MAS 33

Chapter – 33

Her brilliantly shining silver hair drew people’s attention no matter the distance.

‘Ah, this isn’t the time for that.’

Right then, Sideron closed the distance between us and approached.

It wouldn’t do for me alone to see the heroine.

I had to show Adriana to Sideron as well.

“Um, Sideron. I have a favor to ask…”

“A favor?”

His eyebrow twitched.

“Well. Not exactly a favor—there’s somewhere I’d like to go. Would you come with me?”

No matter how much the setting said Sideron would fall for Adriana, he had to at least recognize her before he could fall in love, didn’t he?

So if Sideron refused here, my plan would become useless.

Given my situation, it was far more realistic to ask Sideron—whom I at least knew—than to try and lure Adriana, whom I had never even seen before.

I had expected him to refuse, saying it was troublesome, but instead Sideron smirked.

“If that is a husband’s duty.”

But why does he keep saying “husband” all of a sudden?

I mean, it’s true, but still.

Feeling an odd ticklish sensation in my chest, I was about to walk forward when—

“Eek!”

“With that leg, you’re going to walk like that?”

Sideron wrapped an arm around my waist and lightly lifted me.

My dress covered my legs, so it wasn’t obvious I was being carried, but startled, I flailed.

He took my suspended arms and draped them around his waist.

“W-Wait a second!”

“If you don’t like it, we won’t go.”

“I didn’t say I don’t! Just hurry.”

“As you command.”

A playful chuckle tickled my ear.

‘Isn’t he supposed to be incapable of feeling emotions?’

Grumbling inwardly, I had no choice but to cling tightly to his shoulders and waist so I wouldn’t fall.

As a result, we ended up walking pressed closely together, and whispers floated around us about what a loving couple we were.

Ah, how embarrassing…

‘Still, my foot hurts less.’

Well, obviously, since I’m not walking.

After crossing a large portion of the banquet hall, I finally spotted Adriana in the distance.

The clearer her figure became, the brighter my eyes sparkled.

‘Unni, you’re insanely gorgeous…!’

In my previous life, I’d preferred fangirling over girl idols rather than male idols.

Perhaps because of her “indifferent heroine” setting, her subdued pale green eyes carried a depth that tugged at one’s heart.

‘To think such a beautiful woman was starved for attention.’

This novel really has too many setting inconsistencies, doesn’t it?

Tears welled in my eyes at her pitiful figure.

If you ever need even my insignificant love, I’ll offer it to you.

As I muttered unreachable nonsense to myself, Sideron suddenly stopped walking.

I looked at him, wondering what was wrong. His face looked oddly dazed.

‘Where is he looking—’

Ah.

Now that I thought about it, it was obvious.

Sideron’s gaze was fixed, naturally, on Adriana.

Like the instant pull between the north and south poles of a magnet, even from afar, Sideron and Adriana were looking directly at each other without the slightest deviation.

‘I suspected as much.’

How fascinating.

The expression on Sideron’s face as he looked at Adriana was something I had never seen before.

Affection. Longing. Desperation. Anxiety…

Wait.

‘Even if Adriana is the heroine, isn’t this a little strange?’

Can someone look at a complete stranger like that?

But soon I accepted it.

‘Well, I suppose it must feel strange to experience emotions for the first time.’

It was a world I couldn’t understand even if I tried.

That’s just how the story goes.

Now that I’ve brought the second male lead and the heroine together, what am I supposed to do?

‘Hmm…’

Should I make sure they’ve properly locked eyes?

“Sideron?”

I called him in a slightly quieter voice than usual.

“….”

Of course, once the second male lead sees the heroine, how could he possibly hear a supporting character?

“Sideron.”

I called again, louder this time.

“….”

‘Seriously? Not even a single glance?’

I considered shouting, then stopped.

‘I finally got them to make eye contact. What am I doing?’

I shook my head.

‘He was the one calling himself my husband earlier.’

Was this faint sense of disappointment because he’d been treating me kindly these past few days?

Did I perhaps mistake myself for the heroine, even for a moment?

‘Get a grip. I’m just a supporting character.’

It was time for me to return to my rightful place.

‘Still, that’s a relief.’

Recently, Sideron had shown more humanity than in the original novel, and I’d been a little worried.

What if something went wrong and he didn’t fall for Adriana?

You might think that would lower the chances of him killing me—but in reality, it was the opposite.

I just wouldn’t know when or where I’d die.

‘Well, I suppose life is always like that.’

People worry about all sorts of things.

‘Still, I’m not as happy as I thought I’d be.’

I’d imagined I’d be munching popcorn once I got them together, but instead my chest felt oddly empty.

Maybe it just doesn’t feel real yet.

‘But it’s not completely over.’

Life never flows exactly as expected.

If it’s Sideron, fickle as boiling porridge, then even if he’s like this today, tomorrow he might act as if nothing happened—

‘Enough.’

I shook off the useless thoughts.

After withdrawing my gaze from him, I slowly stepped away.

Very slowly.

I limped back to where I had originally been.

And then I realized.

‘Wait. Why did I come back?’

They hadn’t even fully stuck together—just locked eyes for a moment!

I should’ve made sure they were firmly paired up.

Even if they were properly matched, Sideron was the type who could veer off anywhere. I should’ve hidden nearby to monitor them.

‘Let’s go back.’

Just as I took a step forward, the image of Sideron, unable to tear his eyes from Adriana, flashed in my mind.

I stopped.

‘…But do I really have to confirm it?’

It’s Adriana.

According to the novel, Sideron would feel destiny the moment he saw her.

That wasn’t the kind of trivial emotion that would change just because a supporting character made a fuss beside them.

‘I’ve done my part.’

I didn’t have the energy to go back anyway, and my foot was throbbing more and more.

So, just like before, I leaned against the wall.

Earlier it had been crowded and exhausting because of Sideron, but now no one was around. That was a relief.

‘What do I do now?’

Would Sideron even remember someone like me now?

Would I have to go home alone?

As I was thinking that, hunger suddenly hit me.

‘…Did I relax too much?’

Scanning for something to eat, I spotted a table of finger foods.

Delighted, I approached it.

‘Wow, they even have this here.’

Rather than filling dishes, there were light snacks meant to settle one’s stomach.

‘Better than nothing.’

I placed a few items on a plate and grabbed a glass of champagne, glancing around.

Then I noticed a terrace with its curtains drawn open.

‘You’re it!’

Come to think of it, terraces were one of the highlights of banquets.

They said the view of the imperial garden from the terrace was beautiful. My heart fluttered as I headed toward it.

I swept the curtain aside. It grew dark instantly, but thanks to the light spilling in from the neighboring terrace, it wasn’t pitch black.

Resting my elbows on the railing, I looked out.

‘It’s beautiful.’

Soft moonlight bathed the garden. Settled atop the flower petals, it gave off not brilliance but an elegant, serene glow.

Thinking it a breathtaking sight, I took a sip of champagne.

Just then, a gentle breeze brushed past my bangs.

Propping my chin on my hand, I murmured,

“What’s going to happen to me now?”

Would Sideron agree to divorce me peacefully?

“What if he tries to kill me like in the novel?”

I absentmindedly chewed on one of the finger foods I’d brought.

Then—

The curtain behind me was suddenly drawn back with a sharp sound, and a familiar voice spoke.

“Who’s going to kill you?”

Startled, I quickly turned around—and froze.

“Uh…”

Who are you?

I’d definitely heard that voice somewhere before, but the man standing in front of me was someone I’d never seen.

He wore a white tailcoat made of luxurious fabric, and had silver hair.

I stared at him blankly as he approached.

‘This is insane…’

If Sideron was a sharply sculpted, strikingly handsome man, this one had more delicate and refined features.

With looks like that, he should’ve been mentioned at least once or twice in the novel—but I had no memory of him.

“Excuse me, I think you’ve come to the wrong terrace…”

At my wary words, the man burst into hearty laughter.

“Haha. My lady, that’s harsh. It’s me. Blake.”

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

“Blake…? The country bumpkin Blake I know?”

I openly examined him from head to toe.

His silver hair was neatly slicked back in a pomade style. His rare violet eyes sparkled with curiosity as they looked at me.

And within them, golden waves shimmered.

A trait that appeared only in those with the earth attribute.

I’d seen it for seven years straight—how had I failed to recognize him instantly?

‘But still.’

No matter how you look at it, this isn’t Blake.

‘Why was he hiding his real face like that?’

While I was thinking, Wow, he’s really handsome, he curved his eyes mischievously.

“Why are you staring like that? Am I that handsome?”

“…Huh? Yeah.”

What’s with him suddenly leaning in like that—

Startled by how close he’d come, I flinched back, and he quickly withdrew.

Grinning brightly, Blake made a little flower pose under his chin.

“That’s a relief. You said I was ugly before, so I was hurt.”

‘I said you looked like a country bumpkin, not ugly.’

Now, that image was nowhere to be found.

Clothes really do make the man.

“More importantly, how did you get in here? Commoners can’t attend imperial banquets.”

It was nearly impossible for a commoner to attend a palace banquet as a guest.

So his answer surprised me.

“Ah. I came to meet a client here for a bit.”