Forced to Sell Myself to the Female Lead After Killing the Male Lead

Audom had originally intended to bow gracefully, take the beautiful black-haired girl's hand, and perform a proper hand-kiss.

However...

His movement froze instantly.

The moment he noticed the expressions on the faces of the people standing behind the black-haired girl—and the faint black aura slowly rising around them—his heart nearly leaped out of his chest.

An overwhelming wave of terror engulfed him.

The next moment...

Under Audom's horrified gaze, Zhong Xizhi slowly raised her hand from behind the black-haired girl and casually pointed first at Audom's hand...

Then at his mouth...

Finally, wearing an exceptionally "kind" smile, she drew a finger across her own throat.

Although she didn't say a single word...

Audom clearly read the murderous intent in her eyes.

The traumatic memories he had only just managed to suppress replayed in his mind like a slideshow.

Recalling the beating Zhong Xizhi and Qiu Mingtong had given him after he refused to participate in the rescue mission...

Audom sucked in a sharp breath.

He felt like crying.

Because...

He genuinely had no idea what he had done to provoke such murderous expressions from everyone around him.

'What the hell is going on?!'

Audom screamed inwardly.

His instincts told him...

If he continued what he was doing...

He probably wouldn't live to see tomorrow's sunrise.

With his life hanging in the balance...

A familiar scene suddenly surfaced in his mind.

His older brother.

Whenever his brother managed to anger the Duke of the Black Rose Family...

There was one move that never failed.

No matter how much trouble he had caused...

As long as he used that move...

The Duke of the Black Rose Family usually wouldn't pursue the matter any further.

'No one's watching anyway!'

The next instant...

Having made up his mind, Audom completely abandoned the dignity of Elven royalty.

Right before the utterly bewildered black-haired girl...

He gave up trying to hold her hand.

Instead...

He abruptly bent down and slammed his forehead directly into the ground.

The movement was so practiced...

It was almost heartbreaking.

For a moment...

The entire cave fell into absolute silence.

So quiet that even a falling pin could have been heard.

Even Zhong Xizhi and Qiu Mingtong, who had been desperately signaling him moments earlier, couldn't help twitching at the corners of their eyes.

Clearly...

Even they hadn't expected the Elven Prince to react like this.

An awkward silence spread between both sides.

Only after a while did Yumo finally recover enough to let out a bewildered cry.

"...Huh?"

Seeing the Elven Prince suddenly kneeling before her, Yumo frowned deeply.

Countless question marks practically floated around her.

Uh...

What is going on?

Why did he suddenly kneel?

I... I didn't even do anything?!

"Um... what... what exactly are you doing?"

"..."

Before Audom could answer...

The dragon-horned girl behind Yumo cheerfully stepped forward and, with a perfectly serious face, began making things up.

"There's no need to be surprised, Lady Yumo. Whenever the Elves meet a distinguished foreign guest for the first time, this is simply how they greet them~"

"...Huh?! What did you just say?"

???

Yumo's face twitched.

What kind of greeting is that?

They just kneel the moment they meet someone?

Seriously?

She hurriedly waved both hands.

"N-No, that can't possibly be true."

"It is true, Lady Yumo."

Qiu Mingtong immediately chimed in.

"Although it sounds rather unbelievable, it really is their tradition."

"T-That... kind of tradition?"

"Yes. If you don't believe us..."

She smiled.

"...You can ask him yourself."

"Hm?"

Hearing that, Yumo pursed her lips and looked toward Audom in confusion.

For some reason...

His kneeling posture seemed much more elegant now than before.

It almost looked like a proper ceremonial salute.

Although...

It also somehow felt like he had hurriedly adjusted the pose after hearing Zhong Xizhi's explanation...

Those little troublemakers...

They're not bullying the Elves just because they're kind-hearted...

Are they?

"Um... Your Highness Audom... is this... really an Elven tradition? It's alright. Just tell me the truth."

Yumo asked as gently as she possibly could.

Hearing her voice...

Audom nervously lifted his head.

The moment he saw Yumo's signature smile...

He froze.

Then...

An overwhelming sense of dread surged from the bottom of his heart.

From the conversation moments ago, Audom had already learned that this breathtakingly beautiful girl was the true leader behind the Black Rose Family.

The superior of the Duke of the Black Rose Family himself.

Anyone capable of commanding that man...

Could never be underestimated.

She must be just like Xiao.

An appearance designed entirely to deceive.

Beautiful on the outside...

Yet filled with schemes and conspiracies inside.

That smile...

It was undeniably beautiful.

But...

He still remembered...

The first time the Duke of the Black Rose Family had visited the Elven Forest...

He had worn exactly the same smile.

After that...

The Elves had been beaten senseless.

Therefore...

The smile before him absolutely wasn't one of kindness.

It had to conceal something far more sinister.

Wait...

She deliberately interrupted my meal.

Dragged me all the way here.

Forced me to kneel.

And now she's teasing me by asking whether it's our tradition?

This woman...

She's demonstrating her authority.

She wants me to understand the Elves' place in this world...

In other words...

The Elves should only ever kneel before humans?

If I say this isn't our tradition...

She'll probably force it to become one!

These damn people!!

An overwhelming sense of humiliation filled Audom's heart.

No!

This can't continue!

I have to resist!

...

Wait.

Could there perhaps be another possibility?

Maybe...

She genuinely didn't know anything about this so-called tradition.

Maybe her smile and her question carried no hidden meaning.

Maybe...

I was simply overthinking everything.

No.

Impossible.

After only a brief moment of consideration, Audom immediately rejected the idea.

'She's the one behind the Black Rose Family. How could she possibly not know something like this? She's definitely putting pressure on me!'

...

Taking a deep breath, Audom gathered his courage.

He was just about to let out a furious protest and demonstrate his unbreakable resolve...

When he once again glanced past Yumo's shoulder.

He froze.

Behind her...

Zhong Xizhi and Qiu Mingtong were calmly wiping down their weapons...

While smiling at him with astonishing warmth.

Audom: ...

After struggling internally for approximately one-tenth of a second...

Audom immediately put on the sincerest smile imaginable and cheerfully met Yumo's gaze.

Damn it.

Better to accept my fate now...

Than get beaten first and end up with one more "traditional custom."

In a certain sense...

Audom and the Elven King truly were brothers.

"Y-Yes, Lady Yumo. My apologies for the misunderstanding. That really is one of the Elves' traditions. Hehe... hehe..."

Although he was smiling...

It looked as though he might burst into tears at any moment.

"...Really? It actually is a tradition?"

"Y-Yes... yes."

"I... I see..."

Since even the Elven Prince himself had confirmed it, Yumo could only accept this bizarre custom with lingering confusion.

After all...

The world was full of strange traditions.

The Elves had remained isolated inside the Elven Forest for so long...

Perhaps it wasn't that surprising for them to preserve unusual customs that had long fallen out of fashion.

Come to think of it...

Saiboke-Baniya had once mentioned something similar.

As she quietly pondered the matter, Yumo slowly turned toward the people behind her.

Immediately...

The dark aura around Zhong Xizhi and Qiu Mingtong vanished.

The two girls instantly returned to their usual obedient appearances, as though nothing had happened.

Yumo: ...

Giving them both an extremely suspicious look, Yumo turned back toward Audom.

After receiving a subtle signal from Zhong Xizhi, Audom also slowly rose to his feet.

"Still... I really must thank Your Highness for helping rescue me earlier."

"N-No, there's no need to thank me. It was only a small matter."

"How could I not thank you? If this had been discovered, the Elves might have become enemies of the Snow Night Empire. You took such a huge risk. Of course I should express my gratitude. Also, the Tears of Nature and all those magic scrolls you sent before were incredibly useful! They helped us solve so many problems."

"Hahaha... it's nothing. Really, just a trivial matter. Hahaha..."

Damn it.

Even if we become enemies of the Snow Night Empire, I'd still rather do that than offend the Black Rose Family.

What can the Snow Night Empire really do to us?

But provoke the Black Rose Family?

That would send us straight to the King of Hell...

And those Tears of Nature...

What do you mean we sent them?!

You practically forced us into that trade!

Damn it!

Audom complained bitterly inside.

At that moment, Yumo asked another curious question.

"By the way, Your Highness, I heard you're heading to Skyvault this time? I thought the Elves, especially the royal family, usually stayed deep within the Elven Forest and rarely interacted with the outside world. Why are you suddenly traveling to Skyvault?"

"...Ah?"

That...

I don't want to go either!

You people forced me!

Are you asking while already knowing the answer?

Naturally...

Audom would never dare say such a thing.

Instead, he respectfully smiled.

"Recently, the Child of Destiny is holding his coronation ceremony and has sent invitations to many of the major powers across the continent. Since he may one day save the world, our people believe it is only proper that we pay him a visit."

"Hm? A coronation ceremony? All the major factions will be attending?"

"Yes."

"Oh?"

Yumo raised an eyebrow.

A trace of interest appeared within her ruby-red eyes.

"That... actually sounds rather interesting..."