Male Lead, Don’t Push, Pull!

“Sorry, Lisa. You were sleeping and I woke you up.”

“Not at all, Young Miss. I’m rather glad to be able to spend my last night with you.”

Lisa giggled, her face blank. She groggily got up at my sudden insistence that she had to leave the room.

Oh, I’m so sorry…. But I can’t help it. I got to meet Daniel Raston! If I get some beans later, Lisa I’ll share some with you.

“Go back to my room and sleep. Don’t sleep on the couch – sleep on the bed, okay?”

“And you, Miss? Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“I’m going to meet a new student like me, chat, and then sleep.”

“Well, I’ll stay with you then.”

“No, it’s okay, you’re really tired as it is. Don’t worry, and go to bed first. I’ll be right there.”

“… Do you really want to be there right now?”

“Yeah, I do.”

I pushed Lisa into my room and headed back down to the first floor. Just then, a servant from the inn passed by, so I stopped him and said, “Could you please carry their luggage up the stairs to the third room on the second floor?”

He looked at me as if to ask why I was asking him to do such a chore, but when I handed him a silver leaf, he quickly changed his attitude and exclaimed, “Just leave it to me, and I’ll take care of all the luggage!”

“Thank you.”

” No problem!”

Having solved the problem with ease, I smirked and strode over to Baron Raston. Raston gave me an apologetic look.

“I hope we didn’t cause you too much trouble.”

“It’s okay, it’s no big deal.”

“Thank you very much.”

I smiled at his repeated thanks.

For the record, I didn’t tell them who I was; that would have created a wall before we’d even gotten to know each other.

While he might be grateful for my help, he might also feel overwhelmed.

He’ll find out soon enough once he’s inside the academy.

I don’t think I need to tell him now.

Daniel Raston was a pretty significant extra in the original story.

As a grown man, he begins to officially sponsor the temple to which Sienna belongs.

I think the setup was that he had a crush on the saint……….

Despite a pretty impactful early appearance for developing a cure for hair loss, the writers didn’t give Daniel much screen time.

I say he was an extra because in the end, he wasn’t even treated as a supporting character by the readers.

I glanced over at Daniel. His handsome face was quite striking.

Our eyes met and he lowered his head shyly. He looked like a baby rabbit.

The current Raston family was nothing special. A few generations ago, he was a fairly successful baron, but now he is almost a fallen nobleman.

The former patriarch had been caught in a major scam, sold off the family’s mines to pay off debts, and it had been downhill from there.

Daniel was the only son of Baron Raston.

Realizing that his son had a talent for magic, Baron Raston enrolled him in the Academy of Arene.

From there, he shot to fame, as mentioned earlier, by developing a cure for hair loss.

In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded the title of Count by the Emperor.

Personally, I think he deserves the title. After all, this boy could give you hair where you didn’t have any!

Growing hair….

Anyway, that’s all in the future.

For now, it was clear that Baron Raston himself, not his chamberlain, was following him, and it was clear that the situation at the barony was far from prosperous.

An inn room could have been obtained for a small sum of money, but seeing as how he couldn’t….

Baron Raston’s attire is also shabby. At least he’s given Daniel a new outfit so he won’t be ignored.

Truly, Daniel is their only hope.

Realizing it was getting late, I asked Daniel, “Have you eaten?”

Our eyes met and he jumped up, making a surprised sound as his stomach rumbled.

Daniel’s face turned bright red and he dropped his head.

Oh, dear….

What have you been doing without food?

I immediately called for the innkeeper.

“Hey, bring me two servings of the same thing we ordered earlier.”

“Dear, you don’t have to do that,” Baron Raston protested, his eyes wide.

But I was going to serve them right today.

I was going to put a good stamp on them while I could! You should pay your dues when you can.

But the Baron might feel the pressure…….

“Hehe. Actually, I’m hungry too! I didn’t eat much earlier.” I put my hand on my stomach and pretended to be hungry. “And my dad says meals taste better when you share them with a friend!”

I was being a good little girl!

Most of the food at the inn was pre-prepared, so it didn’t take long for the food to arrive: hot stews and steaming meat dishes.

Gulp.

I thought I heard a noise, but it was Daniel swallowing.

I grinned sweetly at his hesitation and shoved the food in front of him.

“Eat up.”

And as if those words were a signal, he picked up his cutlery.

“Yum!”

Soon, Daniel’s eyes widened as he tasted the food, and he began to gulp it down.

Oh my gosh, he was so hungry. I don’t think this will be enough.

“Here, give me two more servings of grilled chicken.”

“Yes!”

“Hehe, you can have some too.”

“Sweetheart, I’m really fine….”

Is that person just drooling and staring at the food?

I’m guessing it’s because he’s uncomfortable eating it, and if so, why….

“But it’s too much for me to eat.”

I deliberately whined like an immature child. I intentionally sounded like an immature child so that the other person would feel a little less pressure.

“Why shouldn’t I just share it with you?”

I pouted my lips in disappointment and pushed him a chicken leg. The baron’s eyes widened.

But even he could not resist the incoming surge of appetite.

“Thank you, my dear.”

Grateful, the baron began to eat cautiously, and then he smiled a very sweet smile.

Whoa, I saw it.

The Baron was so touched that tears briefly formed in his eyes!

Yes, that’s it, be more emotional, be more moved!

I made a pretense of eating in moderation, but afterwards I just watched the two of them eat.

After some time, they finally put down their plates, full and satisfied.

Baron Raston laughed, a little embarrassed.

“Well, that was quite a display of indiscretion.”

“Hehe. The food here is good, isn’t it? I ate a lot earlier, too, and my stomach is really full!”

I said with a deliberately innocent smile, and Baron Raston’s face relaxed a little. 

He chuckled softly and asked, “By any chance, Vivian, may I ask what subject you are going to study? As our Daniel is a bit shy, I thought it would be nice if you could befriend him.”

“Dad.”

Daniel tugged at the hem of Baron Raston’s robe, embarrassed. But he kept glancing at me to make sure I didn’t mind.

“I haven’t really decided yet. They say you can take an aptitude test after you get into the Academy, so I’m going to take that first.”

“I see. It’s okay to try different things before you choose.”

“What about you, Daniel? What department are you going to?”

I deliberately redirected the question to Daniel because I felt like I was talking to Baron Raston the whole time.

Daniel, flustered by the attention, replied in a small voice.

“Faculty of Magic….”

Yeah, I actually knew that. I was just trying to get you into the conversation.

“So, what time are you leaving tomorrow, Vivian? If you don’t mind, maybe we could go to the Academy together.”

“Oh, I’m…….”

I was about to say yes, when I suddenly remembered Kyle, who would be sleeping in his room.

Of course, it would be great if Kyle could get to know Daniel. He could be a great support to the future emperor.

But why do I get the feeling that they might fight when they meet?

Well, neither of them are short-tempered. Kyle is calm enough to be mature for his age, and Daniel, sitting right in front of me, looks like a timid baby bunny.

But there’s something about them that keeps nudging me.

It’s telling me that it would be better if the two of them didn’t see each other, at least not today!

After a moment’s hesitation, I decided to go with my gut.

“I have company, so I think we should probably go our separate ways.”

“Oh, okay. I can’t help it if you have company.”

Baron Raston was visibly disappointed, as was Daniel, who sat next to him.

This feels like I’ve just unintentionally pushed them away. I didn’t intend to end the relationship like this, so I added a word.

“But we are friends! We ate a meal together. We will see each other again at the academy.”

I locked eyes with Daniel. Daniel blushed, but soon nodded enthusiastically.

It was so cute that I laughed a little.