The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 88

Grace, who had been having tea with the young ladies, rushed out upon hearing of Mac Ryan’s arrival.

But he was alone again today.

“Mac Ryan, where’s Leyev?”

“He said he wasn’t feeling well.”

Mac Ryan shrugged.

He had received Grace’s message asking him to visit the barony together, but Leyev claimed he wasn’t feeling well and sent Mac Ryan to Grace alone.

“Again?”

Grace’s eyebrows shot up, forming a sharp line.

She hadn’t seen Leyev since the celebration. Even when she asked him to visit, she only heard that he wasn’t feeling well.

*This is strange. This shouldn’t be happening.*

Even if he were sick, he should have come running at her word.

*Is he really that sick? To the point of death?*

Grace, who had noticed Leyev’s strange behavior near the end of the celebration, decided she needed to find out what was going on.

Grace first took Mac Ryan, who had come alone, to the garden where the tea party was being held.

“Leyev couldn’t attend because he’s ill,” she explained to the waiting young ladies.

“Oh dear… He must be very sick.”

“I know. I hope he gets well soon.”

The young ladies who had gathered wore worried expressions.

“Mac Ryan, please greet the guests,” Grace said with a bright smile to Mac Ryan, and he nodded dutifully.

Then, he naturally sat next to Grace.

“It’s my first time seeing you this close!”

The faces of the young ladies who saw Mac Ryan joining their tea party flushed red.

Grace sneered inwardly at the sight of those young ladies.

The young ladies sitting at the table now were the same women who had mocked her when she left Negzit Hall, led by one particular young lady.

But after the celebration, they contacted her, saying they wanted to apologize and asked to meet her.

Even though she had been embarrassed at the celebration, the repercussions were significant.

She had appeared wearing a Verondi Boutique dress, which was hard to obtain except for the Empress, and accompanied by the three Saviors [powerful and influential figures].

Even though they had pretended to be noble and stiff-necked at the Celonia celebration and criticized her with others, they were ultimately envious of everything she had. Everything she possessed.

“The Duke is busy with the Knights. He said he would come as soon as his work is done.”

“Oh my. Seeing that he’s coming right away even though he must be tired, he must love Miss Bennett very much.”

“He’ll probably come with his adjutant [military assistant]. He’s so busy these days that he often has to go back to work even after he gets off.”

Grace, satisfied with the Evangeline Countess’s blatant flattery, casually leaked information as if doing a favor.

“The adjutant, is that…”

“That’s right. Count Rudd.”

The moment Grace mentioned Count Rudd, who had already figured everything out, Miss Evangeline’s face turned bright red.

Soon, Evangeline busily took out a mirror from her bag and began to check her appearance.

“Mac Ryan, how is Viscount Shilton Polford doing?”

Another young lady cautiously asked Mac Ryan, who was sitting there looking sullen.

Everyone in society knew that Viscount Shilton Polford was Mac Ryan’s only friend.

“Shilton? I’ll contact him to see if he can stop by the tea time.”

“Oh my, really?”

The young lady’s eyes sparkled with anticipation at Mac Ryan’s answer.

“My lady, Verondi Boutique has sent dresses,” a maid announced at that moment.

In the maid’s hands were two beautiful dresses made and sent by Verondi.

“Wow. To see a Verondi Boutique dress in person. This dress would suit the young lady well, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s right. It must be a design made with the young lady in mind.”

“Look at this color. It takes into account the young lady’s hair color.”

The young ladies who were sharing tea time with her stared at the dresses with envious faces.

“They often send me things like this, saying they were thinking of me,” Grace said with a calm and relaxed smile.

“And the things you ordered have just arrived.”

This time, maids rushed to Grace’s side.

In their hands, each held a splendid case wide open.

Inside were expensive accessories with various jewels, such as rings, necklaces, and earrings.

“Oh my! That’s the limited edition necklace from Nenera Jewelers that’s hard to buy even with money!”

“Young lady, how did you get it?”

The young ladies, having confirmed the extraordinary accessories, all gaped.

Grace smiled with satisfaction as she read the envy, jealousy, and different desires that were transparently reflected in their eyes.

The reason they sought her out was obvious: some for money, some for men.

They probably thought that she was necessary to realize their desires, not because they really wanted to become close.

“Miss Bennett, are you alright? Such large expenditures with the Barony’s finances…”

A young lady pretended to be worried and tested Grace.

Everyone knew the Bennett Barony’s financial situation roughly, so this extravagance didn’t make sense.

“Of course. My father started a business, and it’s going smoothly. I haven’t told anyone yet, but I’ll share it with you ladies first later,” Grace said with a flexible smile at the ridiculous question.

“Is that true?”

“A business? Can you tell us what kind of business it is?”

“Your business must be doing really well! To be able to buy these jewels without hesitation.”

The young ladies flocked to Grace as if possessed.

There was no need to bother with Darjeeling tea. They were already competing to look good to her.

“Grace, the langue de chat [cat tongue cookies] is delicious,” Mac Ryan said, handing Grace a dessert. His expression was indifferent, but his actions were full of consideration and affection.

Grace opened her mouth slightly and accepted the dessert that Mac Ryan gave her.

Grace smiled inwardly as she received the envy of the young ladies.

*As expected. She had to hold onto the Saviors, whether she liked it or not. For the things she wanted.*

* * *

Celonia was walking along the hallway with Leyev to see him off.

She had to return to the Besinga estate as well, but she had promised Tan that she would wait.

She sent Ella with Maxwell to tour the Grand Duke’s residence to keep her from getting bored while waiting.

“…It feels like it’s been a long time,” Leyev said, lost in emotion, enjoying walking next to Celonia.

He struggled to control the surging emotions because the present felt too much like a dream, and he glanced quietly to the side.

Then, he saw dark, sunken blue eyes.

“…”

Leyev bit his lip tightly.

His heart ached, as if needles were pricking it.

He knew why those eyes were so gloomy.

“Celonia.”

“Yes.”

“…Do you like the Grand Duke?”

At Leyev’s gloomy question, Celonia raised her round eyes.

But soon, Celonia touched her cheek with an embarrassed expression.

“Is it that obvious?”

“Ever since the Grand Duke went to meet the Princess, worry hasn’t left your face.”

“I see.”

She couldn’t help but agree.

She had forcibly sent Tan to the Princess. There was no way she wouldn’t be concerned.

Besides, a marriage. She didn’t even know if such talks had taken place.

His marriage was something she had never even thought about, so the shock she received was enormous.

Celonia knew his past, but to ordinary people, Tan was just a handsome and successful man that anyone would want to meet.

*That’s right. Anyone could show interest in Tan, not just the Princess.*

Didn’t the young ladies covet Tan at the banquet?

He only showed interest in her, so she had overlooked that fact.

“Don’t you like each other?” Leyev asked cautiously.

*Is that so? Is that how it looks to others?*

Celonia wasn’t sure, but she vaguely knew Tan’s heart.

She couldn’t help but know.

He only showed kindness to her, and he only smiled and cared for her.

Besides, there were his red eyes filled with blatant affection.

“Leyev, didn’t you feel anything about Tan?”

“Felt something? To be honest, I felt he was annoying.”

Leyev, who had a lot of pent-up feelings towards Tan, answered quickly.

Being unilaterally attacked at the celebration, being choked in the alley without warning, and not even being offered a meal even though they came to the mansion together.

And liking Celonia.

He didn’t like any of it.

“I think everyone probably thinks that way,” Celonia laughed in agreement.

Tan’s words were so direct, and his personality wasn’t very sociable, so others could see him that way.

But that wasn’t all there was to him.

He had always been a good person to her since he became ‘Tan.’

However, judging from the fact that Leyev was talking about what he felt as a person, he didn’t seem to know at all that Tan was the Demon King.

She didn’t give Leyev any hints about Tan’s identity.

In the past, she was overwhelmed by the truth that only she knew, so she tried to tell even Leyev, but not now.

She hoped that everyone wouldn’t know that he was the Demon King.

Even Tan himself. And even herself.

“Celonia.”

Leyev, who had reached the door at some point, stopped walking.

He didn’t want to say these words because they were painful, but seeing her expression, which seemed to have many worries, he couldn’t help but say them.

Leyev didn’t like Tan, but he couldn’t help but admit it.

When the Saviors were tricked by Grace’s schemes and everyone left her side, Tan was the one who stayed with Celonia.

“Don’t think too deeply. Just think about what you want right now.”

Seeing her not readily answering when asked what the relationship with the Princess was, Leyev thought, *She’s hesitating because of something.*

He could tell without her saying it. Hadn’t he been watching her closely for more than half a year?

“I’m sorry if I overstepped. Then, I’ll contact you again if I find out anything new.”

Leyev left the Grand Duke’s residence with a bitter face, looking at Celonia, who seemed to have many thoughts.

Leyev’s words fell into her heart like a stone thrown into a pond. Waves rippled across the calm surface.

“Besinga Princess.”

At that moment, she heard someone calling her from behind.

When she turned around, Ius, whom she hadn’t seen once since coming to the mansion, was standing there, with a strange smile on his face.

“I greet the former Grand Duke.”