The Tragic Male Lead Chose the Wrong Partner

* * *
I quickly approached the two of them.
Eugene, startled when he saw me, tried to run away, but I swiftly caught his hand.

Then I walked up to the [N O V E L I G H T] officer with silver-white hair.
He was tall, with refined facial features—a handsome man whose hair color clearly marked him as an Esat.
The Esats were a people whose country had been destroyed and who had been massacred.

The few who had survived had all gone into exile.
I bowed solemnly to the officer.
“Major, I apologize on his behalf. I’m truly sorry.”

I had seen the insignia on his uniform and recognized his rank.
He must’ve earned it through risking his life to fight on behalf of his lost nation and people—even as a member of another country’s forces.
At my apology, the young major smiled warmly.

“It’s alright. He’s just a child who doesn’t know any better.”
“Thank you for your kindness. But I believe that just dismissing it because he’s a child won’t solve anything.”
The major’s blue eyes widened briefly, then curved again in a gentle smile.

“I don’t want him to be scolded or punished. Truly, I’m not offended.”
“That’s not it. If we leave it like this, nothing changes. To Eugene, people with white hair will remain monsters, and to you, Eugene will remain a rude child. I’ll talk to him about why he said that. Would you wait a moment?”
The major looked at me for a while, then nodded with a soft smile.

“Of course. I have nothing else scheduled, so take your time.”
I led Eugene a little ways away and held his hand, locking eyes with him.
Eugene avoided my gaze, squirming to get away.
“Let go! That hurts!”

I kept my tone firm while trying to meet his eyes.
“You’re the one hurting yourself right now. I’ll let go when you’re ready to stop running and talk to me.”
Seeing the eyes of others on us, Eugene’s face flushed bright red. Then, with a trembling voice, he finally stopped resisting.

I let go of his hand and asked gently.
“Eugene, what’s a white-haired monster? Can you tell me where you saw that?”
Eugene, too, was a victim of war—he must’ve carried trauma from it.

Maybe someone who looked similar had caused him pain in the past.
Sniffling, lips quivering as he fought back tears, Eugene finally lowered his head.
“There’s a monster in a book… A white-haired monster that eats kids. It ate the main character’s friends.”

“Do you remember the title?”
Tears finally spilling from his eyes, Eugene rubbed them with his sleeve.
“The Snow Queen.”

“Was it that cruel of a story…?”
I wiped Eugene’s tears with a puzzled expression.
“So that’s why you were scared. But that’s just a fairy tale. Neither I nor the major eat children. White hair is just something we’re born with—just like you. We’re human, just like you. But if someone hears themselves called a monster, it hurts, doesn’t it?”

I spoke calmly.
Eugene looked glum and said nothing.
“Adults feel pain and sadness when they’re hurt too.”

At that, Eugene’s lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something.
He hesitated. I waited patiently, but in the end, he said nothing.
“The major saved a lot of children during the war. Isn’t that amazing? Should we go hear about how he bravely rescued them?”

“…”
This time, he followed me without resistance.
I went back to the major and explained why Eugene had said what he did.

Listening carefully, the major put his hat back on and replied.
“I understand. My hair color isn’t something you see often, so it probably felt unfamiliar. I must’ve approached him too casually. Eugene, I’m sorry.”
He turned to Eugene with a smile.

Eugene, still looking conflicted, stared only at his feet. But he didn’t apologize.
“I wanna go. I have to use the bathroom.”
He looked so distressed that I let him go.

Watching his retreating figure, I gave the major a sheepish smile.
“It’s hard for children to understand an adult’s perspective. Forcing him to apologize won’t change anything either. But he’s a good child—he’ll realize his mistake and come back to say sorry.”
What needed to change wasn’t the words or the behavior on the surface—but the thoughts inside.

If prejudice was left unchecked, it would calcify into a lifelong belief. By then, it would be truly hard to change.
So even if it took time, I decided I’d help him come to that realization on his own.
“Understanding each other always takes time.”

The major held out his hand for a handshake.
“I’m Major Isaac Rodriguez of the Federal Army. Are you an Esat by any chance? I don’t know the people of this residence very well.”
I grasped his outstretched hand and shook it vigorously.

“I’m Cynthia Queensguard. I’m not an Esat—I was just born lacking color.”
I didn’t go out of my way to explain my genetic condition.
Instead, I offered him a box of macarons I had bought earlier.

“It’s a small gift. There’s a dinner tonight—please come if you can.”
He gazed down at the box for a moment, then gave me that characteristic gentle smile.
“I’ll enjoy them, thank you. Unfortunately, I already have plans tonight, but if you invite me again, I’d love to attend.”

Afterward, I handed out macarons to the other officers and non-commissioned officers and invited them to the evening banquet.
Unlike Masera’s subordinates—who looked less than thrilled—the higher-ranking officers accepted them with smiles and gratitude. Of course, the pretense was obvious.
Well, when promotions are on the line…

Sometimes, you had to make nice even with people you didn’t like. That’s just how society worked.
* * *
Major Isaac Rodriguez watched Cynthia disappear into the distance beneath her parasol.

He was a Federal officer, and this was his third time visiting the Lutemia Republic.
So he had no idea Cynthia was Masera’s fiancée. He just assumed she was a noble lady affiliated with the residence.
But one thing was certain—she was thoughtful and kind.

If she had held the same prejudice against Esats, she would’ve confronted him, asking what he had done to the child.
He, too, had experienced countless incidents of discrimination rooted in prejudice, and he’d been ready to dismiss this as just another one.
“If we leave it like this, nothing changes.”

But Cynthia hadn’t stopped at scolding the child. She’d tried to understand why Eugene had said such things—what he was thinking.
I was the one being prejudiced. Assuming everyone sees Esats negatively… when the child didn’t know any better.
“There’s a scary villain with white hair in the fairy tale Eugene reads. Eugene doesn’t like me either. It’s just… the book made him scared of people like us.”

Her bright smile radiated a desire not to hurt anyone.
Even under the shade of her parasol, her sparkling red eyes, vibrant face, and pure smile carried a warmth that put people at ease.
Originally, he’d planned to leave soon for the Esat autonomous province.

But now, he decided he’d stay in the Republic a little longer.
Because he wanted to learn more about Cynthia.
“…I want to know more.”

He pulled out a lemon-colored macaron and took a bite.
He usually didn’t touch sweets—but this time, the soft sweetness melting in his mouth felt surprisingly pleasant.