The Male Lead Is Targeting Me, Not My Younger Sister - Chapter 55

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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 055
“……!”
Lydia flinched sharply.
The distance between them closed unexpectedly, and she swallowed a silent scream.
‘What is this.’
After stiffening rigidly for a moment, Lydia carefully raised her hand to push him away.
“……Excuse me?”
In that instant.
“Wait.”
A low voice resonated near her ear.
“Just let me stay like this for a moment.”
His voice carried a quality unlike his usual tone.
Lydia hesitated, then lowered her hand again.
“…….”
A strange silence settled over them.
‘……This is odd.’
The weight she felt against her shoulder.
An unfamiliar scent and warmth that somehow seemed familiar.
Lydia remained awkwardly rigid until she turned her head to look at Ludwig’s face.
His eyes were gently closed.
Dark lashes cast delicate shadows above them.
‘Is he tired?’
Without thinking, Lydia raised her hand and smoothed back his golden hair that had fallen forward.
‘Oh, what am I doing.’
But before she could even react, Ludwig spoke first.
“Keep going.”
Lydia hesitated briefly, then resumed gently stroking his hair with an awkward motion.
Ludwig seemed content and leaned deeper into her embrace.
‘It’s almost like he’s being clingy…….’
No, that’s not it.
Have I lost my mind!
Lydia squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them and asked.
“Is something troubling you?”
Now that she thought about it, she’d been too startled earlier to notice properly, but Ludwig did seem slightly different from his usual self.
‘His mood seems unusually subdued.’
Normally it would be a bit brighter than this.
Though he’s always smiling anyway, so there’s only so much variation…….
‘Hm? But how did I even notice?’
Lydia tilted her head slightly.
“Would you like a cup of herbal tea if you’re tired? I’ve just brought in some fresh tea leaves…….”
But before she could finish speaking, Ludwig replied.
“Just stay like this.”
His body remained leaning against hers.
Ultimately, Lydia found herself half-embracing him, her hands moving awkwardly in the air.
As she slowly ran her fingers through his hair, she felt his body relax further.
‘Hm…….’
It was indeed a strange feeling, whatever this was.
To see this man, so large and commanding, let go of his guard so completely at this distance.
It felt as though Ludwig had placed his very lifeline directly into her hands.
Of course, that didn’t mean Lydia could actually harm him.
‘I probably couldn’t even scratch him…….’
Yet seeing such a large man depend on her like this stirred something peculiar in her chest.
Wait. Is this really dependence?
“Why didn’t you come? For three weeks.”
“I’m sorry?”
Lydia jumped at the voice that suddenly emerged.
“I was waiting.”
……Waiting for whom? For me?
‘Does he mean for Purification?’
Lydia hesitated for a moment, then examined where she could make contact.
“If you don’t mind, shall we hold hands? I can try the Purification. Though I won’t promise it’ll work.”
“I’d rather not.”
Why not!
‘Fine, do as you please.’
It had been a mistake to attempt Mind Reading on him.
Especially when he was Ludwig.
In the end, Ludwig rose to his feet only after thoroughly satisfying his desires(?).
“…….”
“…….”
Their eyes met, but Lydia held his gaze, glaring back unflinching.
‘Let’s see who blinks first.’
Ludwig looked down at her in silence, then blinked slowly.
He raised his hand and brushed her earlobe lightly.
“You’re not wearing your Earring today.”
Well, this was home, after all…….
‘I almost got caught up in that again.’
“That’s hardly important. More to the point, I think you owe me an explanation. What on earth are you doing here at this hour?”
But no answer came.
Was this man serious?
Leaving Lydia bewildered behind, Ludwig rose from the sofa.
He straightened his clothes with a light touch and smiled.
“Thank you. I’ve had a good rest thanks to you.”
Lydia was too flabbergasted to do anything but stare in disbelief.
Only when Ludwig had his manservant fetch his overcoat as well did she snap back to her senses.
“Wait, you’re leaving now?”
What had he even done?!
‘No. He must have some ulterior motive. Don’t fall for it.’
He hadn’t stated his business yet, hadn’t accepted the Purification either—this was clearly a stratagem to hide something far more substantial!
Keeping her guard up and her suspicions primed, Lydia followed Ludwig toward the door with quick steps.
But Ludwig said nothing more.
He left only a brief farewell.
“Take care. Next time, don’t avoid me for so long.”
At last, the carriage bearing Ludwig departed Prestin Street, unhurried and serene.
“Hah.”
Watching the carriage recede, Lydia felt all the starch drain from her.
So what on earth had he come for?!
* * *
The next day.
“Pepe!”
The door burst open.
“Yelp!”
Pepe let out a startled shriek at the sudden intrusion.
“Please knock before you come in!”
“There’s no need to knock in a laboratory.”
Lydia spoke flatly and dropped into a chair.
“Laboratory or not, knocking is basic courtesy—a civilized person’s fundamental duty!”
“Between us, does it really have to be?”
“Yes, it does!”
Lydia let Pepe’s nagging flow in one ear and out the other.
“Honestly…… you’re becoming more and more like Ricardo every day!”
Wait, that sounds like an insult.
But before Lydia could protest, Pepe spoke again.
“Well…… never mind. Anyway, good timing that you came by. I had something to give you.”
“For me?”
Had he already developed something new?
Lydia turned her head, imagining an upgraded Ring or some new prototype.
But what Pepe held out was nothing like what she’d expected.
[Edel Orphanage Report]
Lydia’s expression shifted at once.
“The search is complete?”
“Yes.”
Pepe exhaled sharply and settled into the seat beside Lydia.
“Read this first.”
Lydia handed over the report with deliberate care.
‘My hunch was mostly correct.’
The document contained a detailed inventory of the experimental apparatus fragments discovered at the orphanage site.
“The explanation would take too long, so I’ll skip that for now—let me jump to the conclusion.”
Pepe pointed to the top of the first page.
[The location once housed a laboratory, and residue analysis detected a substance virtually identical to the unknown liquid found in the Ampoule.]
In other words, the Ampoule that Willeta and Castell possessed had been manufactured in the orphanage’s laboratory.
It was an enormous breakthrough.
“So it really was…”
Finally.
“Thank you.”
Finally, they’d taken a step forward.
She’d felt as though she were fumbling through fog with no understanding of where she was going, but now at last the path was beginning to emerge.
Without thinking, Lydia’s words tumbled out faster, excitement quickening her voice.
“This gives us a real lead. I need to keep searching. I’ll transfer your incentive right away—just give me three days…”
But Pepe shook a finger side to side.
“You might want to hold your thanks for now.”
“What?”
Lydia blinked in confusion.
“Did you know I found something else at that orphanage?”
Pepe carefully set something down on the desk.
“This is…”
A ledger?
“The orphanage’s account ledger. I barely managed to uncover it before it was completely incinerated.”
Lydia turned the pages with meticulous caution, careful not to damage the fragile document.
“Is there something unusual about it?”
“Yes.”
Pepe answered firmly and pointed to the section he’d already marked.
“Slum District orphanages typically have obvious sources of income. Their transactions aren’t remarkable either. But this orphanage had a rather peculiar sponsor.”
The text beneath his finger read:
[First Imperial Military Academy]
Lydia’s gaze froze against the page.
It was her alma mater—the one place she knew better than anywhere else in the world.

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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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