I AM NOT THE LOVE INTEREST! Chapter 51: Impossible to Ignore

Chapter 51: Impossible to Ignore

—ARIA—

The more I walked around the eastern district, the more obsessed I beca with the empty property.

It genuinely refused to leave my mind.

Even while Ren and I wandered through nearby establishnts asking about construction materials, labor costs, and magical utilities, my thoughts continuously circled back toward that abandoned lot hidden between thriving businesses like so forgotten secret waiting patiently to be noticed.

And honestly?

The more suspicious it beca, the more I wanted it.

Which probably said concerning things about my personality.

"My lady," Ren said carefully while following beside through another crowded street, "most people would beco discouraged after discovering a property may have hidden issues."

I glanced at him.

"Yes, but most people are not ."

"That is not the reassuring statent you believe it is."

I ignored him.

Instead, my gaze wandered across the district again, excitent quietly growing inside despite the unanswered questions surrounding the property.

Because every store we visited only strengthened my determination further.

Fabric rchants displayed imported silks in colors I had never seen before. Jewelers sold enchanted accessories that changed shades depending on surrounding light. One apothecary even demonstrated scented oils infused with calming magic.

This world truly had ridiculous potential.

And if I combined all of that with ideas from my old world...

Oh.

Oh, I could absolutely beco famous here.

"My lady."

Ren’s voice interrupted my thoughts gently.

I blinked and realized I had accidentally stopped walking again while staring into space.

"...Sorry," I admitted. "My imagination was going wild."

"I assud as much."

We continued through the district afterward, asking quietly about the vacant property whenever opportunities arose.

At first, people simply looked uncomfortable.

Then evasive.

Then strangely sympathetic.

Which honestly only made more determined.

A middle-aged rchant finally sighed after I questioned him near a furniture workshop.

"That land is unfortunate," he admitted quietly.

I imdiately leaned closer.

"Unfortunate how?"

The rchant hesitated briefly before lowering his voice.

"It belonged to a noble family years ago. Their daughter lived there before..." He stopped awkwardly.

"Before?" I pressed carefully.

"...Before she passed away."

Oh.

My excitent dimd slightly.

The rchant glanced toward the property in the distance before continuing.

"Afterward, her older brother purchased the land entirely and refused redevelopnt. The old house was eventually demolished, but the property itself remained untouched."

I frowned.

"Then why place a sale sign there?"

"That?" The rchant laughed awkwardly. "Nobody knows. The sign appeared years ago, but every offer was rejected."

That made absolutely no sense.

I exchanged a glance with Ren.

"...That is suspicious," he muttered quietly.

"Exactly," I agreed imdiately.

Then paused.

"...Wait."

I slowly looked back toward the rchant.

"Who owns the property?"

The rchant visibly stiffened.

Then, almost cautiously, the rchant answered,

"Sir Matthias Sinclair."

I imdiately flinched at hearing the na.

I recognized that na.

Oh wow.

That complicated things significantly.

I slowly rubbed my forehead while staring blankly into space for several seconds.

Of course fate would do this to .

Why could I never simply want normal property owned by normal strangers?

Why was it always emotionally unavailable n with tragic backstories and dangerous social status?

"My lady," Ren said carefully beside , "perhaps we should reconsider."

"No," I answered firmly without hesitation.

Because unfortunately...

I really wanted that lot.

No.

Actually, "wanted" was no longer accurate.

I had already ntally designed an entire building there.

At this point, emotional attachnt had ford.

"But my lady," Ren continued patiently, "Sir Matthias Sinclair is the Royal Knight Commander. You can barely find opportunities to et him. He is an extrely busy man."

Ah.

Right.

That was the concern.

Not the tragic emotional history attached to the property.

Not the possibility of rejection.

Not even the danger of interacting with another male lead.

No.

The problem was apparently scheduling.

I looked at Ren slowly.

"...You say that like you expect to calmly surrender."

Ren’s silence answered everything.

I gasped softly.

"You truly underestimate how stubborn I can beco once emotionally attached to sothing."

"My lady beca attached after staring at the property for less than five minutes."

"That is enough ti for destiny."

"Your words concerns every ti."

I ignored him imdiately and turned back toward the property again.

The empty lot stood quietly between the surrounding establishnts, almost hidden beneath the afternoon light. The crooked sale sign swayed gently near the entrance while climbing vines curled lazily around the old stone fence.

Honestly...

It looked less like abandoned land and more like a sleeping possibility.

And now that I knew its history, the feeling only deepened.

I could almost picture it.

A small ho once standing there.

A younger sister laughing sowhere near the garden.

A brother unable to erase the final place connected to her mory.

Ah.

My chest tightened slightly.

That kind of grief was difficult to argue against.

Still...

I folded my arms stubbornly.

"I want to speak with him anyway."

Ren looked visibly troubled.

"My lady, Sir Matthias is not known for being approachable."

"That is fine. I am also not approachable."

"..."

The rchant standing nearby still looked nervous, likely terrified he had sohow beco involved in noble affairs beyond his pay grade.

He lowered his voice carefully afterward.

"My lady... Sir Matthias rarely refuses audiences requested through official channels, but..."

"But?" I pressed.

The rchant hesitated.

"...Most people leave those etings frightened."

Ren sighed imdiately like that statent alone confird his concerns.

anwhile, I simply blinked.

"That is all?"

Both n stared at .

"What?"

"My lady," Ren said slowly, "I heard Sir Matthias once made an experienced military officer cry during a disciplinary hearing."

"...Was the officer incompetent?"

"That is not the point."

I considered this seriously.

Then nodded once.

"Alright. So he values discipline."

Ren looked exhausted already.

"That is sohow the wrong conclusion."

I continued thinking aloud anyway.

"If he is difficult, then I simply need to negotiate properly."

"My lady," Ren interrupted carefully, "this is not bargaining with a fabric rchant."

"I know."

"Sir Matthias is one of the most influential n in the kingdom."

"I know."

"He is feared by most nobles."

"I know."

"He has direct authority over royal knights."

"I know."

"He reportedly once threatened a corrupt official so calmly that the man confessed before interrogation even began."

I paused.

"...Okay that one is slightly attractive."

"My lady!"

"What? I respect his efficiency."

Ren rubbed his forehead imdiately while the rchant awkwardly pretended not to hear .

Honestly, everyone around had beco so judgntal lately.

I looked back toward the empty lot again and exhaled slowly.

The more I stared at it, the more certain I beca.

I turned back toward Ren and grinned.

"How does one request an audience with the Royal Knight Commander?"

Ren blinked.

"My lady is serious?"

"Extrely."

He looked deeply conflicted for several long seconds before finally sighing in defeat.

"...Official requests can be sent through the knight headquarters."

"Perfect."

"But," he added imdiately, "that does not guarantee he will agree to et."

I smiled slowly.

"Then I will simply beco impossible to ignore."

I placed a hand dramatically against my chest.

"Ren. Please believe in my aspirations."

"I do believe in them," he answered honestly.

Then he looked toward the property.

"I simply fear whatever chaos follows afterward." he muttered awkwardly.