The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 9

Even without the monthly allowance from her father, she had received a reward from the Emperor three months prior.

The Emperor rewarded those who were instrumental in subjugating the Demon King, and her father accepted it on her behalf since she had collapsed.

She was granted the title of Baroness, along with a small territory called Lace in the countryside.

‘MacRyan and Reyev were also granted the title of Count, I think.’

She also received a sum of prize money.

Even if it was a ‘sum,’ it was enough for most nobles to live comfortably for several years.

It was more than enough to cover her expenses during her leave of absence. She deserved this much rest after her hard work.

“You’re saying there are no seats?”

“Yes, my Lady. I’m very sorry.”

Her gaze drifted towards the voices coming from the entrance.

Three women who had just entered the cafe looked troubled as the staff informed them there were no available tables.

Looking around, she saw the cafe was indeed full, with all the tables occupied.

She was currently occupying the largest table, practically a group table.

Of course, she had ordered enough food to justify it.

“Hmm.”

Celonia tapped the table, pondered for a moment, and then called over a passing staff member.

“Yes? Is there anything else you need, my Lady?”

“Could you ask those three ladies over there if they would like to join me, if they’re amenable?”

She had gone straight to subjugating the Demon King after being possessed [reincarnated into this world], so she was largely unfamiliar with the social scene.

It wouldn’t hurt to make some friends. Besides, Celonia hadn’t had any friends originally.

The staff member, upon receiving the offer, quickly approached the three ladies at the entrance.

After explaining the situation, she gestured politely towards Celonia’s table.

The ladies followed the staff member’s gesture.

Celonia smiled and waved at the ladies she made eye contact with.

“Uh, uh…….”

With slightly embarrassed expressions, they hesitated before approaching the table.

“Lady Bessin.”

“I heard you recovered, and I’m so happy to see you doing so well.”

“Oh my! You seem to be growing more beautiful every day!”

The ladies, now standing before her, quickly shed their initial embarrassment and began showering her with exaggerated compliments.

‘What is this? They seem quite uncomfortable.’

Despite the strange atmosphere, Celonia offered them seats as she had intended.

“It seems there are no other seats available, so please join me if you’re willing. I ordered far too much for one person anyway.”

“Would, would that be alright?”

“Wouldn’t we be intruding on your time, Lady…….”

The ladies exchanged glances, their voices trailing off.

‘Ah. Could it be?’

Celonia observed their discomfort and recalled a conversation she had overheard between the maids a few days prior.

“The Lady seems to have changed so much.”

“That’s right. Lately, she doesn’t get angry or irritable. It’s like she’s become a different person.”

“Could it be that when people come back from the dead, they change into different people? Being grateful for being alive again.”

“Well, she woke up after being unconscious for so long, so it’s possible.”

Judging from the maids’ words, it seemed the former Celonia had been rather unpleasant to these ladies.

Since she didn’t possess Celonia’s memories, she found their discomfort unsettling and spoke with a kind expression.

“Intruding? Not at all. I’d be grateful for your company. As you know, I’ve been away from the social scene for quite some time, and I don’t have many friends to socialize with.”

The subjugation had taken half a year, and she had been unconscious for three months, meaning she had been absent from the social scene for nearly nine months.

“Thank you for the invitation, Lady.”

The ladies exchanged another glance, nodded, relaxed slightly, and joined her at the table.

Celonia smiled as warmly as she could and continued the conversation.

She was unsure of the reputation Celonia had built before her possession, but it clearly wasn’t helpful now, so she intended to cultivate a new image.

As they talked, she learned their names. From left to right, they were Able, Roana, and Pelen. They were the daughters of Marquis Fantagon, Count Serday, and Count Ikan, respectively.

Perhaps it was due to Celonia’s gentle voice and kind demeanor that the conversation flowed smoothly. Fortunately, the ladies seemed to completely let down their guard.

“Um… Are you truly alright, Lady?”

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Able asked cautiously.

She likely wanted to ask earlier but hesitated for fear of being rude.

“Of course. I’m perfectly fine.”

Celonia shrugged and smiled.

She had a feeling she would be plagued with this question for the next few days because of the article [gossip column]. She would have to get used to it.

“Oh my gosh, how can such a person exist? The Bennet barony. I’ve never even heard of it!”

“Where did they even come from? They’re a disgrace to the nobility!”

“A family with no sense of etiquette. How could they pursue a man who already has a fiancée……!”

They seemed to have motors in their mouths, thoroughly venting their anger on Grace in Celonia’s stead.

“That’s right! How dare they hurt our Lady!”

As if seizing a perfect opportunity, Ella’s eyes gleamed as she joined in the condemnation.

‘That’s not quite what I intended…….’

But Celonia didn’t particularly stop them.

It was rather pleasing to have someone take her side.

However, the conversation seemed to be heading in a one-sided direction, so she subtly steered it with an elegant tone.

“A man who cheats and a woman who willingly participates are equally culpable.”

“Ah… Y-you’re right! The Duke is truly at fault!”

The ladies, momentarily taken aback by her words, resumed their criticism of Ian with renewed fervor.

“Honestly, the Duke is the worst. How could he have a fiancée and…….”

“Besides, the Lady had even collapsed at the time. How could he cheat at such a time…….”

‘That’s right, that’s right. Good job.’

If they were going to criticize, they had to condemn both the adulterous man and woman.

Celonia ate her langue de chat [cat tongue cookie] with a satisfied expression, enjoying the vicarious insults.

Just then…

Clang— The cafe door opened, and the interior instantly fell silent, as if cold water had been poured over it.

The ladies, who had been chattering so enthusiastically, clamped their mouths shut like clams.

‘What is it?’

Puzzled by the sudden shift in atmosphere, she looked towards the entrance.

The person who entered was a man.

The man, who appeared to be nearly 2 meters tall, was so large that it seemed his head would touch the ceiling.

Moreover, the floor seemed to vibrate with each step he took.

The thick black cloak he wore was made of animal fur, stiff and dull, and swayed heavily with his large strides.

His appearance was reminiscent of a general heading to behead the enemy commander.

“W-why is that man here…….”

Whether they knew him or not, the ladies suddenly appeared frightened, holding their breath and shrinking in their seats.

“Who is he?”

“He’s the Beast of the Night.”

‘Wh-what?’

She was dumbfounded by the bizarre nickname as she caught a glimpse of the man’s profile.

‘Huh? But that face…….’

Celonia couldn’t tear her eyes away from the familiar profile.

‘What could it be? I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a man before.’

As she pondered, the man, moving with slow but heavy steps, stopped silently in front of the counter.

His shaggy hair fluttered slightly, as if swaying in a breeze due to the recoil of his movements.

The man’s hair was a deep black, darker than the night sky.

Moreover, the eyes that were barely visible beneath his long bangs were a vivid red, brighter than droplets of blood.

Black hair and bright red eyes.

Beneath them, a nose that stretched high like an arrowhead, stubbornly closed lips, and a rough jawline that looked so firm it seemed crude.

He was a handsome man, but with different lines than the male leads she had encountered so far.

If the male leads were handsome men who seemed to have stepped out of a delicate watercolor painting, then this man was like a statue carved from plaster by a sculptor.

Even if it was made with rough hands and without much finesse, the finished product was a masterpiece of the era.

The nickname Beast of the Night was cringeworthy, but understandable.

From his face, body, and even the atmosphere he exuded, there was a raw feeling that could only be described as bestial.

“H-here it is.”

The staff member, swallowing hard enough to make his Adam’s apple bulge, trembled as he handed a very large envelope to the man.

‘What is that?’

“Hic! What is that? P-perhaps a corpse?”

“Are you openly delivering a corpse with so many eyes watching?”

Pelen retorted, finding Able’s suggestion ridiculous.

However, Celonia understood why Able had uttered such absurd words.

If that man was holding it, even a spoon would become a weapon.

Even now, he was simply holding a cloth bag, but it felt as if it contained someone’s freshly cut-out heart.

“That’s food.”

Roana, who had been quiet, said as she elegantly lowered her teacup.

Celonia and the ladies waited for Roana to elaborate.

“I heard he gets food from here regularly.”

“Why? The amount is considerable, though? Surely he doesn’t eat it all himself……?”

“No. He distributes it to hungry children and adults.”

‘What. He’s a man of justice?’

Celonia looked at the man again, and he seemed like a different person.

His sharply raised eyes now seemed almost kind.

The man accepted the envelope without acknowledging the commotion around him and turned to leave without hesitation.

“Hiiiik!”

Able, too, saw something, making a strange noise with a pale face.

As the man turned, the front of his black shirt briefly opened, revealing a scar.

She couldn’t be certain because she only saw it for a moment, but the long mark appeared to be a sword wound.

It was a very large scar, suggesting a rather colorful past.

Clang.

“Haa…….”

“Whew…….”

As soon as the man closed the door behind him, the breaths that had been held burst out from everywhere.

“I heard from my brother that that man exterminates beasts and criminals that appear in private houses and disappears without a sound.”

“I’ve heard that too. I even heard that he possesses terrifying power.”

“Hasn’t he only been appearing for a few months?”

Celonia listened to the ladies’ conversation.

It was an interesting topic.

Since the original story was over, it seemed many things she didn’t know were happening.

She had no idea what repercussions that would bring until then.