I Don’t Want To Be the Main Character - Chapter 152



Side story 2. The Northern Grand Duke Wants to Flirt (1)

1.

“Phew…….”

Eileen stood in front of the mirror and let out a small sigh.

As Eileen sighed, the Eileen in the mirror naturally sighed as well. Her eyes were furrowed and her eyebrows were slightly raised, as if there was something she didn’t like. However, the Eileen in the mirror was still beautiful.

She had already reached a high level of power, so her body would age twice as slowly as others, but even so, she was in her late twenties, which could be considered the last prime of a normal human’s life. Due to the magical core in her heart, her aging was delayed, so on the outside, she looked like she was around the same age as Rudrick, not in her late twenties.

If I had to describe it, it would be closest to the correct expression to describe it as a doll-like beauty.

The rare black hair typical of northerners, and the contrasting white skin. It was an appearance that Elena once commented on as if the North were a human being, as if she were the Grand Duke of the North. Even the noble families with picky eyes for women would nod their heads and acknowledge that she was beautiful.

But Eileen in the mirror had a stiff expression. To be more precise, even if she sighed and frowned, it was only a slight change, and there was hardly any noticeable change in expression on her face.

“……I don’t like it.”

And Eileen, for the first time in a while, did not like that expression on her face.

I didn’t like myself for not being able to honestly express my true feelings, with my extremely stiff speech, and barely any change in facial expression or even emotion.

I was aware of it.

“If you’re next to Ludrick….”

Even though Eileen was doll-like not only in appearance but also in behavior, her facial expressions changed a lot when she was around Ludrick. There were countless times when I would wake up to find my face burning hot and my snow-white skin turned bright red.

My heart would pound out of control as if something in my body was broken, and my body would often react to my emotions more honestly than I intended.

It’s already been over a year since we got married, so it’s been quite some time since we were able to call ourselves newlyweds.

But regardless of the time, the atmosphere was still like that of newlyweds. In fact, it was ambiguous to call it a newlywed atmosphere, as Eileen thought back carefully on the past.

‘Eileen. Eileen, why do you always have such a stern expression?’

‘… … You mean the expression?’

‘Yes. What should I say, um. Her face is pretty, but she looks lifeless.’

‘… … .’

First of all, a piece of memory comes to mind.

Suddenly, I remembered something Ludrick had said in the distant past, before the regression. It seemed that Ludrick had said it without much thought, but for Eileen, it was a turning point. Rather than saying it was a turning point, it would be more accurate to say that a switch was pressed.

Originally, I thought he was unusual because he was not like the average nobleman, and was lively and rambunctious to say the least. However, after that, he began to perceive Ludrick as his love interest, and whenever he was around Ludrick, his body began to lose control and act out of control.

“There’s no need to think too far ahead…….”

Eileen frowned, her voice trailing off.

Bad memories came to mind. Whenever I was around Rudrick, blood flowed to my head and I would get nosebleeds, but on the first night, I couldn’t control myself. No wonder Rudrick looked shocked and said, “Aren’t you going to collapse from excessive bleeding?”

“…That doesn’t make sense.”

Eileen grumbled softly and sighed again.

Her physical abilities are different from those of ordinary humans. Her body, which is strengthened by magic beyond simple physical training, is nothing short of superhuman. And despite reaching such a superhuman level, it would be a bad joke to say that she can’t even take care of her own body properly.

But what can I do? Such absurd things actually happened and are still happening.

Even with such an expressionless expression now, just standing next to Ludrick would make the corners of his mouth go up for no reason, and it was obvious that his heart would start reacting immediately if he even held his hand.

“It might not be a bad idea to change your outfit.”

Eileen’s eyes turned back to herself in the mirror. Because of her expression, she looked like a lifeless wax doll, and the only clothes she wore were uniforms that gave off a stiff feeling.

Eileen, who had been vaguely thinking that it might be better to wear a fancy, beautiful dress instead of the stiff-looking uniform, shook her head.

“…What dress?”

At the moment when he was about to start preparing to go meet Ludrick, thinking to himself that such fancy clothes did not suit him.

Squeak.

A pair of eyes turned to her through the slightly opened door, accompanied by the sound of hinges engaging.

“I don’t think it’s bad.”

“……Eavesdropping doesn’t seem like a very good hobby.”

“I didn’t originally intend to eavesdrop. I came to ask if Rudrick had come, but somehow I ended up eavesdropping.”

A very confident attitude even after eavesdropping on someone else’s monologue.

Sylphia opened the door and spoke with her arms crossed.

“The hangers are fine, so whatever you wear won’t be bad. Even if you wear a fancy dress, you might feel awkward because it doesn’t match your image, but that doesn’t mean it looks bad or doesn’t suit you. It’s just that it feels different from usual, so it’ll be awkward for a moment.”

“…….”

“I’m giving you some serious advice, but you’re not a person… No, you’re not a person. Anyway, it’s a little hurtful to see you so openly distrustful.”

“I’m sorry if you felt that way.”

“Ahem… Anyway, it’s been a year since we got married, and you still don’t know what Rudrick likes?”

Silphia, who had been coughing, continued speaking as if she was annoyed by Eileen’s behavior.

“You’re weak in the main broadcast even though you pretend not to be.”

“That’s certainly true……”

“Usually, he acts all confident and cocky like a romance novel protagonist, but when it comes to the actual show, it’s Ludrick who gets even more flustered.”

As I quietly listened to the words Sylphia was spouting off, it didn’t seem like they were wrong at all.

Eileen, who had been thinking hard, asked back.

“Then how about you…?”

“I told you to just go and tell her. I’m not letting you sleep in tonight. Just go and tell her. Why are you so worried? It’s the same thing. Why don’t you wear a dress? It doesn’t suit you. Just do what you usually do. You’re already married, and the table is already set. Why aren’t you eating? That’s what it’s like.”

“…….”

“Or if I want to go on a sweet date! If I go and tell Ludrick, he’ll say no?”

“I don’t think so…….”

“Don’t waste your time dawdling around. It’s only once a week, so are you just going to suck your thumb and wait until next week?”

“……I know what you mean.”

Eileen nodded.

Sylphia’s last words were what set off her worries. After all, this was a chance that came once a week, and if she missed today, she would have no choice but to suck her thumb and wait until next week, just like Sylphia said.

Although it was not very dignified for a dragon to use the vocabulary, such as saying that he wouldn’t let her sleep in tonight or that he would just go and have a sweet date, it was absolutely correct.

“Or maybe you should drink alcohol. Drinking in broad daylight is a bit much, but maybe later in the evening. That’s what Ludrick did too. People tend to change once they drink alcohol.”

“That won’t work.”

Eileen responded seriously to Sylphia’s casual remark.

When I went out on my first date with Ludrick after my regression, I went to a bar that Eileen had frequented since she was in the academy, and drank some strong liquor that was offered as a freebie. Ludrick had changed completely, just as Ludrick had said.

Watching Ludrick get drunk was fun in its own way, but having to deal with a drunk Ludrick all by yourself was a different story.

“…Sylphia, I don’t know if you know this, but Ludrick gets into trouble when he’s drunk. He’s completely different from his usual self, you could say.”

“I didn’t know that.”

Still, is there a bit of a distance? Or is alcohol the best way to break down the barriers in your heart?

Eileen looked at the muttering Sylphia and asked as if something had just occurred to her.

“You seem to be into romance novels just like Arwen. Arwen, however, gave up on them cleanly after Ludrick confiscated them all.”

“…No, that’s not it?”

Sylphia’s answer was a beat late.

Eileen said with a look in her eyes that seemed to show that she understood everything.

“Be careful not to be seized by Ludrick like Arwen.”

“……I told you, I just read it once?”

“Of course.”

“Eeeeek!”

Eileen muttered as she watched Sylphia’s back as she walked away with thumping steps, unable to refute the argument.

“To be honest……”

Eileen opened her wardrobe, muttering. The first thing she saw was a spare set of her usual uniform, but Eileen’s eyes were drawn to the gorgeous jewel-decorated dress that had been given to her as a gift. Not only was the decoration not to her taste, but the dress was so low-cut that she had never worn it.

Judging from the fact that Sylphia came all the way here, it seems that Ludrick, who went out, hasn’t returned yet.

That also meant there was still some free time.

Eileen, who had been staring at the dress intently, closed her eyes tightly as if she had made up her mind.

Although my heart would beat wildly whenever I stood next to Ludrick, and my face would turn red just by holding his hand, I never once fully confessed what was on my mind.

but.

“……me too.”

Eileen opened her mouth but couldn’t bring herself to say anything else and swallowed it.

Eileen also wanted to have a sweet, flirty date with Ludrick. She wanted to casually hold his hand, link arms naturally, and stroke his hair.

As if reason could not overcome instinct, Eileen slowly reached out her hand towards the dress as if possessed by something.