Rolling in Bed with the Male Lead

Smack—!

Richard was slapped across the face the moment he returned to the mansion.

"Have you finally lost your mind?! What insolence did you show His Highness the Crown Prince?!"

Of course, it was not only his cheek that took the blows.

His abdomen and legs were beaten thoroughly and mercilessly. This was generally how Richard was treated within the Friedrich Mansion.

Being born a bastard and abused by his family—this was the so-called "setting" assigned to him in this world.

Explaining it in detail would take a long time, but that was not important right now.

I need to make a plan.

Richard placed a cloth soaked in cold water against his cheek, which was red and swollen from the beating he had received for causing a scene in the banquet hall, then sat down at his desk as soon as he entered his bedroom.

Rustle.

Inside the drawer on the right were several crumpled sheets of parchment.

He took out what little parchment there was, spread it across the desk, and dipped the nib of his quill into ink as black as a starry night sky.

Then he began filling one of the sheets, writing down everything he knew about this "story."

Repeated regressions often caused details to blur together, making it easy to forget the original story—the course of events during the "first" time.

Before making a plan, he had to review it once.

Swish—

The tip of the quill brushed across the parchment.

This "story" was monotonous and simple.

Daphne, the heroine, was left heartbroken after being unexpectedly abandoned by the male lead.

The male lead, Cailus, one day began to regret what he had done to her, while Richard, the second male lead, harbored unrequited love for her.

Through various events, Cailus and Daphne gradually grew closer, and after his long period of regret, Daphne ultimately accepted him.

Thus, the two were happily married.

That was the conclusion of this "story."

Even if what followed that conclusion was miserable.

Richard’s pupils moved slowly as he scanned the entire sheet of parchment containing everything he had written about this "story."

Richard had first learned that this world was a "story" during his first regression.

Back in his first life, when he had known nothing about regressions [N O V E L I G H T] or novels.

One day, Daphne, the woman he loved, had said:

"Richard, do you know something?"

They stood in a lavender field bathed in warm spring sunlight, her long brown hair reaching her waist as it flowed in the wind.

"This world is utterly contrived."

As though shattering the beliefs Richard had held his entire life,

"Princess Cesica hates me unconditionally, and my maid Marie blindly supports me no matter what I do. Don’t you think that’s strange?"

She spoke words whose meaning he could not grasp.

"Actually, this world exists inside a novel."

It was as difficult to comprehend as crossing a dimensional wall, and at the same time, chilling.

"To be a little more specific..."

She continued her explanation.

This world existed inside a novel titled The Crown Prince Who Abandoned Me Regrets It. She was the heroine, and Cailus was the male lead.

Richard was the "second male lead," whose role was to harbor unrequited feelings for the heroine.

When he first heard that story,

"Pardon?"

Richard naturally could not believe it at all.

"Ahaha, I see. You still can’t believe it, can you? What if I tell you what is going to happen? Would you believe me then?"

Saying she would tell him about the "original work," she listed the events that would occur. Cailus would soon begin regretting his actions toward her, she would be kidnapped once, and so on.

"..."

At the time, Richard thought she was merely playing a prank.

But as time passed, he realized it had not been a simple joke.

The events she had told him about truly occurred.

The Crown Prince, who had discarded her by breaking off their engagement, one day began clinging to her.

She was kidnapped by unidentified assailants.

And finally, even her marriage to Cailus, which she had called the "conclusion," came to pass.

Only after witnessing the conclusion did Richard understand that her words had not contained a single grain of falsehood.

And that this world truly existed inside a novel.

"How did Lady Daphne know that?"

Richard muttered, resting his chin on one hand.

From Richard’s perspective, as someone who had learned the "truth" through her, he could not understand how she had known such things.

However, one thing was certain.

"Lady Daphne. You said this world exists inside a novel, didn’t you? Then perhaps..."

"Huh? What are you talking about, Richard?"

After Richard began regressing, she no longer knew anything about it.

No matter how many times he asked, she always reacted as though she were hearing something absurd.

"Haa..."

Richard sighed and leaned back in the hard wooden chair.

Well, fine.

There were plenty of unanswered questions, but they were not important at the moment.

The most important thing now was...

Seducing Cailus.

Richard interlaced his fingers, stretched his arms straight out, and adjusted his posture.

Leaning his upper body back toward the desk, he began writing down his plans for the future.

First...

It’s still the introductory part.

Richard drew a long line beneath the sentence: "The male lead, Cailus, who one day began to regret what he had done to her."

Three years ago, if the point of regression had been before Cailus began regretting his actions, seducing him would have been much easier. Unfortunately, however, Cailus already had Daphne in his heart.

That meant that, in order to seduce Cailus, Richard would have to surpass her in his heart.

"It won’t be easy."

Richard muttered quietly, resting his chin on one hand.

There was no one in this world who could defeat someone as lovely as her.

After staring intently at the parchment, Richard wrote down the event that would soon occur.

[Tea Party Incident]

This is a dangerous episode.

The beginning of the main progression of the "story."

Lady Daphne drinks poisoned tea at someone’s instigation and collapses.

Shocked by the sudden incident, Cailus remains by her bedside in anguish for days, and when Lady Daphne awakens, she comes face-to-face with him.

In other words, this is the point where a subtle change begins in their feelings for each other.

I must prevent it.

His blue eyes turned cold.

He could not simply stand by and watch such a romance develop between them.

He had to seduce Cailus le Regnantia.

For that...

The corner of Richard’s mouth twisted upward.

He picked up the next sheet of parchment and quickly began writing an application to attend the tea party.

"He is undoubtedly out of his mind!"

Senin, the Crown Prince’s knight, shouted indignantly.

"How dare he spout such nonsense in the banquet hall!"

He recalled what had happened a few days earlier.

Young Master Friedrich had suddenly confessed to His Highness. He had even spoken of making an effort to conceive!

"Being in love? Conception? There is a limit to nonsense!"

Senin fumed, his face flushed red.

"..."

Cailus, who was leaning against the sofa and reading a book without expression, opened his mouth.

"Calm yourself."

"How can I calm down, Your Highness?! That wretch dared to spout strange nonsense about conception and whatnot!"

Senin’s voice grew louder.

Thud.

The book closed.

Cailus placed it on the table, a crooked smile forming on his lips.

"Well..."

A chilly aura pressed down upon the room.

Cailus tilted his head and rested his chin on one hand.

"Didn’t he say he would make an effort?"

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