I Lost the Leash of the Yandere Male Lead - Chapter 36

The inside of the banquet hall was warm.

It wasn’t that hot, but I could feel my face get flushed.

The brilliantly glittering chandelier and its light reflection off splendid shiny statues made me squint and close my eyes. As I opened my eyes, Juliana, the saintess, and I accidentally met each other’s gazes.

Her eyes smiled at me.

She seemed busy talking to people from the temple.

“Lady Melford, your dress is so beautiful.”

A voice from my side drew my attention. It was a group of young ladies.

“Your outfit…. Did you match it with the Duke of Agernia? Is that a couple outfit?”

What an extraordinary coincidence. The design of the dress I wore was subtly similar to Alastair’s.

When I had first seen his outfit I thought it looked similar to mine but had dismissed my thoughts as wishful thinking. No, it couldn’t be.

“No. It’s just happenstance.”

“Oh my. Is it a coincidence? It looked like a couple’s look….”

She seemed convinced that we were doing a couple’s look.

I didn’t bother trying to persuade her.

I doubt speaking would work. I turned my head towards Alastair.

Naturally, many aristocrats swarmed around him. Alastair rarely participated in banquets, so plenty of nobles wanted to be introduced to him.

“Are you two courting?”

A young lady who could not hold back her curiosity asked openly; her friend glared at her for her breach of manners. But in the end, they both looked at me with inquisitive eyes full of anticipation for my answer.

“No. It’s just we’ve been friends since childhood,”

I said dryly.

The girls’ sparkling eyes grew dim with disappointment at my sour reply.

Many others were pretending not to eavesdrop released a breath with relief.

Alastair had a talent for captivating people.

Thanks to that, ladies continued to fly towards him.

-“You must be delighted to be so popular, huh?”

When we were younger, I looked at him and teased him of his bewitching ways.

-“Then what are you going to do? I’m not popular with you.”

I had clicked my tongue at his displeased face.

It was a memory from my childhood.

“What are you talking about?”

Young ladies were chatting next to me when someone approached me with a question.

“I was wondering what Madame Blanche’s design the Lady Melford would wear. It’s an exquisite dress.”

It was Erzea Sylvania.

She was a friend to the heroine Juliana.

If it goes according to the original story, she loved Alastair and hated his beloved Serina.

Her goal was to hinder her enemy, Serina and interfered with her affairs while she informed Juliana of everything.

“Thank you, Lady Sylvania. Lady Sylvania’s dress is also stunning.”

“By the way….. did you two dress as a couple?”

Ugh.

Did you approach me to ask this? She had the same reaction as those girls before.

Are our outfits that similar?

“It’s just a coincidence.”

My denial did not look suspicious, and I smiled brightly—mainly because I enjoyed watching her stomach turn due to her unpleasant personality.

“But aren’t your outfits too similar for it to be a simple accident?”

“So what would the lady like me to say? I replied no because it isn’t. And if it was really a couple look, there’s no reason to hide it, right?”

I retorted and glanced discreetly at Alastair’s clothes.

He turned his head.

Ekk! My heart leaped. He caught me staring.

His red lips drew a pleased line.

I turned right away.

Erzea Sylvania entered my sight again.

“I apologize for the misunderstanding, Lady Melford. But it’s better to be careful next time. If the ensembles are similar, the Duke could be embarrassed. I’m just saying this because I’m just worried about your ladyship.”

You’re worried about me? Bullshit.

She was subtly blaming me that my dress resembled Alastair’s

Why is it my fault when Madame Blanche designed my dress?… Surely not?

As far as I know, Alastair also gets his clothes at Madame Blanche’s dressing room.

It was highly likely that Madame Blanche intentionally gave a similar suit to Alastair.

Madame Blanche was convinced that there was something between Alastair and I.

How annoying. To think such a big incident would occur because I didn’t bother correcting her.

“You don’t have to worry about that. I know the Duke of Agernia doesn’t get embarrassed by these little things, and he doesn’t care.” You’re the only one that’s sensitive.

Erzea’s eyebrows went up.

She unfurled her fan quickly, trying to cover up her distorted expression.

“And if you keep saying that they are similar …. I think that would be offensive to Madame Blanche.”

Every artist wants their work to look creative and original, especially when it came to Madame Blanche, who had a high degree of pride in her work.

“She said that this dress was one of her masterpieces of which there are only enough to be counted on the fingers on her one hand. Wouldn’t she be saddened to hear your assessment of her work?”

I made the most troublesome expression possible.

Several pairs of eyes pointed towards Erzea, but then they immediately lowered their eyes.

It’s not hard to sway fickle people.

“Oh my! Is this a dress designed by Madame Blanche herself?”

“A dress that is counted on Madame Blanche’s fingers…”

Their concerned looks turned to gasps and exclamations

“But Lady Melford….”

“Young Master Mikhail Melford arrives!”

I looked right at the door.

Erzea was speaking, but it was as if a fly was buzzing.

All the sounds and noises of the banquet hall blurred out to an indistinguishable din.

My nerves were all over the place. After I left the Melford mansion, I had written him many letters.

I was really anxious about him, so I wrote several letters to him, feeling apologetic that Duke Melford would have punished him.

[I’m sorry.]

[Are you okay, brother?]

This sentence was repeated countless times.

Every time I wrote down each letter, it was as if there were thorns on the pen I held; my hand hurt in guilt.

[I’m okay.]

I knew you were only trying to appease me.

“I’ll talk to you later.”

“L-lady?!”

Erzea cried as if she didn’t believe what she heard and thought it absurd. I slipped past them.

***

Mikhail’s eyes widened when he found me. He had a bright smile as usual.

So I felt even more sorry. It was I who had asked him to help me.

I regret it. It won’t happen again in the future. Never.

Let’s not involve him in my work.

“I missed you, big brother.”

“You? Me?”

He asked in disbelief, his eyes dazed.

I nodded.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Of course. You know how healthy I am. Unlike you, who has become lazy, I am diligent and train my body everyday.”

When I boasted, I looked fine.

“I’m delighted you are okay. But big brother, where are Carron and Maxion?

“……”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

He stretched and rubbed his neck as if it was like pulling teeth to talk about it.

“I don’t know. They ran away from home.”

“What?”

It was unfathomable.

“······What?”

“They ran away.”

There was no point in doubting his words. The dark circles under Mikhail’s eyes and his sour crumpled expression proved to me that he was troubled.

“What the hell were you doing while those kids were leaving?

“I didn’t know! These crazy rascals prepared very thoroughly! When I noticed, they were already out of the capital? All I left behind was a single note saying, ‘Don’t look for us for the time being!’”

“So, how long have they been away?”

“……It hasn’t been a week.”

“Insane.”

Conscious of where we were, I strived to mask my reaction and turn my twisted expression into a peal of soft laughter.

“So, are you making any progress?”

“Not at all.”

“······”

“I think they prepared it well in advance. The twins completely erased their tracks, and all their traces were eliminated.”

Where the hell were those two troublemakers…. If they really intended on going far, they would have crossed the border a while ago.

If they were just wandering around, they would be near the mansion.

“Don’t worry because I’m looking hard for them.”

“Strangely, no matter what big brother says, I don’t have much faith.”

“Hey, what do you mean…”

Mikhail looked disheartened.

“Duke Aitez is entering!”

The banquet hall was aflame with murmurs.

A man with red hair entered the hall in the spotlight and entered with everyone’s attention on him. He had a significant presence that drew people’s eyes to him.

Hypron naturally turned his head.

His bright yellow and golden eyes reached me by chance.

Was it my illusion that his golden eyes shone with a sparkle and glint?

While he held my gaze with his own, his lips pulled themselves into a smug arc and opened slightly and silently.

Found you.

Shocked, I turned my head away.

I hide my identity during the slave auction; there was no way to recognize me…

That’s a stupid idea.

Remember to be cautious and wary at any moment.

If I was really unlucky, he might have noticed my identity.

I didn’t want to get involved with him anymore.

“Big brother, tell me about your search endeavours later.”

“What? Hey, hey…! Where are you going—again!”

Hypron’s eyes were still on me.

I went to a corner, trying to avoid the unwelcomed gaze.

Countless nobles wouldn’t hide my appearance.

‘Let’s go to the terrace.’

Do you need to hide in a corner?

It was also hectic and warm because of the hot, busy air in the banquet hall.

I decided it wouldn’t be bad to go outside to a cold breeze.

I walked to the terrace.

I felt comfortable in the outside air.

Indeed, at that very moment, I had an overwhelming urge to untie my stuffy corset.

‘When will it end?’

I’ll have to wait a little longer and then ask Alastair to leave.

While enjoying the comfort of the terrace, music flowed outside from the banquet hall.

Probably the nobles started dancing with each other. It befitted the tastes of many aristocrats but not me. I still remembered the music I listened to in Korea so this was all very dull and boring to me.

‘I’m thirsty.’

I haven’t even been allowed a sip of water since this morning because I had to keep a good line when I wore my dress.

I couldn’t feel thirsty in the banquet hall because I was very tense, but now, I felt parched.

As I entered the banquet hall, I saw several pairs of men and women dancing.

I saw Juliana watching them, her eyes shining like lanterns.

Today she entered the banquet with the people from the temple, but from the next feast, she would be escorted by Hypron.

Today’s banquet is where the two hearts will meet.

“Here.”

I summoned a servant carrying a glass on the tray.

He nonchalantly handed me the glass.

Unlike the sweet smell peculiar to wine it’s bitter taste spread in my mouth.

I glanced around while drinking.

The red-haired man was staring intensely at me.

Oh. Crap. Eye contact.

Fucking Hypron Aitez. As I tried to look away from the burdensome gaze, the Hypron took a step toward me.

No way. Surely—-

I hoped I was wrong, but I wasn’t.

He was so eye-catching that numerous nobles looked at the path he was taking as if they were possessed.

The distance between him and I gradually narrowed until he came very close.

“Lady Melford.”

He looked at me and smiled, revealing his white teeth.

It was a neat smile, but there was an element of ferocity as if a beast was baring its teeth at me.

“Would you give me the honor to dance with you?”

He bowed slightly and reached out his hand.

I tried to look at him as calmly as possible.

I tried to raise my lips to smile, but my insides were burning me from the inside out.

According to the original story, it was Juliana, not me, that he approached for a dance.

Whether he inquires of Juliana or not, it’s none of my business.

The problem was that the original was twisted and fell on me.

What the hell are you thinking? Why are you asking me to dance?

I had no way of knowing what this man was thinking, so my whole body became stiff with tension.