MPGF 05

Episode 5: The Male Lead Has Gone Mad!After sending Violet to the banquet, I moved toward a quiet, secluded place.

Wearing Violet’s long dress, I barely arrived at a corner terrace inside the banquet hall.

I had already informed the Information Guild in advance.

I asked them to arrange a meeting here with one of the two potential husbands.

Because Serdis kept coming around every day, it was hard even to go out, let alone keep appointments. The banquet was the only place where I could secretly meet the knights. Considering they were a major protected group in my family and the difficulty of getting requests through, the banquet was a perfect opportunity for me.

Hoping to arrange a marriage soon, I opened the terrace door. My heart pounded as the door creaked quietly in the stillness.

“What kind of person will he be?”

It was a contract, but since he would become my husband, I hoped we would get along well.

But unlike what I worried about, the terrace was empty.

“No one’s here?”

I returned to the banquet hall to double-check the location.

“This is the right place?”

Even looking at the note from the Information Guild, it was the correct spot.

“Anyone here?”

But only the sound of my heels and the chirping of autumn insects echoed in the terrace.

What’s going on? Was the message not delivered properly?

They definitely said they accepted.

“Ugh! Uugh…”

As I was looking around the terrace, I heard a voice beyond the railing.

“What… what’s that sound?”

After a moment’s hesitation, I went to the railing and looked down.

Outside was just thick bushes.

But at the strange noise again, and the rustling of grass brushing, suspicion crept in.

“Could it be the knight?”

Had he slipped and fallen?

I blinked, trying to adjust to the darkness, but there was no sign of anyone in the bushes.

Right. Why would the knight be there?

I turned away and decided to wait a bit longer.

But after more than ten minutes, anxiety drained my patience.

“This won’t do. I should look for the other person first.”

I couldn’t just keep waiting here.

Returning to the banquet hall, the last song was starting, and all the ladies and knights with partners were out on the floor, dancing to the lively tune.

I pushed past them and headed to the second location: the royal garden.

“What? Not here either?”

No sign of the knight; only red roses were in full bloom in the royal garden.

A wave of emptiness hit me.

This was a place I had gone through great trouble to arrange, even deceiving my parents. It was a rare appointment carefully made to avoid Serdis’ constant intrusions.

“If I wait, he’ll come.”

If he didn’t show up, I might have to leave the banquet and head straight to the Guild headquarters. While thinking calmly, I sensed someone approaching.

“Found you.”

Where the knight was supposed to be, there appeared someone who absolutely shouldn’t be there.

Serdis. That clingy pest.

“Why are you here…?”

Was he going to block my way?

“Anette. I followed you.”

He was breathing heavily.

Before coming out, I made sure Violet was dancing safely with someone, so I was somewhat relieved.

“What are you doing out here alone?”

I wanted to scream, “I came to find a husband because of you!”

“I just came out for some fresh air. It’s cold, so I’m going back in.”

I replied as coldly as the night air itself.

Though I showed my dislike, Serdis interpreted it differently.

“You said no, but you did wait for me, right? This is the garden where we talked that night.”

His cheeks were flushed like peaches.

“Let’s talk all night again, like that time.”

Serdis caught his breath, roughly took off his white gloves, and threw them to the ground. His hand stretched out toward me without hesitation.

“I told you I just came out for fresh air. Don’t misinterpret on your own.”

I cut him off, rejecting his reach. I was about to look around the garden again and move when—

He grabbed me into his embrace.

“Ah!”

Just before my face hit his solid chest, sensing danger, I struggled with all my strength.

“Anette, are you that scared?”

When I screamed, Serdis easily let me go.

I was already going crazy with his constant obsession, and his sudden touch felt threatening.

“Your Highness! Why are you doing this to me?!”

My voice trembled badly. I was serious, but Serdis smiled brightly as if nothing was wrong.

“You keep running away, so what else can I do?”

“We’re just from the same academy. Nothing more, nothing less. I don’t want anything more. I hate it all.”

I pushed him away firmly, knowing I should run, but the words wouldn’t come out. He seemed different from the Serdis I knew at the academy, or the male lead from the original story.

“My lovely Anette. You keep pushing me away, so what am I supposed to do?”

“…”

“I might die without you.”

That’s right.

I guess trying to drop out from the original story was a big mistake.

Seeing the male lead gone mad.

Looking at Serdis’s half-rolled eyes, my tangled thoughts went blank.

The person in front of me wasn’t the male lead. He was someone mad with frustration because he couldn’t control me.

My hands and feet trembled. Suddenly, my eyes felt hot with tears.

“Go away…”

“Stop pushing me away and come to me. I know you secretly sought a husband through the Information Guild, so don’t suffer needlessly.”

I felt my breath choke.

How did he know about this?

“It was strange when your words didn’t match the count’s. I investigated and found out quickly.”

“You did a background check on me…”

“It was because I wanted you. My feelings are pure.”

His expression changed oddly. He looked helpless and anxious, then stared at me intently.

“Anette.”

His deep voice quietly called my name. I shivered.

Serdis came close and suddenly traced my lips with his finger.

“What are you doing…!”

“Wouldn’t it be better if I kept you here so you can breathe by my side forever, instead of going to the convent?”

I, who felt comfortable next to Serdis, suddenly breathed harder.

“You’ll understand, right? Because it’s me.”

He was serious.

I pushed him away hard as he approached, but with my weak body, it was impossible to repel a huge adult man.

Serdis’s smooth jaw tilted slightly as his hand firmly wrapped around me.

My heart pounded rapidly and repeatedly from the close contact, unsure if the beat was mine or his.

“Please… don’t do this!”

“You like this kind of thing. Stop pushing me away.”

“I don’t like it… I said I don’t like it…”

Tears finally spilled uncontrollably. Fear that I would never escape his embrace overwhelmed me.

Just as I was drowning in despair—

Bang!

Serdis, who had been a giant wall, collapsed.

And in his place stood a stranger man. His face was hidden in the moonlight as he spoke firmly in a low voice.

“Run away now.”

It was a saving hand that came to me on the brink.

But I was frozen, unable to move.

The man spoke loudly in frustration.

“Hurry!”

His voice moved my frozen body slightly.

Panicked, I ran without a chance to thank him. I just wanted to get out safely.

Ahead, I saw the tall royal entrance, with family carriages lined up.

Even rubbing my tear-stained eyes, I couldn’t see the count’s carriage.

There was no time to search for it anyway. Serdis could chase me anytime, anywhere.

Eventually, I left the palace bare-handed.

I walked aimlessly down an unknown street.

My heel broke with a snap, so I stopped.

The street was wrapped in black darkness. Only my heavy breaths echoed in the silence.

A carriage rental place was nearby, but I couldn’t bring myself to move.

“What if Serdis is there if I go back to the mansion?”

After a short thought, I decided not to return either.

Instead, I headed toward a distant alley where I heard voices.

It was a bar street. The cheerful laughter of men reached me.

I collapsed as soon as I entered the alley.

“I can’t walk anymore.”

I kneeled and buried my face.

Unwanted faces tried to appear in my black vision.

I rubbed my face harshly on the dress and shook my head.

At that moment, someone helped me up with a gentle touch.

“It’s dangerous to stay here.”

The man, faintly visible, looked similar to the one who saved me earlier.

I looked down as his face was still unclear.

Under his rough cloak, armor was visible.

A mercenary?

“I’ll take you somewhere safe.”

Ah, a guard.

He must have approached after seeing a noble lady wandering the streets this late.

Blinking my swollen eyes, I asked,

“Where are you taking me?”

“You’ll catch a cold here. You have to go.”

At his glance, I saw a carriage.

I shook off his hand. The gently held hand slipped away easily.

“…I don’t want to go home. I’ll stay out today and go in later.”

“Then I’ll take you to a safe place to rest.”

“…”

Too tired to speak, I followed him.

Even late at night, magic made the signs glow brightly in this unfamiliar place.

I glanced away from the flickering neon sign.

“A casino is a safe place?”

“Yes.”

The man answered plainly and led me inside.

‘Is he really a guard?’

Taking me to a casino.

But I had no time to dwell on the question.

I followed him inside.

The casino was a place even noble ladies occasionally used.

However, due to the nature of gambling, I had never come before because of the uneasy feeling.

As I entered under a red canopy, a gasp echoed.

“Wow.”

The casino’s interior was wide open, all gilded in gold.

The velvet floor muffled footsteps so they wouldn’t disturb the games.

The eye-catching games filled every section.

“Everyone must be at the banquet.”

However, the usually crowded casino was empty.

Except for the dealers standing like robots at each game.

I dragged my swollen legs and inconvenient dress to a nearby game.

The man kindly pulled out a chair for me.

“Please sit and wait for a moment.”

He seated me and disappeared somewhere.

I stared blankly at the roulette wheel in front of me.

Soon, he returned with a large blanket.

“May I cover you?”

The man was tall and handsome.

His appearance, unseen in the dark earlier, naturally drew admiration.

His well-toned muscles weren’t hidden even under the cloak.

His pale face, untanned under sunlight, perfectly matched his black hair without any clash.

‘A handsome guard.’

That was all I thought.

After being hurt by a handsome man, this guard was now just a nuisance.

Instead of answering, I nodded slightly.

The warm, cozy feeling soon warmed my body.

“It’s warm.”

“It’s a magical blanket. Please have some tea.”

Perhaps because a lot of money was involved, the place was filled with expensive magic.

It gave off a dreamlike atmosphere.

“Is this magic too?”

“Yes.”

Steam rose from the tea, its aroma a fragrant chamomile.

It was soothing. I closed my eyes, inhaling the scent, and faintly smiled.

“It’s my favorite tea.”

“That’s good.”

He was kind, unlike his appearance.

His gentle tone had a comforting effect.

Thanks to him, my tension eased, and the events that had just happened faded a bit.

I looked straight ahead.

The steel ball in the roulette wheel with red and white markings sparkled.

“I wish life was a game so I could reset it.”

If that were true, none of this would have happened.

“Something must have happened.”

“It’s embarrassing to talk about.”

I fidgeted with the warm cup, unsure if I should tell a stranger about it.

A few minutes of silence passed.

Only after finishing the tea did he speak.

“I feel the same these days.”

At his words, I slightly turned my head. It seemed like he was just trying to comfort me.

“…I see.”

As I trailed off, he continued.

“I will keep it just between us.”

“You don’t have to…”

“There are circumstances, so I’m looking for a marriage partner.”

Just what I needed to hear.