The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 71

“Who dares to refuse me? Even the esteemed Bessian Princess wouldn’t refuse me.”

Helius smirked with an arrogant expression, smoothing back his soft platinum blonde hair with his hand.

Beyond his status as the Crown Prince, no woman had ever resisted his charm.

Helius remembered Celonia. He had seen her at every banquet held in the Imperial Palace in the past.

With the Bessian family backing her, Celonia was haughty and conceited.

Of course, her face at the departure ceremony before the subjugation was like that of livestock being dragged to a slaughterhouse, all teary-eyed.

He hadn’t forced her to go on the expedition; she had declared she would go herself, so what was with that expression? That’s what he thought.

“Seriously, she’s a woman I just don’t like.”

Helius frowned as he recalled the last time he saw Celonia.

He wasn’t thrilled about taking such a woman as his Crown Princess, but if his father wished it, he had no choice.

Well, as a Bessian Princess, she wouldn’t be bad for solidifying his position.

“Your Highness, this celebration is truly important. His Majesty has put a lot of effort into it.”

“Denvers, you really don’t know anything.”

Helius glanced at Denvers, who was chattering beside him, with pity.

Unlike Denvers, Helius, thanks to his handsome looks, had met many women and knew very well how to break down a proud woman.

“The more arrogant a woman is, the less kindness you should show her.”

“Excuse me? That makes no sense.”

“Tsk, tsk. That’s why you can’t get a woman. Proud women have too many people around them offering favors. So they think the kindness everyone offers is all the same and don’t feel anything special.”

“…So?”

He thought it was nonsense, but after listening, it made sense, and Denvers looked at Helius with sparkling eyes.

“So, the more arrogant a woman is, the more you should treat her with indifference. Even if someone as handsome as me is kind to other young ladies but cold to the Princess? What do you think she’ll think?”

“Wouldn’t she think you dislike her?”

“You’re an idiot. If she doesn’t see the attention that others are getting directed at her, her conceited pride will be wounded. Then she’ll try to capture my attention and make me pay attention to her.”

“Ooh…!”

Denvers, already completely won over by Helius’s logic, nodded vigorously.

“But even then, you shouldn’t show interest. Then, as the banquet nears its end and the Princess’s pride is hurt, and she no longer wants to give me the time of day, if I kiss her hand with my radiant smile, she’ll definitely fall for me.”

Helius was full of confidence, as if there was no more perfect plan than this.

“As expected! You are the best, Your Highness! All those times you’ve met young ladies, that experience is finally paying off!”

Denvers clapped, completely smitten.

“Hahaha.”

Helius laughed heartily, pleased with Denvers’s exaggerated reaction.

Tempting the Bessian Princess was nothing, so there was no need to put in much effort.

Helius quickened his pace to see Lady Roana, who was waiting for him.

* * *

The Negzite Hall of the Imperial Palace was packed.

Everyone had their own reasons for attending the celebration: to congratulate the Bessian Princess, whom the Emperor favored enough to hold a solo celebration for her recovery, to build connections with the Bessian Duke, to target other influential figures, or simply because they liked parties.

“Princess, congratulations on your recovery. It’s an honor to see you again in such good health.”

“Thank you.”

Celonia was on the verge of a twitch in her lip from constantly answering the endless stream of formal greetings.

Seeing the crowds of people swarming in the ornately decorated hall, she was already tired.

As the guest of honor, she couldn’t leave her spot, so she had been standing in one place since entering the hall, receiving greetings.

Her father had been gathering with nobles in the distance, discussing the charity work they would gradually promote.

“Milady, those people are the ones we had tea with at the café a few weeks ago.”

Celonia turned her head at Ella’s voice beside her.

Then Lady Able Pantagon and Lady Pellein Ikan were approaching with welcoming faces.

Originally, she was going to invite them to a tea party at the Duke’s residence, but instead of postponing the tea party due to Tan’s sudden freeloading [unexpectedly staying at the Duke’s residence], she had asked them to attend the celebration, and they had come.

“Oh my! Princess, you’re so dazzling!”

“That’s right! You really are the star of the day.”

The approaching young ladies immediately spoke in raised voices as soon as they had paid their respects.

Celonia chuckled at their unchanging exuberance and opened her mouth.

“Lady Able, Lady Pellein. Thank you for coming.”

“Of course, we had to come. We’re honored to be invited to your celebration, Princess.”

“But I don’t see Lady Roana?”

Celonia realized that one person was missing.

There were three young ladies who had joined them at the café, but Lady Roana was nowhere to be seen.

“Well, she’s been dating lately, so it’s hard for us to see her. But she was really looking forward to your celebration, so she’ll definitely attend.”

Celonia nodded in understanding at Able’s words. After all, the business of dating is incredibly busy.

“Princess, is that dress perhaps from Verondi Boutique?”

Pellein, who was standing next to her, asked with sparkling eyes.

At that one question, Celonia instantly noticed the gazes of the young ladies around her turning to her dress.

She knew that all the young ladies wanted to have dresses made at Verondi Boutique, but she didn’t expect this much attention.

“Yes, it is.”

“I knew it! It suits you so well.”

At her answer, Pellein praised her, saying she knew it all along.

It was a compliment she had heard all day, but it was still so embarrassing that she was going crazy.

Celonia, who had been smiling awkwardly like a machine, asked a servant who was walking around with a tray of champagne to fill a glass.

“Here you are.”

Celonia took the offered glass and immediately took a sip of champagne. She hoped that if she was drinking alcohol, people would talk to her less.

“By the way, have you heard the rumor? About Lady Grace. She confidently went to Verondi Boutique to have a dress made, but she was rejected so thoroughly that it was embarrassing.”

“Really? She’s been an oblivious young lady from the start.”

Pellein and Able exchanged words with Celonia in the middle.

It seemed that the incident at the boutique had spread.

Celonia, who was drinking champagne, perked up her ears at the story. She wondered if there was any new information about Grace.

However, it was just gossip about Grace, and she didn’t get any particular information.

Celonia finished a glass of champagne, took another glass, and asked Pellein and Able, hoping to get other information.

“Ladies, do you know anything about ancient magic?”

“Ancient magic, are you talking about that black magic? The one that was forbidden.”

Pellein’s voice lowered, as if she was quite cautious in answering.

Celonia nodded and said it was correct, and Able, who was next to her, added a word.

“I’ve heard of it. But I heard it’s too old and forbidden, so it’s hard to find information.”

Celonia’s face darkened again as she failed to obtain the desired information.

In the end, was that the only way? The method of asking Tan to secretly infiltrate the central library.

But that was too risky. If she was caught trying to see a forbidden book that only the Emperor could access, it could be treason.

“Um… By the way, Princess. Is he not coming with you today?”

While she was lost in thought about what to do, Able asked cautiously, looking around.

“He? Who are you talking about?”

“The Beast of the Night. I saw the newspaper article. It said he’s staying at the Duke’s residence?”

“Ah…”

Celonia exclaimed softly, as if she had finally realized something.

She wondered why people kept glancing around her, but it was because they were all looking for Tan.

He had already become a famous figure with his appearance and skills, so everyone wanted to see his face at least once.

“I was so surprised! I didn’t know he had such skills. Has he officially joined the Duke’s Order of Knights?”

“No. I was greatly indebted to him, so my father is providing him with accommodation at the Duke’s residence for a while to repay the favor.”

“Oh my. Is that so? So he’s not an official knight yet?”

It was then. While she was talking to Able, a young lady suddenly cut in.

When she checked her face, it was one of the young ladies who had greeted her earlier.

Was her name Dahlia? She seemed to be the youngest daughter of Count Polford.

Was it because she was a young noble lady of 19 who had made her debut this year?

Dahlia, not even knowing how rude it was to cut into other people’s conversations, was waiting for Celonia’s answer with expectant eyes.

It was like the eyes of a hyena preying on its prey. Dahlia was coveting Tan.

Her eyes were so displeased that one of Celonia’s eyebrows twitched.