TRAPPED BY THE SECOND MALE LEAD
THE CHAPTER 19
Lucien looked up at the corner of Meridia's room where there were piles of unused used items piling up high. The young man was convinced that Ziel was not letting the item stay there because it had nowhere else to move it. “This is a former warehouse? You really don't sleep in a place uninhabitable like this?” Lucien looked astonished to see it.
“I don't mind. Besides, it's not just me who lives in a room like this.” the pretext is not to extend the discussion.
Lucien leaning shoulder to door “Don't you hate them?”
“Not really,” he gave a pause. Meridia stared at Lucien's two irises the longer they were looked at the more reddened “You said you'd wait outside.”
The young man scratched his nape that did not itch, he then said “I was curious to see how your room.”
Meridia no longer answered. He walked out of the room past Lucien at his door with a heartbeat that raced faster than a horse race. It's really uncomfortable to be close to a mysterious, scary person. He did not want to deal further with this very suspicious second male lead.
Before getting out of the waiter dorm, Meridia asks a question “You won't do anything to this family isn't it?”
Lucien seemed to be thinking, deciding what to do next “Maybe not, as long as they didn't bother you. But I don't promise.” he said while aligning his footsteps with Meridia.
“I have many things I want to ask you.”
Lucien nods small “We will discuss later after arriving home yes.”
Meridia is getting uncomfortable with her feelings “What other part do I not remember from this novel?” that was the big question lodged in his brain.
“You're not trying to run away from me, ‘kan?” Lucien who was incidentally taller than Meridia glanced at the girl's dark blue head shoot sharply.
Meridia's body stiffened. He turned his face to look at the interlocutor “Eh? no.” retorted trying to hide the tension he was feeling.
Meridia's intention was to see her family first before she actually lifted a leg out of the house but Lucien forbade her on the grounds that she didn't have much time because she had another job.
Meridia also did not know that the way they went home was to ride a special train bearing the Navarro clan. Just for information, the train symbolizes the logo of the noble family is usually used for official events or interests that are only used by family leaders or legitimate family members.
It's surprising, isn't it? Meridia thinks it's overrated. Just picking up a waiter he even uses a car as luxurious as that. This could be the conversation of many people who saw it.
While on the way, Meridia continued to stare out the window. His mind drifted somewhere. Now that Meridia was just feeling worried, should she be happy? Maybe he was free from Ziel's shackles, but his free way was beyond reason.
Meridia was unsure of her own memory. Lucien obviously liked Marigold but why did this cold-looking man even look more attracted to him?
“Why are you hiding your true identity?” Meridia could not bear to harbor all her arousing curiosity.
Lucien who was reading something on the paper roll stopped his activity “Hm? It's obvious you wouldn't believe me if I said it, would you?”
“That's ‘kan because of your changed appearance and no one remembers clearly how you look.”
“Ah, is that it?”
“I also heard that you were hardly ever seen in public. So this is what you're doing? Hiding as a wanderer and spending time wandering around is unclear?” ask Meridia again. His words sound like they are being ridiculed even though in fact Meridia only expresses the confusion she feels.
The black-haired youth chuckled small “You how else, I'm more comfortable so. I have no interest in continuing my father's throne. I told my dad I wanted to be a gardener.”
“It doesn't make sense.”
“The only thing that makes sense in this world is that nothing makes sense. You understand what I mean, right?” Meridia can't argue with that. Lucien's words were right. Being able to be in the body of a novel character is already very beyond reason.
They've reached Lucien's palace. Just like before, the atmosphere throughout the palace was still gloomy despite so many people on the move in it.
Dozens of maids lined up neatly welcoming their master's return “Welcome back, His Highness Duke Navarro.” all lowered their gazes and bowed in salute.
Lucien got off the train first, then offered his hand to Meridia “Let's go in,” he said with a warm smile. Meridia had to hold hands with the young man again.
The atmosphere inside the palace had changed. Now it feels warmer and has life, another with a night that the atmosphere of each corner of the room is very cold and dark.
“What if the Marquess and Marigold spread news outside about you? I won't be responsible for that.”
Lucien shrugged indifferently “I don't care what anyone else looks at me so you don't have to worry about that. Whatever their response will not affect my life.” That was the relaxed response from Lucien that was less than satisfactory in Meridia's ears because it wasn't that kind of answer that she needed.
He alone could strangle Marigold without touching him, I'm not sure he didn't do anything to them.
Meridia was curious why Lucien was so closed to the outside world moreover he also included a high-caste noble which was certainly easy for him to do business, find a partner, and so on. But judging from his disinterest in this problem proves that Lucien is indeed not like other nobles who always attach importance to reputation in the public eye.
Not long after they reached a room with a large door and looked very classy “Now this is your room and right in front of your door it is my room.” Lucien pointed at the door they were behind. The young man opened the door for Meridia “Please enter.”
Meridia was unable to close her mouth after seeing the contents of the luxurious room that Lucien referred to as the room. Do not ask his position as a Duke which means having a lot of money.
All filled with luxury goods, there were two large cabinets with large mirrors in the middle, Meridia had just seen a bed that was as beautiful as that. There was even a fireplace in the room. Meridia never dreamed of occupying a room more luxurious than Marigold's room.
The splendor of the room was already at the same level as the room of an empress “This is a little excessive..”.
“Excessive? It's nothing, there's still a lot of things I haven't shown you.”
Meridia looked in shock “What?”
“An hour I'll be here to pick you up. Rest first.”
Meridia timidly stroked the thick blanket that was still neatly folded at the end of the bed as if she was not the owner of the room. To put his ass on the edge of the bed he just hugged. Eventually Meridia decided to rest herself on the sofa.
The journey is quite long considering Lucien's residence is on the border between Norfolk and Goldenleaf. Meridia witnessed for herself the carriage she was riding down the forest and the scenery immediately swapped after breaking through the barrier that was somehow installed.
“As I recall Lucien came home to meet with Marigold. He's competing with Arden. Then why is he focusing on me? My fault met him in the market.”
Honestly, Meridia wanted to ask Lucien why he brought her here. Of course he also wanted to ask about Meridia who always forgot about Lucien if the young man did not mention his name again at their next meeting.
Now Meridia no longer forgets Lucien. That was his chance to satisfy his curiosity.
Elsewhere, at the new Baroness Vista boutique, Zoya and her noble female friends finished attending the opening ceremony. After the inauguration, Baroness Vista invited four friends he invited to spend a short time in a restaurant.
Zoya is amused at being able to gather with her friends so that she can forget for a moment with the burden of thought felt since last night.
The graceful lady sipped her herbal tea with a passion, occasionally she responded to her friend's stories. Then, the thing that Zoya was trying to avoid came. “Oh yes, Marchioness. I heard some bad rumors. Is it true you have a daughter besides Marigold?”
Not a few nobles who hide one of their children from the public spotlight because of a background that is not appropriate for a noble such as children from infidelity, children from previous marriages, or adopted children.
Not a few also assume that the daughter that Ziel and Zoya are hiding is the illegitimate child of the dark relationship between Ziel and the village woman who does not have any status.
The attention of the other three people was on Zoya's silence. The blonde decomposed woman chuckled “That's impossible. Last night my husband explained it to himself, didn't you hear him?” he tried to remain relaxed even though his heart was not careless.
“I heard that said it was a maternity healer who helped you give birth. It feels like the news is a bit hard to fake.”
Zoya knows that Baroness Vista does often harbor envy for her. She often insinuates and subtly shows her dislike of hearing someone say a compliment to Zoya. So this is a good opportunity to drop it.
“But, Baroness, I think it could have been bribed by Marquess enemies to spread false news about her to hurt the reputation and good name of the Emerald.” family The Bela Countess Clealpina. He then continued, “After all the woman is no longer in Norfolk, who knows if she is lying or not?”
“But we all heard it from the person who heard the story directly from the maternity healer.”
“Baroness, you forgot? Marquess Ziel was the most respected noble and was flattered for her good performance in Norfolk. Of course there are envious rivals and ignite fake news to attack him.”
Baroness Vista smiled askew “Ya, of course. But in some cases, what the enemy is spreading is not fake news but a secret that is kept tight by the target. You guys are no stranger to secret leaks, are you?”
Gretha, the wife of Count Clealpina nodded her head in agreement “Then what about the statement of the Marquess and her family? They have said it is not true, what else would you like to discuss?”
Zoya smiles happily at the defense of her husband's wife. Zoya also chimed in “Ya, I think so. It's not just my family that's been hit by this kind of sloping news. For nobles like us, reputation is the most important thing above all else.”
Baroness Vista slightly scowled “Thank God if it was indeed a hoax. If it's real, you're too cruel to your own flesh and blood. I've never heard of a story there's such an evil mother.”
Zoya chuckles when she says “You were right. Why would I do such a thing.”
They then continued the conversation by changing sensitive topics in a more relaxed direction.
In her heart Zoya felt relieved. Were it not for Greta's help, this conversation would have continued and the Baroness would have cornered him.
In the afternoon Zoya returns home, hoping her husband has taken care of Meridia. Meridia's curse has overshadowed Ziel, so Zoya is also worried because her husband cannot be appeased easily.
Arriving at Zoya's house doesn't feel anything strange. Everything seems normal. Until at night, he saw Ziel, Marigold, and a few others become much dreamy. The atmosphere is somewhat different, Zoya herself who feels only herself is cheerful.
Zoya couldn't ask him right away because he was also quite tired. He had thought it was just his feelings, but their flat atmosphere and expression remained the same as before. It provokes Zoya's curiosity.
Out of curiosity Zoya finally asked her husband “Honey, something is bothering you? Why have you been daydreaming so much?” the clap on the shoulder made Ziel sober up.
The authoritative man looked at his wife “Eh? What did you say?”
“What happened to you?”
“Nothing, I'm fine.” Ziel moved from the sofa in his room to the outside. Zoya frowning don't understand “Where are you going?”
“I want to talk to Meridia. I'm tired.”
While waiting for Ziel to finish taking care of Meridia, Zoya came to Marigold who was looking in the mirror that night while daydreaming.The long-haired woman then stroked the top of her favorite daughter's head from behind “Why haven't you slept?”
“Mother?” Marigold looked up while smiling sweetly in front of his mother.
Zoya glared in surprise when she saw the red circle around Marigold's neck “Honey, what's with your neck? Does this hurt?”
“Eh?” Marigold only realized he had that mark there. Her lentic finger rubbed gently the former giggles “I don't know. Maybe I'm allergic to something.” Marigold used his power to remove the marks without having any memory of why the mark could be there.
“You sure you're okay?”
“Yes, mom~” Marigold hugs slim waist of the mother to spoof “How was the show, mom? Is everything going well?” Marigold knows Zoya is attending the inauguration and opening of a new boutique owned by her friend.
“Um, yes that is. I'm happy to chat with friends.”
Zoya and Marigold gasped in shock as Ziel opened the door of Marigold's room with a half slam. Ziel's panicked face managed to make his son and wife worried “Dad, what's wrong?”
“Meridia disappeared!”
“What?!”
Ziel holdingi— errat. The man grabbed his hair in frustration. His fear increased drastically. No one knows when overnight news will strike her again, Meridia's presence outside will only amplify the public's speculation “Sial! Where did he go?!”
Without giving his wife time to argue, Ziel quickly walked out of his daughter's room and went to work, making sure that the child he had neglected stole important documents.
“Sial, shit, shit! That kid is driving me crazy!” the curse is inexhaustible.
