The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 15

“Even if you are a Duke, this is too much…!”

“It’s alright. Everyone, please leave.”

Celonia ordered the knights, who were trying to follow Ian in to stop him, to leave.

The knights and Ella hesitated, glancing at each other, but eventually retreated.

“Ha. After sending me such a letter, the young lady was leisurely drinking tea?”

Ian sneered, his face etched with anger.

To barge into someone’s house first thing in the morning and act with such a lack of manners…

*Has he finally lost his mind?*

Celonia clicked her tongue and rose from her seat, gesturing for him to sit.

“Sit down. It seems you have a lot to say.”

“Ha!”

Ian glared at Celonia before plopping down on the sofa in the middle of the study, crossing his legs arrogantly.

“The manners of the Cherbil family are truly remarkable.”

“What?”

“When visiting, one should wait quietly until the host appears, yet you barge in making such a fuss that the whole mansion is shaking.”

Celonia chuckled as she sat opposite him.

Ian twisted his lips at her relaxed demeanor.

“You are the one with amazing manners, not even offering a cup of tea.”

“Oh, didn’t you know? I don’t have tea to offer to rude guests.”

“What did you just say…!”

“Enough. Didn’t you come because of the alimony?”

Celonia said firmly, not even glancing at Ian, who had risen, shouting.

Celonia knew the purpose of his visit.

With the weekend in between, the letter she sent last week must have arrived today, Monday, and he must have rushed over as soon as he received it.

*How can he be so simple and dense?*

It was hard to believe that he was once the male lead of this world.

“Ha, are you taking revenge on me now? Because I chose another woman over you?”

*What nonsense is he spouting?*

Celonia’s eyebrows furrowed. *What kind of ego trip is this?*

“Are you serious?”

“Ha. If not for that, what other reason could there be for you to go this far?”

Ian crossed his legs with an arrogant expression and swept back his hair.

As if he knew exactly why she was acting this way.

The reason why Celonia, who was once as pure and kind as a delicate flower, had suddenly become so venomous was obvious.

Jealousy.

Ian firmly believed that Celonia was acting out of jealousy and resentment because he had chosen Grace, hurting her pride.

She just wanted to get his attention this way.

That’s why she was demanding such ridiculous alimony, creating an opportunity to see him one more time.

“……”

Meanwhile, while Ian was lost in his delusions, Celonia’s face was cold.

*How much further is this man going to sink?*

Does he feel better showing such an ugly and vile side to her, someone who was once his lover?

Besides, his ridiculous words weren’t even worth responding to.

“Judging by how confident you are, I assume you brought the alimony I requested.”

Celonia wanted to get rid of this man in front of her quickly, so she cut straight to the chase.

“Ha! Yes, the alimony. You might as well ask for a mine or business rights.”

Ian, jolted out of his delusions by the word ‘alimony,’ said confidently with a mix of annoyance.

“Excuse me? Duke, you don’t really think I would want the Cherbil family’s mines or business rights, do you?”

“……”

Celonia asked, widening her eyes exaggeratedly, and Ian’s lips pressed into a firm line.

He clearly understood what she meant.

She didn’t stop there and drove the point home.

“Oh, come on.”

She waved her hand, dismissing the absurd idea.

The effect was immediate.

Ian’s eyelids were twitching, and his hands on his knees were clenched into fists, indicating he was quite upset.

It was as if she could hear the sound of his pride shattering.

He couldn’t argue.

As the daughter of the Besian family, the golden lineage, there was nothing in the Cherbil family that she would covet.

“Oh my. Really?”

She asked with a surprised expression, as if wondering if he really thought such a foolish thing, and he gritted his teeth, spitting out each word.

“Then why are you asking for it? What does a duchess who doesn’t even know how to use it need it for?”

“Isn’t it obvious? The only thing I could possibly take from the Cherbil family is that sword.”

Celonia shrugged.

What she had demanded as alimony was the sword. The sword he used to slay the Demon King.

The symbolism of the sword, known to be stained with the Demon King’s last blood, was significant.

It held infinite glory, honor, and pride.

Moreover, that sword would later transform into a holy sword.

But given the situation, she suddenly thought yesterday that it might not transform into a holy sword, but seeing how reluctant he was to give it up, it seemed Ian had already sensed the sword’s extraordinary nature.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to be so agitated over just handing over a sword.

As the commander of the Knights, he would always have the sword by his side, and he must have felt a different kind of power every time he held it.

But he would only have vaguely sensed the energy, not knowing exactly what kind of power it was.

Originally, there was still quite some time before it would transform into a holy sword. The original story stated that his status would be further elevated because of that holy sword.

If he had sensed the sword’s power, he would be even more reluctant to let it go.

He would think he was missing out on an opportunity to wield tremendous power.

Besides, for a knight, a sword was like a family heirloom or their own life.

Especially a sword that had brought such brilliant glory.

Even after reconsidering, there was no better alimony than this.

“Send it by tomorrow.”

“Are you, perhaps, doing this because you know something?”

“Pardon? Know what?”

Celonia read his probing gaze and asked back with an expression that she knew nothing.

“Never mind. Ask for something else. I’ll grant you anything.”

However, his suspicion quickly subsided.

That was because he believed that he was the only one who had ever touched that sword, so he was the only one who knew its extraordinary nature.

“I just told you. Duke, you’re the one acting strange. What’s so special about that sword? Could it be… does the sword have some other power…?”

“What! Don’t talk nonsense.”

Ian raised his voice, flustered. As if there was absolutely no way that could be true.

Afraid that his secret, which he had kept to himself, would be revealed.

“It’s due by tomorrow. You better not be plotting anything shady. I’ll request certification from the Imperial Family.”

Ian’s eyes smoldered as his schemes were preemptively blocked.

He was openly displaying his angry emotions. So much so that the veins on his forehead were throbbing.

Ian thought to himself that a woman’s twisted jealousy was quite bothersome and annoying.

He briefly considered trying to appease her with a friendly tone like before, but his pride wouldn’t allow it.

“Oh, did you hear the news? About my celebration party that will be held at the Imperial Palace in a few weeks.”

“How ridiculous. There’s no way I would attend such a…”

“Why would you say such nonsense? I mean, absolutely don’t come. I don’t want any uninvited guests at my celebration party.”

Ian’s expression, which had been sneering arrogantly, stiffened.

In contrast, Celonia was smiling calmly.

As Ian fell silent, unable to find words, a silence descended upon the drawing-room.

The gazes of the two people, colder than ice, met.

Sparks seemed to fly from their fiercely exchanged glances.

It was hard to believe that the two had once been lovers.

Facing him today, Celonia fully realized it. That she truly had no feelings left for him.

Rather, seeing him act so pathetic and dirty made her want to forget even the memories of the past six months.

“Duchess.”

Then, Ian broke the silence first.

“Speak.”

“It would be best to stop here. If you don’t want to incur my wrath any further. This is as far as I’ll let it go.”

“This is as far as I’ll let it go~”

“Duchess!”

Ian jumped up from his seat, panting.

Celonia, who had been mockingly imitating his pompous expression and tone, hardened her expression.

If he thought she would act refined, he was mistaken.

Originally, the answer to bullshit was bullshit.

He couldn’t even think about his own situation and was threatening her instead of having a proper conversation.

There was no need or value in being polite to someone like him.

She was already having a headache, and he was just whining.

There was no need to even bring up the ‘Demon King.’ She would never want to consult with such a human being.

Conversation was only possible between equals. How could she discuss anything with someone who was less than a beast, not even human?

“If you’re done, can you please leave?”

“It would be best if you never cross my path again.”

“That’s what I wish for. Please, let’s not even run into each other by chance. Goodbye, and be sure to send the alimony.”

Ian, staring at Celonia with a face full of resentment as if he would devour her, roughly headed for the door.

Celonia clicked her tongue at his ridiculous behavior.

Her face, having shaken off all lingering feelings, only showed relief.

“Oh? Is the young lady seeing off a guest…!”

Ella’s voice was heard as Ian flung open the door, and a man standing in front of the door came into view.

Seeing the man, Celonia jumped up from her seat like a spring.

*No, when did he come back!*

“Is the conversation over?”

The man didn’t even glance at Ian standing in front of him and spoke to Celonia, who was sitting on the sofa in the distance.

“Move.”

Ian bared his teeth at the large figure blocking his path.

“Hmm? Ah.”

He looked around, then lowered his gaze, making an expression as if he hadn’t noticed.

“There was someone here. I didn’t see him because he was so low.”

Then, he smiled, naturally uttering a lie that was too obvious.

A smile with only one corner of his lips raised. A clear sneer to anyone who saw it.

Moreover, his arrogant and cold red eyes were looking down at Ian.

As if looking at a lowly animal.