Ch.66. The Lion Wearing a Rogue’s Mask

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Elina Parseche.”

“You must be tired from your long journey. I am Selden Alphonse.”

A scoundrel second to none in the Eastern Continent.

Having grown up as a beloved youngest child, I’d heard he was inherently selfish and, like Tras Cardrian, couldn’t resist any woman who crossed his path.

The one difference from Tras was that he didn’t torment commoners.

This merely meant he had no interest in commoners, but that became the decisive factor in her decision to marry Selden Alphonse.

Since she had to marry without love anyway, Selden Alphonse would be relatively better than Tras with his cruel methods.

That’s certainly what she had thought, but…

“Even though we’re both from the Eastern Continent, it’s unusually cold here.”

“I apologize. The main house is relatively warm, but as you know, this place is a place of exile…”

“I see.”

“Just a moment.”

Then, Selden Alphonse turned his head and snapped his thumb and middle finger.

“Padericks, please bring a blanket.”

“Right away, sir.”

He was so different from what she had expected.

His sturdy physique visible through her veil and his ingrained courtesy.

His appearance was also so handsome that women would drool over him.

He was so attractive that if she kept staring absentmindedly, she might forget why she had come here—his presence was that powerful.

Elina swallowed dryly and tried to maintain her composure.

“Let me ask you directly. Have you found someone else to marry?”

“No.”

“Then why do you want to break off our engagement?”

“It’s simple. Because we are not in love with each other.”

How many counterarguments had Elina prepared during her long journey here?

Yet, she found herself speechless.

Even without love, it was so natural in their world to marry according to their parents’ arrangements, but Selden seemed to have no intention of following that age-old custom.

“…Love is nice. But where we live, that alone isn’t enough for marriage. There must be benefits for both families.”

“That’s true for most. The nobles here consider marriage a business venture.”

“You speak as if you’re not a noble yourself.”

“Is there any need to boast about being a noble? It’s just a title obtained through bloodline alone, without any real ability.”

Could all the information she had received be false?

The arrogance typical of scoundrels was nowhere to be felt in Selden.

“It’s easier to accept it as fate. Even if it’s not what you wanted.”

“Fate… Is it necessary to use such a grand word to describe nobility?”

“I imagine Baron Byron Alphonse would think differently?”

A scoundrel from the edge of the Eastern Continent?

A selfish man who only thinks of himself and can’t resist any woman?

No.

This man was like…

“You’ll be fine. After all, I’m just a scoundrel.”

Like a lion cleverly hidden behind the mask of a scoundrel.

Simply waiting for the right moment to bare his fangs.

As she continued conversing with Selden, Elina’s expression hardened.

The strategy of “using barbarians to control barbarians” had long since left her mind.

However, having made this difficult journey with the sole intention of saving her family, she couldn’t easily back down.

‘Is this the only way after all?’

Swish!

Elina slowly removed the black veil that had been hiding her face.

She did so before Rigard, the Parseche family butler who had been standing silently behind her, could stop her.

Even Selden, who had been composed until now, seemed taken aback, his pupils trembling.

“…You have a truly beautiful face.”

“Though it embarrasses me to say this, I hope that seeing my face might change your mind, Lord Selden.”

In response to Elina’s bold action and words, Selden bowed his head with a troubled expression.

And after what seemed like an eternity of silence, Selden rose from the sofa and bowed respectfully.

“I’m sorry. I will pray that you find a good husband.”

*

“Young master, have you truly lost your mind?”

“What?”

“How could you reject the marriage after seeing Lady Elina’s face?! When will you ever meet someone like her again?! Huh?!”

After expressing his refusal and hurriedly entering the study, Padericks followed, gesticulating wildly and spraying spittle as he ranted.

But why does this guy seem more disappointed than I am?

“I still have two years until my coming-of-age ceremony. There’s plenty of time.”

“All you have is a scoundrel’s reputation!! And you’ve been exiled here!! When such a beautiful lady is desperately asking!! Are you really in your right mind?! Huh?!”

“Everything you say is true, but I’m starting to get annoyed.”

After that sharp retort, Padericks’ bulging eyes returned to normal.

He quickly pulled out a handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

“…I apologize. It seems I was the one who lost my mind, not you, young master.”

“Fine, let’s drop it. What about Elina?”

“She seemed shocked after you left and remained seated in the reception room for quite some time.”

Alright, I’ll admit it.

I’ve only been possessing this body for just over a month, but like Luna Brillhart, who was a murderer in the original story, I’m undeniably at the celestial level in terms of appearance.

The moment I saw Elina’s face when she removed her veil, I was already imagining myself married with two children.

So why did I reject her?

It’s obvious, isn’t it? Why would someone with beauty that could captivate an entire continent beg to marry me?

Especially after I had already expressed my intention to break off the engagement, and she came all this way.

Because of the Parseche family’s financial troubles?

Well, with Elina’s beauty, men from various families would be falling over themselves to pay off her debts.

There was never any need for her to marry someone with a reputation as a scoundrel.

“It’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. Did you see her off properly for me?”

“Lady Elina hasn’t left yet.”

“W-what?!”

“As I just told you, after sitting in the reception room for a while, she said she was tired from the journey and asked to be shown to a guest room.”

“You didn’t actually give her a room, did you?”

“Of course I gave her a guest room. The Alphonse family isn’t that inhospitable, is it?”

Looking at him closely, this guy seems to have fallen for Elina.

Well, even as a butler, at thirty-two, he’s still quite young.

If it weren’t for the suspicious aspects, I would have thought I’d found a life partner for a sweet life too.

But still.

Anyone else would have fled such a humiliating situation, but she brazenly settled in?

I’m becoming convinced that Elina is a more formidable woman than I thought.

“Haa… This is getting complicated.”

“What’s so complicated about letting her stay for one night?”

“The problem is that I don’t think it will be just one night.”

“Then that’s even better. It’s an opportunity to make up for your mistake in the reception room earlier.”

What conversation could I possibly have with Padericks, who looks like he’d give his own liver if Elina asked for it?

I pressed my temples to ease the throbbing headache.

“Call in Rio Sergang.”

Shortly after, Rio entered the study with disciplined steps and shouted energetically.

“Rio Sergang, reporting to the young master!!”

“Please, could you be quiet in the study?”

“I will correct myself!”

Why are all the people around Selden Alphonse such a motley crew?

Even if Padericks is half out of his mind because of Elina, Rio Sergang wasn’t like this originally, was he?

He was one of the characters I was fond of, showing unwavering loyalty as the right-hand man of the protagonist, Serion Rykus.

Of course, my options were limited since all the female characters were crazy, but still.

“Are you good at finding people?”

“What kind of person are you looking for?”

“Well, he’s probably using the name Delrun. Mid-twenties, and his distinguishing feature is… a lightning-shaped scar on his right cheek.”

Rio, who had been listening quietly, continued with a puzzled look.

“Young master, no matter how skilled I am, it’s impossible to find someone with just that information.”

“It might be easier than you think. Just go out at night and search all the taverns in the village.”

“Is he a villager? How do you know someone from the village? You’ve never left the mansion.”

I furrowed my brow at Rio’s barrage of questions, which felt like an interrogation.

“I’m asking you to find one person, why do you keep asking unnecessary questions?”

“…I will correct myself!”

Shaking my head, I took out a rope I had prepared from the drawer and tossed it to Rio.

“When you find him, make sure to tie his arms and legs tightly with this rope and bring him here. He’s a master of escape, so be careful.”

“What is this rope—”

“Again, again!!”

“I-I’m sorry! I’ll do my best to find him!!”

Currently operating under the name Delrun, his real name is Riden Solis.

In the future, he becomes the person who provides high-quality information to the protagonist, Serion Rykus.

In the original story, he was described as “a man who would go to the underworld and return with the Grim Reaper’s weakness if paid enough.”

So…

‘Serion… until you meet Riden, I’ll be milking him for all he’s worth!’