TMLOP 43

Chapter 43

 Is This Love, or Not?

It was Lucalina who first approached Veneruccia.

“Ben, what brings you here? And this person…”

Lucalina, who had been greeting Veneruccia with a friendly smile, paused as her eyes landed on Senelia.

“Could you be… Lady Daphnen?”

Lucalina seemed to quickly realize who Senelia was.

Senelia froze up instinctively.

Sky-like blue eyes, silver hair that shimmered like moonlight, and a confident, elegant demeanor that never backed down no matter the situation.

Suddenly, the original novel’s description of Lucalina popped into Senelia’s mind.

She thought her memories of the novel had become faint—so why did they surface now, at this exact moment?

But one thing was certain.

The way the novel portrayed Lucalina—if anything—was understated, never exaggerated.

If Veneruccia hadn’t been standing by her side, Senelia probably would have recognized Lucalina the moment she stepped out of the carriage.

Lucalina had that powerful presence, drawing attention just like the protagonists usually did—just like Veneruccia.

Senelia suddenly felt nauseous.

Didn’t Lucalina originally get her dress for the banquet at Longroot’s boutique…?

As far as Senelia remembered, no.

Madame Carlotta’s boutique was operated by Count Servis’s family—relatives of the Marquis of Ellihan.

That’s why Marquis Ellihan usually went there. So Senelia had avoided it deliberately, just in case it might remind Veneruccia of Lucalina.

She had done so consistently over the six years she lived as Veneruccia’s lover.

Even if her memory of the original story had faded, she had never forgotten where Lucalina got her dresses.

But today of all days—ignoring every other time—Veneruccia and Lucalina met at Madame Longroot’s boutique.

As if the universe itself were mocking her attempts to separate the protagonists, as if saying, “They’ll always find each other anyway.”

Thinking that made her mind go blank.

While Senelia remained silent, Lucalina took a step toward her.

“You’re Lady Daphnen, right?”

“Hold on, Luna.”

Veneruccia stepped between them, blocking the space between Senelia and Lucalina.

At 193cm tall with a broad build, he completely obstructed Senelia’s view.

Only then did Senelia feel like she could breathe—like she could think again.

“…Ben, what are you doing?”

Lucalina’s tone instantly turned sour at Veneruccia’s protective stance.

“Don’t tell me you think I’d hurt Lady Daphnen?”

She didn’t bother hiding her hurt feelings.

“No, it’s not that…”

Veneruccia trailed off.

That wasn’t it at all.

Just for a moment… Senelia had looked distressed.

His action had been a reflex to that.

“My apologies, Lord Ellihan. I’m Senelia Daphnen.”

Senelia stepped out from behind Veneruccia and politely greeted Lucalina.

With that, the subtle tension between Veneruccia and Lucalina broke.

“…It’s our first meeting, Lady Daphnen.”

Lucalina stood at 172cm, so with a 7cm difference, Senelia had to look up at her.

Senelia’s heart pounded with unease.

She couldn’t just leave Veneruccia and Lucalina to talk alone—that’s why she stepped in. But the more she looked at Lucalina, the smaller she felt.

Lucalina shone brightly like a heroine should, and Senelia felt utterly insignificant beside her.

Some might say, “Why do you cling to the original story?”

But it was that very story that had completely upended Senelia’s life. How could she not cling to it?

Only if things went according to the original could she try to change them at all.

She didn’t want to face another unknown threat to her life—like when she first met Cliff.

“…Your Grace.”

Senelia turned to Veneruccia.

In this moment, she was consumed by turmoil and inner conflict.

She didn’t want Lucalina and Veneruccia to be together.

It made her anxious.

But what would the Senelia Daphnen she had crafted for eight years do?

There was only one answer.

“You two seem to have something to discuss. I’ll excuse myself first.”

Senelia took a step back from Veneruccia.

His expression hardened immediately.

To stay in her place. To not dare desire Veneruccia.

If she truly were the woman she had built herself to be, that was what she must do.

If she tried to compete with Lucalina or showed any negative feelings toward Veneruccia, she’d become just like every other woman he had cast aside.

Even if, just for now, Veneruccia claimed to love her.

Senelia believed that firmly.

“…You’re really going to leave like this?”

Veneruccia instinctively grabbed Senelia’s arm.

His voice trembled with disbelief.

Senelia had said she understood who Lucalina was to him.

And yet she was going to leave him alone with Lucalina?

If she loved him, she wouldn’t.

“You should stay with Lord Ellihan.”

Senelia glanced cautiously at Lucalina and gently pulled her arm free, as if being physically close to Veneruccia in front of Lucalina made her self-conscious.

“Thank you, Lady Daphnen. I actually did have something to say to Ben.”

Lucalina didn’t miss the opening and smoothly stepped between them.

Normally, she wouldn’t have done that—but ever since Veneruccia rejected her, she’d started to feel anxious too.

“Well then.”

Senelia gave a slight curtsey and turned to leave without hesitation.

But inside, she was trembling with worry.

Cold sweat dampened her palm as she clutched her skirt.

Her mind swirled with thoughts of what Veneruccia and Lucalina might talk about once she was gone.

Regret washed over her the moment she turned around.

But she couldn’t help it.

She couldn’t be someone who burdened or troubled him.

“Where do you think you’re going on your own?”

So when Veneruccia grabbed her wrist again, Senelia couldn’t help but feel it was a relief.

“I have nothing to say to you, Luna.”

Veneruccia coldly cut Lucalina off.

That she was Lucalina didn’t even matter in that moment.

What mattered was that Senelia had tried to leave him alone with another woman.

That alone flipped something inside him.

“Your Grace…”

Senelia blinked in surprise.

Lucalina was standing right there.

Of course, Senelia wanted to be someone Veneruccia could never let go of.

But she never imagined he would actually hold on to her in front of Lucalina.

After all, Veneruccia had always carried Lucalina in his heart during the eight years she’d known him.

Just like the last time, when Cliff’s scheme made him rush to help Lucalina, leaving Senelia behind.

“I was just… here to buy a dress… it’s not urgent…”

Senelia found herself making excuses without meaning to.

She hadn’t intended to act that way—it was just habit.

Because to her, Lucalina would always be the heroine.

The woman the male lead, Veneruccia, could never forget.

And so, despite her vow to stay by his side, that resolve felt worthless in this moment.

Of all people, Senelia had always known best who the real protagonist of this world was.

“…So because it’s nothing serious, you’re just going to walk away?”

Veneruccia clenched his jaw.

Senelia was always like this.

One day it seemed like she loved him, and the next, as if she didn’t care what he did.

Before the scandal, she’d always tailored everything—his coffee, tea, meals, even the embroidery on his clothes—to his preferences.

And even after the scandal, she didn’t change.

She acted like none of it mattered.

Her actions said she loved him, but her reactions didn’t.

If she had clearly not loved him, he might’ve been able to let go more easily.

But just recently, she had clearly been happy when he proposed.

Veneruccia knew it wasn’t a delusion.

He’d spent years with her—he could tell.

Yes, it had been ruined by his own mistake, but that didn’t mean he could suddenly cut off his feelings.

And now, not long after accepting his proposal, she was walking away again—just like that.

He truly didn’t know if Senelia loved him or not.

So without realizing it, he tightened his grip on her wrist.

Because it felt like if he didn’t, she’d slip away for good.

“…Senelia, do you have no pride? What woman willingly hands over the man she came with to another woman?”

He was furious, but he lowered his voice for the sake of appearances.

He knew Senelia didn’t like attracting attention.

He wanted her to get angry—wanted her to blame him for putting her in this situation.

Then, he would apologize, sincerely.

But as always with Senelia, Veneruccia’s expectations missed the mark.