The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 5

[Duchess Celonia Besin, in seclusion due to heartbreak. Not moving an inch from her room.]

“Ha.”

Celonia scoffed as she looked at the headline blazoned across the front page of the newspaper.

To think such ridiculous articles would be published.

It was true that she had been staying inside since regaining consciousness.

But it wasn’t because of heartbreak; it was simply because she had no reason to go out.

The Duke’s residence had everything. It couldn’t be more luxurious and comfortable.

Waking up in the morning not on a hard dirt floor that would make your whole body ache, but in a top-quality mattress and blankets with a fluffy, refreshing scent.

Not a hurried bath in a cold pond after a week, trying to wash off the bare minimum of dirt where no one could see, but a leisurely soak in a bathtub filled with hot water in a bathroom as big as a room, even getting a scalp massage.

Not a meal of dried-up bread and cheese to barely stave off hunger, but three meals a day with warm, glossy food cooked by a chef.

Plus, tea time and sweet desserts whenever she wanted.

“It’s the best. So thrilling.”

She was living like a duchess for the first time in nine months since her possession.

As soon as she possessed the body, she joined the expedition and had to rough it in the wild for half a year.

Food didn’t just magically appear, and even the bare minimum of shelter wasn’t provided.

She couldn’t wash when she wanted to, and she had to walk several kilometers a day, always covered in sticky monster blood.

The inner workings of the adventure, which didn’t appear even in a single line in the original novel.

She was someone who had experienced it firsthand, so she loved the comfort she had now.

“Shall I tear it up?”

“Throw it in the fireplace.”

“Yes!”

Ella quickly tore the newspaper to shreds and threw it into the fireplace.

With a whoosh, the flames momentarily swelled, and the newspaper disappeared into ashes in the blink of an eye.

“Miss, let’s sue this newspaper company!”

“Should we?”

“Yes! We need to show them what happens when they talk nonsense!”

Celonia chuckled at Ella’s overly serious expression as she chimed in.

Ella was very helpful to her, especially since she didn’t have Celonia’s memories.

She was quite talkative, so just having her around meant she would chatter about the nobles’ power dynamics and social trends she had heard from here and there.

Currently, all eyes in society were focused on her.

Starting with her regaining consciousness, articles about her were constantly being published. What her mood was like after breaking off the engagement with Ian, how much she was suffering from the pain of heartbreak, and so on.

There probably wasn’t a more interesting piece of gossip in the empire right now.

Seeing this, she realized that people in her old world and here were the same when it came to enjoying talking about others.

Guess living is all the same.

“I sent the letter you gave me this morning.”

“Thank you.”

“But, Miss. The recipient of that letter is…….”

“That’s right. It’s Ian Cherbil.”

“Th, that…….”

Ella hesitated and looked at her, noticing the name that came out of her mouth.

“It seems like it’s time to receive alimony.”

She took the initiative, realizing what Ella wanted to say. It wasn’t lingering feelings or anything.

After thinking carefully about what to demand from that unpleasant man, she realized that there couldn’t be a better alimony than that.

The original story also showed how obsessed he was with ‘that’ until the very end.

She had considered mines or business rights, but she didn’t really need them.

In the first place, the Besin family was wealthier than the Cherbil family.

So, she demanded something that would hurt his pride and self-esteem.

He’d probably be jumping up and down when he read the letter.

“Miss, the Vice Guild Master of Finest has arrived.”

“What? Already?”

Celonia jumped up from her seat at the announcement from outside the door.

It was noon, when the sun was at its highest point.

It hadn’t even been 24 hours since she requested it, but he had already finished the investigation…….

It seemed her father’s influence had worked properly.

“Ella. Please bring me a shawl.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Celonia was already preparing to see the guest with a determined look on her face.

* * *

“Grace, is there anywhere you want to go?”

Ian Cherbil asked, gently brushing his lover’s hair.

Originally, he had a date with Grace tomorrow, but at her lovely request to see him even a day sooner, he quickly dressed up and went out.

He was dressed in a flamboyant manner, not at all like someone who had broken off an engagement a few days ago.

Moreover, his blue eyes, holding deep lakes beneath his butter-soft blonde hair, were sparkling with new love.

Ian’s face was as flawlessly sculpted as a statue made of hardened plaster.

With a straight, high nose bridge like a towering mountain range and smooth lips, he had a frame that inspired confidence, befitting his position as the commander of the Knights.

His tall height of over 180 centimeters [approximately 5’11”] and his solid body, honed by swordsmanship, contributed to enhancing Ian’s appearance.

His handsome looks were so famous that they were even sung in hymns.

In particular, his smile was so attractive that there was even a line in the hymn lyrics that said, ‘It is called the smile of God.’

The owner of that smile was now Grace, not Celonia.

“Hmm……. Can we go to the dessert shop that the young ladies recommended to me this time?”

Grace smiled sweetly, as if she was used to Ian’s affectionate touch, and replied.

“Of course. Where is it?”

“Roblan.”

“……….”

Ian, who had readily answered as if he would pluck even the stars for her, paused at the familiar name of the store.

Roblan, located on the northern outskirts of Montella Street, was not very famous, so it was a dessert shop known only to those who knew.

And it was Celonia Besin’s favorite store.

“Duke?”

Grace grabbed Ian’s arm with a puzzled look, and he hurriedly opened his mouth, realizing his mistake.

“Grace, wouldn’t the newly opened Brejewel be better than there? The interior is fancy and luxurious, so I think you’d like it.”

Ian also knew that Celonia was in seclusion according to the newspapers, but Roblan was a store she really liked.

It was best to avoid it in case they ran into each other.

“Yes? But I really wanted to go to Roblan…….”

Grace’s eyes drooped downward, looking very disappointed.

At the sight of that, Ian held back his desire to leave for Roblan immediately and took Grace’s hand.

“It’s quite a distance to that place, so it’s better to go to Brejewel today.”

“Duke…….”

Grace was embarrassed because Ian, who had always listened to everything she said, was being stubborn today.

But only for a moment.

She opened her mouth again, as if she had realized something from his actions of holding her hand tightly but not making eye contact.

“By any chance, did you go there with Celonia?”

“…….”

“So you can’t go there with me? Because you’ll be reminded of your memories with Celonia?”

“Grace, that’s not…….”

“I see.”

Grace’s face hardened as she saw Ian’s expression, which was full of embarrassment.

He can’t lie. It was obvious from his expression.

“There’s still no room for me to fit in. Is that right?”

“Grace, you’re misunderstanding! Please listen to me!”

When Grace crossed her arms and turned her back, Ian hurriedly grabbed her wrist.

“I’ve never been to that place with the Besin Young Lady. I was just worried that you would be tired if the distance was too far.”

He made excuses with a desperate expression.

Ian was anxious that Grace would leave him as he was. Like a puppy about to lose its owner.

“Really. If you want, we’ll go to Roblan. We’ll travel together in my carriage.”

His big hands held Grace’s soft, white hands tightly.

“Really?”

Despite his earnest voice, Grace looked at Ian with narrow eyes. Her lips were still pouting as if she still couldn’t believe it.

“Really. You’re the only one for me. Ever since the day I first saw you. That woman doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Okay. Then let’s go to Roblan.”

Grace hooked her arm around Ian’s, her lips curving into a smile.

“Bring the carriage quickly.”

Ian quickly ordered the servant, lest her mood be upset again.

A satisfied smile hung on Grace’s lips as she stood next to him as an affectionate lover.

* * *

“Lady Celonia, this is the information you requested.”

Guillian handed Celonia a brown envelope.

Watching the envelope slide across the table, she swallowed hard.

The envelope contained information about Grace Bennett that she had requested.

“It’s data that includes her and everyone around her, including her family.”

Guillian added with an indifferent face.

He was a capable man who became the vice guild master of Finest Guild at the young age of 24.

A man trusted by her father. So this information must be reliable.

Celonia picked up the envelope with slightly trembling hands.

She couldn’t jump to any conclusions until she checked, but all sorts of thoughts filled her head.

She even felt a little scared.

‘What should I do when it’s not all the cases I thought it would be……?’

But in the end, she came into the drawing room, received the paper containing all the clues.

Celonia hesitated, untied the string tied to the envelope, and took out the paper.

Her water-colored eyes, which had been reading the letters with her lips tightly clenched in anxiety, began to shake violently.

“……Is this real?”