from where their hands touched.

Selleana had had enough of her family who sent her alone, Prince Erenst, Margrave Gotenfrid, the empress faction’s young ladies… She didn’t want to think about how to elegantly escape this situation any longer.

Selleana unlocked the clasp of her clutch with her other hand.