The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 105

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“Did something happen with the Duke?”

Tan asked, observing Celonia’s expression as he sat next to her.

“No. We just had a father-daughter conversation after a long time,” Celonia replied, shaking her head with a smile. It seemed the aftermath of her conversation with her father lingered on her face.

“Does he not like me?”

“Pardon? How could you tell…?”

Her eyes widened.

Tan chuckled, as if he had expected it.

Since she had presented him with glory during the Hunting Festival, Galloway would be well aware that their relationship was not ordinary.

That was probably why he had kept Celonia for so long today.

Tan knew without seeing it that Galloway would be reluctant about him being with Celonia.

On the day Celonia collapsed from exhaustion, Galloway had blocked him as he tried to move her, demanding that he hand over his daughter.

“Sir, you’ve done well. Thank you. We’ll take it from here.”

That command drew a clear line.

Of course, he was a mere Night Beast back then, and now he was a Grand Duke, but judging from Celonia’s reaction, he still didn’t find him satisfactory.

“You don’t have to worry about it. He’s just concerned I’ll get hurt.”

“Right. How is the charity project the Duke was promoting coming along?”

Tan asked, recalling the matter Galloway had previously asked him about.

He thought that if he helped, since he had asked for his assistance back then, it might change his mind about him even a little.

Of course, he had everything he needed to the point where he didn’t need to try to look good to anyone, but it was different with Galloway. He was Celonia’s father.

Besides, Celonia seemed to be concerned about Galloway’s words, so he had no choice but to make an effort.

Because he liked her. Because he wanted to be by her side with dignity, no matter what anyone said.

Tan hadn’t realized it yet, but the Demon King’s nature was gradually awakening within him because of Celonia. Moreover, ironically, he was also learning human emotions at the same time because of her.

“Ah, that. I heard they’re building temporary structures on the land purchased with His Majesty’s approval,” she said.

“Temporary structures?”

“Yes. Since it’s almost winter, they plan to move the residents of the shantytown there temporarily, and when the formal buildings are erected, they’ll provide them with a place to live then.”

Celonia told Tan the news she had heard while going back and forth to the mansion.

The shantytown was where orphans who had lost their parents at a young age and the poor who were too impoverished to even secure a place to stay settled.

Her father was promoting a charity project to provide such vulnerable people with a better place to live.

The land where the buildings were already being erected was a forest next to a sparsely populated village away from the Imperial Palace.

This charity project was a realization of her father’s firm belief in noblesse oblige [the responsibility of privileged people to act with generosity and nobility toward those less privileged].

“I think the operation will be funded by donations from the nobles.”

A lot of money was needed for continuous operation.

“Donations.”

The word ‘donation’ seemed to give Tan a good idea, and he raised the corners of his lips into a subtle smile.

If he helped relocate the shantytown residents and made a donation that would make people’s jaws drop, Galloway’s mind might change at least a little.

“Hehe, you two really look good together!”

Just then, Ella, who had been watching the two of them closely in the carriage with a pleased expression, spoke up.

Now, she was used to it, and Ella didn’t mind even if Celonia and Tan were holding hands.

“The Princess’s birthday banquet is coming up soon, so you two will be attending together, right?”

“Ah…”

At those words, Celonia was reminded of the Princess’s existence, which she had forgotten.

As Ella said, the Princess’s birthday was shortly after the Hunting Festival.

The fact that the Emperor cherished the Princess so much was something all the citizens of the Empire knew. Therefore, the Princess’s birthday banquet held at the Imperial Palace was always as grand and lavish as the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.

“This has become troublesome.”

Celonia muttered to herself.

The Princess had certainly seen her present glory to Tan at the Hunting Festival. She had momentarily forgotten that the Princess liked Tan.

Of course, even if she had remembered, her choice would not have changed.

“You don’t need to worry about that woman. If she tries to harm you, I won’t stand by,” Tan said, tightening his grip on her hand as he heard her mutter. It was as if he would never let go of this hand, nor would he allow a situation to arise where he would have to.

“I won’t just stand by and take it. Thanks to a really great man, there’s no day without drama,” Celonia said playfully, mixing jokes with sincerity, chuckling at Tan’s expression.

“Who’s talking,” Tan said, smiling and gently brushing away a stray strand of hair from Celonia’s face as he gazed affectionately into her eyes.

Ella was still smiling with a pleased expression as she watched the two of them. She was so happy to see her lady looking so happy.

Squeak.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the shantytown and came to a stop.

Celonia put on the robe and hood she had brought and got out of the carriage with Tan and Ella, entering the familiar shantytown.

“Celi…”

“Lady Celonia.”

Then, familiar voices and footsteps approached, as if they had been waiting.

Celonia lifted her head from within the hood fluttering in the early winter wind.

“You’ve come.”

As she had told him yesterday, McRyan was approaching, wearing a hood and cloak, along with Leyeve.

“Would you two go ahead? I’ll talk for a moment and then go. You too, Ella,” Celonia asked Tan and Ella.

Tan didn’t like it very much, but he moved his feet as if he couldn’t help it.

After the two disappeared, only three people wearing hoods stood alone on the deserted streets of the shantytown.

“Celi… I made a mistake yesterday…”

McRyan, standing in front of her, couldn’t bring himself to make eye contact and stared only at his shoes as he spoke.

He was too drunk to remember everything, but he had already heard everything from Leyeve.

After hearing everything, he was so ashamed… It was behavior that had dragged the nobility and dignity of a dragon to the ground.

“And?”

“…”

“Is there anything else to say?”

Celonia, with a listless expression, crossed her arms and stared at McRyan, who was bowing his head.

However, he only fidgeted with his shoes and didn’t say anything.

“If you have nothing more to say, then leave. Don’t waste my time,” Celonia said, glaring at him with cold eyes and moving her feet.

“I…!”

Then, McRyan, who had become desperate, raised his head sharply and grabbed Celonia’s sleeve.

His unstable golden eyes were shaking wildly, filled with all sorts of emotions.

Celonia stopped and looked back at him, leaning on one leg.

“You what.”

“I’m sorry… I was wrong…”

Those words, which he couldn’t bring himself to say during the Hunting Festival, finally flowed from McRyan’s mouth.

“The reason I couldn’t apologize that day was… because I was so sorry, I didn’t know what to do. I’ve never apologized before, so it took some time, but it’s not that I’m not sorry to you. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Celi. I was wrong…”

McRyan, whose eyes had turned red to the point where anyone who saw him would evoke pity, lowered his head again.

Celonia stared blankly at the sleeve he was holding. His hand, tightly gripping her sleeve, was trembling slightly.

His words that he was apologizing for the first time were probably not a lie.

She had never seen him apologize to anyone during the subjugation, either. But that didn’t mean everything was forgiven.

“Okay. I understand some of it. I understand what you said about it being unavoidable.”

“Then you forgive me?”

McRyan, who had been looking tearful, raised his head with a brightened expression.

“Well, I don’t know what my forgiveness is worth now. Even if I forgive you, we can’t go back to the way we were before.”

But Celonia was firm. She had said she was willing to listen to his sincere apology, but that didn’t mean she would restore the relationship to what it was before.

“Ce, Celi. I want to be by your side again…”

McRyan said with a desperate expression, as if begging. Celonia was the first human friend he had ever made and the first woman he had ever liked.

The real emotions he had found again were more affectionate and deeper than before. Perhaps it was because of the countless wounds he had given Celonia while defending Grace.

He had even asked Celonia to make Grace’s dress, hadn’t he?

Just thinking about it made his blood boil. If he could, he wanted to turn back time to before he had been fooled.

“…”

Celonia saw McRyan’s current appearance overlapping with his appearance on the day he had given her his heart. That’s why she felt bad.

“Celi, I still…”

“Stop.”

But that was it. Celonia cut off his confession in advance.

No was no. Nothing would change.

She was no longer even a friend who would listen to his heart.

“By the way, why didn’t you notice? I think what Grace used was black magic, and dragons are said to be incompatible with black magic.”

“I stopped him,” Leyeve said quietly, standing by like a folding screen, in response to Celonia’s question.

“Leyeve did?”

“Yes. I thought it would be a hindrance to Lady Celonia if it came to that,” she heard Leyeve explain the whole story.

Leyeve, who had attended the Hunting Festival late to monitor Grace, discovered McRyan rushing over in a fit of anger.

Leyeve recognized that McRyan seemed to have broken free from the spell and told him that acting like this now would only ruin things and would not help her at all.

He even advised him not to act emotionally if he wanted to return to Lady Celonia’s side.

“…”

Celonia was speechless after hearing everything.

She hadn’t even thought of giving them a place by her side, but they were already ‘drinking the soup first’ [acting presumptuously], doing things their own way.

No wonder. She wondered why Leyeve was with the drunk McRyan, but this was the inside story.

“Celi, I’ll do whatever you tell me to do. I’ll act like Leyeve if you tell me to,” McRyan said, thinking this was the perfect time. He had a desperate look on his face, thinking he shouldn’t miss this opportunity.

“I don’t need it. You’re just unnecessary baggage.”

“…”

McRyan was momentarily struck by a blow like a hammer at Celonia’s words, spat out with cold eyes.

Those were the words he had said to her when the spell had not yet been broken.

But receiving them back like this was an enormous wound.

Moreover, he, the great dragon, had never heard anyone say that he was not needed in his entire life.