The Male Lead Is Targeting Me, Not My Younger Sister - Chapter 6

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

The Male Lead Targets Me, Not My Sister — Episode 6
“……What?!”
Lydia bolted upright without thinking.
And immediately after, a violent wave of pain shot through her, and she collapsed again, clutching her abdomen.
“Aagh!”
“Oh! Sister, are you alright?”
Sylvia’s eyes widened in shock.
Lydia rolled across the bed in agony, and only after some time did she finally regain her composure.
“Sister, should I call a doctor?”
“I’m fine. Just finish what you were saying.”
“Now? Of all times?”
Lydia winced at the persistent pain and waved her hand — a signal not to move.
Sylvia pouted, displeased, but obediently settled back into her chair.
“So, what about that man?”
“Well……”
The full story was this.
On the day the Rift opened, Sylvia was terrified. Due to Lydia’s overprotection, it was the first time she’d ever seen a Creature.
‘But Sister will handle it all. She’s strong.’
However, when the Creature didn’t fall even after Lydia’s attack, Sylvia apparently panicked.
‘No! If this keeps up, Sister might really die!’
It was then that Ludwig appeared.
Ludwig Claudewitz. That brutally powerful man felled the Creature with a single swing of his blade.
In that moment, he was unmistakably a savior.
“I never knew a person could be that strong. He looked so…… incredible.”
Sylvia’s eyes sparkled as she spoke, as if reliving the scene.
‘……Fair enough.’
Lydia already knew this part well.
During her time at the Military Academy, Lydia had seen Ludwig fight a few times.
Even then, he’d made it clear he disliked her, so her feelings toward him were equally negative, but she couldn’t help but admire his overwhelming martial prowess.
His Swordsmanship was precise, graceful, and dignified.
Had Lydia not known him so well, she might now be praising him alongside Sylvia.
“And when I asked him to save you, he came right over. He was so worried about you! His expression was even more serious than mine!”
Worried?
‘There’s no way.’
Sylvia must have misinterpreted — mistaking Ludwig’s blank stare for concern, reading gravity into his usual cold expression.
“Since I was crying, he comforted me so gently. He even said he could stay here until you recovered…… Oh, and the food here is really excellent. I never knew Duck Meat could taste that good! And the Seafood Stew — don’t even get me started! I wish you could have eaten with me!”
Before long, Sylvia had wandered off topic entirely, rattling off a long list of everything she’d eaten at the Grand Duke’s Residence.
Still, there was only one conclusion.
“Ludwig is truly amazing!”
At last, Sylvia’s lengthy hymn of praise for Ludwig came to an end.
Lydia left her beaming sister to herself and turned her thoughts to the situation with a serious expression.
‘At least now I understand why I’m here.’
It was obvious.
Ludwig had probably brought her here because he couldn’t refuse Sylvia’s earnest plea.
No matter how much he despised the villainess, as the male lead he couldn’t reject the angel heroine’s request.
‘And he might have had some ulterior motive in bringing Sylvia into his home as well.’
Why else would the source material be such a Degenerate Work?
Considering the male leads’ obsession and possessiveness, it was par for the course. Even if they weren’t aware of it, their actions came first.
At least he hadn’t started locking her away!
Lydia let out a groan and tugged at her hair.
‘This can’t happen. I’ve worked so hard to keep Sylvia away from the male leads!’
Never did she imagine all that effort would come to nothing like this.
After much deliberation, Lydia forced out a difficult question.
“So you…… like the Grand Duke?”
“Like him? The way you do, Sister?”
“No, I mean…… well…… like, the way a couple likes each other……?”
As a reader who knew the source material, and as Sylvia’s guardian, she could never permit such a relationship.
On the other hand, she felt a pang of guilt at the thought of interfering with her sister’s first love.
‘What am I supposed to do going forward?’
Yet, oblivious to Lydia’s inner turmoil, Sylvia answered without hesitation.
“Huh? No, that’s not quite right.”
Lydia found herself asking instead, caught off guard by such a straightforward answer.
“Why not?!”
“What? Why do you mean…?”
Sylvia stammered in confusion, her words tumbling out hesitantly.
“Well, just because something’s impressive doesn’t mean you have to like it, does it…?”
It was an oddly logical statement coming from her.
“I only thought he was impressive because he saved you. And besides, he gave me Chocolate Cake….”
That stuff is really delicious. Let’s ask him for more later.
Sylvia leaned close, speaking as though sharing some precious secret.
Lydia felt the wind knocked out of her.
‘What is this….’
And yet, thinking it over carefully, Sylvia’s logic was sound enough in its own way.
Her mind was simply as clear and guileless as a child’s!
“…Yes, you’re still far too young to understand love.”
“I’m not young. I’m an adult too!”
Lydia ignored Sylvia’s protest.
‘Fine. Sylvia’s not the problem. The real concern is Ludwig. What if Ludwig’s already lost his mind?’
#Degenerate Work #Abduction #Confinement—the original story was littered with such inflammatory keywords, and naturally the heroine’s own will had never mattered.
The moment the heroine caught the hero’s eye, her life became a bed of thorns—this was simply inevitable!
‘Could he have deliberately brought me here to ensnare Sylvia?’
Ludwig had always disliked Lydia outright. There was no way he would show such excessive kindness to her, even accounting for her injuries.
But what if his courtesies were part of some base scheme to keep Sylvia within his grasp?
‘A snake, through and through. Meticulous and sinister!’
Lydia’s fists clenched, her entire body trembling.
“Sister, what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
She needed to stay calm.
‘I’ll just say I need to leave right after the medical examination. Before that, I’ll send Sylvia away on some other pretext.’
Once they were out of this mansion, even Ludwig couldn’t easily do anything to Sylvia. There would be witnesses!
With her resolve set, Lydia smiled brightly as though nothing had happened. Seeing her sister’s cheerful face, Sylvia’s worries melted away, and she too grinned foolishly.
Shortly after, a physician arrived in Lydia’s room for an examination.
She had nearly felt honored at the introduction that this was the Grand Duke’s Residence’s personal physician, but Lydia resolved not to be grateful.
Now that she understood the hero’s true intentions, surely this was merely the bare minimum he ought to do.
‘I’m Sylvia’s real sister, after all—he should be trying to look good in my eyes.’
The examination was finished. It was time to escape.
Her honest inclination was to leave with Sylvia, but the physician insisted on monitoring her progress and refused to yield, forcing her to stay another day.
“Sylvia, you should go home now.”
“What? Why? It’s almost dinner time….”
“Your sister finds this place uncomfortable and wants to leave quickly. You go ahead and prepare a discharge party for me, will you? You can do that, right?”
Sylvia fell completely for Lydia’s absurd reasoning.
“Okay, sister! I’ll do my very best!”
Thrilled at the word “party,” Sylvia hummed a little tune as she stood up from her seat.
Watching her with warm eyes, Lydia suddenly thought:
‘But what if Ludwig uses some other excuse to keep Sylvia from leaving?’
After all, this mansion belonged to Ludwig.
If he used any pretext to stop her, she would have no choice but to remain trapped.
“…No, wait, Sylvia. Stay here for a moment.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll go ask for permission.”
Who knew what trouble you might cause if I let you go alone.
Meeting Ludwig proved easier than expected. A passing butler guided Lydia to his study.
“I’m afraid my sister and I have been imposing on your kindness for far too long. I thought it best to send my younger sister home first, at least. She has studies to continue at home, you see.”
Lydia bowed with perfect composure and courtesy.
‘That should sound natural enough, shouldn’t it?’
As she awaited his response, her heart pounded wildly. She feared he might seize on something in her words and refuse to let Sylvia leave safely.
Ludwig regarded Lydia’s face intently for a moment.
“…You may do as you please. There’s no need to ask my permission for such things.”
And at last, with his answer, Lydia’s face lit up.
‘Thank goodness!’
Lydia had worried that Ludwig might already be showing his true colors and confining Sylvia, but fortunately, his obsession didn’t seem to have progressed to that extreme yet.
With newfound confidence, Lydia spoke in a noticeably brighter tone.
“Thank you so much. In that case, I’ll return with Sylvia and look into this matter further. If you could provide the medical records, I’ll have my personal physician continue the treatment…….”
“That won’t be possible.”
Pardon?

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