How to Tame That Gentle Male Lead - Chapter 6.5
Not only in sculpture but also in his duties as a knight, he seems to always respond seriously. Resena recalled the dream of the Holy Knight that was described in the novel.
Eldis, the male lead, has dreams like premonitions before losing the people he relies on. In these dreams, he always becomes the Holy Knight Irkenes, moving to protect the people he cares about.
‘But…’
Even if he managed to save them in his dreams, it didn’t happen in reality. Lacking the experience of the Holy Knight, he lost people too easily at crucial moments by accepting others’ opinions and judgments.
Every time she read those scenes, Heejin wished he wouldn’t accept others’ judgments. But true to his reputation as a male lead who listens to everyone, Eldis accepted others’ opinions well and helplessly lost the people he cared about.
‘If he had only followed his own intuition, he would never have lost the people he cared about.’
Resena quietly looked at Vernas in front of her. Words of advice she wanted to give Eldis came to mind, but right now, she wanted them to be conveyed through Vernas’s mouth rather than saying them directly herself.
Because if that happened, Vernas would gain Eldis’s trust, and even if they both became aware of her feelings, it could avoid a catastrophic outcome. Moreover, given Vernas’s personality, if they became close, he seemed likely to occasionally give advice fitting the situation.
‘His discernment, which considers the Holy Knight Irkenes’s command as the best, could be one way to fill in Eldis’s lack of experience.’
“Then Vernas, will you relay my words to His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“What words?”
Resena put the words she had just thought of onto her lips.
“At crucial moments, please trust your own intuition instead of other people’s judgments.”
Vernas’s eyes widened slightly. But soon he repeated Resena’s words as if savoring them, repeating them in his mouth. After chewing on them several times, he looked at Resena with a calm expression.
“Why are you asking me to relay those words? Wouldn’t you gain more trust from His Highness the Crown Prince if you said them yourself?”
Resena smiled faintly.
“Vernas, you have a keen eye. An eye sharp enough to create incredibly beautiful sculptures. Moreover, I thought your intuition, which considers the Holy Knight Irkenes’s command as the best, would surely become Eldis’s strength.”
“…”
“Most people think Eldis is perfect. As such, they’re eager to help him in whatever he does. But I think you, Vernas, would only intervene when necessary, even after becoming close. And if you consider the command of a truly perfect figure like Irkenes as the best, you would surely catch any potential weaknesses without fail.”
“…”
“Moreover, what Eldis needs right now is to trust his own intuition. His ability to synthesize and track others’ words up to crucial moments is certainly praiseworthy, but there will always come a moment when he must follow only his intuition. If he follows others’ words until that moment, he will surely lose someone precious.”
“…Resena.”
Resena smiled brightly.
“That’s why I want Vernas to become Eldis’s strength.”
“…”
“If Vernas becomes Eldis’s strength, Eldis will truly become a perfect being. Even amidst the onslaught of events, he won’t lose the people important to him. I don’t want to see Eldis drive himself into harsh extremes.”
“Resena.”
Vernas’s eyes trembled as if enduring some boiling emotion. His clenched fist seemed to indicate his agitation. It was unexpected to see him react this way after having somewhat criticized Eldis, but Resena smiled brightly like spring flowers blooming.
“It would be better if your commander commanded as perfectly as Irkenes, wouldn’t it? And if Vernas relays these words to Eldis at a crucial moment, Eldis won’t engage in the dangerous act of consulting others at decisive moments in the future. Then Vernas, who receives his commands, will also be much safer.”
“…”
“So, please. Vernas.”
How could he refuse Resena’s words as she smiled so brightly?
Especially when she cared for him so much.
“…Resena.”
“Yes, Vernas.”
“Resena, you call His Highness the Crown Prince’s name very familiarly. And you’ve also asked me to relay these words for his sake. Could it be… do you have feelings for Eldis?”
Resena’s eyes widened. At the same time, as she noticed Vernas’s expression hardening, Resena’s heart stung with a pang of conscience.
But the only option available was to lie.
‘I’m sorry, Vernas.’
“No, it’s not like that. Eldis and I… we’re just in a relationship of advisor and executor.”
“…”
“Of course, I’m on close terms with him to give proper advice, but I have no intention of developing the relationship beyond that.”
“…”
Eldis inwardly gave a bitter smile. And unknowingly, he brushed the facial transformation magic device hanging around his neck. Fortunately, what hung around his neck looked like a simple gold necklace, so Resena didn’t realize that he had magically transformed his face.
‘As expected, when you lie, your face is pitifully transparent, Resena.’
With such poor lying skills, how could she survive in high society?
The previous Resena was someone who could lie without batting an eye if it was to seduce him. She even incurred his anger at a gathering where she calmly offered him a drink laced with an aphrodisiac that would make his whole body boil. Although he didn’t drink it, after that, Eldis tended to ignore anything related to Resena as much as possible.
‘But you’re different now… Too different. As if you’ve become a completely different person.’
The memory loss wasn’t real. Yet, there were occasional rumors that Resena, who “never hesitated to verbally and physically abuse the maids,” had changed.
And on the day of her birthday ball, he even heard necessary advice from her in the garden.
‘And now…’
He heard a second piece of advice.
One that was essential for him. Like a spell to prevent the final moment of hesitation from ever coming.
‘I’m drawn to the changed you, Resena.’
Even though she was wavering between himself as the Crown Prince and himself as a sculptor.
Even that was incredibly lovable.
And the sight of her lying to avoid hurting both versions of himself was both pitiful and endearing.
“Resena.”
“Yes, Vernas.”
So for now, let’s pretend not to notice.
Even if her small lie might snowball and cause an avalanche.
“I’ve heard your words well. But I’ll tell him that I was asked to relay this advice from you, Resena.”
He inwardly smiled as he saw Resena’s eyes widen. But while continuing to take in that adorable sight, he spoke in a gruff voice.
“Because I’m not the type of person with enough boldness to give such advice openly. Moreover, if it weren’t for you, Resena, I wouldn’t have even thought of giving advice when needed.”
Why?
Resena recalled Vernas’s words that he wasn’t an ordinary knight and became confused. If he had to do paperwork, Vernas must be at least a deputy commander of a battalion.
And judging from their conversation, he was definitely not the timid type.
For such a Vernas to say he couldn’t give advice and use her name instead.
“Besides, I don’t have a habit of stealing others’ credit carelessly.”
Finally, a hint of laughter mixed into his voice. Only then could Resena reach the conclusion that Vernas might have said those words to tease her. But since the content itself was serious, she couldn’t say anything, and Vernas’s hand grasped her fallen hair and brought it to his face.
“His Highness the Crown Prince will be pleased to hear that you asked to relay such words.”
“…”
“Being on such close terms that you call each other by name, might build even more trust. Along with that, trust in me for relaying the message will also increase. Especially if a moment comes when that advice fits perfectly.”
Resena suddenly realized that he was truly serious, and although mixed with laughter, the content of what he was saying wasn’t meant to tease her at all.
