TCML 23

Chapter : 23

This Time, I’ll Change the Male Lead

“Quick, help her up.”
The sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor grew clearer, but Hyperion didn’t seem to notice.

“What happened?”
“What do you mean?”
Instead, he asked, narrowing his long, sharp eyes.

“Have all the complicated men been taken care of?”
“Ah…”
I could only look up at Hyperion with a bewildered expression.

“Are you joking right now?”
Even as I gripped the edge of my shirt tightly and tried to show determination in my eyes, all he did was give a mischievous smile.
So it was clear—he found my embarrassment amusing.

‘He has this side too…’
I thought of the Hyperion from the original story as I looked at the man in front of me.
The one who sat on the throne of the gods, the master of the shining sun.
The cruel, cold man I’d known—who would have thought he could be this playful?
Well, if that’s the case, I’d better play along just as childish.

“My feet hurt so much right now.”
“…”
“I had to train all this time wearing these shoes.”

Only then did Hyperion’s gaze shift to my shoes.
As soon as my feet, hidden beneath my dress, were revealed, his expression visibly stiffened.

“Since when has this been like this?”
“Your Highness? Princess?”
The presence approaching us stopped abruptly as soon as he helped me to my feet.

“Why are you two together?”
Instead of Madam Elin, whom I had feared, it was Ail who had appeared.

“Has the princess’s tutor changed?”
“Yes. On Aiden’s recommendation, the person in charge of her training from today is Madame Elin Neria, Viscountess. Why do you ask, my lord?”
Aiden…? I remembered that even Madam Reyta, in charge of my academic education, had been his recommendation.
He’d been so cold whenever we crossed paths—why was he so concerned about my education?

“Where is Aiden?”
“He’s out on reconnaissance.”
“Summon him to the study.”
“Yes, understood.”

The air grew heavy with Hyperion’s suddenly cold voice.
Though I hadn’t lied, his face had turned so stern that I felt there was no point in lingering here.

“I’ll be going then.”
“Where are you going?”
I tried to turn away, but Leon grabbed me again.

“Your training isn’t finished yet. You should return.”
“You want me to go like this with my feet like this?”
“…Well, yes.”

I was slightly embarrassed.
Hyperion, who I thought wouldn’t care at all, was looking at my feet with a persistently intense gaze.

“Did Elin say she’d scold you?”
As he stepped into the study, he looked back at me.

“Come in.”
The gaze I met at that moment was unsettlingly intense.

“I’ll show you who really deserves to be scolded.”

‘I didn’t expect it to turn out like this.’
Though I forced myself into the study, the awkward atmosphere was hard to endure.
I would’ve preferred enduring Madam Elin’s relentless training instead.

“Hmm…”
I glanced around for no reason.
It was the same study I’d seen before, but the daylight gave it an entirely different feeling.

As my eyes scanned the pristine, almost silent room, they settled on Hyperion.
‘Wow, he’s really handsome.’
Sunlight poured through the large window above him, highlighting his slightly tousled hair and the few unbuttoned buttons of his shirt…
Even in a natural state, he looked like a vivid painting.
I suppose a male lead worthy of a lifetime love from the heroine needs to look like this.

“What’s wrong with your feet?”
Sitting on the edge of his desk, Hyperion opened his lips as if bothered.
He spoke as if to confirm whether this was always the case or a result of Elin’s training.

“I’ve been training in etiquette all day, so they ended up like this.”
I hid my ruined feet beneath my skirt and answered.
It was awkward being alone with him in the quiet study, but I couldn’t escape until I received treatment.

“I thought you were doing well.”
He frowned as he looked at the pile of documents on his desk.
‘Now you’re curious?’
I hadn’t heard from him for over a week; I thought he had forgotten I’d entered the palace. Of course, I had been busy adapting to this unfamiliar life too.

Wait… then…
—Why didn’t you come to see me once? I thought you might sneak out to check on me.

His words flashed through my mind, spoken the moment he first saw me.

“Did you…?”
Even though I knew it was impossible, I stared at him quietly.

“Have you been waiting?”
The hand turning the documents froze in midair.

“What nonsense is that?”
“Never mind.”
“….”
I shrugged. After all, of course Hyperion Sol Lucius waiting for me would make no sense.

“Though it may be uncomfortable, wear this for now, Princess.”

“My lord, I’ve summoned Aiden.”
When Babel and Ail entered the silent study, I felt considerably more at ease.
Honestly, without them, I wouldn’t have survived a day, let alone a week, in this place.

“Who did this?”
Babel, who had approached me, muttered irritably.
He looked like a little kitten, staring without touching my feet for fear of hurting me.
The more I saw him, the cuter he seemed.

“It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt at all.”
“Annoying.”
Ail, who was about to open a medicine box to give first aid, widened her eyes.

“You two seem quite close already.”
I recalled the past week:

—Huh? Babel, what brings you here?
—Just happened.
—Hmm? Babel? Why are you here today?
—Coincidence.
—Today too, just coincidence?
—Yes.

“I got used to the palace thanks to Babel, seeing him often near the place I stayed.”
“….”
“Although it’s late, thank you.”
I smiled, and Babel hurriedly looked away.

“Someone might think you two are engaged.”
Leon chuckled, glancing between Babel and me.
I wondered if Leon had ordered Babel to do this, but his reaction suggested otherwise.
Could it be that Babel truly wanted this…?

‘Babel is Hyperion’s instinct.’
The thought sent a strange feeling through me.

“It seems the physician is here. Come in.”
At that moment, a sudden knock made Ail straighten up.

“Uh… what brings you here?”
Yet Ail’s expression showed obvious surprise.

“Did I come too suddenly?”
With a creak, the door opened, revealing…

“Leon.”
A dazzling woman with the same golden hair as Hyperion.

“I came because you summoned the physician.”
“….”
Our eyes clearly met. Not just a trick of the mind…

“Just checking if you’re in pain anywhere.”
Why was she pretending not to see me?
The glance I had caught felt less like she was seeing a stranger and more like she was looking at something that didn’t exist.

Oh, it had been a long time since I’d been treated like a transparent person.

“The physician’s healing won’t work on you anyway.”
She approached Hyperion, speaking as though familiar.
The tone and gaze could only come from someone who had spent a long time with him…

‘Who is she?’
I studied her carefully. She had no resemblance to family except for her blonde hair, and her eyes were the color of leaves…

‘Ah.’
I could instinctively recognize her.
From the soft dress that followed the lines of her body to the pure white necklace symbolizing sanctity…

‘Lethe Phoibe.’
Everything about her was reserved only for Ignis’ saint.