The Male Lead Is Targeting Me, Not My Younger Sister - Chapter 49

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Male Lead Targets Me, Not My Sister — Episode 049
Lydia hastily waved her hands.
“Oh, no, it’s nothing remarkable, really. I’ve never actually performed Purification properly in the first place, and… I just thought it might help with fatigue, that’s all.”
The truth was, she had a different goal entirely.
‘This is a good chance to give Ludwig some Purification Agent.’
Until now, the Purification Agent that she and Pipi had painstakingly developed had only been used by Ricardo. It wasn’t finished, and she’d never had the chance to offer it to other Transcendents.
‘But what if Ludwig actually liked the Purification Agent?’
Then she could distribute it to the entire world far more easily.
And Silvia would move further away from the bad ending!
“Of course, I know you don’t accept Purification. I’m not trying to burden you or force anything on you. But it seems like one of the few ways I can actually be useful.”
Lydia laid her groundwork carefully.
Purification? Not essential. You’re an incredible Transcendent, after all.
But how much longer do you think you can hold out?
Take the treatment while I’m being nice about it.
That was the prettier way of putting it.
“I’ve done some research into Purification as well, and for Awakened Ones, it’s essential due to physical structure. It’s an unavoidable issue, or so they say—though naturally, Your Highness, you would know far better than I.”
Meanwhile, Ludwig simply listened to Lydia’s explanation in silence.
‘Did she take the bait?’
He seemed genuinely interested, judging by how intently he was listening, but she still couldn’t quite read what he was thinking. His poker face was simply too practiced.
‘I suppose it’s time to get to the main point…’
Lydia slyly produced the small pouch she always carried.
“However, if someone has never undergone Purification in their life, they might face some psychological resistance to starting suddenly, yes? So I’ve prepared something. This is a new product we just developed in our Laboratory—PP-01…”
“I’ll take it.”
Lydia froze mid-reach for the Purification Agent.
Huh?
“…I’m sorry, what did you just say?”
“I said I’ll take it.”
His response seemed to come a beat too fast…
Lydia’s eyes darted as she glanced at him.
Ludwig smiled gently.
“I’ll accept the Purification.”
Lydia’s mind ground to a halt for a moment before she processed what he meant.
“W-what did you say?”
Ludwig answered calmly.
“I’ve been a bit tired lately anyway, so this works out well. As a gentleman, I couldn’t possibly refuse when you’ve given it such thoughtful consideration.”
He then smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
“I’m grateful to accept, Miss Lydia.”
…Why does he look so pleased about this? This is making me nervous.
“Wait, won’t you regret this? It’s your first time, and I’ve never actually performed Purification on anyone before either…”
“Both of us are doing this for the first time? How fortunate. How fated.”
What nonsense is that!
“B-but what if I make a mistake and inadvertently harm your… your precious body?”
“As I’ve mentioned before, Transcendents are far tougher than you seem to think. You shouldn’t worry. It seems you’ve only ever seen shoddy specimens of Transcendents. Regrettable, really.”
He even managed to subtly insult Ricardo in the process—a masterclass.
‘This doesn’t feel right. Something’s off.’
Ludwig drove the final nail in, speaking to Lydia’s confusion.
“As you said yourself, Purification is essential for Awakened Ones.”
In the end, Lydia resigned herself to it with difficulty.
‘Fine. Let’s just do this.’
In the grand scheme of things, this was about distributing the Purification Agent anyway. The one she and Pipi had developed was based on her own power, after all.
‘I’ll lower Ludwig’s psychological barriers with my Purification, then suggest the Purification Agent again later.’
Lydia clenched her fist with resolve and hesitantly approached Ludwig.
“…I’m really doing this for the first time. So whatever happens from now on, it’s not my fault, understood? And just in case you decide to sue me later, I will immediately register as a Purifier and contact the Purifiers’ Human Rights Association and…”
“I’m not sure what you take me for, but I’m not so narrow-minded as to blame someone over something like that.”
Ludwig patted the space beside him.
“Come here.”
Lydia swallowed dryly, then carefully sat down beside him.
Up close, Ludwig felt somehow dangerous.
The firm forearm exposed beneath his rolled-up shirt sleeve, the loosened outfit softer than usual—
Had she ever sat this close to him before?
Catching sight of his broad shoulders in her peripheral vision, Lydia quickly looked away.
“Don’t be nervous.”
A low voice tickled her ear, followed by a soft laugh.
Lydia bit her lip lightly before speaking.
“Give me your hand, please.”
Ludwig obligingly placed his hand in hers.
Lydia, comparing it absently to her own, flinched.
It was large.
Large enough to cover hers entirely.
She’d resolved not to notice such things, but the moment that thought crossed her mind, she couldn’t help but pay attention.
‘What does it matter if his hand is large?’
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Lydia steadied herself and firmly grasped his hand.
The instant their skin met, a firm warmth transferred to her palm.
With their skin touching like this, strange details kept drawing her eye.
The broad back of his hand.
The thick tendons beneath the skin.
The solid feel of his fingertips against hers.
And the presence she felt radiating from beside her.
‘Focus.’
Lydia forced herself to ignore it all and slowly drew up her power.
The foundation of Purification is contact.
Through the point of contact, two people share their wavelengths and remove contamination.
‘Or so I was taught—though I’ve only ever studied the theory.’
Besides, what little knowledge of Purification she possessed had been gleaned piecemeal from overhearing others. She couldn’t be certain whether she was actually doing it correctly.
After fumbling through an awkward attempt at Purification for some time, Lydia ventured carefully, “How does it feel?”
“……?”
Ludwig said nothing.
‘Is it not working?’
Lydia lifted her head slightly.
‘Oh.’
Their eyes met.
At this close distance, his blue eyes were strikingly vivid.
His face had relaxed into a languid expression, his long lashes drooping.
His gaze grown heavy-lidded.
And yet those eyes alone held an oddly sharp clarity.
As if he wouldn’t miss a single detail of what lay before him.
In that moment, her heart sank.
‘Why is he looking at me like that?’
Ludwig was the one receiving the Purification, yet somehow she felt as though she were being observed under a microscope.
“Your Highness?” she called softly.
Only then did Ludwig blink once.
Then he laughed quietly.
“Keep going.”
His voice was unhurried, slower than usual.
His composure only made Lydia more anxious.
‘Is this actually working?’
It wasn’t merely Ludwig’s presence making her uneasy.
When Purification occurs, not only the recipient should perceive it—the one administering it should sense it too. Yet Lydia felt absolutely nothing.
‘What am I doing wrong? Or is Ludwig’s body simply unusual? Could our Compatibility Rate be low?’
But for all her hypotheses, no clear answer emerged.
At last, Lydia spoke despondently.
“I’m truly sorry, but no matter how I try, the Purification won’t take. I think the problem lies with me.”
In the original story, Ludwig had accepted Silvia’s Purification without difficulty, so the fault must be hers.
“I’m embarrassed that I brought it up in the first place only to produce this result. But there’s nothing for it—let’s stop the Purification here for today. I’ll repay your kindness another way.”
Surely she’d tried hard enough? She had to believe that.
With that, Lydia quietly prepared to end things and tidy up.
‘One last pitch for the Purification Agent before I go.’
But that was precisely when it happened.
For the first time, Ludwig moved of his own accord, having until now merely accommodated her attempts.
“Isn’t it too early to give up?”
A soft voice brushed against her ear.
Then long, firm fingers began to curl slowly upward, and before she could slip away, they wove between her own fingers with deliberate precision.
‘What?’
Lydia lifted her head, her face flushed with surprise.
As if he had been waiting for exactly that gaze, Ludwig’s eyes widened with unhurried intent.
“There must be methods we haven’t tried yet.”
His expression was languid and loose, yet his eyes remained relentless.
In the moment she faltered, caught off guard, Ludwig tightened his grip ever so slightly on their interlaced hands.
As though he had no intention of letting go.

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