The Male Leads Are Trapped in My House-Chapter 170

I widened my eyes.

"You drank at school? The Crown Prince himself?"

"Not during class, of course. It was in the dormitory, secretly. There was a time when His Highness was exiled from the palace for about a month and had to live in the dorms."

Theodore scratched his cheek, looking slightly embarrassed.

"That was because someone led me astray..."

"Here we go again."

"You were the one who showed me how to sneak alcohol into the school. How does someone who doesn’t even drink know such things?"

"I have no excuse."

Ethan admitted quickly, chuckling faintly.

Listening to the story, I realized that even Theodore had been like any other boy at some point—fond of fun and mischief. A stark contrast to the burdened and responsible figure he was now, weighed down by his position.

In Graydon, there were no age restrictions on drinking. As a nation that cherished wine, even children were introduced to it early, learning about it naturally.

"Are you all talking about me?"

From the kitchen entrance, Nox’s voice interrupted.

Great. Now everyone was here. Were we talking too loudly? I grew a bit anxious, wondering if even Harrison might show «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» up.

"Couldn't sleep, so I came out to find you having fun without me?"

Nox smiled playfully as he approached us. Resigned, I fetched another glass for him.

"Well, well, seeing Lancaster drink is a rare sight."

Nox looked genuinely curious, his gaze fixed on Ethan. Judging by everyone's reactions, it seemed Ethan's aversion to alcohol was well-known.

"Indeed. The troublemaker who won’t touch a drop—what a contradiction," Theodore added.

"A baffling guy, for sure. Despite all his mischief and disciplinary actions, he still managed to graduate top of his class," Nox chimed in.

Ethan barely acknowledged their banter, sipping his drink.

Now that I thought about it, Ethan had mentioned that when he put his mind to it, he outperformed even Nox and Theodore academically.

Then Nox turned to Ethan with a teasing smile.

"This is about Cherry, isn’t it? You’re drinking this cherry liquor because she is. Trying to match her, huh?"

"Well, yeah."

Ethan's candid response made Theodore raise an intrigued eyebrow, directing a curious glance at me. Clearly, he was interested in the nature of my relationship with Ethan.

"Ethan, you’ve changed. I used to think you’d be the type to survive the apocalypse alone," Theodore mused.

"I thought he'd get himself killed trying to save someone."

"Such kind words you have for me," Ethan retorted, shaking his head in mock exasperation.

"Nox, I always figured you’d last a long time," Theodore said with a smirk.

"As expected, Your Highness knows me well," Nox replied smoothly.

Despite the occasional tension between Ethan and Nox, it seemed that Theodore acted as the glue holding the trio together. He was a skilled mediator, deftly managing their dynamic.

"I’m just grateful we all made it this far. It’s a miracle you’re all alive," Theodore said, his tone turning serious. He exhaled deeply, rubbing his face as if to wipe away the weight of his words.

That single statement carried the weight of everything he had endured.

"...We can never go back, can we? I don’t know if we’ll ever recover our old lives."

The somber words hung in the air, silencing us all.

"I’m grateful you survived."

"We can’t go back to the way things were."

The weight of those statements tightened my throat. I watched silently as Ethan refilled my glass.

The silence stretched on until Theodore broke it cautiously.

"Lady Sinclair, may I ask why Kellyan is being held here?"

His question shifted the mood slightly, and I shrugged before explaining calmly.

"A monster in Brunel Village had taken Ludfisher. I went to rescue him, and Kellyan was there. He claimed to be a knight acting under your orders, Your Highness."

"That matches the information I’ve gathered. Recently, we apprehended someone impersonating a knight in the capital. During interrogation, they mentioned Kellyan Bangor. Apparently, with their leader dead, Kellyan now holds the highest rank in their group."

It aligned with what Kellyan had confessed.

Kellyan’s faction had been private soldiers for the KC Marquisate and seemed to be collaborating with Prince Lloyd’s forces, aiding someone in Westmore.

"I must uncover what’s happening in Westmore," Theodore declared resolutely.

Observing Kellyan’s reaction to Ethan’s staged funeral would reveal how crucial Ethan’s presence was to Westmore’s plans.

Turning Kellyan to our side would be advantageous, as he likely knew more about the virus and Westmore’s inner workings.

We needed to show him that Theodore, not the leader of Westmore’s survival camp, was the better ally in this apocalyptic world.

It wasn’t just about us—it was about Theodore. His status as Crown Prince, with its inherent authority and legitimacy, held undeniable sway.

Even in a collapsed world, verified credentials were invaluable. Convincing Kellyan that siding with Theodore was the smarter choice could secure his allegiance.

At least, that was the plan.

Little did I know how events would unfold from there.

Theodore was staring at my face.

His gaze was completely different from when he first looked at me.

Slowly, he spoke.

"Lady Sinclair, how about coming to the capital with me?"

"Excuse me?"

I was so taken aback by the unexpected suggestion that I instinctively asked for clarification. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought Theodore would make such a proposal.

"I’ve realized I held a significant bias against you, Lady Sinclair. I never imagined you were so capable. Had I known, I would have ensured you were by my side from the start."

Ethan and Nox, who I thought might interject with comments, remained silent. Instead, they seemed curious about how I would respond.

"I’m not sure what you mean by asking me to go to the capital."

"It’s a request to become one of my people."

"If that’s what you mean, I’ll have to decline. I want to stay here."

To be precise, I wanted to stay safe within Happy House.

If I followed Theodore, it would undoubtedly lead to countless dangerous situations. And, as in the original story, I might meet my end.

Even my plans to utilize Kellyan were solely for the survival of Happy House, not because I wanted to actively join Theodore’s efforts to save the world.

"If you need assistance, I can help occasionally, but I’ll remain here."

Once the underground passage to the capital was clear, occasional exchanges should suffice.

At my firm response, Theodore looked at me with disappointment. His resolute gaze suggested he wasn’t ready to abandon his efforts to persuade me.

"If you ever change your mind, let me know. With your strength, you could significantly aid in rebuilding the world."

His emphasis on "strength" was a bitter reminder of how he viewed me—a physical powerhouse.

An extra character being scouted by the story’s main male lead to help save the world. How charming.

Theodore’s words marked the end of the conversation, and a brief silence followed. The cherry liquor was nearly gone, though I didn’t mind since there was plenty more from my mother’s stash.

I poured the last round and turned to Nox.

"How’s Sir Kellyan’s wound?"

"The wound has almost healed. I’d say he’s recovering at about the same pace as Lady Ruskin."

Even Vanilla, though still limping a bit, could now walk.

Thanks to Nox’s quick first aid, Kellyan, who had suffered a pierced thigh, had avoided bacterial infection and subsequent viral complications.

"Come to think of it, even if he tried to escape, he wouldn’t get far with that wound. It’s unlikely he’d try anything drastic."

Happy House had more than enough capable people to handle one injured Kellyan.

After finishing my last glass, I stood up to leave.

"I’ll head to bed now. I’m exhausted."

Ethan promptly rose to follow me.

Theodore rested his chin on his hand and gave a silent nod, while Nox cast an exasperated look at Ethan trailing behind me.

And so, Ethan and I left the kitchen together. Standing in front of our respective rooms, we hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances. Finally, Ethan spoke.

"Do you think you’ll be able to sleep now?"

"I think so. I’ll sleep soundly."

"Good enough."

He rubbed his brow, looking weary, and bid me goodnight. He genuinely seemed exhausted, his slightly unfocused eyes likely due to the alcohol.

"Goodnight, Lady Cherry."

"Goodnight to you too, Sir Ethan."

I had expected more conversation, but Ethan offered a kind farewell and retreated into his room.

However, shortly after—

Thud!

Startled by the sound, I rushed into his room to find Ethan sprawled helplessly beside the bed. His body, wrapped in bandages, looked especially pitiful.

"Sir Ethan!"

I hurried to his side to check on him, only to realize he was peacefully asleep.

His neck was flushed red, a clear sign of his intoxication. He must have been more drunk than I thought.

It was then I finally understood why Ethan avoided drinking—he couldn’t handle alcohol any better than I could.

With a sigh, I gently lifted him and placed him on the bed. Only after ensuring he was settled did I return to my room to sleep.

*****

After Cherry left the kitchen, a heavy silence lingered between Theodore and Nox.

Theodore continued to stare at the spot where Cherry had been.

"Could it be...?"

Nox, sensing unease, glanced at Theodore, who suddenly broke the silence with an unexpected question.

"Has Lady Sinclair always been that strong?"

"...From what I’ve heard, it’s a side effect of supplements she took as a child."

At Nox’s reply, Theodore nodded in admiration.

"She’s impressive. Had I known earlier, I would’ve offered her a place in the knighthood."

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Theodore gazed at the empty space with the eyes of someone appraising a valuable asset. Nox, noticing this, quietly sighed in relief.

"This mansion is remarkably well-suited for enduring such a catastrophic plague," Theodore remarked as he exited the kitchen.

Nox followed him out.

"In any case, I won’t give up on making Lady Sinclair one of my people. You should be aware of that."

With those parting words, Theodore returned to his room. Nox, feeling oddly unsettled, retreated to his own room as well.