"Oh my, Bianca!"
Leila let out a deep sigh as she rushed over to me, where I lay sprawled out on the bed.
"A lady shouldn't act like this…"
"I'm not a lady, Leila."
"What are you talking about? You don't mean you're a man, do you?"
Leila slapped my back with a sharp smack and forcibly pulled me up from the bed.
"It's already midday! What are you still doing in bed? Get up right now!"
Isn't it still early?
I wanted to say that, but I knew if I opened my mouth, Leila's nagging would never end. In the end, I let her drag me up.
Leila let out a deep sigh, as if displeased.
"Haa, do you really think now is the time to be lying down?"
"It seems like a fine time to lie down…"
"Excuse me?"
"Just kidding, Leila."
I meant it sincerely, but her expression was so serious that I quickly backtracked.
"More importantly, Bianca! There's no time for this!"
"Why?"
"A rumor is spreading in high society!"
Had the fact that I'm a lazy slug finally spread?
That's quite late news.
As I remained calm, Leila grabbed my shoulders with an urgent face and shook me.
I just blinked my eyes as I was shaken back and forth.
It's true, so what do you want me to do?
"Haa, Bianca. You're driving me crazy!"
Leila grabbed a brush from the nightstand and began roughly brushing my tangled hair.
"What on earth does that woman have that you don't?!"
Leila clutched her chest in frustration.
"Aside from slightly worse hair than Lady Idette, a lazy personality, a habit of always lying in bed, being short, a habit of chewing your lips, being crazy about food, a strange way of speaking, and thin eyebrows, you're not behind at all!"
She paused, out of breath.
"...I admit that's quite a lot."
"No, it's not!"
Leila shouted immediately.
I sighed softly and tried to soothe her.
"It's okay. People's feelings don't always go the way we want them to, right?"
"Exactly! And that's why His Grace the Duke is suffering so much!"
"..."
"This won't do, Bianca. Let's go buy a gift for His Grace together!"
Do we really have to?
But Leila grabbed my hand and dragged me along. She was so strong I couldn't resist.
Well, I have plenty of money, so some shopping wouldn't hurt.
At least, that's what I thought.
Until I came face to face with Ricardo and Idette right in front of me.
"D-D-D-Duke!"
Leila was so shocked she couldn't close her mouth and clung to me.
I gently lifted her drooping chin and looked at Ricardo.
He smirked and met my gaze.
"Are you perhaps out shopping with your beloved?"
...You're saying that?
Idette's eyes widened as if they would pop out when she saw me.
Like someone caught cheating.
Hey, I don't care what you two do.
Be happy together!
Of course, no matter what I said, Idette wouldn't take it that way.
Just then, Idette quickly held up a necktie.
"I, I was on my way to see His Highness! I came to buy a gift!"
"It was really a coincidence! I just happened to run into His Grace the Duke!"
"...I haven't said anything yet."
But it was clear she was very flustered.
I just looked at her silently.
She really is pretty.
She had an aura that screamed female lead.
Bright, kind... and beautiful to boot.
Someone capable of making all three male leads fall for her.
Anyway, if she said 'His Highness'...
That would be Erkishian.
The Crown Prince of the Empire.
In other words, the real male lead.
I turned my head to check Ricardo's expression.
As expected, he couldn't hide his reaction at the mention of Erkishian's name.
It seems he finally realized the situation.
The sub male lead, Ricardo, has become the tragic figure who must send the woman he loves to the main male lead.
At that moment, our eyes met, and Ricardo let out a deep sigh.
Didn't they teach him that sighing in front of someone is rude?
"Are you here to buy another dress? I thought you already had more than enough."
"I'm more extravagant than I look."
"I'm already aware of that."
"Then why ask? That's a pretty petty question."
"I don't think you're in a position to say that."
This man really never loses a verbal argument.
Leila, who had been listening nearby, rolled her eyes and muttered.
"...What kind of conversation is this?"
As soon as she said that, Ricardo and I both fell silent at the same time.
The atmosphere suddenly became quiet.
As if to break the awkward silence, Idette cautiously opened her mouth.
"What did you two come here for?"
I couldn't possibly say we came to buy Ricardo a gift!
Panicked, I squeezed Leila's hand tightly.
Leila, flustered, finally managed to speak.
"W-We were just... um..."
"Yes?"
Ricardo looked at us with suspicious eyes.
Feeling pressured by his gaze, Leila finally blurted out in desperation.
"Following you!"
What nonsense is she talking about.
"...Leila?"
"I was following the Duke! Because I was curious about what he was doing with Lady Idette…!"
She rambled on like someone who didn't even understand what she was saying.
...Is she out of her mind?
I thought I'd misheard, but from the looks on Ricardo and Idette's faces, I hadn't.
Ricardo let out a hollow laugh.
"Bianca, it seems everything you said to me before was a lie."
Following him?
Do I look like I have nothing better to do?
Why on earth would I follow *you*?
Of all people, Ricardo!
But no matter what I say now, he probably won't believe me.
I sighed inwardly and averted my gaze.
Still, Idette is going to meet Erkishian...
That must be quite painful for Ricardo.
"Where is His Highness the Crown Prince now?"
"I don't have a specific appointment. But I heard he might be at the plaza…"
Idette answered in an awkward voice.
Good, the plaza.
"Lady Idette. If you don't mind… would it be alright if I went to meet His Highness first?"
She tilted her head in confusion, then nodded.
"Thank you. Ah, and I heard a new skewer shop opened in the alley across the street. That's your favorite food, isn't it? I heard they're open until four o'clock. Why don't you go today if you have time?"
I gave Ricardo a slight nod.
But he just stared at me with a stiff expression.
What's his problem now?
I'm trying to give you time alone with the woman you love!
I genuinely support your love!
I took Leila's hand and walked toward the plaza.
Leila kept looking back, glancing at Ricardo and Idette, but I pretended not to notice.
Ah, forget it.
This is my last good deed.
A way to clean up the mess the old Bianca made,
And a small gesture of sympathy for the pitiful sub male lead, Ricardo.
A win-win.
I wish I had actually found Erkishian at the plaza,
But he had already left.
I sent Leila home and sat in a café, drinking a cold beverage.
But I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling.
I should have found Erkishian somehow!
What if Erkishian runs into Idette and Ricardo?
Worried, I couldn't easily go home.
Time passed.
Eventually, the clock on the café wall struck four.
Hmm.
I guess I can go home now.
Ricardo and Idette's date should be over.
Thinking that, I stood up.
But just then—
"...What on earth do you think you're doing?"
I heard a familiar voice.
Startled, I turned around,
And there stood Ricardo.
For some reason, he looked angry.
