I’m a Second Male Lead in a Romance Fantasy, but I Don’t Like the Female Lead

Lily von Adamas was the youngest daughter of a small baronial family near the capital. Apparently, her family was like a stereotype of poor minor nobility. However, she didn’t seem to care much about that fact.

Rather, she was more cheerful and confident than I expected. The baroness’s daughter showed no signs of intimidation even among the Crown Prince, the ducal heir, and a count’s daughter. If it were me, I’d have been too nervous to say a word, made some excuse, and fled. I guess you need that kind of guts and confidence to seduce a Crown Prince.

“Though it’s been greatly improved by His Majesty the Emperor’s wise rule, the Empire’s industrial structure is still vulnerable.”

Lily was also knowledgeable. Honestly, I don’t know much about these topics. How would I know how unsound the Empire’s industrial structure is? As a result, I’m quietly retreating from the conversation and just sipping my drink.

I took a step back and observed Lily intently. She was suspiciously outstanding for a daughter of an obscure baronial family. Lovely, intelligent, and confident. The only thing lacking was her family background. She’s the epitome of a romance novel’s female protagonist.

She must be the protagonist of this world. I would have thought so even without her appearance, abilities, or relationship with the Crown Prince. She exudes the aura of a protagonist. I can’t express it well in words, but I have a conviction that she is the center of the world.

Lily is probably the female protagonist, and Wilhelm the main male protagonist. I suspect I’m in the position of the second male lead.

“Come to think of it, I heard that Lord Mikhail doesn’t enjoy such gatherings… I guess rumors are just rumors after all.”

I was lost in my thoughts when…

The conversation suddenly veered toward me with Lily’s unexpected question. Honestly, I don’t want to get involved, but I can’t ignore the words of the Crown Prince’s lover in front of him, so I forced myself to answer.

“I still don’t particularly enjoy them. But I was curious about the fellow students I’ll be studying with,”

I placed my hand on Hestia’s waist. I can feel her flinch.

“And I wanted to show off my fiancée. Now that I’m here, it’s more enjoyable than I expected. I might come more often in the future.”

Hestia’s face flushes at my sudden display of affection. She must have thought I wouldn’t notice her giving me glimpses, perhaps displeased that I kept looking at Lily.

My heart does beat faster when I look at her, but that’s beyond my control. I acted boldly to ensure Hestia wouldn’t feel unnecessarily insecure.

“You two seem to be getting along very well.”

Lily asked with somewhat dubious attitude. It seems the fact that Hestia and I weren’t on good terms was quite famous. But even so, is it appropriate to be so obvious about it?

“We’re engaged. Of course we get along well.”

But that’s not my concern. It would be different if there were rumors about me not getting along with someone I don’t know, but since it’s about my fiancée, such rumors will likely disappear after showing a few acts of affection in front of people.

Hestia, with a reddened face, bowed her head deeply, unable to react. If we were alone, she would have quarreled with me, asking if I was crazy or if I enjoyed teasing her like this, but it seems she doesn’t have the guts to do so in front of the Crown Prince.

“Haha… that’s true.”

Lily laughed awkwardly at my answer. Her mouth is smiling, but the corners of her eyes twitch as if in spasm. Then she glances at Wilhelm.

“Ahem. There are engagements based solely on family considerations. Not all are necessarily like that.”

Wilhelm interjected, clearly showing discomfort. Come to think of it, right in front of us was someone who, far from getting along well, had unilaterally broken off his engagement. Although unintentional, from his perspective, I must seem like a jerk rubbing it in.

Silence followed. I’ve messed up. I completely shattered the previously fine atmosphere.

“It’s been an extremely enjoyable time. We’ll be going now. Have a good time.”

Wilhelm, seemingly uncomfortable with the suddenly chilled atmosphere, left his seat. Actually, I was equally uncomfortable, so this was for the best. I bid farewell to him as he left.

“How could you say such a thing in front of His Highness the Crown Prince?!”

After Wilhelm and Lily had completely left, Hestia checked around and, as soon as she confirmed no one was looking our way, burst out in anger.

“I didn’t particularly aim to do that, but it just happened that way.”
“This is no laughing matter. How could you show such disrespect to His Highness?”
“Honestly, what I said wasn’t wrong, was it?”

I have nothing to be guilty about. It’s ‘common sense’ that engaged couples get along well, isn’t it?

Honestly, there are many couples that defy this common sense. However, that’s their internal matter, and even if they truly don’t get along, few nobles display their discord outwardly. No one enjoys having their love life become gossip in social circles.

If Wilhelm had bristled and held me accountable, it would be an admission that there was discord between him and his fiancée. They say there’s no such thing as a beautiful breakup, but for Wilhelm who likely wants a quiet separation, that wouldn’t be a good choice.

“Hah, really.”

Hestia sighs as if in disbelief. I was about to say that sighing makes fortune fly away, but I held back, unsure if such a saying exists in this world.

“What? Is there another problem?”
“Yes! And, since when have we been so intimate?”

This time, Hestia took issue with my bold behavior of suddenly embracing her waist.

“Can’t engaged couples even have this much skinship?”
“No, it’s not that it’s not allowed, but the order… Ah, really!”

When I played weak, Hestia couldn’t continue to be angry and muttered to herself before venting her frustration loudly.

“Getting angry is bad for your skin. You need to preserve that beautiful skin.”
“Are you trying to smooth-talk your way out of this again?”

I’ve been caught. But I’m sincere about the beautiful skin part.

“It’s not smooth talk. And did you think I wouldn’t notice you glancing at me every time I looked at Lady Adamas?”
“When did I! Do that?”

Hestia, genuinely taken aback by my words, let out a loud shout before lowering her tone, surprised by her own voice.

“I saw it all. I know everything about my future wife.”
“Ewk…”

Hestia made a genuinely disgusted expression. This line must have been too much. But no matter what, what’s with the “ewk”?

“Do you talk like this to other women too?”
“What are you talking about? What other women do I know? I don’t even have friends, let alone women.”
“Hmph. I’ll believe you.”

Hestia reluctantly accepted my glib answer.

“By the way, what do you think of Lady Adamas?”
“She was beautiful. Enough for you to stare blankly.”

Hestia responded coldly to my abrupt change of topic.

Though she pretended otherwise, it must have bothered her. Of course she would notice, given how blankly I stared at first meeting. Earlier I said it was beyond my control, but it’s indeed inexcusable to give all my attention to another woman with my fiancée by my side.

“Really? She wasn’t really my type.”
“While you spent the entire conversation looking only at her face? I’m sure you prefer someone like her to a cold and boring woman like me.”

What is she saying? I don’t know who tore her self-esteem to shreds like this, but they will certainly face divine punishment.

“Who says that? I like you more. I’m more of a cat person than a dog person.”
“Cat?”
“I prefer someone a bit prickly.”

Hestia made a strange expression.

“Have you been enjoying my anger and irritation all this time?”
“A little?”
“I should restrain myself from now on.”
“Oh, can you do that?”

I poked Hestia’s cheek as I spoke. Can you really hold back? Will you?

“Eek! Don’t do that!”

Hestia said, swatting my hand away. See, you can’t hold back.

“Just be yourself. Trying to hold back will make you sick.”

As I tried to slither my way out, Hestia gave me a quick glare and then shook her head as if giving up.

“By the way, is Lady Adamas the one from the rumors?”
“Considering she approached us for introductions at this point, I think so, don’t you?”

When introducing Lily to us, Wilhelm didn’t use any precise wording like “girlfriend.” He just approached saying he wanted to introduce someone. But no one in this place would think she has no relationship with him.

Perhaps they’re not dating yet. Wilhelm might be trapped in Lily’s fishbowl, floundering about, or they might simply be in the early stages of attraction. Considering that I, who likely hold the position of the second male lead, just met her for the first time, this possibility seems higher.

“She’s certainly beautiful, but I still don’t understand the broken engagement. Cordelia isn’t someone who falls short anywhere. No matter how I think about it, it’s too sudden.”

It seems Cordelia was Wilhelm’s original fiancée. Is she in the position of the villain who gets crushed in the novel’s introduction?

“Why think so deeply about it? Perhaps His Highness the Crown Prince is more… um… yes, a blockhead than you think.”
“That’s treason!”
“Are you going to report me?”
“I mean watch your mouth! Goodness.”

Hestia seems genuinely surprised by my crude remark. It doesn’t matter since I said it after confirming no one was around. And honestly, he is a blockhead.

“You bitch!”

A shout from somewhere halted our discussion on the Crown Prince’s love affairs. And it’s not just any shout, but a very crude one.

We both turned our heads in the direction of the sound. A gallery of people, excited by the spectacle, has already formed and is buzzing with chatter.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

I grabbed Hestia’s hand and joined the gallery. I can’t resist watching a fight. By the time we pushed through the crowd and peeked our heads into the center of the incident, the fight had long reached its climax.

“You seduced him, that’s why he fell for you!”
“My, I did no such thing. Perhaps Lady Deneb’s charms were lacking?”

Lily and an unfamiliar woman are engaged in a fierce verbal battle. She’s so cold that it’s hard to believe she’s the same Lily who was smiling so cheerfully at us earlier. There’s a razor-sharp hostility in the air.

“Lady Adamas and Cordelia?”

Hestia’s voice trembles as she sees their faces. I see now, it’s a fight over Wilhelm. I don’t understand why they’re fighting over that playboy-looking guy.

“Mikhail? Could you stop the fight?”

Hestia asked me as I was quietly watching the fight. She unusually called me by my name.

“Me? I’m an outsider.”
“Please. Cordelia is my friend, but she’s a bit hot-tempered, and if this continues, something terrible might happen. Besides, others won’t step in because of the Deneb ducal name.”

Hestia seems genuinely worried about the red-haired woman named Cordelia. Hmm, as Hestia said, she is beautiful, but seeing her shouting like that is a bit off-putting.

“But even so, if the Crown Prince is staying put, isn’t it a bit odd for me to step in?”

Despite Hestia’s request, to be honest, I don’t particularly want to get involved in that fight. There’s nothing that wastes both body and spirit like getting involved in someone else’s love quarrel. Plus, it’s a ridiculous picture for me to step in when Wilhelm, that blockhead, is just standing there. I don’t want to attract the attention of so many people either.

As I was unable to decide what to do, Cordelia’s hand suddenly swung back. As if preparing for a full-swing slap.

“You whore, really!”
“Kyaaa!”

Hestia’s scream echoed around.

“Stop!”

When I came to my senses, I was already holding her wrist. Ah, this Cordelia is really a troublemaker.

“Let’s calm down first.”

I don’t understand why she’s acting so thoughtlessly, potentially facing severe consequences for trying to slap the Crown Prince’s prospective lover right next to him.

And Wilhelm, this crazy bastard, what is he doing not stopping the fight when the person he likes was about to get hit?

I felt extreme stress at being suddenly involved in this catfight.

“…Something’s strange indeed. She’s too different from the original work.”
“Lady Adamas, what did you say?”
“Nothing at all.”