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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: The Worn-Out Male Lead Picked the Wrong Opponent
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"Lutemia is too cold for me to possibly go. I trust only you, Princess Cynthia. - Diana Spencer Rothschild"
This was the backstory of how I ended up in charge of the Lutemia branch and prepared this very event.
From that short, forceful letter, I could glimpse the personality of the crown princess I'd never even met.
"So... she was close enough to the Media royal family that they entrusted her with a foundation branch?"
Those who had only heard Helen's side of things and assumed the royal partnership was entirely Masera's achievement were starting to realize the truth belatedly.
That I was included among the people they needed to impress.
I began listing out the perks that would make those who missed their chance clutch their stomachs in regret.
"Foundation members receive official invitations to major events in the Media Kingdom. And outstanding volunteers can earn honorary titles from Media."
The six who had innocently expressed interest were stunned by the unimaginable opportunity, covering their mouths in shock.
My two invitees, who hadn't shown any interest in joining the foundation, belatedly piped up.
"I'd like to volunteer too. I've done plenty of donations in the past."
"Is it too late? I was consulting and couldn't raise my hand..."
Too late, you fools.
"First-come, first-served recruitment is closed. Future membership requires over 200 hours of volunteer service. The watches are for those selected as outstanding volunteers."
At the brutally strict entry conditions, those who missed the golden opportunity wore regretful expressions. Even those attached to Helen were the same.
"Miss Cynthia, the afternoon paper just came out."
Dalia handed me the evening newspaper.
The front page featured a huge photo of me hugging the Queensguard Count, another of me clinging to Edford's back, and so on.
But why was there a selfie of the count crying?
This article would soon spread everywhere.
Dalia asked.
"Should we distribute copies to everyone here?"
"No, those who need to clear up misunderstandings will. Let's leave it to their judgment."
Meanwhile, those who had been desperately trying to find fault with me fell silent.
I'd told them to leave if they wanted, so why weren't they going?
Everyone was eyeing each other and staying put. Even the man who had threatened to storm out right away was the same.
"So... a scandal rebuttal article came out?"
"If those were malicious rumors, then we're the fools who missed out."
"Yeah, that's why Miss Valeria accepted Prince Karos's proposal."
The aides had been bustling about, and it seemed the article was making the rounds among the attendees too.
Nobles always moved toward the side with the most gains, never loyalty.
But seeing even Helen's people wavering made me feel a bit deflated.
"Making real friends sure isn't easy."
I sighed for a moment, then spotted Masera chatting with some officers in the distance.
Hoping desperately that he wouldn't get tangled up with Karos anymore, I decided to execute my "look close with Masera" operation in front of everyone.
Now's the time!
I filled my lungs to the brim and bellowed at the top of my voice.
"Honey!"
My booming voice drew all eyes to one spot.
"......"
A flash of unbearable humiliation crossed Masera's eyes as he looked at me, but oddly, he returned a smile.
'Pretending otherwise? How cute.'
Having successfully embarrassed him, I beamed with satisfaction.
"You said you'd go mad if I was out of sight even for a moment! Where'd you disappear to, showing up now?"
Masera desperately curved his taut lips at Cynthia's words, which delivered shock and humiliation.
'...She's definitely enjoying this.'
And rightly so—Cynthia wore a wicked smile.
She had long been waging war by provocatively embarrassing her opponent with cringeworthy taunts.
Having mostly been on the losing end, he could no longer just take it lying down.
He strode straight to Cynthia, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and leaned in to whisper lowly.
"...I've been lenient so far, but I'll never forget today's humiliation."
"How do you plan to get revenge?"
Masera let out a snort at Cynthia's innocent question.
"I'll prove it with my whole body. That we're excessively close."
For the fiercely competitive man, winning mattered more than his dignity as a commander.
Cynthia covered her mouth, eyes widening in circles.
"Oh no, not another public kis—"
"Every time we attend a social party, I'll enter in Princess's arms. With a full military band."
Parading like royalty wherever they went?
Anything but that!
Meanwhile, the Lecanosa Duke, quietly observing the situation, stared at Helen as she struggled to maintain her composure.
He soon lowered his voice so only she could hear.
"I requested the Intelligence Agency to exclude the forged letter you manipulated from the evidence, but since the incident happened at your villa, Izac Major General insisted on pursuing all leads."
"And?"
Helen smoothed her disheveled hair and responded haughtily.
"I'll investigate the major general's guards. He'll have no choice but to close the case to protect his own."
"Then no problem."
The duke, irked by her lack of even a thank-you, added lowly.
"Unlike your fake little sister, who elevates her husband's prestige, I'd appreciate it if you didn't cause me any more headaches."
A faint vein pulsed on Helen's forehead at the comparison to Cynthia. But she had no retort.
'That fake pulled in investment capital amid all the slander, while the real princess just stirs up trouble. I wonder if Dies really has gold mines.'
The duke grumbled inwardly.
Raising funds and soliciting investments for the Dies land development had all fallen to him. Helen's pride prevented her from begging others.
Unlike the wasteland Knox, Dies required negotiations for resident relocation compensation—and the residents, angered by Helen's arrogance, now opposed the development.
The Lecanosa Duke pressed his furrowed brow and stood.
"I'll rest in the annex for a bit. See you at dinner."
After he left, a young woman passed Helen with a beaming smile.
That smile felt oddly deceptive.
"What?"
A sudden unpleasant premonition flitted through her mind.
Helen stared piercingly at the woman's retreating figure heading toward the annex where guests rested.
"......"
She recalled a conversation with noble ladies: "Women have keen intuition."
And that intuition was rarely wrong.
"They say even in arranged marriages, spouses must uphold loyalty. But chastity isn't part of it."
"Keeping a mistress is just expected nowadays. Getting angry about it makes you the weird one."
She had nodded in agreement back then, but inwardly prided herself that the man she chose was different.
Raised under a strict grandmother, the Lecanosa Duke valued noble dignity above all.
'No way.'
So she had to confirm with her own eyes that her choice was right.
She rose immediately and headed to the annex.
Opening the door to the VIP room in the annex, Helen felt an unpleasant heat and looked down at the floor.
"......"
Her gaze followed the coat dropped like a trail marker toward the bedroom.
And there, she witnessed the worst possible scene.
