Fostering the Male Lead

npoint hers.
The empress’s blood-red eyes gleamed sharply.
I wondered if the emotions flashing through her eyes were ones of hostility and resentment.

I couldn’t read it easily because of the conflicting emotions that were present.
But there was one thing I did know.

That the Empress despised me.

‘It’s a good thing I went with Lanoa’s choice.’

Even if the Duchy had been quiet, it was clear that the Empress had been staring at us.

The Empress’s gaze, which I expected to fade quickly, remained steadfast.
It didn’t go away even after I sat down in my seat.

I missed the timing to avoid her gaze and instead ran into the Empress’s gaze again.

‘Is this okay?’

I’m not sure if the Empress saw my attitude as a challenge, but there was a deep furrow between her brows.

“Lanoa, the Empress is staring at me.”

Should I avoid her or not? When I covered my mouth with a fan and murmured, Lanoa freaked out and grabbed my shoulder.

“Hey, what did you do?”

“Start a staring contest?”

“Are you out of your mind…….?”

Lanoa sighed and touched his forehead.

* * *

“My ears hurt.”

“Try doing it one more time.
It hasn’t even been an hour and you’ve already got yourself in trouble.”

Lanoa, who was firmly threatening, pinched my ear.
After hitting his hand in the prickly pain, I poked my mouth.

Lanoa scolded me and pinched my ear.
I clenched my hand at the stinging pain that came up.

“Can’t you even understand a joke?”

I grunted, rubbing my tingling ears.

I was just kidding, what kind of mess is this?

I just joked with Lanoa to relieve his nervousness as he was too wary of his surroundings.
But I didn’t know I’d be dragged to the terrace and nagged for a long time.

“Don’t raise your eyes like that.
All the men who came here have seemed to run away.”

“I don’t need such a weak man.”

I responed bluntly and sat on the sofa prepared on the terrace, patting my stiff shoulders.
When I remembered the empress’s persistent gaze, I felt extremely exhausted.
The gaze that chased me while pretending not to was like a snake seeking food.

She was too wary to say it was just because I was by Sihael’s side.

“Lanoa, what happened to the empress when I was young?”

I asked quietly, lowering my voice in case anyone heard me.
Lanoa frowned and inquired as to what I meant.

“I don’t recall much, but I believe there’s something.”

“Would I have brought you here if it had been like that?”

“That’s true, but…….”

Why is this guy so brusque?

Perhaps it was because he was less angry at my prank, but it felt like he had purposefully blocked my question.

“You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean by hiding something? Think about it.
You’re as small as a rat.
What would you have to do with the busy empress? Did the Empress meet you? You have to say something that makes sense.”

Lanoa turned his head as if he didn’t want to hear about it anymore.
I was suspicious of the sensitive reaction.

What are you hiding?’

Lanoa’s delicate manner, the Queen’s gaze, Rosetta’s diary, and the missing memory.

There must be something I’m missing.

“Stop thinking about insignificant things and go down because your dog is here.”

Lanoa, who lightly tapped my brow, motioned towards the banquet hall, and as soon as I cleared my mind and lifted my head, I heard a distant voice.

The loud sound of trumpets announced the appearance of the late male lead.
After tidying up my messy dress, I opened the door to the terrace and saw Sihael entering the banquet hall.