The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 52: The Perfect Vessel

Chapter 52: The Perfect Vessel

After Annora left, Adeline let out a breath of relief. Her gaze instinctively searched for the female lead, but it was as if Annora had vanished into thin air.

Adeline was drowning in worry, she didn’t hear what Cassian was saying.

"Adeline!"

She was brought back to reality when Dimitri called out to her. He looked at her with meaningful eyes, his eyebrows were furrowed. She could see the frustration written all over his face.

"I’m sorry. I wasn’t able to hear you." She shook her head.

Cassian’s smile remained, his eyes darkened, hinting at the tempest beneath the surface. "I said, would like to dance?"

She looked down to see his extended hand, she made him wait in that position, he must be angry.

He didn’t bother waiting for her answer instead, he reached for her hand and held it firmly. He wouldn’t allow her to say no, and he certainly wouldn’t let any of those flies change her mind.

This alerted Dimitri, he couldn’t let Adeline be taken away. He was going to protect her from the evil Crown prince. A knight’s duty was to protect his lady!

"Stay away from Linny."

Linny? That nickname drove Cassian mad. Who was this pest? Distant cousin? Bullshit. He was living with Adeline and getting closer to her, so close that he called her by her nickname.

"Who do you think you are to order me, the Crown Prince?"

His grip on Adeline’s hand tightened. She could sense that Cassian was getting angry. What was her plan when she first came to this world? Avoid the Crown Prince and don’t offend him. The former wasn’t possible, she couldn’t afford to do the latter.

She was just about to speak when Benedict interrupted.

"Why don’t you let her decide?"

It was quickly evolving into a fight. None of them wanted to back down. She looked around hoping to escape. She didn’t want to dance, she didn’t want to fight either!

"Adeline."

"Adeline."

"Adeline."

???

They looked at her waiting for an answer.

"Victoria!" She yelled.

"What?" They said in unison.

She pulled her hand out of theirs and sprinted towards the unsuspecting girl. Victoria was getting herself a drink when she heard someone call out to her.

That was strange. This never happened to her before.

She was used to being met with dismissive phrases like, "Victoria, go away," but now someone was actually seeking her out.

She shrugged and shifted her attention to the food in front of her.

"Victoria!!" Adeline repeated herself with more feeling. ’C’mon, turn around and save me!’

No, she didn’t hear it wrong. Someone was calling her.

She turned around to see who it was. Adeline?

Her nonchalant eyes had some glow to them. It was her new friend! How nice of her to come looking for her! She was getting bored at this banquet and she couldn’t tell anyone because... No one wanted to talk to her-

Behind Adeline, there were three suitors following her. Victoria peeked to see who it was.

Dimitri followed by Benedict and Cassian.

For the first time, Victoria showed some expression. What was happening? Why was the Crown Prince here? Her eyes were full circles, that was how wide they were.

"I can’t leave her alone. She is just a child! I won’t be dancing with anyone."

Victoria’s eyebrows furrowed, she was extremely aware of Adeline’s hand that was hooked around hers.

She was doing fine alone... Well, close enough. And she wasn’t a child! She was old enough to attend social gatherings.

Dimitri and Benedict immediately backed off but Cassian wasn’t ready to, he was about to say something when there was an announcement.

The Second Prince finally showed up. Lucas was dressed handsomely. His mother went all out. Being the centre of attention made him shiver, he was clearly nervous.

But under his mother’s watchful gaze, he slowly made his way to his seat.

The Emperor, Empress, Imperial Concubine and princes were seated together on a slightly elevated stage. The room was built in such a way that it faced the stage.

As Lucas walked over to his father, he held his head high and walked with the amount of confidence he could muster up. He didn’t look at the people watching him, he stared ahead, but at one moment, he turned to look at Adeline.

Adeline was standing right next to Cassian, this caught Lucas’ eye. His mouth curved up, but no one noticed it.

She felt a piercing gaze on her. Where could it be coming from? Although she didn’t locate it yet, she felt very uncomfortable. She started to look around the room.

Adeline’s heart raced as she caught Edward’s gaze from across the lavish banquet hall. There was an intensity in his stare that sent shivers down her spine.

She instinctively shifted her weight from one foot to the other, attempting to divert her attention.

The Emperor rose from his seat and picked up the glass of wine.

"I invite you all to raise your glasses in honour of my son, Lucas, on this momentous occasion."

The Emperor easily commanded the room, everyone’s attention was on him. And Adeline hoped that it was true.

She didn’t want Edward staring at her any longer. She was going crazy, first, she thought she saw him on the street and now this.

He was dangerous. He had to be avoided at all costs.

She glanced back at Edward, hoping he had broken his unyielding stare, only to find him still fixated on her.

Beside him stood Annora, she didn’t look at her. Annora’s gaze was fixated on Edward. She saw her frustration, she saw her anger... She saw her follow Edward’s line of sight till it reached her.

There was no hiding it, Annora hated her. She hated her even though she hadn’t done anything.

If that was how it was going to be Adeline was not going to waste her time on trying to mend the relationship. Adeline quietly stepped back, hoping that the male leads would hide her.

"Well, would you look at that," Edward remarked. He was laughing, that was a first. Annora never seen him this pleased before.

"What?"

"It seems I found the perfect vessel..."