I Decline the Ex-Boyfriend of the Regretful Male Lead (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
Having sent Violet to the banquet, I moved toward a deserted spot.
Wearing Violet’s long dress, I barely made it to a secluded terrace inside the banquet hall.
I had already given the Information Guild advance notice.
I asked them to arrange a meeting here with one of the two potential suitors.
Because Serdis kept showing up every single day, it was hard to even go out, let alone keep appointments. The banquet was the only place where I could secretly meet the suitors. Considering I was a key person under my family’s protection and how much trouble it had been just to place the request, this banquet was the perfect opportunity for me.
Hoping I could hold the wedding soon, I opened the terrace door. My heart pounded at the sound of the door creaking in the quiet.
‘What kind of person will he be?’
Although it’s a contractual arrangement, since he’ll be my husband, I hope we get along well.
But contrary to my worries, the terrace was completely empty.
“Is no one here?”
I returned to the banquet hall and double-checked the location.
“This should be the right place…”
According to the note the Information Guild sent me, this was indeed the correct spot.
“Is anyone here?”
But inside the terrace, only the sound of my heels clicking and autumn insects chirping echoed.
What’s going on? Was the message not delivered properly?
They clearly said the other party had accepted.
“Ugh! Uuugh…!”
Just as I was looking around the terrace, I heard a human voice from beyond the railing.
“W-what was that sound?”
I hesitated briefly, then quickly went to the railing and looked down.
Outside, there was only dense foliage.
But when that strange sound came again—and I heard the rustling of grass brushing together—I grew slightly suspicious.
“Could it be Young-ae?”
Maybe he slipped and fell in.
I blinked my eyes, still unadjusted to the darkness, but saw no trace of anyone in the bushes.
Right. Why would Young-ae be down there?
I decided to stop looking and wait a little longer.
But after more than ten minutes passed, my anxiety drained all my patience.
“This won’t do. I should go find the other person first.”
I couldn’t just keep waiting here.
When I returned to the banquet hall, the final song had begun, and all the Young-aes and Young-shiks with partners were already dancing merrily to the lively tune.
I pushed through them and headed toward the second location—the Imperial Garden.
“What? No one here either?”
Young-yeong was nowhere to be seen; I could only gaze at the Imperial Garden, where red roses bloomed beautifully.
A wave of disappointment washed over me.
I had gone so far as to deceive even my own parents to set up this meeting. It had been difficult enough to arrange this appointment while avoiding Serdis, who showed up every day without fail.
“He’ll come if I wait.”
If he didn’t show up, I might have to slip out of the banquet and head straight to the guild headquarters. While I was calmly thinking this through, I sensed someone approaching.
“Found you.”
The Young-shik I was supposed to meet here was nowhere to be seen—instead, the one person who absolutely shouldn’t be here had appeared.
Serdis. That clingy fool…
“Why are you…”
…showing up and blocking my path?
“Anette. I followed you.”
He panted heavily.
I had confirmed before leaving that he was dancing with Violet—my mistake was feeling reassured by that.
“What are you doing here all alone?”
I wanted to scream, “Because of you, I came here to find a husband!”
“I just stepped out for a breath of fresh air. It’s cold, so I’m going back inside.”
I replied as coldly as the night air. Even though I made my displeasure obvious, Serdis interpreted it differently.
“So you refused me with words, but you were really waiting for me, weren’t you? This is the same garden where we talked that time.”
Serdis’s cheeks flushed like peaches.
“Let’s talk all night, just like we did back then.”
Serdis took a deep breath, roughly pulled off his white gloves, and threw them to the ground. His hand reached out toward me without hesitation.
“I already told you I only came out for fresh air. Please don’t misinterpret things or misunderstand me.”
I cut him off sharply, as if rejecting his call. Just as I glanced around the garden and tried to step away—
He yanked me into his arms.
“Aaah!”
Right before my face hit his firm chest, sensing danger, I thrashed with all my strength.
“Anette. Were you that startled?”
When I screamed, Serdis easily let me go. I was already driven half-mad by his constant obsession, and his sudden, forceful touch felt threatening.
“Your Highness! Why are you doing this to me!”
My voice trembled uncontrollably. I was dead serious, but Serdis just grinned brightly as if nothing were wrong.
“It’s because you keep running away.”
“We’re merely fellow academy graduates—nothing more, nothing less. I don’t desire any relationship beyond that. I hate it all.”
I knew I had to firmly push him away and run, but the words wouldn’t come out properly. He seemed like a completely different person from the male lead in the original story—or even the Serdis I’d known at the academy.
“My dear Anette. What am I supposed to do when you keep pushing me away like this?”
“…”
“Maybe I’ll die without you now.”
That’s right.
It seems trying to leave the original story was a huge mistake after all.
Seeing the male lead go mad like this…
Looking at Serdis’s half-deranged eyes, my jumbled, chaotic mind went completely blank.
The person before me wasn’t the male lead. He wasn’t the male lead—he was someone driven mad with desperation over me. My hands and feet trembled violently. In an instant, my eyes burned with hot tears.
“Go away…”
“Stop pushing me away and just come to me. I already know you’ve been secretly looking for a husband through the Information Guild, so don’t make things harder for yourself.”
For a moment, my breath caught in my throat.
How did he find out about this?
“Ever since your words started differing from the Count’s, I thought something was odd—and it didn’t take long to uncover the truth.”
“You investigated me behind my back…?”
“It was all because I want you. My feelings are pure.”
His expression changed strangely. At first, he looked lost and full of anxiety, but now he stared at me intently.
“Anette.”
His deep voice quietly called my name. Chills ran down my spine. Serdis, now right in front of me, suddenly brushed his finger across my lips.
“What are you doing…!”
“If I take you here, you won’t be able to enter the convent—or better yet, you’ll spend your whole life breathing by my side.”
My body, which had grown calm near Serdis, now breathed even more rapidly.
“You’ll understand, won’t you? Even if it’s me?”
He was serious.
I pushed him away with all my strength as he drew closer. But with my frail body—far from ordinary—it was impossible to shove away a towering adult man.
Serdis’s smooth jaw tilted slightly, and his hands firmly wrapped around me. From our pressed bodies came a rapid, rhythmic heartbeat—whether mine or his, I couldn’t tell.
“Please… don’t do this!”
“You like this kind of thing, don’t you? Stop pushing me away already.”
“I don’t like it… I really don’t…”
Tears finally burst forth uncontrollably. A wave of terror crashed over me—the fear that no matter how hard I tried, I’d never escape his embrace. Just as I sank into despair and flailed helplessly—
Crash!
Serdis, who had been like an immovable wall, collapsed.
And in his place stood a stranger. The man, his face obscured by the moonlight behind him, spoke firmly in a low voice.
“Run away immediately.”
It was a lifeline reaching out to me on the edge of a cliff. Yet I stood frozen, as if the world had stopped. Finally, the man, unable to bear it any longer, shouted loudly.
“Hurry!”
At the sound of his voice, my frozen body finally moved. I ran in utter panic, with no time to thank him. All I wanted was to safely escape this place.
Ahead, I saw the tall entrance of the Imperial Palace. Carriages from noble houses lined the area. No matter how much I rubbed my tear-streaked eyes, I couldn’t spot the Count’s carriage.
But I had no time to search one by one—Serdis might chase after me at any moment from anywhere. In the end, I left the palace barefoot.
[This is the timeline separator]I wandered aimlessly down an unfamiliar road.
Thunk—I finally stopped walking only after my heel broke. The street was swallowed in pitch darkness. In the silence, only my ragged breathing echoed.
Just a little farther was a carriage rental shop. Yet my feet refused to move forward.
‘What if Serdis is at the mansion when I return?’
After a brief hesitation, I decided not to go back to the mansion either. Instead, I headed toward the distant alley where I heard voices— a street lined with taverns. Cheerful laughter from men drifted out. The moment I stepped into the alley entrance, I collapsed onto the ground.
‘I can’t walk anymore.’
Kneeling, I buried my face in my hands. In the blackness of my vision, an unwanted face began to surface. I vigorously rubbed my face against my dress, shaking my head.
Then, someone gently lifted me up. It was an extremely careful touch.
“It’s dangerous to stay here.”
The faintly visible man looked similar to the one who had just saved me. Since I couldn’t see his face clearly, I lowered my gaze—and saw armor beneath his rough cloak.
A mercenary?
“I’ll take you somewhere safe.”
Ah, so he’s palace guard.
He must have approached upon seeing a noble Young-ae wandering the streets at this hour. I blinked my swollen eyes and asked,
“Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll catch a cold if you stay here. We must go.”
At the edge of his gaze, I spotted a carriage. I shook off the hand holding mine. His lightly grasping fingers let go easily.
“…I don’t want to go home. I’ll stay outside tonight and return later.”
“Then I’ll take you somewhere safe where you can rest, my lady.”
“…”
Too exhausted to speak, I simply followed where he led.
It was an unfamiliar place, yet its sign glowed brightly thanks to magic, even in the late hour. I turned my gaze away from the flickering signboard light.
“A casino is a safe place?”
“Yes.”
The man spoke plainly and walked in ahead of me.
‘Is he really a guard?’
Bringing me to a casino… But my doubts didn’t last long—I had no luxury to worry over trivial matters.
I followed him inside.
Noble Young-aes frequented casinos often enough, but due to their gambling nature, I’d always felt uneasy about them and had never visited before.
As I stepped past the red curtain into the casino, I gasped.
“Wow.”
The interior, opened into one vast space, was entirely gilded in gold.
The floor was covered in velvet sheets designed not to disturb gamblers, so no footsteps could be heard. And stealing my attention were the various games arranged in different sections.
“Everyone must be at the banquet. Right.”
Yet, oddly, the casino—normally bustling—was completely empty.
Except for the dealers standing like robots in front of each game table.
Dragging my swollen legs and uncomfortable dress, I stood near a nearby game table. The man who brought me here personally pulled out a chair for me.
“Please sit and wait a moment.”
He seated me and disappeared somewhere. I blankly stared at the roulette table in front of me.
Soon, he returned and unfolded a large blanket.
“May I cover you with this?”
The man was strikingly tall. And his appearance, which I hadn’t fully seen in the darkness outside, naturally drew admiration.
Lean, firm muscles peeked out from beneath his cloak.
His fair face showed no sign of sun exposure.
His jet-black hair contrasted perfectly with his complexion, creating a flawless harmony.
‘Handsome guard.’
That was the extent of my observation.
After being harassed by a handsome man, I now found men nothing but a nuisance.
Instead of answering, I gave a small nod.
A warm, comforting sensation quickly enveloped my body.
“It’s warm.”
“It’s a magically enchanted blanket. Here’s some tea as well.”
Perhaps because large sums of money changed hands here, expensive magic was abundant in this place.
That might explain the dreamy atmosphere.
“Is this tea also enchanted?”
“Yes.”
Steam gently rose from the tea, brewed at an unknown time.
The fragrant scent of chamomile.
It was calming. I closed my eyes, inhaled the tea’s aroma, and smiled faintly.
“This is my favorite tea.”
“I’m glad.”
Contrary to his looks, he was gentle.
His soft-spoken tone had a peculiar talent for putting people at ease.
Thanks to him, my tension eased—enough to dull the sharpness of what had just happened to me.
I looked straight ahead. The metal ball in the roulette wheel, set against alternating red and white segments, sparkled.
“If only life were a game that could be reset.”
Then I wouldn’t have gotten tangled up in any of this.
“Something must have happened to you.”
“It’s too embarrassing to talk about.”
I fiddled with the warm teacup and mumbled. It wasn’t a story I could share with someone I’d just met today.
A few minutes of silence passed. Only after I finished the entire cup did he speak.
“I’ve been feeling the same lately.”
I turned my head slightly at his words. It sounded like a simple attempt to comfort me.
“…I see.”
When I trailed off, he continued.
“I’ll tell only you, my lady.”
“You don’t have to…”
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, I’m currently looking for a marriage partner.”
Exactly the words I needed to hear.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (10)
Oho, so ML loves her so much. Being a beauty must be good. There are many admirers.
That’s kinda weird. Every time she wants to use the carriage suddenly so busy?
ML is grand Duke?? Anette would be so surprise hahahah
Inline Comments (6)
Perhaps because I’m certain he’ll never love me.
Lol girl. You don’t know anything about him. He is obsessive 😂
“As I said before, I can only cast a forbidden ritual to remove divine abilities
Casting a ‘forbidden ritual’ to remove divine abilities sounds like practicing black magic. So Violet practices black magic? What is her true goal?
He collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Only the ring on his finger glimmered fa
I have quite a few things to say about the function of this enchantment. Right now though the main thing is that if the enchantment functions in this way…what happens if Anette dies while he has the ring turned on?
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Blairwoods
Young-ae, young-shik, young-young author him, what’s that mean?