Male Lead, Don’t Push, Pull!

My heart squeezed.

Our heroine is so nice.

“What are you standing there watching? Come here,” I called out to Sienna, unable to hide my delighted smile. 

Hesitantly, Sienna hesitantly approached me.

“Are you not sick anymore?” She asked me with a concern that didn’t match her pretty face.

“Yeah. I’m fine. Did I worry you? I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no!” Sienna clapped her hands. “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Sienna said, her cheeks flushing slightly. For a moment, I had the illusion of spring flowers blooming all around her.

Woah.

A heroine is a heroine after all.

She has such a beautiful face and heart.

Anyway, seeing that Sienna was still by my side, it seemed that her meeting with Kyle went well.

That made me both happy and disappointed at the same time.

“Eh?”

… disappointed about what?

I paused for a moment and then shook my head.

Apparently, I was disappointed that I didn’t get to witness the fateful first meeting of the two main characters.

But hey, there’s always another chance. After all, it’s all good now!

I looked at Kyle and Sienna with a smile on my face. As I suspected, they’re a great match.

However, my enjoyment is interrupted by a rather unpleasant sound coming out of Kyle’s mouth.

“Hey, you, this is all the time I can give you. Get away from Vivi right now.”

My jaw dropped for a moment.

Did I hear that right?

Why is Kyle kicking Sienna out, and why does his voice sound so cold?!

The tone of his voice was so chilling, it made me think that if there were ten Kyle’s, we wouldn’t have to worry about global warming.

At this rate, Sienna will definitely be scared.

As if that weren’t bad enough, Sienna shuddered and bowed her head.

“I-I’m sorry. I should go.”

“Sienna, wait-!”

“Take good care of yourself. I am sorry.”

She gave me a quick bow and scurried away.

“Kyle! What are you doing!”

In frustration, I punched Kyle in the forearm.

It was a futile effort, but it did manage to startle him.

Kyle’s eyes widened and he asked, “What’s wrong?”

“What are you doing Kyle? Why are you being so mean to her?!”

I couldn’t believe that he was being so mean to his female lead right now.

Sensing my ferocity, Kyle flinched. He stuck his mouth out in a pout.

“What did I do?”

What did you do?

I ruffled his hair roughly. Does Kyle want to ride the southern route of regret? Huh? Does he?

No. This is how I’m going to get my ass kicked by Sienna later.

“Kyle, let me tell you a life truth.”

Kyle stared at me with his round face. I opened my mouth very, very seriously.

“Kyle, you’re going to get married when you grow up, right?”

“I suppose so.”

“But do you think your wife will like it if you’re as cold to her as you were just now?”

“What does it matter, it’s not like I’m marrying her anyway.”

‘Yeah, well, you are.’

She’s the heroine of this novel, the one you were destined to love, the future empress.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that’s going to happen, because I’ve already changed the story in my own hands….

It’s just my honest impression that that’s the most likely scenario, seeing as how the two of them ended up getting together.

No, more than that, you stupid puppy. Why are you acting so pissed off from earlier?

I smacked Kyle on the forehead.

Kyle frowned and brushed my hand away. He seemed to be in a low mood.

I decided to be patient and explain calmly.

“Kyle, be nice to people. What if you pushed her away already?”

“What are you saying to me about that beggar?”

“Beggar – you can’t say that!” I scolded him, stunned by Kyle’s tone.

~ Translation by Lurelia | Editing by Valpal | Read only at rainofsnow.com ~

Kyle seemed to be more harsh than usual today.

God, it’s frustrating, not being able to tell him outright that she might be his wife.

“Cherish the people around you. Including her.”

Relationships are about push and pull, and you’re only pushing, not pulling. I don’t care if you’re a handsome crown prince, your future wife won’t like you if you put up a wall.

This is all my heartfelt advice for Kyle’s happy future…….

“Alright.”

Kyle’s expression turned grim as he reluctantly replied.

And I’m …… not sure what to make of this.

Apparently, it’s going to take quite a bit of effort for Kyle to reach his happy ending.

***

The brief period of freedom I enjoyed after passing the entrance exam passed.

It was almost time for the new semester at the academy to begin.

How time flies….

The whole family came out to see us off as we left for the academy.

“We’ll be leaving then.”

“Take care of yourself, and don’t forget to write to me when you get there, and tell me if you’re having a hard time at the academy.”

“I’m not a child, Mum.”

“You’re always a child to your mum, my darling.”

My mother hugged me tightly. I hugged her back as hard as I could, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall from the warmth of her affection.

“Take good care of yourself, Prince, and, with all due respect, take care of Vivian.”

“Don’t worry, Marquis.”

“Take care, Vivian. We’ll see you on the holidays.”

“Yes.”

We couldn’t say goodbye forever. We had a long way to go, so we wistfully climbed into the carriage.

“Giddy up!”

The carriage carrying me and Kyle started to move at the coachman’s signal.

I settled into my seat as the family waving handkerchiefs to see me off became a tiny speck.

Kyle, seated across from me, had already taken out a book and was reading.

<The Power of Small Acts of Kindness>.

This is the book I had given him to read and learn from, when I was stunned by his words.

Although he had already read it the day I gave it to him, he seemed to read it over and over again.

I felt proud that I had given Kyle a gift that he liked and that would help him in his life.

Ever since the day Sienna ran away, I’ve been haunted by the guilt that I might have ruined their relationship.

Of course, as long as Kyle was happy and I was safe, it didn’t matter how the story ended.

It’s funny how the human mind works, and I found myself wondering if the two main characters would end up together.

Also, in retrospect, I would have preferred Kyle to work things out with Sienna.

Sienna, who will play an important role as a saint in the future, needs to be on Kyle’s side so that he can safely become emperor.

It’s also about me and my family.

In the original story, Rosiere was killed for supporting Prince Logan.

So I will never go down that route…. Most of all, I didn’t want to betray Kyle and support Prince Logan.

That guy, Logan, he was a total dick in the novel!

He was often portrayed in the story as being a man who had learnt all the wrong things from his father, and was often seen flirting with the ladies. With nothing to offer except his status.

But Kyle was much better than that sort of fool!

“Phew,” I sighed softly, and causing Kyle to glance up from his book. 

“Are you nervous about going to the Academy, Vivi?” Kyle asked worriedly.

Yeah, I’m nervous. I’m nervous about the Academy, and I’m nervous about my future.

When I didn’t answer, Kyle’s hand gently rested on the back of mine. Kyle spoke quite seriously.

“It’s okay. You have me.”

I stared at him.

Still, he said something that sounded like a male protagonist. Even though it just makes me look like a kid.

Phew, yeah. Such a young kid.

I wonder if I’m getting ahead of myself.

After all, there’s still a lot of time before the full-scale Imperial War begins.

In the meantime, Kyle will have grown up, I’ll have learnt something at the Academy, and our family might even be stronger than in the original.

Shaking the thought from my mind, I raised my voice.

“I’m not nervous at all. You, Kyle, seem to be the one who is.”

“Am I?”

“Yeah. That’s why you keep grabbing my hand. You’re not scared, are you? Hehe.” I purposely joked to lighten the mood, but Kyle’s eyes went blank.

Wow, what a reaction.

Normally, he would have shouted no or been embarrassed. As I narrowed my eyes in puzzlement, Kyle spoke up.

“I am scared.”

Huh?

My eyes widened at the unexpected answer, and Kyle sighed softly.

“Vivi, I am.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sure that once I get into the academy, I’ll graduate faster than anyone else.”

It didn’t sound so far-fetched. Kyle, the munchkin male protagonist, could do it.

Kyle would definitely be in the swordsmanship department, and his sword skills are pure genius.