Treat the Second Male Lead Like a Stone

Leonhart. He was Cedric's close friend. He was also the man who had played the role of Bianca's de facto older brother in place of the blunt Cedric.

Someone she could talk to comfortably in social circles. That alone made her feel at ease.

"Sir Leonhart hasn't gotten engaged yet, has he?"

"Probably not...?"

"Maybe that's why. I heard from rumors that the lady is trying quite hard."

Well, that wasn't any of my business.

"The social scene is going to get loud again after a long time."

Emily let out a long sigh.

I agreed. The social season was already a headache, and now both the homecoming ceremony and the hunting tournament were overlapping.

Couldn't we just have the homecoming ceremony alone?

I was already feeling exhausted.

* * *

Do you know what scene I hated the most in romance fantasy novels?

"Have you all heard the rumor? I heard magic stones were discovered in the mine owned by Countess Mariette."

"I heard it was nonsense. Apparently, the northern business of Countess Mariette failed this time, so they exaggerated the rumor to calm the investors."

"Tsk, but the Young Count's face looked way too bright for that..."

Exactly, it was the social circle scene!

To think I was now inside one of those boring scenes I had despised so much. I laughed so much that the corners of my mouth were trembling.

As I tried to smooth my lips with my hand to avoid ruining my expression, Johanna cautiously spoke to me.

"Lady Bianca, is something the matter?"

At that moment, all eyes inside the glasshouse turned to me as if they had found prey.

"You can speak comfortably!"

The voice was kind, but the look in their eyes was like they had discovered fresh prey.

Wow, it's like a jungle in here.

"It’s, it’s nothing really, just... oh, I mean, I’m just enjoying the conversation with you ladies so much."

I want to go home!

Please just let me go home!

Can’t we all just loaf around at home together?

I laughed brightly while screaming silently inside.

"That’s a relief. I invited you because I was worried about you, Lady Bianca."

Who did she think she was fooling with that?

You called me here because of Ricardo.

Because you were curious about what happened between us! That’s why you called me!

I couldn’t even begin to imagine how much one word from me would be exaggerated.

I was originally someone who didn’t particularly enjoy going out. But do you know how my story got twisted?

〈Lady Bianca is grieving because Lord Ricardo dumped her!〉

That’s how far rumors spread in the social circle.

In this kind of environment where one had to be so careful with words, it was only natural that I was this tense.

...I just don’t want to be a lady anymore. I really don’t.

“Come to think of it, do you think Lord Ricardo will be coming today?”

At that moment, Hestia asked me with a soft smile, covering her mouth with a fan.

What a roundabout way to ask. It must’ve been the question she’d been dying to ask since I walked into the glasshouse.

Lately, it became common for lovers to pick up noble ladies after tea parties.

If a lover came during the tea party and took someone away first,

The remaining guests would give applause to the one who left quickly—it was the new trend.

I opened my mouth, pretending to be unfazed.

"Well, I don’t want to take up the duke’s time."

"Isn’t it a bit much to say ‘take up his time’ when it’s about spending time with your lover?"

Hestia smiled faintly.

Ugh, if only she’d just shut up.

I wanted to snap at her to mind her own business, but she was the empire’s one and only princess.

She was a troublesome opponent, so I decided it was better to keep quiet.

Sure. Everything our princess says is right.

"Isn’t the Duke rather indifferent? Don’t you think so, Lady Idette?"

Startled by the mention of her name, Idette visibly flinched. Her pupils began to tremble like the leaves of a trembling tree as our eyes met.

Apparently interested, the other ladies busily glanced between me and Idette.

Ah, I was jealous. If I had been in that position, I would’ve been watching this unfold with great curiosity too.

It was agonizing to realize I was the one at the center of this mess.

At that moment, Johanna seemed unable to hold back anymore and asked,

"Lady Idette, do you not have anyone in your heart yet?"

Oh, this might be a little interesting?

I perked up my ears.

"Ah, not yet. I only came to the capital because of university..."

So she’s dodging the question?

Still, that was quite the female-lead-like response.

Of course. It’d be no fun if the male lead was already decided.

I nodded to Idette’s words, then came back to my senses when she called me.

"…Lady Bianca?"

Realizing I had been leaning toward Idette, I straightened up with an awkward smile.

Anyway, when was everyone going home?

I stared at the ceiling with a drained face.

Then, with a smile, Hestia spoke again.

"It seems my brother has quite the interest in Lady Idette."

At the mention of the Crown Prince, the atmosphere stiffened awkwardly.

Feeling like I was sitting on pins and needles, I pretended to be distracted and started observing the glasshouse.

One tile, two, three...

"I’m just grateful. But we’re not as close as Your Highness thinks."

"If you weren’t close, my brother wouldn’t be sponsoring you."

I flinched at Hestia’s sharp voice while absentmindedly counting tiles.

"He simply evaluated my abilities highly."

"Well, I suppose. If looks are considered a talent, then it certainly counts. But if Lady Idette didn’t have such dazzling looks, would my brother or the Duke have taken any interest in you?"

At the sudden mention of Ricardo, the gazes that had been directed at Idette all turned to me.

I-I don’t know anyone like that.

As I swallowed dryly and sat back down, I turned my head toward the sound of footsteps coming from the back.

An unexpected person was entering the glasshouse.

"……?"

Huh? Why is Cedric here?

It seemed I wasn’t the only one caught off guard—surprise filled the eyes of the young ladies staring at him.

"Young Marquis?"

Cedric, stepping into the glasshouse, looked absolutely dazzling.

Normally, I would never have thought that.

But right now, he looked like a savior. I jumped to my feet as if I had been waiting.

"Brother!"

Cedric looked rather flustered at how overly excited I was to see him.

Hestia watched me with a deep smile.

"Today’s winner is Lady Bianca, it seems. I didn’t expect you to value familial love over a lover’s affection."

She sounded like she was mocking me for calling family instead of my fiancé, but so what.

I could go home now!

"……Well then, have a pleasant time."

Cedric gave a polite nod. I linked arms with him and walked away briskly without looking back.

* * *

As soon as we left the glasshouse, I unlinked my arm from Cedric’s. Keeping a proper sibling-like distance, Cedric silently stared at his now-empty arm.

But... he did come to pick me up, right?

He didn’t come to pick up someone else and I just cluelessly got in the way, did I?

“Um, you did come to pick me up, right?”

When I cautiously asked, Cedric gave me an incredulous look.

“Then who else do you think I came for?”

It must’ve been the lingering effect of Ricardo. I really needed to stop overthinking things.

“N-no. Thank you for coming to get me.”

Cedric gave no reply. He glanced at me, then started walking. I followed behind him, watching for his reaction.

Still, why did he come to pick me up?

Was it to deliver such a massive scolding that it couldn’t wait until we got home…?

Unable to come up with a plausible reason, I climbed into the carriage, nerves on edge. But even after the carriage set off, Cedric said nothing.

He just resumed reading the newspaper he hadn’t finished earlier.

Did he not get carriage-sick? I stared at the tiny print, but my vision started to spin, so I quickly turned to look out the window.

Then Cedric’s quiet voice rang in my ears.

"……If there are going to be events like this in the future, tell me."

"Sorry?"

Cedric let out a small sigh.

"Don’t make me say it twice."

…Did I hear that right?

That sounded an awful lot like he was saying he’d come pick me up for every tea party from now on.