I tamed the female lead

Chapter 19

I never ran so fast in my entire life. I was feeling terribly ashamed and had to right my wrongs as fast as possible. I ran so fast that I almost crashed into five people. Every time I dodged at the last second but my chance couldn't keep on so well because the sixth person was too close for me to dodge again. I just closed my eyes and prepared for the crash yelling to the other person to look out. But for some reason I never fell. I just felt strong arms circle my hips and pull me to a soft surface. When I opened my eyes I saw familiar yellow eyes in front of me. I immediately recognised the female lead and felt my heart skip a beat.

I didn't remember ever seeing her from so close but for the first time in my life I understood the meaning of the word breathtaking. Even with a worried expression on her face she looked amazing. But why did she look so worried? I just almost crashed into someone. It wasn't anything serious. But seeing her eyes I couldn't shake a weird feeling. Sometimes she really reminded me of Orange. She was the only other person who would look so worried while I wasn't hurt at all.

I quickly got back to my senses and grabbed Astéria's shoulders ready to apologize immediately. However, the latter was still very worried and didn't give me time to talk:

"Are you okay? What happened? Did you sprain your ankle?"

I shook my head, not having time to say anything. Astéria wasn't listening to me anymore and was talking completely alone:

"Let's go to the infirmary. We should check your condition just in case.

-No, there's no need. I am fine. Nothing happened. I was just running too fast."

Astéria wasn't listening to me. She was panicking just as Orange did when she would see me bleed. I had to calm her and grabbed her face before pulling her close to me. Astéria immediately froze and she started changing colors. I was sure that she even stopped breathing which made me smile:

"I am fine. I just fell. Nothing happened."

She needed some time but she calmed her breathing. While she did I noticed that people were staring at us and gently pulled Astéria away. We hid in the same staircase as last time and I turned to Astéria worried:

"Are you feeling better?

-Yes. I am sorry I overreacted.

-No, it's fine. And I am the one who should apologize.

-You don't have to apologize for anything.

-I do. I am so sorry for what happened this morning. I talked to Orange and she told me about what was your real reason. I am so sorry I got worked up. I just got very angry when I heard that you didn't want to meet my friend. She is very important to me and I got sensitive. I am sorry. We could eat together any time, just the two of us. If you still want to of course.

-Yes. I would love to. I am sorry. I should have been honest from the beginning.

-It's not your fault. You know, Orange is very protective of me and she only wanted to help. I hope you didn't get hurt by what she said.

-I didn't. I understood actually. I know that at first I come off as cold and disdainful but I really wanted to get to know you. I completely understand why she had her doubts however."

I frowned before tilting my head:

"Why did you want to get closer to me?

-I just had this urge the second I saw you. I wanted to get to know you. But then you saved me so many times that I just genuinely wanted you to like me.

-I am grateful for your honesty.

-You can ask me anything."

I didn't believe her. Well, that wasn't completely true. I knew that she was just lying but despite everything I couldn't help feeling that she was being honest. Usually I always followed my gut but I read the book and knew the kind of person she was. I knew she needed me and was nice because of this but that was fine for now. I yelled at her and was scared that she would remember this later on. Apart from me feeling genuinely bad, I had to make her forgive me first and foremost.

We came out of the staircase and went to class. People seemed to have found a new hobby in staring at us and I could understand. One second I snapped at the cold princess and ignored her while she had her ears hanging behind while the other second we were walking together to class all smiles. So many things were happening around us that I couldn't blame them at all.

The next day I promised Astéria we would eat together but I wanted to check in with Orange and Azore first to be sure they didn't mind. Hearing my question Azore just shrugged:

"Of course not. It was only a question of time."

I tilted my head:

"What do you mean?

-Nothing, really."

I pinched my lips but didn't ask anymore. I then turned to Orange, worried:

"Are you okay with this?

-Do you want to eat with her?

-Yes.

-Then, yes.

-Are you sure? You didn't want her getting closer to me.

-You can do whatever you want.

-I just feel bad for snapping at her.

-Don't eat with her only out of pity.

-No, it's not really that...

-Do whatever you want."

I smiled. Orange never prevented me from doing anything but somewhere this was driving me crazy. I hated people sticking to me and telling me what to do and I was the type of person who would do something just because someone told me not to. But if it was Orange, I would have listened at least. Why did she never tell me what she thought? I felt childish so I didn't say anything and wished them a good meal. Now that I wasn't with them, the curious ones would take advantage to get closer to my friends and as long as they were nice I didn't mind. Orange never opened up to anyone except for me. She didn't even talk to the maids and even Prissy couldn't pry her mouth open. I knew that getting to know people would do her good. Therefore I went to Astéria feeling light. Of course people stared at us during the whole meal but I was really good at ignoring people. Astéria on the other hand seemed agitated:

"Are you okay? I asked.

-Do you want us to eat somewhere else?

-No, why?"

Astéria looked around her and I smiled:

"They can't help it. We are just too gorgeous."

I just said the first thing I thought of when I didn't know what to say but Astéria just laughed:

"Especially one of us."

I tilted my head. Astéria was staring at me so it was obvious that she was talking about me but why would she? I never heard Astéria compliment anyone in the book. This was weird. She really needed something from me and I needed to know what. In the book she had a lot of people to take revenge on: her dad who abandoned her and then neglected her, her mom who said having given birth to her was her worst shame, her older brother who bullied her back home, her younger sister who couldn't stop reminding her of how disgusting wizards were... And this was just the beginning. There was everyone who beat her on the streets or stole from her and I didn't even know how she could remember so many people. She needed Alastair for her plans because once on the throne she had the power to imprison her family. She would first destroy them completely, having them ruined by attacking their ships and then destroying their reputation slowly with rumors. Once they lost all hope she found proof of her dad's treachery.

Of course after imprisonment, Astéria would go down to the cells and torture her family again and again. There was so much blood everywhere that you had to be 18 to read the manhwa. Of course you could find it on illegal sites but on official ones you had to be an adult. Was Astéria planning to take out her plan the same way as before but without sending them to prison? She could in theory. But what did she need me for if she didn't need Alastair anymore? I didn't like all these unanswered questions and would have preferred to know exactly what she was up to. I needed to make her like me a bit while showing her how useless I was for her plan. Maybe I could even convince her how useful alastair was on the other hand. But was I really going to push him to death to save myself? I didn't really care about dying as long as I could look at myself in the mirror so maybe I could even convince Astéria that Alastair was nice. I didn't like him but he didn't deserve to die either, contrary to Astéria's dad.

We ate in silence while I was thinking about what to do when I suddenly saw Astéria hand me her plate of red cabbage. I looked up to her and tilted my head and this made her smile for some reason:

"You don't like red cabbage?"

That detail wasn't in the book. It was always interesting getting to know new things.

"You seem to really like it."

I looked at my plate and laughed. I really loved red cabbage and inhaled my plate without realizing.

"I really love it but this one isn't the best.

-Which one is?

-Orange's."

Astéria froze for some reason.

"You know, my best friend. She is an amazing cook and she makes the best sauce for red cabbage."

Just thinking about it I felt my stomach growl.

"I love every single dish she makes. Last time she made me cookies in the form of pandas. I love cookies and could eat them all day. And last time she made cupcake pandas too. I really don't understand how she does it but everything she makes tastes perfect. I love eating but sometimes I am really excited but am disappointed at the first bite because it isn't as good as it looks. But this never happens with her. It's even the other way around. Every bite is even better than what I expected. For example! I love hot chocolate but I never drank a good hot chocolate except for hers. I don't know why but the others are always too dense or not sweet enough."

I suddenly realized that I had been rambling about food and stopped. Astéria was smiling while looking at me, her chin in her hand. She seemed so happy that I immediately blushed:

"I am so sorry I didn't realize I was talking so much.

-Don't apologize, please. I like it. You seem to like Orange quite a lot.

-Of course! She is the best person in this country. She is just perfect and I love her."

Astéria almost choked and I got up to rub her back:

"Are you okay?"

I handed her a glass of water and pulled the red cabbage plate away:

"Don't force yourself to eat if you don't like it. I will eat it.

-That's not...

-What?"

She stared at me for a few seconds before turning away:

"Nothing."