Treat the Second Male Lead Like a Stone

On the way home.

“I told you not to get involved with him, didn’t I?”

Cedric finally let out the words he had been holding back.

“Do you even listen to me?”

“I’m the victim here too! I was just walking alone when he came and decided to join me on his own…….”

At my words, Cedric's eyes immediately sharpened, but I didn’t back down.

“No, then should I have run away? Like I’d seen a monster, should I have freaked out and sprinted to the meeting place?”

“Of course.”

“Oh wow, like you would’ve done that, brother!”

He’s the one who acts like nothing happened even in the most awkward situations.

Perhaps having nothing to refute, Cedric only moved his lips silently. He let out a deep sigh and glared at Leon, who was confidently standing next to me.

“……More importantly, why are you following us?”

“It feels like it’s been a while since I last greeted Lord Blua. What, is that a problem?”

“Of all days, why today?”

“Lord Blua dotes on me, after all. And do I need your permission just to say hello?”

Today just wasn’t his day.

Unlike usual, Cedric found himself at a loss for words again and ended up rubbing his face in frustration.

Then, as if finally finding something to say, he turned his attention back to me.

“So, what did you talk about with him?”

Leon also seemed curious about the topic, as his gaze immediately turned toward me.

“I should be honest, right……?”

“Well, obviously.”

“Isn’t that a given?”

Their answers came at the same time.

Would it be okay to say it while both of them were here?

“Don’t regret it later.”

“I won’t.”

I wasn’t completely sure it was the right call, but answering the question felt like the natural thing to do.

“He talked about what happened during the Academy days.”

“……!”

Their expressions scared me for some reason, so I lowered my head and fidgeted with my fingers.

I didn’t have the courage to explain the details of what he mentioned.

Fortunately or unfortunately, both of them seemed to have a rough idea and didn’t press further.

The silence weighed heavily on my shoulders. I tried awkwardly to lighten the mood but gave up quickly.

‘No matter how I think about it, keeping my mouth shut is probably the best option…….’

* * *

Grandfather seemed quite surprised to see Cedric and Leon return to the Roygin Estate together.

〈You didn’t fight on the way, did you?〉

Even though I said no, he didn’t look convinced.

Well, that was understandable.

The air on the way back had been filled with such oppressive silence and an unspoken tension.

Even I could feel it, so Grandfather must have noticed it immediately.

As proof, the moment we got home, Cedric went straight to his office without saying a word to Leon.

In the end, the task of entertaining the guest fell entirely to me.

Though, all I did was stare silently at Leon, who wasn’t saying anything either…….

Time passed meaninglessly like that. After a while, Leon cautiously broke the silence.

“Bianca.”

But he hesitated for a long time, unable to continue. Watching him, I interrupted.

“You want to ask if I believe what Lord Glaster said, right? I don’t.”

“That’s what I was going to say, but more than that…….”

While I blinked blankly, Leon struggled to speak.

“Sorry.”

“Huh?”

I was momentarily stunned by the completely unexpected apology.

“It’s not pleasant hearing stories about someone you know from someone else.”

“…….”

“If I had known, I would’ve told you myself first.”

Leon gave a bitter smile.

“I wasted time just wanting to seem like a good person to you.”

“Th-that wasn’t a waste.”

“What you truly wanted was a family. If I had cleared things up with Cedric sooner, you wouldn’t have had to feel so uncomfortable between us.”

Guilt washed over his face.

I stared at Leon and spoke without thinking.

“But you knew it was all a misunderstanding, didn’t you, brother?”

What the—! I thought only Grandfather and I knew that!

“I swear to the gods I’m innocent.”

Leon shrugged lightly.

“Even so, he treats me like a thief. If that’s not a misunderstanding, then what is it?”

“B-but why…….”

He answered flatly, as if it were the most obvious thing.

“To him, I’m already no different from a thief. There’s no going back to the days when we just traded silly jokes.”

“But it’s still unfair!”

I had no idea who was being treated like a thief right now.

Unlike me, who was anxiously fidgeting, Leon looked as calm as ever.

“You should at least explain yourself.”

“You think I can beat that guy with words? I’d rather get into a fistfight.”

“And what about Lord Glaster? If he can casually talk about you to me, he’s probably saying worse things behind your back.”

“Oh dear, looks like I won’t be getting married in this lifetime.”

Why do people around me, like Grandfather, just accept their circumstances?

If something unfair happened to them, they shouldn’t just take it quietly.

“It’s not too late. Let’s find proof that you’re innocent.”

I jumped to my feet.

“Where are you going?”

“Anywhere that might have the evidence!”

“Should I show you the way?”

It was an unexpected offer. Leon stood up with me and smiled brightly.

“You wouldn’t listen even if I tried to stop you, so it’s easier for me to just go with you.”

“It’s nice that you know me so well.”

I glanced around and whispered softly to him.

“To be honest, I kinda want to see another side of Cedric too.”

Like, maybe a flustered look…….

Or the face of someone who felt terribly sorry.

Of course, he probably wouldn’t react that dramatically.

But thankfully, Leon gave a small chuckle.

“That does sound a little tempting.”

Perfect. I was fired up, and now all I needed was the evidence to make everything fall into place.

* * *

“You seem to be in a good mood lately.”

Elliot glanced at Ricardo, who was unusually lively.

“…Nonsense.”

Elliot’s gaze dropped to the paper spread across Ricardo’s desk.

It was a neatly written list of restaurants and cafés.

The kind of thing Ricardo wouldn’t have cared about—unless the capital was under siege.

But lately, he’d been taking an interest in what the capital had to offer.

He asked which places were good and even accepted recommendations.

Elliot had answered casually, assuming Ricardo wouldn’t remember.

‘I never thought he’d write them down!’

He’d barely managed to get some places off the list—places he wouldn’t dare recommend, especially ones where knights drank after work.

Clearly, this was all because of Lady Bianca.

Now that he thought about it, Ricardo always overreacted when it came to her. What seemed minor to others always got a rise out of him.

‘I wonder if the lady is doing okay…’

Actually, something had been bothering Elliot.

Back when he’d last met Bianca, he’d said:

“His Excellency has really brightened up since meeting you.”

He didn’t even know why he’d said that. Couldn’t remember the context. But he clearly remembered her expression.

…She looked miserable.

That stuck with him. He’d known what she was going through, yet still said something careless.

‘I hope she resolved things from her past.’

But with his master’s lack of tact, that was unlikely.

Still, if he hadn’t, Ricardo wouldn’t be acting like this.

‘Well, I’m sure he managed somehow.’

Shaking off unnecessary thoughts, Elliot cleared his throat.

“Ahem, there are museums in the capital too. If you want to broaden your horizons, there are plenty of places worth visiting.”

Ricardo didn’t seem to be listening, but Elliot knew better now.

Even when he looked uninterested, he was paying attention.

And later, sure enough, Elliot’s prediction came true.

Ricardo silently repeated his words in his head—while picturing, for the first time, a future full of hope.