The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 237: The First Prince

Chapter 237: The First Prince

The air was quiet between Adeline and Dimitri, a tension lingering that neither seemed willing to break at first. They were alone in the study, the fire crackling softly in the background. Dimitri leaned against the edge of the desk, arms crossed, his sharp eyes fixed on her.

Finally, Dimitri broke the silence. "Will you tell me now... What happened back there? Your conversation with Annora." His voice was steady but stern. It was clear that he was not willing to let this go.

Adeline flinched slightly. She knew this question was coming. She had been dodging it ever since the temple incident, brushing off his probing glances and changing the subject whenever he tried to bring it up. But she had underestimated Dimitri’s persistence. He wasn’t the type to let things go, not when it came to her.

"Dimitri," she started, her tone soft, almost hesitant. "I don’t think it’s something you need to worry about."

Dimitri’s jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. "That’s not an answer," he said simply.

Adeline sighed, rubbing her temples as she turned away from his piercing gaze. She couldn’t tell him the truth... Not this time. There were too many things she had to keep hidden, too many secrets that she could never reveal. And this? This was one of the biggest.

"Why won’t you just tell me?" Dimitri asked, his voice quieter now, but still firm. "You’ve always trusted me before. Why is this different?"

Adeline’s heart ached at his words. She knew he wasn’t trying to pressure her, but the disappointment in his tone made her feel like she was failing him. And maybe she was.

"It’s not about trust," she said, finally meeting his gaze. Her voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed the turmoil she felt. "It’s... Complicated. It’s something I can’t tell you."

Dimitri’s expression didn’t change, but she could see the flicker of hurt in his eyes. That hurt cut deeper than she expected. "Why not?" he asked, the question simple, but heavy with meaning.

Adeline hesitated. How could she explain something like this? That he wasn’t real, not in the way she was? That he was a character from a story she had read, living out a life that had already been written? No, she couldn’t. She wouldn’t.

"If I can’t tell you, will you still believe me?" she asked instead, her voice quiet, almost pleading. Would he still follow her? Or stay by her side?

Dimitri stared at her for a long moment, his blue eyes searching hers. She couldn’t tell what he was looking for, but whatever it was, she hoped he found it.

After what felt like an eternity, he gave a slow nod. "I’ll believe you," he said, his voice calm but distant.

Adeline felt a wave of relief. She was hit with guilt but it was necessary. She didn’t like how this had played out, didn’t like the distance she now felt between them.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dimitri didn’t respond. Instead, he turned and walked toward the door. He didn’t slam it or make a scene, but the quiet way he left hurt even more.

Adeline watched him go, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She hated this. Hated the secrets she had to keep, the lies she had to tell. But what choice did she have?

Everyone deserved the truth, that was sure. But this was something that could break him.

If she told him the truth, where would she even begin? Would she start by explaining that everything he believed to be real, his life, his struggles, his very existence... It was nothing more than a story?

That their friendship, the bond they had built over time, was fake? It wasn’t forged through mutual trust and shared experiences but because she had regarded him as her saviour, someone she thought would play a vital role in protecting her?

What could she even say about the village he had lost, the people he mourned every day? How could she look him in the eyes and tell him that the tragedy that shaped his entire life, the event that defined him, wasn’t real? That it was written on a whim by an author... The Goddess she called her friend.

She knew she did not mean it, but was that enough of an excuse for Dimitri who lived through the pain? The Goddess did not know her characters would come to life, to her it was just made up, her imagination... No one would intend for this to happen.

Would she tell him that his trauma, his anger, and even his desire for justice were just words on paper, meaningless scribbles that existed solely to serve a plot? How could she possibly explain that his suffering wasn’t real to her world, even though it was all too real to him?

Adeline couldn’t do it. The thought alone made her feel sick. Dimitri wasn’t just a character in a story anymore. He was a person, a friend, someone she cared about deeply. No matter how much she wanted to be honest, the truth felt too cruel, too heartless to say out loud.

So, she stayed silent. Sure, maybe he deserved the truth, but as his friend, she thought about his well-being first.

The grand streets of the Imperial Capital were alive with celebration as Cassian returned from the border. The people cheered, their voices ringing out in unison, hailing their war hero. "Long live the first prince!"

As much as they wanted him to be the Crown Prince, they could not do so as he was not one anymore.

Flowers rained down from balconies, covering the streets in vibrant colours as Cassian rode through the city on his black warhorse.

He looked regal and untouchable, his armour shining under the sun, his cape billowing behind him. His face remained calm, he smiled perfectly as he was taught and it was cold as ever, despite the roaring crowd. He had grown taller, stronger, and even more imposing.

His once-boyish features were now sharp and defined, but his icy blue eyes remained the same... Unreadable, distant, and piercing.

The Empress, watching from the palace balcony, smiled as if she were the proudest mother in the world. She waved delicately at the crowd, basking in the glory of her son’s victory as if it were her own.

Internally, however, she was far from calm. Cassian’s return was both a blessing and a curse. Yes, his triumph solidified her power but it also struck fear in her.

Cassian had grown too powerful, what if he retaliated for everything she had done? But it was all for his sake... Without her, how could he have achieved all of this?!

She had spent years controlling him, moulding him into the perfect prince, and yet, she no longer felt in control.

"Your Majesty, you look tense," remarked one of her ladies-in-waiting, sensing her unease.

The Empress’s smile didn’t falter as she replied, "Nonsense. Today is a day of celebration. My son has returned victorious. This is a moment of pride for the Empire."

Despite her words, her gloved hand clenched tightly around the railing.

Elsewhere, in a secluded part of the palace, the Imperial Concubine sat quiet and unimpressed. She, too, was not thrilled by Cassian’s return. The years he had spent at the border had been a golden opportunity for her and her son. Those years had allowed her to secure her position and cement her son’s reputation as a true heir.

Still, Cassian’s return posed a threat. The accolades he had earned were undeniable. The people’s love for him was obvious.

"This is just the beginning," she muttered to herself. "Let him enjoy his moment. We’ll see how long it lasts."

Cassian, meanwhile, paid no attention to the adoration of the crowd. As he passed through the sea of cheering faces, there was only one thing on his mind: how would she react?

He didn’t care about anyone else in this world. Not his cruel father, who had never once treated him like a son. Not his abusive mother, who saw him as nothing more than a pawn in her political games. No, the only person he cared about was her.

Adeline.

She was his light, his warmth, the only person who had ever shown him kindness without expecting anything in return. He had thought about her constantly during his time at the border. Even in the chaos of war, her face had lingered in his mind, a source of solace in his darkest moments.

"Would she have forgiven me by now?" he wondered, his grip tightening on the reins of his horse. Time heals all wounds, they said. He hoped it was true.

When he reached the palace gates, he dismounted. The nobles and court officials rushed to greet him, showering him with praise. "Your Highness, your victory is nothing short of miraculous!" One lord exclaimed.

"Truly, you are the pride of the Empire!" Added another.

Cassian responded with a curt nod, his expression warm but also cold at the same time. He had no patience for their flattery. His thoughts were elsewhere... Then a familiar voice spoke.

"Congratulations on the victory, First Prince."