I became a Male Lead in a Romance Fantasy Novel

"Do you heard that Duke Verdin came into Lady Edelt's garden party some days ago?"

"It was such a big news, how could I not know. I heard that they even held hands and whispering to each other, sweetly!"

"Oh my! Really?! Then is it mean that now Duke Verdin is within Lady's Edelt grasp?"

It was rumored that Duke Verdin had responded to the interest of Lady Edelt. And that rumors quickly spread throughout high society. Wherever you go, whether it's a market, a pub, or a party, all people are talking about it in secret. 

The source of the rumor was none other than the garden party hosted by Lucia. Those who witnessed the two conversing at the event were shocked and quickly spread the news.

Naturally, the rumor reached the two dukes. In Lucia's case, she was satisfied with the rumors. This didn't mean she enjoyed those who spread rumors carelessly. It was just an exceptional situation this time.

It was a well-known fact that Lucia wanted Owen. If it had been about someone else, there might have been talk of pity or disrespect. However, the fact that it was Lucia made a difference.

She, with the name of Edelt, was known as the flower of high society. 

What rumors circulating in the society,

What kind of people in the society,

What background they have, 

What they likes and dislikes,

What they desired and greedy for,

Even their deepest and darkest secret.

She would know it better than anyone. In another word, everything in the society are within her grasp. She understood that only by holding a person's greed and secrets would she retain control over them. To her, the world is like a chessboard and those people are her pawns. That's why people worshipped her but also feared her at the same time. 

Moreover, those involved in the rumor with her were also the head of the Verdin family, Owen. There was no one who dares to spread gossip about the heir and heiress of the only two dukedoms in the empire, Edelt and Verdin. At least, not in front of Lucia and Owen.

Behind the scenes, the stories were different. Before, there are many people who tried to impress Lucia in front of her but would mock her actions behind her back. But now, this rumor could silence those who mocked her from behind. That's why Lucia didn't try to stop the rumors.

And Owen...

"...Your Grace, do you really intend to leave the rumors as they are?"

"Is there a problem?"

He didn't seem particularly inclined to stop the rumors.

"The rumors are not entirely baseless, aren't they?"

Despite the butler's question, Owen didn't stop his pen. Instead, he casually replied, "Do you think so?"

"Naturally. Your Grace, you've discarded all the gifts Lady Edelt sent so far..."

"..."

Owen muttered curses in his mind right now. This damn nobleman had been diligently fulfilling his duties. No matter how others showed interest or favor, he remained impervious as a fortress.

Thanks to that, all the gifts Lucia had sent so far had been disposed of as rubbish. Letters and invitations were thrown into the fireplace and burned. So, the butler's reaction could be considered natural.

"...That's how it was."

"Yes. How could Your Grace be interested in the lady?"

The butler asserted confidently. The assertion seemed quite plausible. If it were true to the original, that's probably how it went.

He drew a sharp line with Lucia, who endlessly showed affection. But if Lucia, who envied Bella, committed a misdeed, he would punish her without hesitation. Yes, it must have been like that. If it were the original Owen.

But the current Owen was not him. The current Owen was just someone wearing the outer shell of "Owen." And he had no intention of dignifying the original work. Whether he entered the novel through possession or not, this was his world now, and he was Owen. So, why should he be swayed by someone else's will and dragged along for an unwanted ending?

"Logan."

Owen called his Butler's name, and said, "It seems that you don't understand people's hearts well."

"...People's hearts?"

"Yes. People's hearts."

Since he had no intention of being led as in the original, he had to change people's perceptions around him. So, he decided to erase all traces of 'Owen'. His beliefs, values, and interests, all of them. And then, he planned to fill all the gaps anew with his own.

"You seem to be unaware of the slyness of heart that can change for any reason at any time."

At Owen's words, Logan fell silent. The meaning behind Owen's words was clear.

"Does that explain it?"

At Owen's question, Logan barely nodded. Unbelievable, but it seemed the rumors were true, Duke Verdin did responds to Lady Edelt's interest.

***

Day by day passed and the rumor still spreading like wildfire.

Lucia actually found this situation quite puzzling. It was one thing for her, but it was odd that Owen didn't stop the spreading rumor. She knew that he was a person who detested bothersome matters, but why did he overlook such a bothersome rumor like this...

'Strange indeed....'

From the garden party onwards, Owen's recent behaviors had been quite different from his usual self.

Initially, Lucia thought there was some other motive.

For instance, a family matter.

Or a business matter.

Since Owen was someone who was always engrossed in work, this seemed much more likely than the mere fact that he had taken an interest in her.

'But there was no connection at all.'

The problem was that, no matter how hard I looked, there seemed to be no family or business issue that could possibly involve both Duke Verdin and Duke Edelt.

Unless he was planning to start a new business.

'But if that were the case, he would have gone to see Father from the start.'

Thanks to the garden party, Lucia was caught up in such thoughts. The reason why Owen attended the garden party that day, and why she suddenly received an invitation to the mansion. And why he let the rumors spread without doing anything about it.

"No matter how much I think about it, I don't understand."

Lucia, who was pondering hard, soon sighed deeply, pressing her forehead.

Even when she bought the latest information on Owen from the information guild and hired people to follow him, but there was little to gain. He was just carrying on with work as usual. He didn't even bother catching the person who followed him. Even though Owen was a refined duke but he was also a swordmaster, along with his high-level knights, they couldn't possibly miss the spy's presence.

'What I need is the cause.'

When only the result is blatantly obvious and the cause remains utterly unknown, her head started to ache. She, Lucia Edelt, was an expert in handling people. She usually didn't allow any rooms for mistakes nor ignorance in every relationship she handled. 

All this time, Lucia thought that she knew everything about Owen, but the things that happened in the last few days made her realize that maybe she didn't know Owen at all. 

'I have no choice but to go and see for myself!'

And today was the day she was invited, so it wouldn't be difficult.

As Lucia tugged at the corset, the maids knocked and entered her bedroom.

"We'll help you get dressed."

They took out the dress prepared for today from the dressing room and neatly arranged the jewelry to go with it. She busily prepared for her meeting with Owen today.

At the last garden party where Owen had shown up unexpectedly, she was wearing the usual party attire she always wore, but this time was different.

Owen had personally invited her.

To his own mansion.

Thinking that she couldn't just wear anything to such an important occasion, she had roamed the salon district for a while. Visiting one boutique after another, she had made efforts to choose the best dress. She also had gone to all the famous jewelers in the capital to pick out the accessories that matched the dress.

The outfit she had prepared looked perfect at least in Lucia's eyes. If she had known Owen's taste, she could have prepared even more perfectly, but there was no choice.

He had never had a lover before, not even someone he liked. There was no way to know what style of clothing such a person would like.

'But he did say so last time.'

The only thing she believed in was the one thing he had said at the last garden party. Since he had whispered that he also liked beautiful things, she was confident.

There was no one else searching as diligently for beautiful things as she was. So, the dress and accessories she had chosen were undoubtedly beautiful.

"Do you like it, Milady?"

Having finished her makeup, Lucia stood in front of the full-length mirror, giving herself a final check.

"Yes."

This was enough.

The dress, the accessories, the makeup.

They all complemented each other perfectly.

'Alright, time to go.'

Having finished her preparations, Lucia got into the carriage arranged by the Edelt's family in front of the mansion.

'Let's make him yours, Lucia Edelt.'

Lucia smiled as she gazing through the carriage's window.