The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 91: You Don’t Belong Here

Chapter 91: You Don’t Belong Here

Adeline had to lay low for two days until she recovered. The fatigue from the butterfly event completely overcame her. She didn’t want to leave the room at all. All her meals had been delivered to her.

She didn’t expect that it would impact her for so long. The only thing she could do was to rest. Although a million schemes ran through her head on how to expose the Duke. She had to lie down and wait until she felt better.

Not coming out of her room meant that Dimitri was without her protection.

Everett always knew about his father’s schemes. It was so set in his mind that he would be the future heir. Upon learning that the Duchess brought in another boy threatening his position, he couldn’t sit still.

Everett had spent his entire life hearing his father’s plans and ambitions, his fate practically carved in stone from the day he could understand words.

"You will inherit the Eastern Duchy, my boy." He would say with pride in his eyes. When he was younger he wanted nothing but the dreams his father weaved for him.

The future heir—that’s who he was, that’s all he was meant to be. His father’s grand vision for their bloodline left no room for questioning, no room for doubt.

And as the only child, there had never been a reason for Everett to question his claim to the title.

But the presence of Dimitri was a bitter reminder that the Duchess hadn’t chosen him. What’s the point of his father grooming him to take over? The decision-making power is in the hands of the Duchess...

The Duchess, who had never shown any interest in other heirs, had personally brought in this strange boy. He eyed this boy up and down. Jealousy seemed to be consuming him because he couldn’t stand seeing him.

What was even worse was that pink-haired girl who kept hanging around him. Even his father had to treat her with respect. He gritted his teeth as he admitted that he was jealous of her too.

How good it must be to not worry about her position. The precious daughter of the Marquess. So what... She would be married off... She won’t have any power he told himself.

The Empire used to be patriarchal in nature but that changed about eight decades ago. It became a society where women were allowed to inherit titles and rule over their territories... They were allowed to get educated...

Despite all this, some members of society still held their backward thinking. They had to keep it to themselves of course.

And Everett grew up with the very same mindset. His father would put down the Duchess in front of him every chance he got. He didn’t realise it then, but it was out of pure insecurity. It was his way of coping.

As he stepped down the stairs, he saw Dimitri heading towards the garden.

The garden had once been a lively place, filled with vibrant flowers and neatly pruned trees, a favourite spot of the Duchess.

But ever since the Duchess left and contracted the illness, the area had been desolate. Although the servants still tended to the garden, it just wasn’t the same.

Dimitri loved practising here, the Duchess had great taste, and the colour scheme and symmetry put one’s mind at ease.

Dimitri wasn’t called a prodigy for no reason in the original story, he was able to learn magic so easily. Not only was he able to make up his own techniques, but he didn’t need a scroll to tell him what to do.

He had such mastery over the element that he could bend it to his will. He wasn’t wielding it, he was its master.

This was where Everett now found Dimitri, a young boy absorbed in his training. Power crackled around him, vibrant and raw. Dimitri’s movements were graceful yet powerful, controlled but filled with potential.

’As if his being here wasn’t a bother... He just had to possess powers.’ Everett’s fists were clenched. His heart twisted with jealousy as he watched from the shadows.

While the Duchy was famed for its mastery over water magic, an element as elegant as the people who possessed it, with the ability to cut through mountains... He possessed no powers.

His mother... She had earth powers... Why didn’t he inherit any of it?! As for his father... Hah!

He was a man devoid of magic, bitterly aware of the strength his wife wielded that would never be his. Maybe it was because of him the Duchess stopped using her powers in front of him.

Everett had heard his father curse it more than once, he heard him mock the element of water for being so ’fragile’, yet simultaneously resent his own powerlessness.

The idea that he was to inherit the Duchy, with its legacy of magic, without being able to wield any of that power was a constant weight on his shoulders. All the Dukes possessed powers, and they were masters over their elements...

Even the Southern Duke who had wind powers which was considered the weaker of the elements mastered it so well that no one would dare to question his authority.

And now in front of him was Dimitri. Although he possessed the element of wind and not water, Dimitri was far more capable of inheriting the legacy than him.

This was the tipping point for Everett. He could hardly contain his anger as he watched Dimitri, swinging his training sword with fluid movements. At one point he threw his sword aside and showed his raw potential.

His connection to power was evident even in the way he moved as if the magic and strength came as naturally to him as breathing.

The longer he stood there watching, the longer the voice in his mind became louder and louder. It told him he was incompetent, useless and would never be worthy of the Eastern Duchy he was meant to inherit.

How dare Dimitri come here, so unassuming, so focused, as if he belonged? Everett’s fists clenched, and he seethed, the envy and resentment hardening in his heart.

Fear, anger and jealousy. Those three came over him at the same time. He didn’t care if he was being impulsive and rude... He didn’t care if he came with the daughter of the Western Marquess and therefore represented the West.

"You’re quite full of yourself, aren’t you?" Everett’s voice was low but dripping with disdain as he stepped into the light, breaking Dimitri’s focus.

Dimitri turned around to see Everett. His eyes shot daggers, he was practically huffing in anger.

"I didn’t realise I was bothering anyone," Dimitri replied coolly, sheathing his training sword.

He was aware of Adeline’s plans so he was aware of the fact that this boy was the Duke’s illegitimate child. He only saw him once before, their paths never crossed until now.

He preferred to stay away from him as much as possible.

Everett sneered, stepping closer until there were only a few feet between them. "You must think you’re so special. Wielding magic, training, and gaining the Duchess’ favour. But let me tell you something,"

His voice dropped a bit, almost like a whisper, it felt like the hiss of a snake. "You don’t belong here." It was dripping with venom. He emphasised each word.

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