I AM NOT THE LOVE INTEREST!

Chapter 47: Stress

—ARIA—

The silence after Ezekiel grabbed my hand felt so severe that I genuinely wondered whether everyone in the dining hall had forgotten how breathing worked.

Including me.

Especially me.

Because what exactly was this man doing?

He looked completely comfortable holding my hand.

Meanwhile, I could physically feel the tension spreading across the table like wildfire.

Sebastian’s expression had gone frighteningly dark beside Cynthia. His gaze remained fixed on Ezekiel’s hand over mine with a stillness that somehow felt sharper than anger itself.

Ren looked even worse.

He stood behind my chair so stiffly that I genuinely worried he might snap the serving tray he was holding in half.

Even Duke Valen looked shaken.

And Cynthia?

Oh, Cynthia looked irritated.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

I slowly looked down at my captured hand again before turning toward Ezekiel carefully.

"...Are you planning to release me," I asked flatly, "or should I begin preparing dowry negotiations?" I joked that instantly earned disapproval from everyone.

A servant choked somewhere behind us.

Ezekiel’s thumb brushed lightly against the back of my hand before he answered smoothly,

"Oh?" His brows lifted slightly afterward, and to my absolute shock, he actually pouted faintly like some wronged nobleman in a tragic romance play. "Am I truly that unfit to be with Lady Aria?"

I stared at him in disbelief.

What was this behavior?

Who replaced this unstable Royal Archmage with this clingy impostor?!

I immediately tried pulling my hand back under the table, but Ezekiel’s grip tightened just enough to stop me without looking forceful.

This manipulative menace.

Then suddenly, he leaned closer.

Far too close.

Close enough for his voice to lower beside my ear while the scent of expensive cedar and magic practically invaded my personal space.

"Why," he murmured quietly, "do I feel another man’s mana all over you?"

My entire body visibly stiffened.

Excuse me?!

I turned sharply toward him, accidentally moving even closer in the process.

"What are you talking about?" I whispered back instinctively.

Ezekiel’s golden eyes narrowed slightly.

"There is foreign mana surrounding you," he replied softly. "Strong mana."

His gaze lowered briefly toward my wrist.

"And it certainly is not yours."

Oh no.

No no no.

Not the elf bracelet situation.

Not now.

Not during breakfast in front of my father, Sebastian, Cynthia, Ren, and approximately every servant in this cursed estate.

Ezekiel’s expression remained calm, but I noticed the subtle sharpness beneath it now.

"Who did you meet after returning yesterday?" he asked quietly.

I froze.

Then immediately remembered Aelith.

The beautiful elf doctor.

...

Oh.

Suddenly this looked extremely bad.

I opened my mouth to answer but before I could, Sebastian’s voice cut across the table coldly.

"You’re too close."

At almost the same moment, Ren spoke too.

"Please release her hand."

The atmosphere instantly sharpened again.

I blinked and looked around the table.

And immediately realized the problem.

From everyone else’s perspective, Ezekiel and I currently looked like we were whispering sweet romantic nothings to each other in the middle of a meal.

Ha!

Like hell we were!

This man was interrogating me about magical contamination!

Meanwhile, Cynthia looked utterly stunned.

Duke Valen had gone silent, threatened to speak a word and offend this royal archmage.

Even the servants nearby were pretending not to stare while very obviously staring.

Ezekiel finally leaned back slightly, though he still had not released my hand.

Instead, he leaned back slightly in his chair and glanced lazily toward Sebastian as if the entire situation was mildly entertaining rather than on the verge of becoming a diplomatic disaster.

"I was speaking quietly," he said smoothly. "There is no need to sound jealous."

Sebastian’s expression darkened instantly.

"I have not yet agreed to break off our engagement."

The words landed heavily across the table.

Even Cynthia stiffened slightly, though she quickly composed herself, her fingers gently folding over her teacup as if she were merely observing a harmless conversation rather than a blade being slowly pressed against the atmosphere.

Ezekiel blinked once at Sebastian’s response, then let out a soft hum, almost like he was genuinely considering the statement.

"Mhm," he said lightly. "Really?"

His gaze tilted slightly, slow and deliberately provoking.

"I did not know it was acceptable for an engaged man to sit beside another woman."

Then, with an infuriatingly casual smile, he added,

"Since when did you become a playboy, my friend?"

That did it.

Sebastian’s chair scraped slightly against the floor as he shifted forward, his expression sharpening that made the entire dining hall go silent again.

"I am not–"

"Enough."

My voice cut through the tension before it could fully erupt.

Silence fell instantly.

Every head turned toward me.

I slowly stood up from my seat.

No.

No no no.

This was exactly how tragic misunderstandings started in novels. One sharp word, one emotional escalation, and suddenly I would end up accused of corruption, seduction, or manipulation.

And I had no interest in becoming a headline in my own execution scene.

I exhaled slowly, forcing my expression to be calm.

"Let us end breakfast here," I said evenly.

Sebastian looked at me immediately, still tense.

Ezekiel, on the other hand, looked entirely unbothered. If anything, he looked mildly entertained, like this entire confrontation was mildly amusing.

Ren, however, had already moved closer behind my chair without me noticing.

"Ren."

"Yes, my lady," he answered immediately, already extending his hand.

Ah.

Ren knows me too well.

I quickly grabbed his hand.

"Let us get out of here," I said firmly.

Behind me, I vaguely heard Sebastian’s voice.

"Aria..."

But I did not turn back.

I was not about to become the main character of a tragedy I did not sign up for.

Well...I am not yet ready for what fate has in store for me.

As I stepped away from the table, I could feel the atmosphere behind me shift again.

Ezekiel’s gaze followed me.

I knew without looking.

Sebastian’s frustration lingered like a storm about to break.

And that alone made me walk faster.

Ren guided me out of the dining hall without a word.

Only when the doors finally closed behind us did I let out a breath I had been unconsciously holding.

"...that was dangerous." I muttered under my breath.

Ren did not answer immediately.

Then, after a brief pause, he spoke quietly.

"...My lady attracts unusual problems."

I glanced up at him.

"Excuse me?"

A faint sigh escaped him, but he was gentle.

"...Nothing."

I narrowed my eyes.

That was absolutely not "nothing."

But before I could press further, I suddenly felt dizzy.

The shift hit without warning, like the world had tilted just slightly off its axis. One moment I was standing, and the next my vision blurred at the edges as a strange heaviness sank into my head.

Ahh... that stressed me...

Ren’s grip tightened instantly.

"My lady?"

"I’m fine," I tried to say, but it came out weaker than I intended. "Today, let us find establishments for sale."

I really need to leave this place or I’ll end up dying from stress.