The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 120

Selonia felt a chill as she watched Grace’s eyes land on Galloway and then quickly look away.

Actions that would have been invisible if she knew nothing were now glaringly obvious.

“I heard Baron Bennett was abroad on business, but it seems he’s returned?”

However, Selonia didn’t bat an eye, instead smiling and directing the question at Grace, fully aware of who had gifted her the necklace.

“Oh, no. But he regularly sends me gifts like this.”

Grace smiled shyly, glancing down slightly.

Then, as if caressing a precious heirloom, she gently stroked the necklace around her neck, flaunting it openly.

Before, she might have dismissed this behavior as mere vanity, showing off a limited-edition necklace…

‘But I know too much now.’

The corner of Selonia’s lips quirked up in amusement.

How could she not laugh? Grace was practically begging to be noticed.

“Selly, your father and I were just heading over there.”

Just then, Galloway, who had been talking with Count Chloe, tried to slip away at the perfect moment.

‘Not so fast.’

Selonia, still fixing her gaze on Grace, spoke up.

“Just a moment, Father.”

At that instant, Grace’s shoulders twitched almost imperceptibly.

Selonia turned to Galloway with a gentle, radiant smile.

“What is it?”

“Your bow tie is crooked.”

Her long, white fingers deftly adjusted the bow tie around Galloway’s neck.

After straightening the slightly askew tie, Selonia smiled sweetly and affectionately brushed a speck of dust from his shoulder.

Galloway watched Selonia with a peculiar look, but it was fleeting. As always, his gaze soon softened into that of a kind father.

“Hahaha. I suppose this is why they say daughters are better than sons. Count, you’re truly fortunate.”

Count Chloe, oblivious, chimed in, drawing more attention from the nobles.

Seizing the moment, Selonia subtly watched Grace as she spoke.

“This is nothing compared to the love Father gives me.”

Her cheeks flushed with a fresh, shy blush, like a daughter deeply loved by her father.

At that moment, Selonia saw it clearly.

Grace’s tightly pressed lips. The jealousy staining her eyes.

Even if it was all staged, it must be unpleasant for the fake daughter to see someone else acting like the beloved daughter of her father.

“Indeed, indeed. The Duke’s love for his daughter is renowned throughout the empire.”

Count Chloe nodded emphatically, eager to please Galloway, oblivious to how he was irritating both Galloway and Grace.

“Thank you. I’ll be going now.”

Galloway patted Selonia’s shoulder twice and quickly left with Count Chloe.

“Oh dear, where were we?”

Selonia, who had been pretending to watch Galloway’s departing figure with affection, turned to Grace with an innocent expression.

Grace had brazenly flaunted her necklace, trying to mock her as if she knew nothing, but she wouldn’t get away with it.

Even if those two were a real father and daughter, Selonia was the one in that role now.

So, naturally, everyone thought of her as Galloway’s daughter. There was nothing Grace could do here.

Nothing.

“…It’s lovely to see the bond you share with the Duke.”

“My father dotes on me. I’m truly lucky—to have a father who loves *me* so much.”

Selonia deliberately emphasized the word ‘me’ with an innocent face.

It was she, not Grace, who was the daughter Galloway Vessian loved.

She already knew that Grace, who had gone so far as to switch souls to avoid subjugation and even tried to seize the three men involved in the process, was very jealous.

So, Grace couldn’t hide her expression, and her lips were twitching.

“It seems so. It makes me miss my own father. My father would do anything for me. Anything at all.”

Grace quickly composed herself, but her words were enough to bring a mocking smile to Selonia’s lips.

“Is that why he allowed you to break off your engagement? It caused quite a stir, didn’t it? Because of the annulment papers you sent to Duke Cherville [a high-ranking noble title].”

“Ah… He’s too good for me, so I tried to let him go… but it’s not easy. The Duke keeps begging me to reconsider.”

Grace lowered her eyes with a gloomy expression at the mention of the annulment.

Her face, filled with deep weariness, made it seem as if Ian was forcibly holding onto Grace and tormenting her even more.

“Has your heart changed? People’s hearts are said to change, after all.”

“Of course not… I always wish only for the Duke’s happiness. So, the Duke must meet a woman better than me. Someone who won’t face opposition from his family.”

Grace’s eyes even reddened with regret.

Some nobles who had been eavesdropping on Grace’s words nodded in agreement.

It was true that the Bennett barony [a lower-ranking noble title] was far inferior to the Cherville dukedom, so they seemed to understand this annulment.

“Oh, MacRian, what are you doing? You should greet the Duchess. Isn’t this the first time you’ve seen her since the hunting festival?”

Just then, Grace grabbed MacRian, who had been watching her pathetic acting, and dragged him over to Selonia.

“Go on.”

Grace urged them on, looking back and forth between the two with strange eyes, as if trying to confirm something.

“Selonia, it’s been a while…”

“We’re not close enough to exchange greetings.”

Selonia cut him off as MacRian reluctantly spoke, flustered.

He had managed to avoid being caught so far, but she cut him off in advance, fearing that speaking to him would reveal something.

“Hmm. Is that so? By the way, Grand Duke Hushbrook didn’t come with you, I see.”

Grace, still unable to let go of her suspicion, stared intently at Selonia and looked around as if searching for someone unseen.

“He’ll be here soon.”

“I’m very much looking forward to seeing what wonderful appearance he’ll present by the Duchess’s side today.”

Grace smiled at her answer.

*What is it?*

Selonia felt an inexplicable unease at the rather meaningful smile.

“Duke Ian Cherville is entering!”

Soon, a servant’s voice echoed through the hall, and Grace’s smiling expression instantly crumbled.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

“Grace!”

Grace, who was about to leave in a hurry as if she had urgent business, stopped at someone’s shout.

It was Ian.

Ian, who appeared through the open door, called out loudly as soon as he spotted Grace, then quickly descended the stairs.

The nobles, noticing Ian’s angry and headstrong behavior, cautiously made way for him.

Thanks to that, Ian came down the stairs and quickly grabbed Grace’s wrist, turning her around.

*‘Gloves?’*

While Selonia was puzzled by the black leather gloves on Ian’s hands.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“Let go of her hand and speak.”

MacRian grabbed Ian’s arm, who was looking at Grace with murderous eyes.

“…Haa. Alright.”

Grace sighed as if resigned.

Soon, as Ian and Grace left the hall, the murmuring of the people grew louder.

MacRian, who was hesitating whether to follow, quickly followed the two at Selonia’s gesture.

“Duchess Vessian.”

After the three had left, a servant holding a tray with champagne glasses approached her and handed her a note.

Selonia, taken aback, unfolded the folded paper.

*‘It’s Reyev. I’ve found out a few things, so I’ll be waiting in the garden. And I’ve obtained it.’*

* * *

MacRian was trailing behind Ian and Grace, walking through the imperial palace corridor.

They could have talked on the terrace, but they insisted on going outside.

It was annoying, but he couldn’t risk being caught again for having his spell broken. If he were caught, Selonia probably wouldn’t even acknowledge him afterward.

*‘Why isn’t that bastard coming?’*

Tan. He couldn’t see him. He expected him to come with Selonia or follow after them, but he hadn’t shown his face yet.

After what happened a few days ago, MacRian was convinced.

The words that bastard had muttered to him were definitely the words the Demon King had said to them.

*‘It’s unmistakable.’*

He was even exuding the aura of a demon.

It was hard to believe, but the suspicion that had sprouted was growing uncontrollably. So, he had no choice but to confirm it.

It was then.

Ian and Grace turned the corner ahead, and MacRian was just about to turn the corner as well.

In the distance, he saw a group of knights walking down the opposite corridor. They were the Princess’s knights.

But the towering figure among them caught his eye.

“What is this?”

MacRian’s expression twisted in disbelief as he stopped walking.

The person walking among the Princess’s knights, a head taller than the others, was none other than Tan.