Let's Kidnap The Male Lead! - Chapter 28

In the end, even before the banquet ended, Vivian was led by Ludovica’s hand and boarded the carriage of House Belvedere.

“Is it really alright to leave like this…?”

Although she didn’t go back to check, it was obvious that the atmosphere in the banquet hall would be in chaos.

It was only natural, given that someone’s cheek had been slapped out of nowhere at an event celebrating the Imperial Princess’s birthday.

Vivian felt a bit guilty about leaving so abruptly, feeling as if she had ruined the party.

“They probably expected this much when they called for me in the first place. So don’t be so afraid.”

“But I haven’t even properly greeted Her Highness the Imperial Princess yet. It’s her birthday celebration, is this really okay…?”

“It’s fine, Vivi. If you want to help the Imperial Princess, it’s better to quietly slip away like this. More importantly, where should I take you? That place from before?”

Thinking she meant the hideout, Vivian shook her head.

Today, she had a specific destination in mind.

“Could we go home? Ren is waiting.”

“Ren?”

Ludovica reacted as if hearing the name for the first time.

Her eyebrows curved in a questioning expression.

‘Come to think of it, they’ve never met.’

Unlike Dietrich, who had been stuck at the hideout for a month, Ludovica had only briefly spoken with Vivian on the day of the kidnapping before returning to the mansion.

During that time, Ren had been in the surveillance room, so the two never had a chance to cross paths.

Vivian briefly introduced Ren with an excited voice.

“Ren is my subordinate. We met by chance long ago, and he ended up working under me. He’s a very valuable friend who takes care of all sorts of tasks.”

“You seem close?”

“Of course! Although I call him a subordinate, he’s really like my first true friend. He has such a caring personality and always looks after me well.”

Vivian enthusiastically went on praising Ren. She hoped the two of them would get along.

‘They might have to see each other a lot in the future…’

Although this behavior started with good intentions, strangely enough, Ruby’s expression grew darker as if something was not to her liking.

When Vivian paused, noticing the atmosphere, Ludovica changed the subject.

“Hmm. By the way, Vivi. How long are you going to keep speaking to me so formally?”

“Ah, but Ruby and I have a difference in status…”

“Is that really important?”

Sitting across from her, Ruby took Vivian’s hand firmly and looked her in the eyes.

Vivian blinked awkwardly before finally opening her mouth.

“Alright. I mean, okay. Ruby.”

Ludovica smiled with satisfaction at the finally changed speech.

Watching this, Dietrich’s mischievous side was triggered once again.

“Why don’t you speak comfortably with me too, Miss Vivian? We’ve known each other longer, haven’t we?”

Even though it was only a month’s difference from Ludovica, it sounded as if they were truly long-time acquaintances.

‘I’m worried about what nonsense he might spout if I let him speak casually.’

While she might not mind with Ludovica, Vivian wanted to keep her distance from Dietrich. She was about to reject his proposal, but Ruby was faster.

“I’ll reject that. So don’t interfere.”

She spoke firmly and glared coldly at her brother. Dietrich muttered to himself, just loud enough for him to hear, at her defensive behavior.

“Such possessiveness… My sister can be scary.”

Is it because she’s made her first same-sex friend?

Dietrich found his sister’s unprecedented attitude both strange and interesting.

Moreover, he was pleased to have found a good means to tease his sister effectively in the future.

The conversation between the three continued afterwards.

Though it was a bit of a stretch to call it a conversation.

It was more of a repetitive pattern where Ludovica would ask short questions, and Vivian would chatter away by herself.

Of course, Dietrich’s role was to interject and stir up trouble in between.

Nevertheless, Vivian found that time truly enjoyable.

‘Have I ever had such a comfortable conversation with multiple people like this before?’

During her time living in the Schmidt family mansion, she wasn’t allowed to go outside, and after leaving, she had been preoccupied with kidnapping handsome men.

The only person she could call a conversation partner during that long period was Ren alone.

While it was certainly enjoyable being with him, being with multiple people like this was a different feeling altogether.

‘Come to think of it, Ren probably didn’t have anyone to talk to except me all this time… He must have been bored being alone with me. I should give him more free time.’

She suddenly felt sorry, realizing she might have been overworking him all this time.

Meanwhile, as Vivian was briefly lost in thought, Ludovica discreetly signaled to Dietrich with her eyes.

Easily reading the meaning in her gaze, Dietrich nodded slightly.

Vivian seemed completely unaware, but there had been people following them since they left the banquet hall.

Although they were trailing several hundred meters behind, trying not to be detected, there was no way Ludovica and Dietrich, sensitive to the movement of magical power, would miss it.

‘It’s been a while since something like this happened.’

Countless people had attempted to track the Belvedere family before. However, their fates were all the same.

Whether their purpose was assassination, information gathering, or anything else, Dietrich and Ludovica always cleanly dealt with these uninvited guests.

After years of the same thing repeating countless times, the hostile forces finally realized.

The fact that it was impossible to investigate the Belvederes.

‘Things had been quiet for a while, but…’

Was it because Ludovica, who had been in seclusion, had officially appeared in public for the first time in years?

To her, the reason why they were following didn’t matter. All that mattered was dealing with them.

The sword-mage siblings exchanged glances silently once more.

‘After sending Vivian to a safe place, we’ll deal with them separately.’

They could tell just from each other’s eyes. They had the same plan in mind.

All that remained was execution.

Some time passed, and the carriage gradually began to slow down.

They had finally arrived in front of Vivian’s house.

The carriage door swung open immediately. The first to alight was Ludovica.

“Vivi, take my hand.”

She reached out her hand as if to escort Vivian as she was about to step down. However, this was interrupted by someone else.

“Lady Vivian.”

It was due to a man who had approached the carriage in an instant, without even the sound of footsteps.

Despite the late hour, his face alone seemed exceptionally bright.

Although Ludovica, who faced the self-proclaimed most handsome man in the empire, Dietrich, daily, had quite high standards for handsome men, even by those standards, he was considerably good-looking.

Eyes like woven fresh verdure and neat brown hair. The man gave an impression of an early summer forest.

Sensing her gaze, the man’s eyes briefly turned towards Ludovica.

But there was something unpleasant about his gaze. As if he was trying to provoke her…

‘Picking a fight as soon as we meet?’

Just as she was about to click her tongue in exasperation.

He naturally wrapped his arm around Vivian’s waist. The arm around her waist, as if it were the most natural thing, was irritating to see.

Then the man carefully helped Vivian down to the ground.

“Ren! What’s this. Were you waiting outside all this time?”

Far from being surprised by the man’s, no, Ren’s sudden action, Vivian greeted him with a delighted expression.

“I didn’t know when you would arrive. I haven’t been waiting that long.”

“What, you liar. Your cheeks are cold.”

She naturally reached up and placed her palm on Ren’s cheek.

He tilted his head slightly and placed his hand over hers.

“But your palm is warm, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is. But next time, don’t wait outside like this. You’ll catch a cold.”

Ludovica watched Ren’s actions, forgetting to manage her expression.

It was clearly an action meant to flaunt his relationship with Vivian to her. Though the person in question seemed unaware of this.

‘Caring? Caring, you say? How is that fellow caring? If anything, I think I’m more caring.’

Though his name was Ren, matching the one Vivian had been praising earlier, his attitude was completely different from what she had heard.

Bewildered at being guarded against by a man she was meeting for the first time, Ludovica could only manage a dry laugh.

On the other hand, Dietrich, observing the situation from the side, grinned openly, not hiding his amusement.

“Oh right! There’s someone I want to introduce!”

Separating herself from Ren, Vivian took Ludovica’s hand and pulled her in front of him.

“You haven’t properly met, right? This is Ludovica! Ruby, this is Ren I mentioned earlier.”

Suddenly, it felt like they should introduce themselves.

Ludovica had no intention of introducing herself to Ren, but entranced by Vivian’s expectant gaze, she had no choice.

Gritting her teeth, she briefly introduced herself, and Ren’s response followed immediately.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Ren.”

As if the dislike was mutual, Ren’s pronunciation was slightly slurred. It seemed he was biting his tongue.

Watching this interesting scene, Dietrich’s eyes sparkled as he raised the corners of his mouth.

“Now that introductions are done, isn’t it time for a handshake? Go on, do it?”

Ludovica and Ren’s heads turned towards Dietrich simultaneously. Both sides were clearly showing their dislike.

“Wow, that’s a great idea. Come on, you two, shake hands!”

However, because of Vivian’s bright smile, they both had to forcibly extend their hands.

Eventually, their hands met.

But contrary to Dietrich’s expectation that they would immediately let go, they continued to hold hands under the guise of a handshake.

‘Why aren’t they letting go?’

Sensing something strange, he observed them closely.

And he noticed that their muscles were trembling slightly, as if they were gripping each other’s hands tightly.

Dietrich finally couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter with a chuckle. It was truly a hilarious scene.

Belatedly noticing something odd due to his excessive reaction, Vivian also closely examined their clasped hands.

“What’s this? Both your hands are trembling?”

At her question, the two hands immediately separated. However, Vivian had already noticed that something was amiss between them.

‘Are these two having a battle of wills? Seems like they don’t get along as well as I thought.’

Vivian decided to pretend not to notice for now.

“Anyway, you’re both people I care about, so I hope you’ll become close!”

Seeing her speak with a bright smile, Ren and Ruby were momentarily at a loss for words.