The Male Lead Knelt Before Me - Chapter 82

Caleb indicated that he respected my opinion in this regard.

Following that, I started emptying the drawer on my desk.

Well, it’s more accurate to say that I’m emptying my work because all I’m taking out are paperwork that would need to be processed.

Because I didn’t bring anything with me at the start.

“Lady? What are you doing?”

Tha-That scared me.

I could see Lord Vessel’s face as I raised my head to the familiar voice.

“How long have you been here?”

“I’ve just arrived. But why are you taking all of the paperwork?”

Lord Vessel questioned, looking at me and my desk alternatively.

“From tomorrow, I’ll be working for the imperial administration.”

“What?”

“To begin with, I was only here for a small period.”

Lord Vessel murmured, “Oh?” and sighed softly, in my words.

“Was that until today? I believed there was still some time…”

Everyone who hears this news has the same reaction for some reason.

Well, I was the same way, so it’s a reasonable reaction.

Lord Vessel, like Natalie, inquired about my future plans.

And, as I told Natalie, I told him I’d be spending some time in Imperial Administration before returning to the theater.

“Is today, then, the last time we’ll meet? No, I’ll see you at the birthday banquet for His Majesty.”

“Hmm… I guess so, but I’m not sure.”

I laughed awkwardly.

After all, it isn’t mandatory to attend the Emperor’s birthday banquet.

The majority of the nobility appear to attend because they don’t want to be out of the Emperor’s sight, but I’m not someone the Emperor can pay attention to.

I would have attended the Emperor’s birthday banquet unconditionally for the contract if I had been Caleb’s partner as the Crown Prince had requested earlier, but that is not the case anymore.

Perhaps this is the reason why the Crown Prince made me move from the Royal Knight.

Due to the royal oath, the Crown Prince is unable to kill me, thus he must keep a watch on me until then before returning me.

“What do you mean you are not sure? Didn’t Count Van Der tell you that she will take you there?”

“Because the count never mentioned the Emperor’s birthday banquet.”

“There’s no way. Even so, the Count is your guardian. Isn’t it better if the Count brings you there as your guardian?”

“Isn’t that up to the Count? I don’t have a partner to begin with. I don’t believe I’m required to attend the birthday banquet.”

I really don’t want to go.

I glanced at Caleb.

According to the original, Caleb and Vivian would have gotten closer at the birthday banquet.

I didn’t want to attend the birthday banquet just to witness it.

“You didn’t have a partner?”

“Yes.”

“Then how about going with me? In any case, I don’t have any young ladies to escort.”

“With you, Lord Vessel? Isn’t that a little…?”

“Is there a reason why you’re reluctant?”

For a brief minute, I considered asking whether he was asking because he didn’t know.

That if he and I both enter the birthday banquet hall at the same time, the rumors would erupt all over again.

No, I felt compelled to think about it seriously at this point.

About ‘does this man really like me?’

Caleb stepped in as I was pondering how to best explain the situation.

“Did your sister already select her partner, Lord?”

“Are you talking about Vivian? There’s no one in particular, as far as I’m aware.”

“Shouldn’t you, Lord, accompany your sister?”

“Now that I think about it, I suppose I should. Lady Oreu, please accept my apologies.”

“It’s okay.”

It was customary to treat siblings as partners if they didn’t have a lover.

I’m not sure whether Vivian has a companion, but it would be better for Lord Vessel to escort her than me.

But isn’t Caleb the one who escorts Vivian?

My head was suddenly filled with a thought.

The meeting between the two was supposed to proceed after the Emperor’s birthday banquet, but…

Still, because they saw the play together the last time, I assumed there would be a meeting after that, but does the two’s relationship continue at the same pace as the original story?

While thinking about <The Flower of Elphida> for the first time in a long time, I suddenly realized that I didn’t know the future.

Just around that time, I died in a car accident.

But there was one thing that could be counted on.

There will be a happy ending for Vivian and Caleb.

The author hinted at this denouement in the last section.

Some people despised it as a spoiler at the time, but I was glad to see the review.

I was scared that Caleb would be retaliated against by the Crown Prince because he was too honest, even if it was nothing.

When others, including myself, expressed similar fears, I reminded myself that the author had stated that it would never happen.

It would be a really happy ending with very tight closure.

‘At the moment, it seemed like a big relief…’

Now, the word “happy ending” only felt bitter.

* * * * *

‘I didn’t miss anything, right?’

I checked and confirmed again until it was almost time for Count Van Der to pick me up.

In fact, none of the tasks I was in charge of were very complicated and important, but just in case.

Finally, as I checked out of the office, I noticed the knights training outside the window.

Now I will never come here again.

I closed the door bitterly.

It was quiet, perhaps because it was training time.

The corridors are also peaceful.

It happened exactly as I was climbing down the stairs.

“…Lord Egon?”

Caleb walked up the stairs and came close to me while I was gazing at him and questioning my eyes.

“Are you not in training?”

“I’m here to see you off on your way.”

Seriously, he is a nice person till the very end.

“I’m not sure whether I’m disturbing you unnecessarily.”

“No. Not in the least.”

Caleb extended his hand to me, and I accepted it without hesitation.

A huge hand familiarly wrapped around mine.

Well, it’s just like the first day I got here, walking by without saying anything.

At that time, I was very flustered and unfamiliar with the little things…

‘It’ll all be over soon.’

As a result, this feeling will disappear later.

I recall times when I was both delighted to see Caleb and disappointed to be alone.

When I arrived at the main gate, I saw Count Van Der waiting for me.

She arrived on time.

I pulled my hand out of Caleb’s and let go of my lingering feelings.

“Thank you a lot. I’ll be on my way now.”

“Elena.”

Caleb grabbed my hand just as I was going to turn around.

As a result of this, I awkwardly turned to face Caleb.

Caleb licked his lips.

But there were no words that came out of his mouth.

‘I’m curious as to what he’ll say…’

I started to get skeptical after he didn’t say anything for a time.

What’s up with his look, now that I think about it? It’s a little different than his  usual.

Count Van Der walked over and greeted Caleb as soon as I opened my lips to call him.

“How have you been, Duke?”

“Count, it’s been a while.”

I had an odd feeling of incompatibility at the time.

Should I imply that it’s as if she intervened between us on purpose?

‘What does she have on her mind?’

The one who wanted me to work well with Caleb under the Crown Prince’s authority was Count Van Der. Rather, she has always backed me and Caleb and created situations for us, so why is she bugging me now?

“Is there anything more you’d want to say? I can wait for you if you ask me to.”

“It’s fine.”

“Do you mind if I take Miss Lena now?”

The Count’s attention was drawn to Caleb’s grip on my hand.

“…Of course.”

Caleb let go of my hand.

At the same time, I wrapped my hand that had been held by him until just now.

Strangely, I felt as if I had a cramp.

* * * * *

“Hasn’t it been a while?”

My ears were pierced by a prideful voice.

I discreetly welcomed the Crown Prince in front of me.

“I haven’t seen you in a long time. Your Highness.”

“By the light of day, you appear to be doing well, right?”

“I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

“You’re wearing the ring well, too.”

“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in a temple.”

When he heard me, the Crown Prince grinned and crossed his leg.

Why is he laughing? I’m dead serious about this.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m here right now.”

The topic moved abruptly.

It wasn’t shocking, though, because I was always interested.

“To tell you the truth…”

Count Van Der told me that until the conclusion of the contract time, I would be her aide in the Imperial administration.

As a result, when the Count arrived to pick me up, she stated unequivocally that we would proceed to the Imperial administration office.

She did, however, take me to the Crown Prince’s office rather than the administration.

Without more explanation.

‘Thankfully, there aren’t just the two of us in this office.’

I glanced at the escort knight standing behind the crown prince.

That didn’t make it very reassuring.

Because I’m not sure why I’m even confronting this human in the first place.

“I called because I’d want to ask you for something special.”

“…To me?”

“Okay. If you do well, I can give you an additional 1,000 gold in addition to the advance I gave you.”

What bullshit is he asking me for that he’ll pay me 1,000 gold for?

The Crown Prince continued when I gave him a suspicious look.

“I’m sure it’s a good deal for you as well.”

When I listen to it, I’ll be able to tell you more about it.

“What exactly is it?”

“At the birthday banquet, I want you to sing a song in front of His Majesty.”

Huh?

“A song?”

“Yeah. I’ve been debating what kind of present I should give His Majesty this time. Giving jewelry every year is funny.”

But, oh well. It’s absolutely awkward to present the same thing every year.

In my previous life, I had a hard time deciding on birthday gifts for my parents every year…

For some reason, I was staring at the crown prince with a sense of uniformity at the time.

“That being said, this time I remembered that you were chosen as the capital’s Kitara.”

Enosh said, looking at me.

“You like to sing, and I think it’s a good offer because it means I’ll give the Emperor a different gift. Don’t you agree?”

“That is right, but……”

I couldn’t hide my embarrassment. I can’t believe I’m going to sing at the Emperor’s birthday banquet.

“Then wouldn’t it be known that I’m Kitara?”

An innate sense of uneasiness surfaced.

This is because I remembered that I almost got hurt because I am “Kitara.”

Of course, some people were already aware of my identity as Kitara.

There was, however, a significant gap between what was known unofficially and what I revealed publicly.

“If it’s because you almost had an accident beforehand, don’t be concerned. No one in the Imperial Palace could possibly be insane enough to undertake such a thing.”

“In the Imperial Palace, I don’t believe that will happen. But now that I’m going to return to the theater, I’m a little apprehensive.”

“I don’t believe that’s a cause for concern. Kitara was only a fad at the time. It will go away if the next Kitara is chosen.”

“There are still a few months till the next Solenia Festival.”

“Until then, I’ll request that Count Van Der send Knights to guard you. Is it all right now?” “Even though the contract has expired?”

“Okay.”

It’s an unexpectedly large and generous mind……

“Thank you for your kind thoughts, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to help.”

“Why?”

“Do you know what sort of song I have sung at the Solenia Festival, Your Highness?”

“It’s a chant, isn’t it?”

“No. I sang a song called Goddess in the play ‘The Wedding of Cedric’s House’, not a chant. Because it’s in the style of a lullaby, I don’t think it’s a song that comes in many plays, and few people are familiar with it.”

“All well, then. Let’s just push it out.”

“Even if it’s a play’s song?”

“Didn’t you just say it? That the majority of people are unaware of the song.”

“But what if I’m caught?”

“Of course, it’s deceit. You’ll be the only one who dares to insult the Emperor in his presence. Congratulations in advance.”

Ex-excuse me?

“I’m joking. It makes no difference if His Majesty is aware. You didn’t do a play. Isn’t all you’re going to do is sing? It doesn’t seem to matter to me.”

“But didn’t His Majesty despise songs based on plays?”

“I’m not sure that far, but it’s possible.”

No, this man really.

This isn’t something you should carelessly talk about!