The Obsessive Male Lead Is Obsessed With Me! - Chapter 74

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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 74

 

“Perhaps?”

 

Sophia, Albert, and Belrose. The three people’s gazes filled with expectation and hope turned toward Melania.

 

Feeling a bit burdened by this, Melania gave up on voicing the thought she had just come up with. It was still just a hypothesis, after all.

 

“No. Anyway, since we succeeded in extracting Cecil’s magic power, I think we’ll be able to complete the magical tool for tracking soul fragments.”

 

“When do you think it will be completed?”

 

“Well… It will probably take three or four days.”

 

Melania was about to leave Snowy behind and depart, saying she would contact them when it was finished.

 

Just before that, Sophia stopped her.

 

“By any chance, has there been any contact from the Imperial Family to the Frost Tower?”

 

“The Imperial Family…? Ah. Come to think of it, I think I heard something like that.”

 

Seeing her seemingly uninterested demeanor, Sophia carefully asked.

 

“Are you going to refuse the Imperial Family’s proposal?”

 

“My disciples’ position is more important than mine. Unless the Imperial Family offers adequate compensation…”

 

Melania shrugged, saying she couldn’t force her disciples either.

 

“My husband is coming to the capital right now, so please go with him when you go to negotiate with the Imperial Family. Whether you accept or refuse, my husband will be helpful.”

 

“I’ll do that. Thank you for your consideration.”

 

“Don’t mention it. Lady Melania is like family to us.”

 

With an expression that showed this was the most pleasant empty compliment she’d heard so far, Melania smiled, transformed into an owl, and flew out the window.

 

“Hoooo!”

 

Snowy waved her wings as if to say ‘have a safe trip’ while watching her departing figure.

 

Albert went down to the kitchen with the owl on his shoulder, saying he would find some snacks for Snowy.

 

And only Sophia and Belrose were left in the corridor.

 

Belrose was also about to return to his room, but seeing Sophia lost in deep thought, he spoke with a puzzled voice.

 

“Mother?”

 

“…”

 

After a moment, Sophia opened her eyes that had been tightly closed and looked at Belrose.

 

“Cecil seems to like the Second Prince quite a lot, doesn’t she?”

 

“Huh? Ah… Yes. It’s not just that she likes him, but she seems completely smitten.”

 

Not just today’s events, but considering all the actions Cecilia had shown so far, he couldn’t possibly say otherwise.

 

“Honestly, it’s a good thing. Even though there was an oracle, it was an engagement that had nothing to do with Cecil’s will…”

 

Belrose, who had been muttering thoughtlessly, belatedly thought ‘oh no’ and checked if Cecilia’s bedroom door was properly closed.

 

“Don’t worry too much. His Imperial Majesty said so too. If we successfully block this monster wave, he would appoint the Second Prince as Crown Prince.”

 

“Right, he did say that… The monster wave.”

 

Sophia, who had been muttering those words several times, soon gripped her dress hem as if she couldn’t stand it anymore.

 

“I need to send a messenger bird to your father first. You should go rest too.”

 

“Yes…”

 

Belrose scratched his head while watching Sophia walking away with quick steps.

 

‘Father will be coming up in just a few days… Does she miss Father so much that she needs to send a messenger bird?’

 

Our parents are still like newlyweds.

 

Belrose returned to his room with such carefree thoughts.

 

* * *

 

The medicine the doctor made was bitter. Really bitter.

 

“Ugh, Uni, I need chocolate…!”

 

“Here you go. Please chew it thoroughly.”

 

After chewing about five chocolates, the bitter taste in my mouth subsided a bit.

 

I collapsed onto the bed in despair at the thought of how I would drink this bitter medicine for a whole week.

 

“Lady, are you alright?”

 

“I’m not alright at all. Ugh, this is really the most bitter thing I’ve ever had, the absolute most bitter…”

 

I was sighing with various groans when I asked Uni.

 

“So it’s been four days since I collapsed, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then what about the Northern expedition? Has the schedule been decided?”

 

“Yes. It’s been set for three days from now.”

 

“Three days from now…”

 

It was a busy time. It seemed impossible to see Lionel once more before he departed for the North.

 

‘Come to think of it, where did Ruda go?’

 

Seeing that other people weren’t bringing up Ruda, it seemed no one had seen him…

 

‘Did Lionel perhaps take him?’

 

But then, I felt a certain conviction.

 

The conviction that Ruda was fine right now.

 

‘Ah, he sent me a signal because he knew I was worried!’

 

So this is what it feels like to be connected to a spirit familiar.

 

“Lady? What’s making you so happy?”

 

“Huh? Was I smiling? …No, ahem. It’s nothing.”

 

The urge to boast about my genius to Uni welled up, but I held it back firmly.

 

If nothing else, the existence of the spirit familiar must never be discovered.

 

‘This time too, I collapsed after making contact with Ruda, and I had a dream again. The previous collapse was probably because of Ruda, not magic power.’

 

Uni was sensitive about my health. If she knew that the reason I lost consciousness and collapsed was because of contact with Ruda, she might reveal this fact to others to try to separate Ruda from me.

 

‘But why do I collapse and have dreams when I make contact with Ruda?’

 

Could it be that my soul fragment dwelling in Ruda’s body contains memories from my past life? So every time I make contact with Ruda, my past life memories get stimulated?

 

‘Then maybe if I make contact with Ruda a few more times…’

 

Would I be able to recall more of the novel’s content?

 

“Earlier you were smiling by yourself, and now you’re making a serious expression again… There’s really nothing wrong, is there?”

 

“No. You don’t need to worry. More importantly, I have a favor to ask.”

 

“A favor?”

 

“You know, spread some rumors outside.”

 

“Rumors? What kind of rumors?”

 

“That I’m shocked and collapsed because Lionel has to go to the North and we’ll be separated for at least 5 years, and I’m languishing away.”

 

“…What?”

 

“Say that I thought I’d shake it off and get up in a few days, but my condition keeps getting worse every other day, so it seems I’ll need to go down to the estate to recuperate. Can you do that?”

 

Uni nodded, but puzzlement appeared on her face.

 

“Why do you want to spread such rumors?”

 

“Why do you think? When the support troops are dispatched to the North, the ban on entering the Imperial Palace will be lifted, and I’ll have to go back to taking bridal lessons.”

 

“…Ah!”

 

“Why would I go to the Imperial Palace to take unnecessary bridal lessons when Lionel isn’t even there?”

 

I guarantee it.

 

If I go to take bridal lessons, the First Prince will definitely pull some ridiculous stunt again.

 

‘You don’t avoid poop because you’re scared of it. You avoid it because it’s disgusting.’

 

“I see. I understand what you mean. I’ll go right now!”

 

“Yeah. I’m counting on you, Uni.”

 

After Uni went outside.

 

Left alone in the room, I began examining the two items Lionel had left behind.

 

‘Looking closely, this looks like an animal claw… What’s this flute?’

 

It was definitely some kind of flute, but I couldn’t figure out exactly what it was.

 

‘Is it a magical tool?’

 

But even when I tried putting a bit of magic power into it, there was no reaction.

 

‘If he was going to give me something like this, he should have explained what it was.’

 

Grumbling for no reason, I brought the flute to my mouth with the thought that I’d find out if I blew it, and blew hard.

 

“…”

 

However, no sound came out.

 

Once, twice, three times. No matter how many times I blew it, it was the same.

 

“What? Why isn’t it making any sound?”

 

Could this really be like a dog whistle? One that produces sounds at frequencies higher than human hearing range?

 

Then what is this supposed to summon?

 

‘Don’t tell me a dog will actually come running…’

 

“Did you call for me, Lady?”

 

“Kyaah!”

 

At the voice from behind me, I screamed in shock.

 

Then, as if equally startled by my scream, a woman dressed in black clothes with an eyepatch over one eye quickly retreated backward until she was almost pressed against the wall.

 

‘An assassin!’

 

…or so I thought, but she had no weapon in her hands and showed no signs of trying to attack me.

 

Rather, she fidgeted and watched my reaction nervously. Since she didn’t seem to harbor any ill will toward me, I let out a sigh of relief and patted my chest.

 

“Th-that startled me. Where did you come in from?”

 

“Through the window. …Didn’t you leave it open for me to enter?”

 

“No? Why would I leave the window open for you to come in when I don’t even know who you are?”

 

“What? Didn’t the Leader tell you about me?”

 

“Leader?”

 

Staring blankly. Blinking repeatedly.

 

We just looked at each other in silence. I could feel that both of us – me in my own way, and her in hers – had our minds racing.

 

I was the first to speak.

 

“By any chance, are you the person Lionel mentioned…?”

 

“Yes, that’s me!”

 

She immediately confirmed my tentative guess.

 

Perhaps she was more naive than I thought, as she didn’t seem to doubt my words at all and laughed with relief.

 

“I was a bit surprised thinking the Leader had acted without getting your permission, Lady. Phew.”

 

“Acted without permission?”

 

“Honestly, from a Duchess’s perspective, people like us from the underworld would be unwelcome. If he had sent me without saying anything…”

 

“Underworld? You’re from the underworld?”

 

“What?”

 

Blinking repeatedly.

 

The woman blinked her one eye and then asked me with a shocked expression.

 

“Di-didn’t you hear from the Leader?”

 

“I didn’t hear anything! He just left this whistle and went! No, he didn’t even give it to me. He just left it behind.”

 

The more I thought about it, the more absurd it became.

 

I mean, if he was going to send someone from the underworld, he really should have told me… Wait.

 

“…Leader?”

 

Someone from the underworld is calling Lionel ‘Leader’?

 

“Wa-was Lionel the leader of the underworld?”

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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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