Treat the Second Male Lead Like a Stone

"……Bianca?"

At Leon's call, I snapped back to my senses.

"Ah, no!"

I could never admit that yesterday's incident was bothering me.

Shaking my head, I tried to erase what had happened with Ricardo from my mind.

Did something happen?

While I was letting out a sigh, I spotted a familiar face outside the carriage window.

"Oh, brother, just a moment please!"

At my words, Leon hurriedly stopped the carriage.

"Thank you! I’ll be right back."

I rushed through the crowd. Eventually, I reached my grandaunt, Elizabeth, who was standing ahead.

Noticing my presence, Elizabeth’s gaze turned toward me.

"……It’s been a while."

She looked almost the same as when I had last seen her.

"You look healthy, thankfully."

"Unfortunately, that’s how it turned out."

Though things had been awkward due to our unpleasant last parting, there was something I needed to confirm with her.

"Don’t look at me like that. I haven’t even approached your grandfather. I was simply on my way back from the temple."

Elizabeth seemed to sense I had a purpose. She let out a short laugh and spoke in a self-mocking tone.

"Why that expression? Your brother safely inherited the title, and that man’s still alive and well. Shouldn’t you be happy?"

〈I heard there was gossip among the collateral relatives.〉

"Of course. He took over the Roygin family despite opposition, how could I not be happy?"

"I only hope the joy lasts. Now that your grandfather is the master of Drimokan, you all won’t be safe either, will you?"

It didn’t hurt, since I knew we wouldn’t die.

But her next words shook my expression.

"Your brother must fear death too. When he was young, he once asked about ways not to die, just like your parents did."

"……!"

"Foolishly thinking we were the ones who cursed you, he made a disgraceful effort to gain our approval. Probably believed we’d lift the curse then."

It felt like gritty sand was rolling around inside my mouth.

My throat tightened.

"……Why didn’t you deny it when he asked?"

"Why should I go through the trouble? Watching someone born with the fate of death struggle to survive was my only joy."

"……."

"Believing such a thing could save you and your grandfather only proves his stupidity."

* * *

No, the foolish one was me.

At that time, I was too caught up in self-pity to even consider looking around.

All I did was scream to be sent home, trapped in despair.

If only I had realized reality back then……

Something heavy sat on my chest, suffocating me.

But I couldn’t show it in front of Leon, so I fixed my expression.

"But why did you call me to the Owen estate?"

If there had been evidence here, Leon would have found it already.

Instead of answering, he handed me a small box. As I carefully opened it, there lay a brooch adorned with amethyst.

It was a brooch engraved with the Academy’s emblem at the center.

"This is it. The item I got back from Cedric."

"……."

"Well, he claims he stole it."

It was a brooch awarded to students with outstanding grades. Recognized by the Academy, it signified excellence, and those who received it often went on to achieve great merit in the Empire.

"I needed it to inherit the title. I’m sure it was the same for Cedric."

Cedric’s name pricked a spot in my heart.

"I’m sorry to say this, but if it weren’t for you, I’d never have been involved with that guy."

"……But how did the misunderstanding happen?"

"I don’t really know."

Leon frowned.

"I don’t know why, but at some point, rumors started spreading that the Owen family paid for grades."

When I handed the brooch back to him, Leon threw the box into the drawer like he couldn’t stand the sight of it.

"I was jealous when Cedric received it, but I acknowledged he deserved it."

"……."

"But the one who submitted evidence of my cheating to the Academy was Cedric. That bastard."

Leon let out a hollow laugh.

"The evidence was solid, and the Academy acknowledged it. That’s also why I lost to that guy."

"E-Evidence was solid? But you didn’t cheat!"

Leon roughly tousled his own hair, seemingly pained by the unpleasant memory.

"Yeah."

"Was it really Cedric who submitted the evidence in the first place?"

Just as Leon was about to answer—

Step, step.

With the sound of approaching footsteps, the door burst open.

Before I could even check who it was, a box thudded onto the desk.

"……!"

It was none other than Cedric. Leon and I looked at each other in utter confusion.

Leon, clearly caught off guard, barely moved his lips before speaking.

"You—how did you…."

But Cedric adjusted his slipping glasses and scanned the room. Then, spotting the brooch box inside the drawer, he paused for a moment.

In the meantime, I quickly peeked into the box. Inside were the records of the 241st graduating class we had found yesterday at the Academy.

"There are some documents here we missed yesterday…."

Just as I was about to continue, I noticed Leon’s now fierce gaze and hurriedly changed the subject.

"Since Cedric is here too, isn't this the perfect opportunity?"

I didn’t think I spoke loudly, but Cedric, somehow hearing me, let out a sigh and responded.

"I came because the Dean contacted me. He asked me to bring this to you."

"You came all the way here just for that?"

The famously reclusive Cedric?

"It was a request from an elder. Even if it’s annoying, I had no choice."

Cedric glanced at me.

"You’ll be less bothered too if we settle this quickly, right? Better than wasting time doing nothing."

"I’m not bothered at all."

"Of course. It’s the perfect excuse to kill time."

"Don’t talk to Bianca like that."

Leon gritted his teeth. Cedric gave a small, dry laugh.

"Then you should’ve behaved better. Stop wasting other people’s time."

"Le-Leon never asked for my help! This was my own decision!"

But it seemed my voice wasn’t being heard.

"I’m warning you—stop meddling with the Roygin family."

"……Afraid I’ll steal something?"

The mood instantly sharpened.

"I’m telling you not to approach her under the pretense of some pitiful family play, hiding your impure intentions."

"Ha!"

Leon turned red, clearly struggling to hold back his anger. The veins on his hand bulged as he walked toward Cedric with a fierce look.

"You were the one who asked me to look after Bianca, and now this? Do you think I’m a joke?"

"I should be the one asking that. You’re the one who betrayed my trust, weren’t you?"

"Trust? Did that even exist in the first place?"

"……No."

Cedric’s response came uncharacteristically slow.

"Finally being honest, huh? Must’ve been exhausting talking to a thief all this time."

Ignoring Leon’s sarcasm, Cedric glanced over the desk. It was scattered with the documents Leon and I had been reviewing.

"Good luck finding anything in that mess."

"We don’t need your help, so get out."

"I have no intention of staying, and I was going to leave soon anyway."

Cedric gestured at me to come with him. I immediately shook my head.

"I’m staying here."

Leon sneered at the rejection.

"Too bad. Bianca wants to help me."

"It’s my decision."

"Did you hear that? It’s Bianca’s decision. If anyone should leave, it’s you."

Cedric gave me an unkind look before plopping down on the sofa like it was his own house.

Leon’s jaw dropped, clearly expecting Cedric to leave.

As he began organizing the scattered documents, Cedric nodded at the two of us, who were still standing blankly.

"Sit down. We don’t have time, so let’s get this over with."