TRAPPED BY THE SECOND MALE LEAD
CHAPTRE 5

Marigold and Arden chatted casually on the balcony, not interested in entering and dancing with the host. Arden does not discuss much about personal life such as activities while at home or proximity to parents. Arden only discusses activities outside the house that are common to friends his age.

Arden was then curious about Marigold's activities related to the miraculous power that was predicted to be Saintess' holy power. "So, do you have to go to the temple every day?"

"Not really. The temple will only open community service on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. So I'll be gone on those three days in a week. But sometimes I would also visit the temple for a while even if it wasn't the schedule."

"If I may, I'd like to see how you use your powers."

Marigold tucked the child's hair into his earlobe "Sure. I'll show you. Give me your hand, Arden."

Arden indulged Marigold's wish "Oh, your arms are flushed a little, why?"

"Ah this I got when I helped bring someone's shopping cart."

Marigold placed his delicate hand over the bruise, a hint of golden green light burst out enveloping Marigold's hand and in just five seconds the reddish marks in Arden's arms disappeared.

"Excellent," muttered Arden in amazement.

"Ahaha, no. This is all I can show you."

They continued chatting until his careful eyes caught a shadow below. There was someone who had disturbed his mind earlier. His curiosity disappeared after knowing it was Meridia, the girl who had helped him find the inn earlier this afternoon.

"Lady— I mean, Marigold."

"Yes?"

"I'll take you back inside," the girl was surprised, the time they just spent was short for her, "You have any business?" ask Marigold unwillingly.

"I just saw my friend coming, I have to say hello to him before Dad takes me home." Marigold is not satisfied his chatter with Arden will only get here, they have not even discussed about themselves.

Marigold showed that disappointment through his heart-stealing eyes so that the man who stole his heart did not leave immediately. Usually that look is very powerful. ORDINARILY. Marigold's charm is not strong enough to be able to bewitch the eyes of the man he likes.

Arden offered a hand to lead Marigold into the hall. Instead of being insensitive, Arden actually knew and felt bad about seeing Marigold. "I'll see you later after my business is done" he said calmly. The feeling of wanting to meet Meridia could not be arrested.

In the long chair of the garden, Meridia was still comfortable sitting there daydreaming and thinking a lot no matter if her body had cooled down though. For Meridia the wind that night refreshed her brain.

The atmosphere was so comfortable, more comfortable than the stuffy room. It brought drowsiness to the beautiful girl with the cold aura which then slowly her eyelids tightened along with the breeze that continued to cradle.

Meridia would have fallen and hit her head against the wooden chair underneath if only no one had held her cheek. In that instant, Meridia's eyelids opened wide, aware of the presence of someone other than herself in the park.

The girl gasped to see Arden, the young man she helped this morning now coming back to her face and what was even more surprising was that now she looked like a high-caste noble.

Arden smiled as he raised his hand to the ear of "Hi?" sapanya's confused.

"You? What are you doing here?" Meridia was so speechless that she surprised him with the appearance of Arden.

It is true that people say, never talk to someone who is half conscious because it is the same as you are talking to a stone. No one came in.

It was obvious Arden was wearing the clothes of a noble, he was definitely one of the Marquess' invited guests. Arden pointed to himself and said, "I got a birthday invitation from the Marchioness Emerald."

The handsome-faced creature sat next to Meridia without excuse.

Meridia did not respond to Arden's statement. He was trying to remember something. While Arden would rather look at the face of the black unraveling girl solemnly.

I guess they are both very similar. So my thinking wasn't wrong. It turns out they're both different people.

"It's just my feeling or my eyes aren't working well, but I think you're a lot like Lady Marigold."

The longer they look the two of them will indeed look similar because basically the two girls are twins even though they are not as fair but have a lot in common.

Meridia laughed blandly at Arden's words, "That's not just you. I just hope everything stops equating us, it would be an insult to the honorable Lady Marigold."

"Why is that?"

"We are not bound by blood at all. Maybe my mother used to idolize the Marquess family so much? I don't know, obviously this is all just a coincidence." That's the only reason that pops up in Meridia's brain. For whatever sake Meridia regretted saying such a useless silly thing.

However, in the next second Meridia did not care if her words did not make sense as long as it could make Arden silent, that was enough. The intelligent young man immediately caught the intent of his tone of "That's it," the couple's son William and Helena glanced at the uniform that Meridia was wearing, "So you're a waiter here?"

"Yes, as you can see."

Arden did not stop observing Meridia, there was something interesting about her in the eyes of the man. This time the most prominent curious is when looking at the dumb face of Meridia.

Even though he wasn't looking at Arden, he could tell what Meridia's gaze meant. Despair and emptiness. The girl was tired of moving on with life but she didn't want to just end up. "My name is Arden, may I know what your name is?"

Meridia was just about to stare at Arden, one corner of her lips raised "If I tell you, you have to qualify from me."

Meridia's intimidating gaze made Arden even more wonder "Yes, I don't mind."

Before mentioning her name, Meridia let out a long sigh preparing herself for "Meridia," as soon as she knew the name of the girl that made her curious, Arden smiled "You have a good name meaning." praise him before asking a new question, "Then what conditions do you want to ask?"

"Don't you ever say my name in front of Lady Marigold. It could touch her."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm just telling you about the terms. I don't remember ever giving you a chance to ask." Ketus the girl. He then got up from the garden chair "I have to go back now. My job's been piled up in the back."

Arden reflex holding Meridia's wrist. Arden immediately took it off after Meridia looked up and looked at him again. "Can we both be friends?" the forehead of the dark blue iris-owning woman shriveled, "What's the point of making friends with ordinary people?"

"I feel comfortable talking to you. Unlike many of the people I deal with, they always talk formally to me and you chat casually without being asked. It makes me relieved." Arden.

Meridia snorted softly "Leave you just ask them to have a casual talk with you. Easy."

All along the people Arden had met were people who saw him as the son of the Grand Duke. Looking for face, doing good with the intention of gaining trust, all that makes Arden sick. Meeting Meridia was like a breath of fresh air to him.

"It can't be that free because we are required to be perfect in speech" Arden looked at Meridia, "I know you think it's all natural because I'm a noble but I don't think they're as sincere and as you are."

The girl put aside her wind-blown bangs "I'm not standing here to hear your curses. I have to go now. Good bye."

Arden doesn't stop him anymore, he puts on a smile "Yes, see you later, Meridia."

"Basic bully." Meridia was upset.

Meridia opened her window wide so that her crowded room was not getting stuffy. He threw himself on the bed, faced the open window, and looked at the thousands of stars scattered in the sky. His favorite hobby before bed is to look at the night sky at least two hours before going to bed. It makes him feel calmer. This method is also quite effective to relieve anger.

Although it made him calm but tonight was an exception. The night sky had no effect on his brain. I don't know how many times Meridia has cursed herself.

"When my intention was to avoid meeting with the male lead but the opposite happened. And what makes it worse is that the meeting happened faster than the original plot."

Meridia was really upset at herself. "I've forgotten the characteristics, I think too much about this rotten family to remember what I have to do."

Yep. Arden Lund Palmieri is a young man who is the main character and who will be the source of Meridia's madness. Arden remains the same as described in the novel. He is a kind-hearted young man who speaks soft words, treats women very well, and always keeps his promises. Who wouldn't fall for seeing it?

That's what makes Meridia obsessed with having Arden completely. Meridia who had never been touched by affection received little attention from Arden immediately went crazy and felt that Arden privileged her. In fact, Arden was a good fight, but Meridia did not see the reality and continued to try to get Arden.

"If only the real Meridia had met Arden again, perhaps she would have repeated the same mistake." Meridia touched her chest that was beating in response to the original Meridia memory.

Everything was outlined and Arden was still created to be Marigold's soul mate. No matter how hard Meridia tried to bind Arden, she would not be able to have it.

"How do I escape? But maybe they won't care if I leave this house either." What the other Meridia muttered with what had been on her mind since earlier.

While Marigold took a pause pulled over from the crowd of humans who gathered into one at the party. Marigold stomped his feet several times to the floor, channeling an uneasy unease.

"No way..Why did Meridia meet with Arden first? But how can it be? That kid's always busy with his job while Arden, he's not from this town."

Whenever there was any business with Meridia, Marigold's heart was always shrouded in anxiety. Always unsettled and always afraid to lose what he has had. Marigold himself did not know why.

"I have to do something. I won't let Meridia bother me."

"Marigold?" the beautiful and innocent girl was shocked after hearing Arden call her name.

"Arden? You're back yet?" Marigold sighed then walked up from the sofa "You're done?" tanyakanya.

"Yes. Why are you sitting here? You're not well? Your face is very pale."

"No, I'm just a little cold."

"You want us to do what? this meeting won't last too long, sorry. Tomorrow afternoon maybe I'll go back to my town."

"Will you dance with me just once?"

"No problem. Let's." Let's."

All of a sudden, those who dance are in the public spotlight. All the nobles present seemed to be hypnotized by their movements. It really portrays fairy tale figures in the real world.

...####...

The night changed by morning. Everyone is back to activity as before. There are no holidays for workers. This morning Meridia woke up fifteen minutes later than she should have. Not because lazy or avoid the task but a headache that attacks him is not kidding.

Until now his fever has not gone down, his face is pale and gives off cold sweat on the forehead. His gaze kept turning but he forced himself to get up and work.

"My body feels sore. Is it because I slept with the window open? but I rarely close it."

Finished cleaning her room, Meridia saw a small envelope with a letter on her desk "i am so happy to see you and I can't wait for our next meeting." His eyebrows are "Who is the sender of this letter?"

His head was already too hot now so he did not want to take a headache and throw it in the trash while muttering "Arden is indeed brave enough huh."

Out of the dormitory all the way to the mansion, all the servants he passed by kept staring and gossiping at him. Meridia was already no stranger to the scene where she had always been humbled.

When he was about to go down the stairs, a waiter grabbed Meridia's foot and made the girl who had been dazed immediately roll down. Fortunately, the stairs were not high.

"Ups. Sorry, I didn't see you."

I'm lazy to argue with lowly creatures like you.

Meridia did not prolong the matter and continued on towards the butler's room, Meridia's eyes slightly bruised causing her to limp, "I hope you will also fall down and feel what I feel" he cursed in his heart.

As soon as she reached the butler's room, Meridia immediately bluntly aimed to meet the female butler there. "Head maid, I want to take a job in the garden today."

"can't. I didn't give you a choice so don't bargain, "sometimes Meridia wipes the sweat on her forehead while trying to stay upright with her legs shaking helplessly "Just for today, I beg you."

The butler frowned at Meridia's almost blue face "You're sick?" Meridia nodded slowly "No. I'm fine."

"Clean the living room, Lady Marigold's room, then the library."

"What's? can't you give me a little lightening? I need a friend if it's that much work." Meridia does not believe that the female butler still gives the same portion of work, according to her this is a little more than usual.

Since the beginning Meridia was not able to expect high so far is the Emerald mansion. The butler already knows that if the garden work is completed faster and there is no strict supervision, unlike the inside.

Even if Meridia initially claimed to be sick, the butler would only give her a pause to check, take medicine, rest forty minutes and after that her work would be added to replace the time off. It makes no difference.

"Fast work! You're thirty minutes late!"

It takes extra fighting for Meridia now. The second floor has a long staircase. With the current conditions make it have to waste more time.

While Marigold was currently in his room, standing with a smile pecked at himself in his makeup mirror. The two maids who helped him seemed even more excited than Marigold "Are you guys not a little too overboard? this dress is too beautiful to wear on an ordinary day like this."

"Your Majesty, you must look special! The one you met is the son of the Grand Duke, you know!"

"really. Your beauty should reach a thousand percent. We're ready to help you."

"Ahahaha you guys are there. I just look normal no problem."

In Marigold's heart was delighted at their help. With the enthusiasm they had, Marigold so no need to bother to show the other side of himself. Marigold is determined to steal Arden's heart before he returns home to his town.

"What do you think? This is enough, isn't it?"

"Hm, there seems to be less. Your Majesty, wear this necklace."

"Oh.yes."

Meridia opened her sister's room door and dropped a bucket of cleaning tools. He hurriedly flicked his hands in front of his face, his nose furrowed "God what the fuck?"