The Obsessive Male Lead Is Obsessed With Me! - Chapter 137

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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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Episode 137

“Not even refusing, but just ignoring them? Is that really okay?”

“They’re the ones who need something from us. In the first place, even if Liri debuted in social circles, sending invitations out of the blue without any prior acquaintance is against etiquette. At the very least, they should have someone we know in between to introduce us properly.”

“Ah, I see.”

So since they were the ones who broke etiquette first, I could just ignore them—but my relief was short-lived.

‘There aren’t people I don’t know at all though…?’

I pushed the plates on the table to one side and poured out all the invitations into the empty space. Then I checked the names written on the envelopes one by one.

“Lionel, these are from the teachers who taught me various things during my bridal lessons, and these people here are ones I briefly greeted at the title conferment ceremony who said they’d invite me to a tea party sometime, and I said I’d look forward to it…”

“Then we can’t just ignore them.”

“Oh, we can’t?”

Lionel answered in a stern voice.

“In that case, ignoring them would make you seem rude.”

“Ugh…”

I was just groaning while looking at the considerable number of invitations even after filtering them out, when Sister spoke up.

“Let’s contact Mother.”

“Huh?”

“Anyway, Mother has a firm grip on social circles. Let’s ask for her advice.”

Right! The mother lifeline!

I immediately asked the head maid to bring the communication device connected to the estate.

-…Cecil? Rose? Oh my, the son-in-law is there too. It seems you all arrived safely in the capital.

“Yes. We arrived safely.”

“Mother, Mother! That’s not the problem. We arrived in the capital and…”

Since it seemed the head maid had conveyed the gossip magazine story well, I excluded that and informed Mother about the fact that I had received an enormous number of invitations.

“…This is the situation. Even while we’re talking about this, another invitation arrived. What should I do with all of these?”

-Oh my… That’s quite a troublesome situation.

Mother, who comforted me saying I must be very surprised, soon presented a solution.

-How about taking refuge in the temple until things are resolved?

“The temple?”

-Yes. I’m thinking that shameless ladies might just barge into the manor claiming to be my friends, taking advantage of my absence.

“Even so, surely there aren’t people shameless enough to…”

-There are.

Mother let out a small sigh.

-The fact that such words came from your mouth is proof that you’re too naive. This won’t do at all. You really should go to the temple. No matter how shameless people are, they’ll still be mindful of the Pope.

“But would the temple allow me to stay there?”

-Of course? Do you know how much we’ve donated over the years.

“Besides, Liri is the real owner of the oracle. The Pope will actively protect Liri too.”

“Do you think so?”

…Huh? Wait.

“Does the Pope also know that I’m the real owner of the oracle?”

“Yes. The rumors spread so much that he seems to have caught on.”

Lionel showed me a note that I had no idea where or when he had received.

[Pope contact needed. Seems to have realized the real owner of the oracle.]

“This actually works out well. Let’s go to the temple and say that you originally came to the capital for treatment because your health wasn’t good.”

“Ah, that’s a good idea. If such rumors spread, people won’t send invitations either.”

Unlike Sister who snapped her fingers saying it was a very good method, the head maid looked a bit sad.

“Then I won’t be able to serve Your Highness the Grand Duchess this time. What a shame.”

“Haha, I’m here, aren’t I.”

While Sister was comforting the head maid, Lionel had a conversation with Mother.

“If the rumors have grown this big, someone will definitely argue for the Empress’s deposition and question the Emperor’s legitimacy, even if just to shake up the political situation.”

-Then the Imperial Family will try to use Cecil to legitimize the current Emperor.

“I’ll take care of everything before that happens. What you’re worried about won’t come to pass.”

-Alright. I’ll trust only my son-in-law.

A gentle smile appeared on Mother’s lips. Lionel seemed truly reliable.

“Liri. Since we’re talking about it, let’s go to the temple right away.”

“Good idea. We shouldn’t dawdle and risk running into someone who comes to the manor.”

“I’ll escort you.”

Unlike the head maid who stepped forward with a somewhat gloomy face, Sister didn’t get up from her seat.

“Go ahead. I have some things to ask Mother about.”

“Huh? What about?”

“Just this and that. Go quickly. I’ll come to the temple later too.”

“Mm-hmm. Okay.”

Strange. Why do I feel like I’m being kicked out?

But it seemed I was the only one who felt that way, as Mother only said she would come to the capital soon too, so we’d see each other later.

Thinking it must be my imagination, I tilted my head and headed to the temple with Lionel.

* * *

After Cecilia, Lionel, and the head maid went outside.

Belrose, left alone, took out the magic device she had received from Melania in front of the communication orb connected to Sophia.

“She said that using this magic device would allow us to recover Cecil’s soul fragment.”

-So? Did you try using it?

“No. Not yet.”

Belrose confided her concerns to Sophia.

“If we’re not going to return the soul fragment to Cecil, wouldn’t it be better to just leave things as they are?”

-Why do you think that?

“If Mother had directly seen what kind of feats the Second Prince accomplished in the Northern Region, you would think the same way…”

Could that even be called feats?

It was fortunate that the opponents were monsters that harmed humans, but honestly speaking, it was a one-sided massacre that better fit the description of slaughter.

Above all, Lionel’s strength lay in his composure and calmness that wouldn’t easily waver in any situation.

If someone other than Cecilia herself had to keep her soul fragment, Lionel was the right person for the job. Belrose came to that conclusion.

-Yes, your thinking has merit too.

“Do you think differently, Mother?”

Sophia was silent for a moment. She only spoke again after pondering for a long time.

-You’re certainly right. But we don’t know what the future holds.

“…Do you mean we can’t completely trust His Highness?”

-It’s not a matter of trust or distrust. Rose, he’s going to become Emperor.

If she had to judge whether he could be completely trusted or not, it was actually closer to the former. After all, Lionel wasn’t someone who said one thing and did another.

But he would become Emperor in the near future. What kind of people would attack him and how, or what kind of approaches he would receive and what relationships he would form, were all unknowns.

-Separate from trusting him, I think we should be the ones to recover Cecil’s soul fragment. That’s what I think.

“I think I understand what you mean.”

It was good that I consulted with Mother. Thanks to that, my thoughts became somewhat organized.

Belrose nodded.

“I’ll make sure to recover Cecil’s soul fragment myself.”

-Alright. I’ll trust only you.

After ending the communication with a message to give her regards to Father, Belrose looked down at the magic device and fell into thought.

It was good that she had decided to recover Cecilia’s soul fragment.

‘But how do I approach His Highness with this magic device that’s bigger than my forearm…?’

What were the chances that Lionel, who would judge that he was being attacked—no, even before he could make such a judgment—wouldn’t counterattack her purely on reflex alone?

‘…Should I just tell His Highness everything and ask him to cooperate obediently?’

Belrose thought about it for a moment.

If she said that, what would Lionel answer?

‘Liri’s soul fragment? There’s no need to recover it. I’ll protect it.’

…That was the only reaction that came to mind. No matter how much I thought about it, it didn’t seem like Lionel would simply allow the soul fragment to be retrieved.

‘There’s no choice.’

Cecilia would have no choice but to remain at the temple, but that didn’t mean they would allow the married couple to share a room.

Moreover, Lionel would have to return here to deliver necessary items to Cecilia and maintain communication between her and the Roheim family.

‘I’ll target that moment… and attack!’

Please let me survive!

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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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