Treat the Second Male Lead Like a Stone

To prove his point, Cedric’s emotionless voice echoed.

“Don’t forget that you’re the young lady of the House of Marquis Roygin.”

“…….”

“Every single one of your actions has a great impact on the marquisate.”

Oh please, what did I even do?

I felt a bit wronged, but it was obvious that arguing would only make the nagging worse.

“Yes.”

I gave a short reply and quickly resumed walking.

I knew better than anyone what Cedric was warning me about.

Ricardo Hessen.

It was all because of that guy.

Besides, tomorrow was the day I was supposed to meet Ricardo.

Cedric seemed quite concerned about tomorrow.

But seriously, what did I do to deserve this?

It wasn’t like I had ever done anything that would ruin the engagement like Ricardo did!

I felt so wronged I wanted to jump up and down.

* * *

The reason for Ricardo and Bianca’s broken engagement in the original story was quite cliché.

A villainess is bound to harm the female lead, and the original I was possessed into followed the longstanding laws of romance fantasy novels.

Blinded by jealousy, Bianca ended up putting poison in the teacup of the female lead, Idette. Because of that, Ricardo, who completely lost it, broke off the engagement with Bianca…….

As if it were a punishment for tormenting the female lead, Bianca’s grandfather was so shocked by the fact that his granddaughter had been dumped for attempted murder that he passed away.

And just like that, Bianca exited the original story for good.

‘……That must never happen.’

I was going to prevent Grandpa’s death no matter what.

Even if it meant maintaining this god-awful engagement!

Just then, Ricardo let out a long sigh and tapped the air in front of me with his finger.

“……What exactly are you thinking?”

Only then did I snap out of it and clear my throat.

“I was just thinking about something else…….”

“So it seemed.”

Ricardo responded as if I were pathetic.

What a jerk.

If your fiancé liked another woman, would you be able to focus on the conversation?

……If I said that out loud, Ricardo would immediately pick a fight and try to break off the engagement.

Hold it in. Just until Grandpa gets better.

I let out a groan and changed the subject.

“Did you get home safely yesterday?”

“If I hadn’t, would I be sitting here right now?”

Ugh, seriously!

Forcing myself to smile made the corners of my mouth twitch.

“That was a stupid question.”

“Good that you know.”

Ricardo calmly set down his teacup with a composed face.

I tilted my head and opened my mouth.

“Haha, if you didn’t want to meet me, you could’ve just refused.”

“Isn’t it you, Miss Bianca, who usually brushes off other people’s refusals without a second thought?”

Ricardo spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“My refusal probably means nothing to you, yet you say such shameless things.”

Though he was smiling, the eyes staring at me were nothing short of ferocious.

……If you're going to be like that, could you just drop the act and be serious?

But what’s funny is that I couldn’t entirely blame Ricardo for acting this way.

Bianca from childhood must’ve bullied Ricardo quite a bit.

〈Ricardo, I heard you’re even scared of dragonflies?〉

〈……Don’t. I’m serious. Just stop.〉

〈Guys, Ricardo’s scared of dragonflies! What a total scaredy-cat!〉

The memory of young Bianca that occasionally surfaced was truly cruel.

First things first, I had to break free from the past.

I parted my lips, then quietly spoke.

“……Do you still think I like you?”

Ricardo replied only with a bored expression.

“Believe what you will, but I don’t anymore.”

“Ha, you?”

“Yes.”

Would he believe me a little, given how firm my answer had been? Ricardo's gaze slowly slanted.

“It's just that my grandfather is very ill. Only until his condition improves—”

At that moment, Ricardo let out a bitter laugh and cut me off.

“Bianca, do you remember?”

“…….”

“The day you asked for my help, saying your puppy was sick.”

……If it's that day.

Ah, what a mistake.

Bianca had lied to Ricardo about her dog being sick and lured him to the storage room.

And then... she locked the door.

As Ricardo recalled the past, a sharp glint entered his eyes.

Ah, I take back what I said earlier.

Don't go all serious—just smile, please…!

“Don’t you think it’s a little too late to ask me for help using family as an excuse?”

“……I’m sorry about that day.”

“Now, of all times?”

“But what I said about not liking you anymore is the truth.”

Ricardo let out a hollow laugh at my words.

“To the very end—”

“Just like you, there’s someone else I have feelings for.”

That was the moment Ricardo’s face hardened.

“You’ve known me for a long time, so you should know well. That I fall in love easily.”

I silently stared at Ricardo’s face.

“So what? I have no idea why you’re telling me this. I can’t guess your intentions.”

“…….”

“Am I supposed to understand your feelings too? How pointless.”

Ricardo cut me off with a cold look. I clenched my fists and calmly continued.

“I just wanted to say that you’re not the only one unhappy with this engagement.”

Yeah, that was the right answer.

I wasn’t Bianca. The emotions she once had were completely useless to me.

Still, I had to apologize for tormenting Ricardo in the past, for my own conscience’s sake.

I tapped the table with my finger and quietly spoke.

“If you want to love Miss Idette, then do as you please. Just like you don’t care about my feelings, I feel the same.”

“…….”

“What I want to say is simple. Once my grandfather gets better, let’s break off the engagement. That’s all.”

Would that sound like a lie?

Bianca’s obsession had been beyond imagination. As a child, she’d relentlessly harassed Ricardo without even realizing she liked him.

It was fine if Ricardo didn’t believe me. Even the part where I said I no longer liked him.

But if I’d gained even a sliver of credibility, then that alone was a huge achievement for me.

I looked at Ricardo’s face, holding onto a faint hope, but his expression remained indifferent, completely unmoved.

He just scoffed, as if everything I said was laughable.

He smirked coldly and spoke with a sharp tone.

“I see. Whoever it is your love is directed at, I just hope he doesn't suffer like I did.”

Radiating a chilly aura, Ricardo stood up.

All that remained in the spot he left was a heavy air pressing down on me.

Still… for now, I guess that’s enough.

* * *

Ricardo ground his teeth.

Oh, so now she claimed to have someone she liked?

What an absurd thing to say.

……That damn woman.

You’ve always been that way.

Born to toy with others.

He hadn’t realized it was a lie to lure him, and the foolish younger version of himself thought it was real.

Begging for help with tears falling from eyes the color of leaves. With such a delicate face, even someone who hated women would’ve rushed to help.

She had done it countless times.

And yet, he kept following her.

Even knowing it was a poor choice, he kept going to her.

It was the same even now.

Nothing had changed from the past.

Though many years had passed, that damn woman was still full of lies.

Unlike him, who had changed.

A new love?

A woman like her, who didn’t even understand love?

For her to talk about love—how utterly ridiculous.

“……Your Grace, is something the matter?”

Just then, the butler Benjamin, who had been standing beside the Duke, cautiously spoke.

“Did something happen outside…?”

“Something? Oh, plenty happened.”

Ricardo scoffed. Benjamin bowed with a bitter smile.

Whenever his master returned from meeting his fiancée, his face always looked grim. But today, something felt different.

And yet, he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.

……Something subtle. There was definitely something off today.

Benjamin’s puzzlement didn’t last long. He pulled out a box that might lift his master’s spirits.

“This morning, a gift arrived from Miss Idette. She said it was a thank-you for the brooch you gave her at yesterday’s party.”

Ricardo’s gaze landed on the box. Though coldness flickered in his eyes—unlike his usual self—Benjamin mustered his courage.

“She’s a truly refreshing young lady.”

“……Leave me.”

Ricardo sank into the chair and leaned his head back against it.

Seeing his master look so exhausted, Benjamin didn’t say anything more. Even though the woman his master loved had left him with a message to deliver.

“……Then please rest well.”

Thud—!

Ricardo ran his hand over his face. But soon, a mocking smile formed on his lips.

……Fine then, Bianca.

Let’s see you try.

Show me what you think love is.

Stupid as I am, I’ll gladly fall for your lies again.