The Male Lead isn't Following the Script! -
Chapter 226: Surprise!
Chapter 226: Surprise!
Adeline stayed quiet, her thoughts wandering as she climbed the stairs with her brother, Aaron. The house felt oddly still, its halls filled only with the sound of their footsteps and the faint creaking of the old wooden steps. Where was everyone?
She couldn’t help but reflect on the people she had met throughout her journey—those she once thought were friends, allies, or at the very least, companions in her complicated life.
Of all the people she’d encountered, Benedict was the one she had the most contact with. Their connection had spanned years, starting from when they were children.
She was used to helping and supporting him but the roles seemed to reverse as they got older. During their time at the academy, Benedict had been there for her, offering his quiet support when she needed it most, at least until he graduated and took over as the Northern Duke.
Still, even during his busy schedule, he would always make time for her.
In one way or the other, the other male leads seemed to have... Left her. No, that was not the right word. But what was the right word? Cassian and Dimitri... They have drifted apart and she did not know if the bonds she made with them still existed.
She rarely heard from them. And she felt pathetic that she kept Cassian’s goodbye note. He assumed she was angry at him, sure, she was, but that was because he would always leave her! He would not keep in contact with her. He was as cold as the element he wielded.
She never would have blamed him for the assassination attempt, but he simply assumed things and ran away to the border to make a name for himself. Still continued the good old ’no contact’ thing.
What was she doing wrong?
Adeline bit her lip as the question lingered in her mind. She had tried her best to connect with them, to build friendships and offer her support. At least Dimitri had a valid excuse.
Maybe she should have followed her original plan from the start—to avoid the male leads altogether. If she had kept her distance, she wouldn’t be feeling this overwhelming sense of heartbreak now.
Aaron’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"You’re awfully quiet," he remarked, glancing at her sideways. "What’s on your mind?"
Adeline hesitated, unsure if she wanted to voice her thoughts. But as they reached the top of the stairs, she found herself softly asking, "How is Cassian? Did you meet him on the border?"
She didn’t look at Aaron as she spoke, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor. Her words were tentative, almost hesitant, as though she was afraid of the answer.
Aaron shook his head. "No, I haven’t seen him," he said simply.
She lowered her head, unable to hide her disappointment. It wasn’t like she had been expecting a different answer, but hearing it still hurt.
Aaron noticed her reaction and quickly added, "But I’ve heard great things about him."
That caught her attention. She glanced up at her brother, her expression tinged with curiosity.
"He’s really accomplished so much," Aaron continued, his tone genuinely admiring. "They say he’s a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. The way he’s been defeating monsters and expanding the Empire’s borders- it’s impressive, even by knightly standards."
Adeline nodded slowly, taking in his words. She had heard similar rumours about Cassian’s exploits, but hearing Aaron confirm them made it all feel more real.
Aaron’s lips curled into a small smile as he added, "Honestly, I’d love to spar with him sometime. Check if all those rumours are true."
Adeline managed a faint smile at that. Trust Aaron to bring up sparring- it seemed to be his answer to everything.
She gave Aaron a small nod, signalling that she had heard him. She didn’t want to dwell on Cassian any longer—it would only bring more heartache.
As they continued walking, Aaron shifted the suitcase on his shoulder and glanced at her again. "You know, if you want to see him, you could always—"
"No," Adeline interrupted, her voice firm. She looked straight ahead, her expression unreadable. "I’m fine. I don’t need to see him."
Aaron raised an eyebrow but didn’t press the issue. He could tell that Adeline didn’t want to talk about it any further, so he let the matter drop.
Once he dropped off the suitcase in her room, he saw how sad she was about Cassian and Dimitri so he decided to say something.
He leaned against the doorframe with a casual grin. "Hey, take your time to freshen up, but don’t take too long, alright? I’m asking the chef to whip up some of your favourite pastries."
Adeline, who had been sitting on the edge of her bed, looked up at her brother in surprise. Her lips twitched into a faint smile. "You remembered my favourites?"
Aaron chuckled, stepping into the room. "Of course, I did. Strawberry tarts, right? And those little cream puffs you used to steal from the kitchen when you thought no one was watching?"
Adeline couldn’t help but laugh softly at the memory. "You would help me in the little robbery, don’t act so innocent."
"You’ve been through a lot, Linny. It’s about time someone spoiled you for a change."
"Thanks, Aaron," she said quietly, her smile growing a little wider.
"No thanks needed," Aaron replied, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Now hurry up. The pastries won’t taste the same if they’re left out for long."
Adeline quickly wore something more comfortable and went downstairs. Where was her father? He almost cried the day she left for the academy! Where was Alaric?! Humph, how dare they not come to receive her?
She decided to give them the silent treatment! Just as she reached the staircase she realised that everyone was gathered below, her father, brothers, everyone!
Without missing a beat they yelled, "Surprise!" They all... They all did this for her? They decorated the place, and prepared all her favourite dishes! All for her...
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