I Became the First Love of the Impenetrable Male Lead (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 4
A duel… you say? A duel is that…
For a moment, it felt as if the entire world flickered in and out—my vision went hazy. After blinking several times, I gradually felt my senses returning.
Good heavens.
So Ian mistook my request for a duel as a confession?
“Oh, right—a duel. That’s it. There was a new recruit who asked me for a duel.”
I replied as calmly as I could, but I could feel the corners of my mouth, forced into a smile, trembling slightly.
Given Rosebelia’s personality, wasn’t it possible she’d fled to another country simply because Ian’s persistent advances annoyed her?
Wasn’t this novel supposed to be about a man who, after being rejected repeatedly, ultimately takes revenge on the woman who left him?
I really drank a lot of kimchi soup in advance, didn’t I? To think I’d leave Rosebelia with such a dark past.
Is there no mousehole I can crawl into? Maybe I should just bury my nose in my soup bowl.
“Yes. That was me.”
“So… you’re the new recruit who asked me for a duel…”
Then what did that whole thing about breathing mean back then?
“Do you truly not remember me at all?”
Just as I was about to reply, I caught sight of Ian’s furrowed brow, twisted in clear frustration.
Could he possibly be angry?
According to the original story’s ending, Ian was the one destined to kill me—and I was the one meant to die by his hand. I had to avoid letting events unfold exactly as written, no matter what.
Since I had no idea what to do right now, I’d planned to simply maintain a good relationship with him while we were both in the same knights’ order and observe how things developed…
Instead, I suddenly grabbed my head. I didn’t even forget to press firmly against my temples, pretending it hurt.
“The truth is, I was quite ill recently, so everything from the Eve Festival is rather hazy.”
Ian tilted his head slightly. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t seem fully convinced by my words.
“At the sword tournament held during the Eve Festival, I was on a winning streak, and you challenged me, senior.”
I’d seen the sword tournament held every Eve Festival through Rosebelia’s memories.
Everyone wore identical helmets, completely concealing their identities, and there were no restrictions on participation.
Only the final victor would reveal their face and name, which would then be displayed prominently in the town square until the next year’s festival.
For unknown knights, it was a chance to make a name for themselves; for knights belonging to an order, it was an opportunity to bring honor to their order.
“…”
“You swiftly subdued me and then forfeited, allowing me to advance by walkover… but I immediately forfeited myself and followed you to request a duel.”
“How did you know it was me?”
I asked out of sheer curiosity, but Ian’s face suddenly flushed red.
“At first, of course, I had no idea it was you. But the sensation of our blades clashing was so intense that I secretly… followed you afterward, and recognized you once I saw you remove your helmet. You told me you’d think it over.”
After finishing his explanation, Ian cleared his throat awkwardly.
Was he embarrassed about having trailed someone, despite his noble status as a prince?
“I completely misunderstood. I’m sorry.”
“Then… your answer…?”
“Well, since I misunderstood, I suppose I owe you at least one duel…”
Wait—though it was still far off, Ian and Rosebelia were destined to be each other’s only true rivals.
Did that mean I should avoid this duel altogether to prevent setting up that rivalry?
Since I didn’t know what choice Rosebelia had originally made, I couldn’t tell which path to avoid.
Was it really okay to accept so readily? Should I just refuse?
“Really?”
It was the most animated I’d ever heard Ian’s voice. I lifted my gaze to look at his face.
Seeing the obvious flush on his cheeks, I realized that if I took back my words now, it might only worsen our relationship.
Well, he clearly wanted it this much. Maybe dueling could even bring us closer.
Finally making up my mind, I gave Ian a slight, teasing smile.
“If you can handle a duel with me, that is.”
“You needn’t worry about that. Handling it is my responsibility—please don’t hold back.”
In the original story, Ian was described as becoming an entirely different person after the Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony.
His entire aura changed, and at some point, he suddenly possessed swordsmanship skills beyond anyone’s reach…
“‘Um… there’s something I’d like to say to Your Highness, the Crown Prince.’
‘What is it?’
‘Well… the thing I wanted to tell you is… I… I…’
A deep sigh drifted through the air above me. Slowly, I raised my head and saw Ian gazing down at me with cold, emotionless eyes.
I hadn’t wanted to believe it, but now I had to: the man before me was clearly different from the one I knew—and the one I’d liked.
‘I am cursed.’
‘What? What do you mean…?’
The moment I met his hollow eyes, I instinctively shrank back, a chill running down my spine.
‘Therefore, I cannot allow anyone to care for me. That is all I have to say.’”
As I recalled the original plot, I carefully studied the Ian before me. Though he was clearly trying to restrain himself, his excitement was unmistakable.
Could this boy really become the cold-blooded, war-obsessed tyrant described later?
The Ian I knew from the original story and the one standing before me now seemed like completely different people.
Then again, his sudden leap to untouchable swordsmanship prowess, and his choice of the word “curse” in front of Daisy…
Something must have happened around the time of the Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony, after all.
I’d wondered about it even while reading the original, but since Ian hadn’t been my favorite character, I’d never given it much thought.
“Senior?”
“Hm?”
“Then… can I see you tomorrow?”
“…Yes. The training ground near the annex would be best, and preferably when no other members are around.”
“Understood. I’ll come early in the morning.”
As I nodded, I paused briefly.
Could he possibly know that Rosebelia often came early in the morning to practice?
“Alright.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Ian gave a slight bow and left first. Only after his figure had shrunk to a black dot in the distance did a sigh finally escape through my teeth, as if my tension had finally eased.
I’d come to reject a confession, only to end up accepting a duel request instead.
It’ll be fine… right?
*
I stared blankly at the ceiling, shrouded in darkness.
Perhaps because this was the first decision I’d truly made since waking up here, sleep refused to come.
I felt both fear and excitement—fear because I didn’t know what consequences this choice might bring, and excitement for the same reason.
Could I really change the original story? And if I could, how should I go about it? What was it that I ultimately wanted here?
Lost in these tangled thoughts, I managed only a brief nap before heading early to the dueling grounds.
As I tied my hair back and began slowly warming up, the dawn light filtering through the window suddenly grew brighter. At that exact moment, the firmly closed door of the training hall opened.
I naturally assumed it was Ian—but the figure who appeared was a rather youthful-looking knight.
Given his hesitant approach and unfamiliar face, he was likely one of the new recruits who’d joined alongside Ian.
“Um… Senior…”
“What is it?”
“I… I didn’t actually expect you to really be here in the morning… Just a moment, please.”
“Huh? What was that?”
The round-faced knight slapped his own cheeks with both hands, then took a short, deep breath.
“I… I came to hear your answer, Senior.”
“My answer? To what?”
Why did this conversation feel so strangely familiar?
“…You don’t remember? From the Eve Festival.”
What on earth was he talking about now?
Just what exactly had happened to Rosebelia that day?
“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember much of that day.”
“What?”
I swallowed the sigh threatening to burst out. When I rubbed my forehead, looking troubled, the recruit’s eyes widened.
“I’ve been unwell lately, and for some reason, that day in particular is especially hazy. Could you explain what happened?”
“Well… I…”
His voice was so quiet it sounded like it was sinking into the ground.
“What?”
Frustrated, I leaned closer—and instantly, the recruit darted several steps back.
“Ah—my name is Simon. Just in case…”
“Right, Simon. It’s fine—go ahead and say it.”
“That day… I…”
He probably just asked for another duel, right?
“I confessed to you, Senior… that is… I asked you to… go out with me.”
When the male lead is punished by carrying the female lead’s child and having periods like a woman
“I’ve given birth to two children for you, yet you still think about him.
Was I nothing but his substitute to you from beginning to end?”
Synopsis:
Meng Huan, a scumbag who has dated countless girlfriends, transmigrates to a female-dominated country.
Day 1: Whether it’s female dominance or not doesn’t matter. The beauties here are passionate and amorous. Isn’t it easier to date them than in modern times?
Day 2: After a night, Meng Huan discovers the differences in the female-dominated world. Men here actually have chastity locks and menstrual cycles. This hinders his ability to perform, damn it!
Day 3: What’s wrong with sleeping around? I don’t want you to marry me. I’m meant to be a playboy. I don’t care about male virtues… What? You want to drown me in a pig cage? Marry, I’ll marry!
Day N: Meng Huan inexplicably vomits and receives the shocking news of his life… He’s pregnant.
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
Most Commented This Week
Who Spent the Night with the Tower Master (Completed Main Story)
I Decline the Ex-Boyfriend of the Regretful Male Lead (Completed Main Story)
Long Live the Emperor, Minus Me (Completed Main Story)
After Linking the Villainess and Male Lead (5 Chapters Left to Complete)
Captured into the Bedroom of the Enemy Emperor (1 Chapters Left to Complete)
I Became a Supporting Character in a Martial Arts Novel (Completed Main Story)