Fostering the Male Lead

Chapter 63

Sihael’s attitude toward me had become cold as if he was upset about what had happened that day. Even Lanoa, who hated Sihael, couldn’t help but ask what was going on with him.

“Are you alone again today?”

“He wants to be alone.”

Today, I was rejected by Sihael again.

I pulled a chair and sat across from Lanoa. Looking at the various desserts on the table didn’t make me happy, and seeing the apple pie Hanna made didn’t stimulate my appetite.

‘We don’t have much time left to spend together….’

Time flew by, but Sihael was determined to avoid me for some reason. How could I placate his anger? Lanoa pushed the dessert in front of me after I sighed deeply due to my growing concerns.

“Good for you. Leave him alone until he gets to the Capital.”

“How can I do that? I won’t be able to see him if he returns to the Imperial Capital.”

“Why can’t you see him? You’ll be following him.”

“I? Why?”

Our eyes widened as we looked at each other.

“What, you’re not going?”

“Why should I go there?”

Lanoa, who noticed me tilting my head in confusion, also tilted his head.

“You’ll have your coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Ah, my coming-of-age ceremony.”

I had completely forgotten about it while taking care of Sihael. I remembered that my coming-of-age ceremony would soon be over after the emperor’s birthday banquet, so I raised a teacup and said, “Just do it here.”

“… What?”

I quenched my thirst with tea after kindly answering the question again. Lanoa, who had stiffened like a stone, jumped up and hit the table.

“You want to have your coming-of-age ceremony here?!”

“Speak softly.”

I set the drink I was holding aside and put my hands over my ears. My eardrums nearly ruptured. I frowned and scowled at Lanoa. He dashed up to me, grabbed my shoulder, and shook me.

“Didn’t you say that your coming-of-age ceremony should be held in the imperial capital no matter what?! You were the one who said you’d rather die if it were held in the North! You said you’d live a lavish lifestyle in the capital!”

“No, I no longer want to.”

I yanked Lanoa’s arm away from my shoulder and pushed him with all my strength.

Lanoa staggered at my calm reaction.  He collapsed on the chair, muttering in disbelief.

“When you said you have changed, did you change even that? Are you sure you are not sick?”

“I’m fine.”

“Heuk….”

I asked, stroking his arm and pretending to smile as I stared into space.

“Brother, will you stay here until my coming-of-age ceremony?”

“Oh, I’m going to stay at home for a while.”

“I see, okay.”

At least, there would be one family member attending my coming-of-age ceremony. I didn’t believe coming-of-age ceremonies were particularly significant, but holding one without family would seem depressing. The knowledge that Lanoa will be by my side brought me great relief.

Lanoa looked at me as time passed, as if he had calmed down from his excitement.

“Yeah, there’s no point in going to the capital. You’ll only get involved in the dirty political battles.”

“Right! If I go to the capital, will the Empress stay still?”

“Absolutely not. I guess she must have realised by now that you are looking after and protecting His Highness. But I’m sure she thinks you’re on the Crown Prince’s side and will attack you whenever she gets the chance.”

“That’s why I am going to stay here.”

The reason I didn’t want to go to the capital was partly due to my promise not to get involved with the original work, but the empress, whose eyes would blaze with rage and who constantly attacked Sihael, also played a role. The Empress’s involvement in Sihael’s situation was also significant. In the original story, the two of them seemed to get along well, but now when they met, they regarded each other as their biggest adversary.

She was one of those people I never wanted to get close to.

“You have become smart. Now you know how to be reasonable.”

“Don’t treat me like a child.”

I glared when he suddenly ruffled my hair. Now that I see it, Lanoa’s eyes looked gentle as he kept babbling nonsense.

Just when I was going to ruffle his hair in the same manner in return for treating me like a child, someone knocked on the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

The baron’s voice was heard after the knock on the door.

“My Lady, it’s me.”

“Come on in.”

The baron had lost weight and was thinner than before, but his face looked good.

“Long time no see. Baron.”

“How have you two been?”

“I haven’t ‘been well’ because of an uninvited guest.”

Lanoa, who dismissed Sihael as an uninvited guest, frowned. The baron, who knew perfectly well without saying who he was talking about, shook his head at his reaction.

“I heard His Highness is staying here.”

“Yes, he’s here to recuperate quietly, so you know you can’t talk about it anywhere, right?”

Sihael pretended to be exhausted from long wars and political affairs and that was quietly recuperating at the home of his close friend, Leonard- the Katzel Duchy.

The baron wasn’t a person to open his mouth recklessly anywhere, but it wasn’t bad to be careful.

“Seeing My Lady make such sensible remarks, I suddenly feel emotional.”

Because of his low expectations, the baron overreacted to my little act.

“Ah, yes… The baron must be in a good mood.”

I passed the baron’s nonsense from one ear to another and changed the subject. The baron’s face couldn’t stop smiling.

“Yes, ma’am. We’ve finally signed a contract with Asilla.”