TLWFL 02

Chapter 02

So this is what a male lead’s birthday is like.

It was splendid, splendid, and more splendid.

Plus, there were rows of vintage, romantic carriages lined up, the kind you’d only ever see in movies. I was one of them.

I gave appropriate responses to my parents, who were chattering on about the romantic engagement announcement that was supposed to happen today, and stepped down from the carriage.

The hall was crowded with people.

The orchestra was playing music, people were dancing, and among them, Reston.

Reston tossed his hair back, his bright platinum blonde making his pale skin stand out even more. A pretty forehead, and beneath it, vivid blue eyes.

God must have been dozing off and dumped all the visual specs into him at once.

No wonder the female lead ran away but still forgave him and came back.

That’s what you call a true knockout.

Reston’s eyes met mine, and he approached me.

“Rozelle.”

His voice is amazing too. You really are the male lead, aren’t you?

“…Reston?”

“I need to talk to you.”

Reston said with a face that looked somewhat tired. I nodded. Reston led me toward the garden.

After taking me to a place that was still relatively empty, Reston ran a hand over his face as if frustrated.

He turned his head and gazed at me.

Wow… really, really handsome.

“Our engagement is likely going to be called off, Rozelle.”

“That’s exactly what I wanted!”

I exclaimed without meaning to. Yes, this is right! I thought the original story had been ruined even though I hadn’t done anything yet.

I almost had to bring the female lead here myself!

Finally, things are starting to align with the original.

“I’m completely on board with everything, Reston.”

“…Thank you.”

Reston narrowed his eyes and studied me.

Anyway, I need to help Reston and the female lead get married.

So they can marry well and live well and prosper.

“But what’s the reason our engagement fell through, Reston?”

Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can win the fight. I felt like I needed to know exactly why the engagement between me and Reston was broken off.

That way, I can absolutely avoid marrying Reston.

Reston sighed and roughly ran his hand through his hair.

“Grandmother wishes it. She suddenly changed her mind, saying the engagement or marriage seems too fast.”

“I actually think so too.”

Right now, Rozelle and Reston are only 22 years old. Considering the average marriage age where I used to live was late 20s to early 30s, it’s fast, even too fast.

If you say a person lives for 70 years, that means they’d have to live together for 50 years…

You have to be as cautious as possible.

“…I’m glad we’re on the same page, Rozelle. Thank you for understanding.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Rather, thank you.

Phew, anyway, I’ve gotten past this crisis for now, but if I’m not careful, I might end up marrying Reston. It seemed like bringing the female lead here quickly would be good for my safety.

No matter how capable Reston is and how much of a super handsome man he is, he’s not my type. I prefer gentle, mild-mannered herbivore men who know only one woman and respect their partner. But the keywords that followed Reston around in the original were all extraordinary.

‘Overwhelming Man, Obsessive Man, Indifferent Man, Regretful Man.’

Overwhelming… since it was an all-ages novel, I don’t know the details. Obsessive man? Well, he was definitely obsessive. He’d get so jealous and misunderstand if the female lead just said one word to another man. And yet, he was incredibly indifferent too.

And on top of that, a regretful man?

Ha, he’s truly disqualified as a husband.

There’s nothing more foolish than fixing the barn after the cow is gone.

So, I should actively encourage the marriage between Reston and the female lead…

Wouldn’t it be better if the female lead didn’t run away in the first place?

Right now, circumstantially, it’s Reston’s 22nd birthday. That means the female lead will appear within 6 months. Hmm, 5 months. It’s a bit short, but still, I’ll try my best.

Reforming a person isn’t easy, but it’s better than doing nothing.

“Then let’s go back inside…”

“There’s one more thing I’m curious about.”

Reston gave a short nod. It really did look like a porcelain doll, painstakingly crafted by a master, had come to life.

A handsome face that makes your heart waver.

“What do you think marriage is?”

I expected a fitting answer. I’ve seen plenty of male leads who say things like “the M&A of a lifetime.” But even they turn over a new leaf after meeting a kind female lead.

I felt like I needed to know what level Reston was at so I could make an estimate.

Reston gazed at me steadily, as if asking why I would ask such a thing.

Then, as if it were nothing, he shrugged.

“The most expensive transaction in life.”

…

What did I just hear…

This guy was doomed from the start.

Female lead, just run away. This one is hopeless.

—

Reston gazed absentmindedly at Rozelle, who was mingling with the crowd and dancing. The light from the splendid chandeliers made Rozelle’s bright silver hair sparkle prettily. The men in the ballroom let their gazes brush over Rozelle from time to time.

Moreover, Rozelle had deep, beautiful pink eyes, and those unique irises sparkled like jewels.

She wore a headband studded with gems, revealing her round, cute forehead, and light makeup gave her a lively look. Her large, clear eyes stood out against her white skin.

It wasn’t for nothing that Rozelle was counted among the pink roses of high society.

Anyway, regardless of those people’s objective evaluations…

Today’s Rozelle was strange.

“She gives in that easily.”

Reston muttered in a low voice. Whenever Rozelle met Reston, she would go on and on about the meaning of their marriage and what their married life would be like.

Rozelle wanted her marriage to Reston more than anyone.

Yet Rozelle not only readily agreed to postpone the engagement announcement, but she even seemed happy about it.

*’I’m going to wear the most expensive wedding dress in the world, Reston. If this marriage is the most expensive transaction in the world, as you say, then I’m going to sell myself for the highest price.’*

Rozelle, who had said that, asked Reston today.

*’What do you think marriage is?’*

Reston’s eyes narrowed. He could clearly see Rozelle talking with people and then moving to a slightly secluded spot. The male beasts of the ballroom, who had been desperate to get even one word with her, were approaching her.

Reston surveyed their faces.

“Surely not. Did she change her mind?”

Maybe she has a new lover. It was entirely possible. Over the past few centuries, progressive views on love had developed, and an era of free love had arrived.

Reston let out a cold laugh.

He could find out what Rozelle was thinking in due time.

Reston recalled what his grandmother had said today.

*’We need to postpone the engagement announcement, Reston. It seems Rozelle’s family has been playing around with money. An audit will be conducted on Rozelle’s merchant guild. Tsk, even if she wasn’t as good as her father, it would have been nice if she was at least half as capable. The late Count’s efforts have gone to waste.’*

It wasn’t the Grand Duchess’s whim that postponed this engagement. The Grand Duchess, upon hearing that an audit would be conducted on Rozelle’s family, took a step back.

In a world where there’s truly no one you can trust, it was actually strange that the grandfather had sold his grandson’s marriage out of sentiment.

Reston glanced at Rozelle and then turned his gaze away entirely.

Everything would change depending on how things concluded.

He was curious to see what price Rozelle would sell herself for.