The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 60: I Am Selfish

Chapter 60: I Am Selfish

It was time to have a proper chat with Adeline. He loved her playful and kind nature, but he couldn’t let it cause her any danger.

He stood up abruptly, his chair scraping the floor as he rose. The screeches filled the quiet room.

"Thank you, Captain," the Marquess said, his voice steadying now. "I trust you will keep this matter strictly between us for the time being?"

"Of course, my Lord," the Captain replied, bowing slightly before turning to leave the room. The door shut behind him with a soft thud, leaving the Marquess alone with his thoughts.

He had no time to lose.

"Summon Adeline," he called to his steward outside the door. "Immediately."

When Adeline was summoned Dimitri was right there. Annora’s words swirled through his mind. Although it felt wrong, he followed her. He promised himself that he wouldn’t doubt her, after this he would have some clarity.

As he made his way to study his sharp ears had caught the end of a conversation, something about Holy power... and Adeline. He stopped, his brow furrowing as he strained to listen.

"Let me make myself very clear. Adeline, you can’t use your Holy powers... Ever."

"I- I didn’t mean to. It’s just that he was hurt and-"

"No, Adeline. I understand your concern for the boy. But if anyone saw you... If this matter reaches the ears of the Holy Temple you will be taken away."

Dimitri’s breath caught in his throat. The Temple? His heartbeat quickened. Did Annora know? Surely she must have? She must have said those things to drive a wedge between them. He remembered their first meeting.

He hurt a person, he was scared to the core. And Adeline came like a hero, she healed that woman and took him away. And he was doubting her. How could he doubt her?

From this moment onwards, the Holy Temple became his enemy. He didn’t care how hard it would be, he was going to become stronger. And he was going to make sure that nothing happened to her.

When he looked down he saw his healed hands, a sense of guilt overcame him and he ran away from the place immediately.

The garden was quiet except for the distant rumble of thunder that rolled across the sky. Adeline paused on the stone pathway and looked up. The sun was hidden behind storm clouds. She wanted to walk and calm herself.

The weight of her father’s warnings was heavy on her mind. But seeing the clouds, she had to turn back. Just as she was about to, she saw a familiar figure.

Dimitri, sitting beneath a tall oak tree in the far corner of the garden, his shoulders hunched as if the world were pressing down on him.

Adeline hesitated for a moment. Something about the way he sat, so still and withdrawn, unsettled her.

Without thinking, she made her way toward him, her footsteps quickening as the wind began to pick up around her.

"Dimitri," she called out when she was close enough, her voice rushed him but it was still gentle. "Come on, we have to leave. It’s about to rain."

He didn’t respond, his eyes were fixated on something in the distance. Adeline bit her lip. She knelt down beside him. He looked like he heard her but he wasn’t responding.

Something was clearly bothering him, but he wasn’t the type to voice his concerns easily.

"Dimitri?" she asked again, this time more carefully.

Finally, he turned his head slightly toward her, his eyes were filled with a myriad of emotions.

"Can I ask you a question?" he murmured, his voice almost hesitantly.

Adeline blinked, surprised by the sudden question. "Of course," she said, nodding. "Go ahead."

Dimitri’s gaze dropped to the ground as the first droplets of rain began to fall, soft at first, but steadily increasing. The sound of raindrops hitting the leaves above them created a soothing rhythm.

"Why did you save all those refugees?" he asked, his voice was so low, it was almost drowned out by the sound of the rain. "Did you do it for me?"

Annora did plant seeds of doubt but he got over it. Living so closely to Adeline, he saw her true nature. The questions he was asking now were for himself.

She hadn’t expected that. Did he think she approached him with ulterior motives?

She had to admit that at the beginning she did, but after seeing the situation those kids were in, she decided it was her duty as a human to help others.

Adeline took a deep breath, steadying herself as she moved closer to him, seeking shelter under the tree’s canopy. "Is that what you think?" she asked softly, tilting her head to catch his gaze. "That I only saved them because of you?"

Dimitri couldn’t bring himself to meet her eyes. He felt a bit ashamed. But it was something he wanted to do. He couldn’t wallow in doubt and insecurities any longer.

Adeline continued, "If it was for you, I would’ve saved only the two kids you spoke of. I wanted to save everyone because I wanted to. It’s for my sake. I wanted to feel better, I’m a selfish person."

He looked at her as the rain continued to pour in the background. "I understand now," he said quietly, his voice steady. "Thank you."

The world seemed a lot different, a lot better. He was strangely happy. His heart was warm even though the weather was very cold.

Adeline smiled softly at him, "Good," she said, brushing a wet strand of hair from her face. "Now come on. Let’s get out of this rain before we catch a cold."

He stood up and summoned some magic, he had been practising diligently for her. Now, he was confident enough to show her.

The wind cut through the rain creating a path for them. They could follow that path without getting wet. She looked at his display of magic in awe. She had only witnessed magic in this world a few times, she was left mesmerised every time.

"How-"

"I came up with this trick myself. Do you like it?" He extended his hand waiting for her to hold it.

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