Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 169

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 169

Soon, his left hand, cold as several ice shards due to his aura, carefully brushed against my cheek.

“I’ve told you before. Lady Blanche is more precious to me than anything else in this world.”

A whisper like sweet words secretly spilled into a hidden lover’s ear.

But Cheri had never spoken like this before.

That day, his confession revealed on that night’s balcony was as earnest as a sinner’s confession, yet also as reverent as a knight’s oath.

So I didn’t know.

Cheri’s true feelings contained in that day’s confession.

“Before, this emotion became the reason for my existence, but now I’m just so anxious I can’t bear it.”

I could no longer meet Cheri’s gaze and lowered my eyes.

My shoulders trembled unknowingly at the emotion resembling fear, and I bit my lips tightly.

His hand that had been caressing my cheek gently traced my lower lip that I had bitten, then slowly slid down to my neck like a snake making its path.

Then, the moment a low, sticky, sweetly tempting voice that lures people into traps caressed my ear.

“It feels exactly like exposing my heart.”

I finally squeezed my eyes shut.

“Marquess, the curse of demonic beasts is extremely cunning—it immediately recognizes what the host’s weakness is. Then it stimulates that weakness to lead the host into further corruption.”

“Lady Blanche… allows me to remain human.”

Penandel’s voice and the words Cheri had whispered to me before leaving the Royal Capital echoed in my head.

I felt like I might burst into tears from the inevitable, overwhelming despair.

So foolishly. Why only now.

If the curse of demonic beasts had something like a personality, it would be constantly whispering in Cheri’s ear right now.

To kill me.

Because I was precisely his weakness that would completely erase Cheri’s last remaining humanity.

“So Lady Blanche, you shouldn’t have come here. I no longer know how I should treat you.”

Steeling my weakening heart, I slowly opened my eyes.

Cheri’s hand still wrapped around my neck was large and firm enough to easily break neck bones.

If I rashly provoked him here and the demonic beast’s curse deepened, my neck would snap like a willow branch.

‘That absolutely cannot happen.’

He had already sent his own brother away with his own hands.

Given Cheri’s personality, if he caused even a scratch on me, surely… it would become irreversible.

“Cheri.”

Fortunately, no fear was evident in my voice calling him.

Feeling even a little strength leave his hand, I steadied my breathing as if facing a target.

What was needed to use my ability was physical contact with the target.

However, he was wary of my ability and had wrapped the parts touching me with his aura.

Though I was this close to Cheri, I couldn’t lay a single finger on him.

‘Then I have no choice but to lure the prey to approach.’

I recalled the fact that impulse control becomes difficult when his eyes turn red, and looked deeply into his blood-stained pupils.

Unlike before, those eyes held a murderous intent like thin ice on a lake.

But I stepped forward without hesitation, unafraid of drowning in that lake.

“If I’m that precious to you, come closer.”

Instantly, the strength completely left Cheri’s hand wrapped around my neck.

Without taking my eyes off him, I whispered secretly and sweetly, like allowing a single sip of water to a beast that had wandered the desert for ages.

“Close enough that I can kiss you, a little more.”

He showed signs of hesitation at my words, as if facing a trap.

However, his head that had been wavering slowly tilted toward me, pretending to be unable to resist the urging.

“Closer, quickly.”

When our noses brushed and the distance narrowed enough to feel each other’s breath.

I unconsciously pulled my head back as much as possible and pressed my lips to his.

“…!”

Though it was merely a light touch, the magic held in my lips was enough to bind him.

Clank!

Golden chains bound him.

In his violent resistance, Cheri’s mask came off and I was finally able to escape from his grasp.

But the real fight was just beginning.

“Tori!”

When I sent the promised signal, Leo’s messenger bird that had been hiding in my cloak’s hood burst out and wrapped its long body around my neck.

Leo’s high-purity magic was supplied to my magic vessel that was rapidly draining.

What I needed to shackle was the demonic energy accumulated inside Cheri.

I poured out my magic generously, struggling to suppress the demonic energy that had taken over Cheri’s body.

Then, suddenly feeling pressure comparable to Cerberus, Cheri’s whites were completely consumed by darkness.

“Cheri, snap out of it!”

I quickly ran to Cheri, grabbed his cheeks with both hands, and pulled him toward me.

But I was no longer reflected in his eyes.

I could feel the magic I had stored in my magic vessel being depleted at a rapid pace.

I even drew out the magic I had stored in the butterfly-shaped magic stone Chaser had given me as a gift, crying out desperately.

“No, Cheri. Look at me.”

Was it too late? I could feel demonic energy I couldn’t control completely turning Cheri’s insides upside down.

Leo’s messenger bird gradually faded and disappeared completely, and the magic stone butterfly finally shattered into powder.

The golden chains that had bound him became taut as if they would break at any moment.

I knew I should run away even now.

While my magic chains held Cheri, I should have run without looking back.

But my feet seemed frozen to the spot, unable to move.

“Marquess, you must retreat!”

As if coming to his senses, I heard Penandel’s voice from afar.

With the feeling that this was the last time, I stared into Cesar’s red eyes overflowing with murderous intent and madness.

“I won’t let you harm anyone else beyond this. I absolutely won’t die by your hands either. So Cheri.”

Clang, clang!

Finally, the sound of the multiple layers of magic chains that had bound him breaking could be heard.

I whispered to him as if clinging.

“Submit to me.”

Please.

The moment my magic vessel became completely empty.

The pitch-black demonic energy pooled at the very bottom of Cheri’s magic vessel wrapped around my neck like vines, then rose above my head as an ice crown.

I quickly called his name and bound him firmly.

“Cheri.”

Finally, the darkness began to slowly lift from Cheri’s eyes, and a different light like the morning star appeared.

Only after confirming that my reflection was captured in those pupils did I hold Cheri’s head in my arms and command.

“Rest well until the curse is purified. Don’t have nightmares, and after sleeping sweetly, return to me as my Cheri.”

“I will gladly… obey.”

Whether he answered my command like that, or didn’t answer at all.

Unable to support Cheri’s weight, I fell together with him as he collapsed.

“My lady! Over there is…!”

I thought I heard Penandel’s urgent voice behind me.

However, unable to resist the drowsiness that came as an aftermath of my empty magic vessel, I collapsed with Cheri beyond the forest’s boundary.

* * *

It was the third day since Penandel had returned to the castle with his battered body, carrying three Dobermans in his arms.

Having barely recovered enough to move his body, Penandel exchanged a few words with the Maid Supervisor before heading straight to the inner chamber where Belinda had been staying.

Through the open door, he could see Leo’s back as the boy hung by the window, gazing endlessly outside.

Penandel paced in front of the door with a guilty heart, wrestling with his thoughts before finally steeling his resolve and knocking on the door to enter.

“Young Master.”

“Knight! What about Lady Belinda? Did you find her? Has she returned?”

Leo, who had rushed over in an instant, discovered that Penandel was alone and let his shoulders droop.

It was the third day since Cesar and Belinda had crossed the boundary of the Barrier Forest and gone missing.

Everyone in the castle was consumed with worry, but probably no one was waiting for their return as much as the child before him, Penandel thought.

He knelt on one knee before the disappointed child, like a retainer showing submission.

And meeting the child’s blue eyes, he spoke.

“I came because I have a request for you, Young Master.”

“For me?”

“Yes, would you be able to go to The Forest with me?”

“To The Forest…”

The child did not immediately answer that he would go.

Penandel knew better than anyone that it wasn’t because Leo feared The Forest, or because his desire to find Belinda wasn’t earnest enough.

Rather, the child hesitated to answer because he harbored certain doubts.

Why he needed to go to The Forest, what he, a mere child, could accomplish by going there.

He was such a clever child, after all.

Soon Leo asked cautiously.

“If I go to The Forest, will it help find Lady Belinda and the Knight?”

“Yes, it will.”

“But I don’t know much about The Forest. Will I really be of help?”

“That’s what we’re going to find out. If you are the person our lord was searching for, Young Master, The Forest will open a path for us to Lady Belinda and our lord.”

What Leo had learned since coming here and mingling with the knights were stories of the ancient curse and mysterious power of the Barrier Forest, and tales of heroes.

The child seemed to understand the meaning of Penandel’s words, if not clearly, then at least vaguely.

Instead of asking further questions, Leo nodded.

“I’ll go. Please let me go.”

Penandel bowed his head deeply as if showing submission to the child.

He had never once believed in Endymion’s survival.

Cursed children were easily tainted by bloodlust, so he thought the boy had transformed into a demonic beast and died on that night of rebellion.

However, looking at Leo before him, he desperately prayed for Endymion’s survival for the first time.

Then he recalled the face of his dear friend buried in his heart.

Theodor, who had insisted that age differences didn’t matter when it came to friendship, and that if Penandel wanted to become his adjutant someday, he had to become his friend first.

Penandel whispered, calling his name for the first time in a very long while.

‘Theodor, please forgive my disloyalty.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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