Rolling in Bed with the Male Lead

"Lady Daphne, I..."

I, I...

I don't like shady bastards, and I hate scum like Cailus even more!

The one I like is Lady Daphne!

"I am!"

The words rose to the tip of my tongue, but with so many eyes watching, I couldn't say anything.

"Ghk!"

All Richard could do was clutch his head in agony.

"Do you like him that much, Richard?"

Daphne, who had burst out laughing, lightly patted Richard's shoulder.

"..."

Richard lowered his head and squeezed his eyes shut.

Because if I didn't, I felt like tears would fall.

"Woo."

"Huh?"

"It's nothing."

You're so cruel. You're kind, yet cruel.

Lady Daphne is truly an angelic person, but at times like this, she always...

"..."

Richard clenched his fist tightly.

He couldn't back down like this. He swore to himself.

I'll insist.

If persuasion doesn't work, I have no choice but to insist.

"I..."

"Yes, Richard?"

"I will attend as Lady Daphne's partner."

"Huh?"

Her pale green eyes widened.

Richard began blurting out whatever came to mind without even knowing what he was saying.

"His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't like me either... Even if I asked to be his partner, he would reject me. And above all, if Lady Daphne attends as my partner, you could help me with my courtship from close by, couldn't you? So..."

All sorts of forced excuses came pouring out. Even he didn't know whether any of it made sense.

Daphne's face stiffened.

"Ah..."

Damn. So it was sophistry after all.

Just as Richard gritted his teeth, Daphne's shoulders slumped as if she had realized something.

"Sorry. I was being short-sighted. You're right."

"Yes?"

Richard asked, even more flustered.

"Well, if I become your partner, I could support your courtship more actively. Yes, that's right..."

She muttered again, as though coming to some decision on her own.

"Lady Daphne?"

For some reason, Richard felt uneasy.

She then raised her head and spoke with determination.

"All right. I'll attend as your partner and help push your courtship with His Highness from your side!"

Huh? Huh?

"Yes?"

"I'm truly sorry for not understanding your feelings, Richard!"

Looking crestfallen, she tightly clasped both of Richard's hands.

"I'll do everything I can to help you."

"Yes, yes?"

Richard blinked stupidly.

So... this is a good thing, right?

Thus, three days passed,

and the day of the ball dawned.

"Lady Daphne!"

Spotting the woman who appeared before him, Richard ran over with a wide smile.

Well, who cares!

Being Lady Daphne's partner! Richard decided to simply be happy.

"Hello, Richard."

Brown hair fluttered softly in the breeze. Pale green eyes held the warm sunlight. A shimmering silver dress.

"May I escort you?"

His heart pounding, Richard extended his hand. His white-gloved fingers trembled slightly.

"Of course."

She nodded with a bright smile.

Her small, white hand settled atop Richard's palm.

"!"

Richard felt his breath stop for a moment.

If I stopped breathing like this, could I die while holding Lady Daphne's hand? If so, dying like this wouldn't be so bad...

"Young Lord Friedrich, Lady Beatus. Will you enter?"

The question from the soldier guarding the ballroom entrance shattered Richard's idle thoughts.

"Yes, we'll go in."

Daphne answered with a bright smile.

The ballroom doors opened, and the soldier loudly announced their arrival.

"Young Lord Richard Friedrich of the Friedrich Marquisate and Lady Daphne Beatus of the Beatus Marquisate have arrived!"

Brilliant chandelier light poured down. At the same time, every gaze in the ballroom converged on the entrance.

Good heavens. It's 'that' Young Lord Friedrich.

Lady Beatus is with him too.

The nobles began to whisper.

Richard Friedrich.

The madman who had poured out a confession of love to His Highness the Crown Prince in the banquet hall.

There was even a rumor that he had spent the night with His Highness the Crown Prince!

He was currently the center of attention in High Society.

"Hmm..."

Richard curled his lips into a peculiar smile and scanned the ballroom.

I must have looked quite insane.

The nobles merely whispered about him, making no attempt to speak to or approach him.

Well, it doesn't matter.

Richard shrugged.

In any case, his purpose for attending the ball was different.

To obstruct the progression of the romance between the two protagonists. And.

To make contact with the Chesika ducal family.

"Shall we go, Lady Daphne?"

Holding Daphne's hand, Richard strode without hesitation toward the center of the ballroom.

He stopped before two people.

"Oh. Young Lord Friedrich and Lady Beatus, I see."

The man's eyes curved like a fox's.

"I couldn't be more pleased that you attended the ball."

Beside him, a woman raised her rose-colored lips in a smile.

The Chesika father and daughter: Duke Chesika and Evgenia Chesika.

Richard respectfully bowed his head to them.

"Thank you for inviting us, Your Grace, Lady Chesika."

He then slowly raised his head and swept his gaze over the father and daughter.

Evgenia Chesika.

His gaze stopped on her, glinting coldly. Richard swallowed dryly.

The target he needed to approach.

For the deal with the Emperor. To retrieve the Empress's corpse, he had to approach her.

But aside from that...

"..."

It was hardly pleasant. Having to approach this person. It was as unpleasant as wagging my tail before Cailus.

"..."

People hated others for all sorts of reasons.

Because they had been betrayed. Because they had lost someone they loved. Sometimes because they had lost the meaning of life and needed someone to resent.

Richard, the regressor, was no different.

He hated one man, Cailus le Regnantia, to death.

The man who took her away.

The man who made her unhappy.

The man who drove her to her death.

Without a doubt, the person Richard hated most in this world was Cailus le Regnantia.

Then who was the second person he hated most?

Evgenia Chesika.

She was...

The villainess.

Namely, the villainess of this "story."

Richard did not like her.

Why didn't he like her?

No, let me ask the opposite instead.

How could I possibly like her?

'Oh my, I'm sorry, Lady Beatus. My hand slipped.'

From the day of Lady Daphne's debut, she was the one who had deliberately spilled hot tea on her dress.

That wasn't all.

'Tsk, tsk. Why don't you watch where you're going?'

She would deliberately trip her,

'Ahaha, your dress is especially beautiful today, Lady Beatus.'

pick fights over dresses, and so on.

She was the one who tormented Lady Daphne at every turn.

How could I... like someone who did such things to the woman I loved?

'How on earth could I like her?'

The corner of Richard's lips twisted coldly.

Villainess.

That title suited her perfectly.

A venomous and greedy woman.

A woman who would even kill her own father to achieve her goals.

Moreover, the reason she had tormented Lady Daphne so much...

'Because Lady Daphne was Cailus's fiancée.'

Richard suppressed a bitter laugh.

The villainess Evgenia Chesika's goal was to seize the highest power in the Empire. Her dream was to marry Crown Prince Cailus and ascend to royalty.

To her, Lady Daphne, who occupied the position of Cailus's fiancée, was an eyesore.

"..."

Richard swallowed a heavy sigh.

From the perspective of someone who loved Lady Daphne... he simply wished the villainess and Cailus would join hands and disappear.

Huh? How wonderful would that be.

That son of a bitch and the venomous villainess.

They would make a perfect pair.

Richard imagined their wedding for a moment, then gave up.

It was a meaningless fantasy anyway.

Right. Anyway...

The important thing is that I have to approach 'that' villainess.

"It is the greatest honor to be invited to such a grand ball."

Richard smiled. A cold blade hid at the edge of that smile.

"I am truly delighted to hear you say so."

The villainess smiled faintly and covered her mouth with the tip of her fan.

"Ah."

Her purple eyes, gleaming coldly, slid to the side.

"Long time no see, Lady Beatus."

Though it sounded like an ordinary greeting, the air froze.

Her gaze was filled with unmistakable malice.

Unaware of it, Daphne answered with a smile like sunshine.

"Yes, Lady! It's been a long ti—"

"Lady Beatus's boldness is always a sight to behold. To bring such an excellent partner."

Evgenia's eyes sharpened like blades.

Daphne's face stiffened belatedly.

"I was worried whether it would truly befit such a splendid banquet, but as long as you don't cause another disaster like before."

Snap!

With a decisive sound, the fan closed.

Her rose-colored lips curved into an elegant arc.

"But then again, who really cares?"

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