The Male Lead Knelt Before Me - Chapter 104

Veloka opened her mouth wide at my words, and Rina looked just as embarrassed as Veloka. From their expression, it seemed that they were asking me “What!? You’re getting engaged?”

Veloka then smiled awkwardly and asked, a dumbfounded expression on her face.

“W-with whom? To whom are you engaged?”

“With the person whose name is written on the invitation……?”

“No, that was not what I meant! Is he someone I know? Or is he someone I’ve never met before?”

“Is he someone I know then, Lena eonni?”

“I’m not sure if Rina knows him, but you’ve seen him before, Veloka.”

“I’ve seen him before? Is he then the handsome knight with silver hair?”

“It seems you still remember him.”

She only met him once, but she remembers him well.

I was impressed by Veloka’s memory.

“I vaguely recall him. Because I observed he’s very good looking when I saw him that day.”

“It appears that the man you’re getting engaged to is quite handsome, eonni.”

“Don’t even bring it up.”

Veloka waved her hand.

“He’s so handsome that I’d totally understand if Lena said she’d marry him just for his face.”

“Woah… is he that handsome?”

I nodded eagerly as I listened to both of them.

Caleb is undeniably handsome.

“Wait a minute! You, Lena…… Don’t tell me you’re getting engaged to him solely because of his face?”

“Of course not.”

No matter how much I appreciate handsome men, I’m not the type to put my life at risk solely because of their looks.

Many factors, including personality, must also be considered.

In that regard, Caleb is flawless.

“But didn’t you say you’d understand if I married him solely because of his face, Veloka?”

“Well, that’s… I’m just saying it.”

Veloka sighed and shrugged.

“And if you’re getting married, you should think about more than just the face.”

“You’re right, eonni. Because just because his face is handsome does not imply that his personality is as well.”

“That’s right, that’s right. A true handsome man is a person not only handsome in appearance but also in his heart and personality.”

Hearing their conversation almost made me burst out laughing.

However, Veloka quickly opened the invitation and said. As a result, I quickly concealed the twitch of my lips.

“Oh, the ceremony is on Sunday afternoon? Then I think it is possible to attend. It just so happens to be a day off for the theater.”

“That’s correct. Sunday is our day off. Don’t tell me… Did you plan the ceremony on Sunday specifically so that you could invite us?”

“That’s correct.”

They were both taken aback by what I said.

“Really?”

“Why would I lie about something like this?”

In fact, I was given the option of selecting either Saturday or Sunday. So I chose Sunday because I wanted my theater friends to attend.

“Well, I suppose so. Then, since you’ve done it for us, we must come.”

“That’s true. We have to come, eonni.”

“Most of the guests are acquaintances, so don’t feel pressured about the other guests and just come.”

“I will. Moreover, I notice that the groom’s name is Caleb Egon. I don’t know why but his name is somehow familiar.”

“Do you feel the same way, eonni? I also have the feeling that his name is familiar in some way, as I keep saying it. I believe I’ve heard his name mentioned before. Wait… Egon… Duke Egon?”

“Huh?”

For a brief moment, the surroundings froze.

Veloka blinked and turned to face me.

“Lena, is it really Duke Egon who is going to be engaged to you……?”

Her trembling eyelids revealed her surprise.

It was almost as if she was telling me to deny it.

But, unfortunately, I was unable to do so.

“Yes, he is Duke Egon.”

“Oh my goodness.”

“Are you really going to marry Duke Egon?”

Veloka and Rina were terrified.

“D-duke Egon, commander of the Royal Knight and the empire’s youngest duke. The gorgeous Duke Egon?”

“Yes.”

Is it really that surprising?

After some thought, I realized that I might be the one who has been overly calm about this.

“Then… are all the knights standing outside the door the duke’s knights?”

“Yes. They’re my escorts.”

“Woah……”

“Wow, you live in complete protection, huh? I didn’t count how many there are, but there are a lot.”

“Yeah, they’re a lot.”

Veloka’s remark made me laugh awkwardly.

“But are you comfortable with this engagement? Wouldn’t it be difficult for you to become an actress if you married the Duke?”

“How come?”

“Well, given that our job is……”

Veloka abruptly ceased speaking and shut her mouth.

And, while she didn’t express her concerns until the end, I could tell what she was about to say.

Because that was something I had been concerned about as well.

“Don’t worry. The Duke has stated that he will completely support me in my acting career.”

“The Duke said that? But…… No, let’s not bring it up again. I’m sure you’ll do well.”

Even though the worries subsided, the happy atmosphere that had already faded did not return.

“Lena eonni, by the way. Are you busy today?”

“I guess I just need to get back to the mansion before seven so……”

Because Caleb usually gets home from work around seven in the afternoon.

“Should we then go out? A new cafe has recently opened. Let us to go together.”

Rina inquired, her gaze shifting between me and Veloka.

After a brief discussion, we decided to go to the cafe.

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The cafe is located quite far from the theater, thus far that we had to rode a carriage to get there.

Then we have to get out in the middle of an alley.

Naturally, the ten escorts trailed behind us.

‘Well, it’s certainly burdensome.’

I’ve already gone out with them a few times, but I’m curious how Veloka and Rina felt.

When I looked at them, they were walking around the alley with surprisingly excited faces.

Perhaps they thought it was amazing and fun to be escorted.

“There it is! The cafe I mentioned!”

When I looked where Rina was pointing, there was a cafe that appeared to have just opened.

We went inside, ordered a bunch of the cafe’s menu recommendations, ate, and talked a lot.

“Come to think of it, Lena, you’re wearing two rings.”

“Ah.”

I naturally turned my gaze to my left hand in response to Veloka’s words.

It was undeniable that I was wearing two rings on one hand.

“The one on your ring finger appears to be a proposed ring, so…… what type of ring on your pinky?”

“Oh, it’s a ring that prevents the color of my eyes from changing.”

“A ring that prevents the color of your eyes from changing?”

“Yeah. My symptoms, as you know, are unusual. Furthermore, I was warned that there could be a problem or danger due to my eyes. So I decided it would be best if I kept it hidden.”

“Well, your eyes are truly one-of-a-kind. That ring must have been difficult to obtain.  Did The Duke give it to you? Or did you get it on your own?”

“No. It was given to me by the Crown Prince.”

“The Crown Prince……? Is The Duke aware?”

Veloka carefully stated when I nodded.

“Do you have to wear that ring the crown prince gave you?”

“Huh?”

“If it’s me, I’ll be so upset if my fiance wears a ring from another man. What do you think, Rina?”

“I agree with you, eonni.”

Rina, who was eating the cake at the time, agreed with Veloka.

“I think it’s better to take it off if it won’t cause any problems for your health.”

Is that so?

I looked at the ring the crown prince gave me.

Come to think of it, Caleb also asked me about this ring before.

I couldn’t recall Caleb’s expression at the time, but it bothered me after hearing what Veloka said.

Because I was afraid of the Palace’s sorcerer and the temple, I wore this ring.

My existence was insignificant at the time, and they could do whatever they wanted to me, but things have changed.

Because, in addition to Lady Oreu of a Baron Family, I have the count as my guardian and the duke as my fiancee, as well as ten knights as escorts.

“Alright, I’ll just take this off.”

I removed the ring without hesitation after listening to and pondering what Veloka and Rina had said.

Perhaps because I hadn’t removed the ring in months, the skin beneath it had turned white.

The ring was then placed in my pouch.

I decided to return it to the crown prince when I had the opportunity.

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After that, I chatted excitedly with Veloka and Rina.

We were on our way to where the carriage was parked after insisting on giving the two a ride back to the theater.

“Huh?”

Veloka’s expression changed.

“What’s the matter, eonni?”

“I saw someone I knew.”

“Someone you knew?”

“Do you see that woman with the bonnet and fur shawl?”

“Do you mean the lady with the blonde hair?”

“Yes, that woman.”

I was startled as I casually followed Veloka’s pointing.

Because the woman pointed to by Veloka was Vivian.

“She looks like the one who gave me dahlia flowers after watching a play before. I just remembered it.”

“I remembered it as well, eonni. Because Lena eonni also gave you the same flowers. There were a lot of dahlia flowers in your room for a while, right?”

“That’s right. That woman, come to think of it, came with the duke at the time……”

Veloka closed her mouth instead of finishing her sentence.

As they scrutinize their eyes, I felt the need to explain.

“It’s fine, Veloka.”

“Wait, what?”

“There’s nothing between Caleb and her.”

“But they came together……”

“The lady came to watch the play and ran into Caleb.” Caleb went to take the lady to the security guard because she came out without an escort.”

I added the fact that Veloka didn’t even ask.

“She is the sister of the vice-commander of the Royal Knights.”

“Ah, so the duke took care of her because she is the sister of his colleagues.”

Although Veloka and Rina understood the situation, I wasn’t entirely relieved somehow.

It was the time when I tried to pass by Vivian.

It’s not because we don’t get along. It’s just that we weren’t close enough to exchanging greetings.

‘Vivian will feel the same way too, right?’

That’s exactly what I thought.

“……Lady Oreu?”

Until a familiar voice call my name.