The Obsessive Male Lead Is Obsessed With Me! - Chapter 57

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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 57

 

* * *

 

-Buuuu!

 

Right after the horn sounded to announce the start of the hunting competition. This moment was the most chaotic of all.

 

The participants were busy scattering to find what they each considered the best hunting spots, while those gathered to cheer were occupied with giving handkerchiefs or medicine to their chosen contestants and offering words of encouragement.

 

Thanks to this, no one would notice if someone who was supposed to stay in their position secretly disappeared.

 

Thus, Count Riam was able to easily slip away from the lakeside and hide in the hideout he had prepared in a cave within the cliffs, along the path leading to the high mountain peak.

 

“Count.”

 

“Shh! Don’t call me that.”

 

Count Riam looked back with an anxious face, worried that someone might have followed him, and asked his subordinate who had been waiting in the cave.

 

“What happened to those guys?”

 

“They’re being lured smoothly. However, it will take some time to drive the wolf pack to this area while erasing the traces of the herders.”

 

“How long?”

 

“It should take about two to three hours.”

 

“Two to three hours…”

 

That wasn’t bad. The hunting competition would end at sunset when the sun fell behind the western mountains.

 

‘Once I lure the giant wolf pack to the lakeside, the Empress said she would handle the rest…’

 

With this, his assigned task was complete. The debt was settled, so he no longer had to cower before the Empress.

 

No, considering the chaos that would unfold here, and thinking about what he would have to take responsibility for as the host of the hunting competition, it was almost as if the Empress owed him a debt instead.

 

‘Damn it, how did I end up getting caught by the Empress for embezzlement!’

 

-Bang!

 

Waaaah!

 

“Ack! That scared me!”

 

Just then, a loud explosion sounded from somewhere and people’s cheers erupted.

 

Someone had probably already succeeded in their first hunt.

 

Like a thief with a guilty conscience, Count Riam jumped up in surprise and clutched his churning stomach, his face pale as he commanded his subordinate.

 

“You… go back now. Don’t forget to keep watch carefully until the end without being caught.”

 

“Yes, master.”

 

“I should return to that place. If something goes wrong…”

 

He would have to be the first one to get hurt. Even if he lost one of his limbs, he needed to sustain that level of injury to avoid suspicion.

 

* * *

 

Unaware that someone harbored deep malice toward him and was plotting schemes, Lionel was looking toward where the explosion sound had come from.

 

Seeing this and thinking Lionel was curious about the cause of the explosion, his attendant carefully spoke up.

 

“Someone seems to have succeeded in their first hunt.”

 

“Are those fireworks set off every time someone succeeds in hunting?”

 

“Yes. That way people can come and help move the game. I have some too.”

 

The attendant opened the bag hanging at his waist and showed the fireworks packed inside.

 

As if proving why the earlier sound had been so loud, all the fireworks were quite large.

 

Lionel looked down at the fireworks for a moment, then commanded his attendant.

 

“Throw them all away.”

 

“What? …Th-throw away the fireworks? Then even if Your Highness succeeds in hunting, we won’t be able to announce it.”

 

“It doesn’t matter.”

 

The attendant screamed internally.

 

‘It matters to me!’

 

Because the plan was for him to set off fireworks to signal Lionel’s exact location once he received the signal that they had arrived at a specific place and driven the giant wolf pack nearby.

 

Fireworks mixed with a special scent that would excite the giant wolves and make them charge this way.

 

“If we don’t set off fireworks, someone might steal Your Highness’s game claiming it as their own. Also, other people might not believe that Your Highness actually hunted it yourself.”

 

“Is that a problem?”

 

“Many people are expecting Your Highness’s performance! Especially His Majesty the Emperor must have high expectations, so if you don’t achieve good results…”

 

“Someone will be disappointed, someone will mock, and someone will be pleased.”

 

Lionel spoke in a calm voice as he put his hand into his hunting jacket pocket and carefully took out what was inside.

 

“But someone will say I did well for not killing a pitiful life.”

 

“Chirp!”

 

What flew up energetically from Lionel’s palm was a blue bird.

 

Shocked by the fact that the blue bird had come out from inside Lionel’s clothes, the attendant couldn’t argue with Lionel further.

 

Meanwhile, Lionel began walking as if taking a stroll, swinging the bow in his hand as if he had never intended to nock an arrow to the bowstring.

 

“If you fly too high, you might get hit by an arrow. It’s dangerous, so sit on my shoulder.”

 

“Chirp chirp!”

 

Amazingly, the blue bird seemed to understand Lionel’s words and immediately perched on his shoulder.

 

And Lionel fed the blue bird some dried fruit that he had brought to the hunting competition for reasons unknown.

 

“Sorry for always keeping you confined. I’ll give you a chance to fly freely later.”

 

“Chirp!”

 

Like a child enjoying a picnic, the blue bird began chirping in pleasant sounds.

 

As if finding the blue bird cute, Lionel gently stroked the small bird’s head with his index finger.

 

Seeing how much Lionel seemed to cherish the blue bird, the attendant suddenly realized something.

 

‘Could it be that he told me to throw away all the fireworks because…!’

 

If a loud explosion went off nearby, such a small bird couldn’t help but be startled.

 

No, it would be fortunate if it just got startled. Its life could be in danger.

 

As if confirming his guess was correct, Lionel glanced back and asked in a low voice.

 

“The fireworks. Aren’t you going to throw them away?”

 

“I-I’ll throw them away. I have to throw them away.”

 

Even if his real master was the Empress, he couldn’t rely on that fact alone to be defiant in front of the Second Prince.

 

‘But I can’t disobey the Empress’s orders either…’

 

What to do. What to do.

 

After much deliberation, the attendant pretended to throw away all the fireworks while secretly hiding one in his pocket.

 

He didn’t know if he could lure the giant wolf pack in time with just one firework. But he at least needed to secure evidence that he had carried out the Empress’s orders.

 

‘This is really unbearable…’

 

However this situation ended, he would probably have to submit his resignation to the Imperial Palace.

 

The attendant clutched his aching stomach and closely followed Lionel, who was leisurely strolling through the forest path.

 

* * *

 

Strange. Why are my ears so itchy?

 

‘Is someone talking about me?’

 

Come to think of it, the hunting competition should have started by now.

 

Even though I couldn’t see it from here because it was in a different direction, I found myself looking out the window anyway, when Uni, who was pouring fresh tea into my cup, asked me with a puzzled expression.

 

“What’s wrong, Lady?”

 

“The hunting competition. It should have started by now, right?”

 

Uni checked the clock once and then nodded.

 

“Yes. If there’s no reason for delay, it should have started by now.”

 

“Hmm… Lionel took the bow I gave him, right?”

 

“His Highness the Second Prince is not one to lie, so if he said he would use it well, he must have taken it.”

 

“I think so too.”

 

I had the bow delivered secretly because I was worried the First Prince might intercept it again if I gave it directly, but I made sure my intentions were clearly conveyed through the blue bird.

 

“…So, I don’t think I’ll be able to tie a handkerchief on it. If anyone asks why there’s no handkerchief on Lionel’s bow, tell them it would all burn up if tied on, so I couldn’t tie one. Got it?”

 

Lionel answered “Yes, I understand” as he always did, but somehow I was a bit worried.

 

‘That man probably wouldn’t care whether anyone mocked him or not.’

 

Sigh, should I have just tied a handkerchief on Lionel’s bow regardless of whether the First Prince made a fuss?

 

As I was sighing deeply, Uni asked me in a careful voice.

 

“But Lady, may I ask you something?”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Why did you give His Highness the Second Prince that kind of bow?”

 

“Obviously. With the First Prince’s personality, he’ll definitely go to Lionel and mock him, saying ‘Why isn’t there a handkerchief on your bow? Your fiancée must not love you.'”

 

“Ah, Lady. Please watch your words…”

 

“What’s wrong with it? There’s no one here to listen.”

 

That bastard First Prince should be grateful that I even call him the First Prince.

 

If I had my way, I’d really just… huh?

 

“Anyway, seeing that there’s no handkerchief on Lionel’s bow, other people will whisper about how great that is.”

 

It was obvious without even looking.

 

They’d chatter about how I must have changed my mind, saying that’s just how sixteen-year-old young ladies are with their whims and such.

 

I want to live quietly, but the people around me won’t let me be, so what can I do?

 

If I’m going to become a hot potato anyway, I might as well go around lighting the fire myself!

 

“But there was no need to sacrifice Lady’s reputation for His Highness the Second Prince’s honor.”

 

“Huh? …What do you mean by that? Why would my reputation be sacrificed?”

 

To my bewildered self, Uni asked if I really didn’t know what I was asking about.

 

“Lady, you just warned all the women attending the hunting competition, ‘Don’t set your eyes on my fiancé!'”

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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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