The Obsessive Male Lead Is Obsessed With Me! - Chapter 80
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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 80
“That’s correct.”
“But why on earth!”
“It was Archbishop’s request, they say.”
“Archbishop, you mean….”
“Archbishop Seiji. Bishop Nicole’s adoptive mother, I mean.”
Hearing Archbishop Seiji’s name made things seem understandable yet also complicated my thoughts.
“Why would the Archbishop make such a request to our parents…. Ah.”
According to Nix’s investigation, our parents smuggling Bishop Nicole out of exile happened in the year I was born.
And I was born through a difficult labor that nearly endangered Mother’s life. The person who saved Mother was none other than Archbishop Seiji.
‘I see. Our parents couldn’t refuse because they owed the Archbishop a debt of gratitude.’
“But why did the Archbishop ask them to save Bishop Nicole? Was there some connection?”
“Archbishop Seiji and the Duchess were close friends, they say.”
“The Duchess? …Ah, Bishop Nicole’s birth mother?”
“Yes. She was also an alchemist at the same time.”
“An alchemist?”
Bishop Nicole’s birth mother was an alchemist? …Ah, so that’s why Bishop Nicole also became an alchemist.
“Wait a minute. That rebellion incident happened when Bishop Nicole was very young, right? Then how did Bishop Nicole become an alchemist?”
“She probably inherited her birth mother’s alchemist notes. With those, even if she can’t develop new medicines, she could easily make any medicine with recipes written in the notes.”
“Ah….”
Now I understand.
The First Prince definitely had a constitution that didn’t respond well to divine power, so that’s how Bishop Nicole was able to treat him.
“I feel like I understand the situation somewhat, but it also seems much more complicated…. So that Count used poison made by his wife to try to harm the Empress?”
“If we connect it with the publicly announced facts, that would be the case.”
Since it involved internal Imperial affairs, Nix scratched her cheek saying this part wasn’t certain.
“This is really just a rumor though…. There’s a story that the Duchess was the Emperor’s mistress before marriage.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
So according to Nix’s explanation, Nicole’s birth mother, the woman who was the Duchess, came from some baronial house.
During the rebellion incident, it was destroyed along with House Racal and no longer exists, but even before that, it had so little presence that people would say ‘Was there such a house?’ if they heard the name.
In other words, she was somewhat lacking to become Empress.
“Then…. Was the Duchess actually the mastermind? Unable to forget her former lover and trying to kill the Empress out of jealousy?”
“I really don’t know beyond that. Almost everyone even slightly related is dead, and it’s too old a story.”
“That’s true….”
I thought Mother might know the inside story, but I decided to put this thought away.
‘If I ask Mother about such things…. She’ll obviously scold me asking where I heard such dangerous stories.’
Let’s just bury this. Whatever romantic scandal happened in the Imperial Palace in the past isn’t very important now.
‘Anyway, if only Nicole changes her mind, she could prevent the First Prince from getting healthy.’
How exactly should I make Nicole turn against the First Prince…. Ah, come to think of it!
“What I had to do wasn’t atonement but revenge, I didn’t know that at the time.”
Nicole definitely said that in the dream.
What she had to do wasn’t atonement but revenge.
Right after having the dream, I didn’t know what it meant, but now that I know the whole situation, the puzzle pieces fit together perfectly.
‘She thought she was a traitor’s daughter, so she was treating the First Prince to atone to the Empress who was poisoned….’
But what if there was some hidden truth? Some truth like the Count and Duchess who were driven to be traitors and executed were actually victims.
If that’s really the case, wouldn’t Nicole stop treating the First Prince if I told her the truth early?
‘Of course, it would be troublesome if she decides to take revenge on the Imperial Family and tries to do something to Lionel too.’
For now, preventing Nicole from treating the First Prince was the priority.
“Nix. I have a request, could you dig deeper into this case?”
“I’ll try. But it might take some time.”
“Please do. Do you need more money?”
“There’s still plenty left. Oh, by the way, I found someone who has giant wolf fangs. I’m negotiating a deal, so if you wait a little longer, you should be able to receive them.”
“Okay, thank you.”
When I gave her more chocolate telling her to eat more, Nix stuffed chocolate into her mouth with a happy face.
While watching that, part of a scene I saw in the dream suddenly came to mind.
“This is your fate, it can’t be helped…. Because of those words, I had to take the hand of a man I hate and enter this place. But since that fate wasn’t completed, I can’t even die.”
“But what exactly does my fate mean…?”
At my unconscious muttering, Nix startled and looked at me.
Seeing her eyes widen, she seemed surprised that I suddenly muttered something strange.
“Sorry. Want some juice?”
“Ah, y-yes. Please give me more.”
Even while sipping juice, Nix kept watching me, and thinking she might be worried about eating too much chocolate now, I stuffed more chocolate into her hands.
* * *
When 20 days had passed since the first support troops dispatched to the Northern Region established a defense line centered on the Sernan River, the second support troops arrived from the capital.
Thanks to Duke Roheim’s massive support, carriages loaded with enormous amounts of food, materials for setting up tents, blankets and other living supplies entered endlessly, and everyone clapped and cheered.
“Fruit! Fruit! There’s fresh fruit!”
“Please wait a moment! We’ll distribute clothes and blankets!”
“The second support troops are here, we can finally rest!”
But there was someone who couldn’t smile brightly and blinked in surprise—none other than Lionel, the person in charge here.
“Sir Belrose…. Why are you here?”
“I volunteered.”
“Volunteered?”
“Yes. There’s no better experience than real combat with monsters. How could I miss this great opportunity to grow several levels as a knight?”
Belrose’s eyes burned with madness as she stood with her hands behind her back, chest out, speaking confidently before Lionel.
Even Lionel, who usually had almost no emotional fluctuations, looked bewildered, so it wasn’t strange that Beric, who was active as his right hand, looked disgusted.
Then Lionel asked Belrose again.
“What about Liri? Does your sister know you came here?”
“She was crying and making a fuss, so I had a hard time consoling….”
Huh?
Belrose looked at Lionel with a strange expression belatedly.
“Your Highness. Do you call my sister Liri?”
“Yes.”
“Why…is that?”
Then Lionel showed a puzzled expression instead.
“Is there a problem?”
“Not really… I suppose.”
Using a childhood nickname that even family doesn’t use anymore was something that would only happen in very close relationships. Like between lovers who are crazy about each other.
‘Does he know that fact and still call her that…?’
It’s hard to know what’s inside his mind.
So Belrose just asked directly.
“Your Highness. If it’s not rude, may I ask what you think of my sister?”
But as soon as that question was asked, Beric’s face turned pale.
Then he shook his head frantically toward Belrose, behind Lionel’s back.
Naturally, Belrose had no way of knowing why Beric was acting like that.
When she seemed completely oblivious to his feelings, Beric immediately said to Lionel.
“Now that the second support troops have arrived, we’ll need to redo the patrol and training schedules. I’ll go take care of it.”
“If it’s something like that, I’ll help too….”
“No! You finish reporting to His Highness the Second Prince. Well then!”
Beric bowed politely to Lionel and hurriedly left.
Was it just my imagination? Beric’s retreating figure somehow felt like he was running away from a troublesome situation.
Lionel asked Belrose, who was feeling puzzled.
“Sir Belrose. Have you ever been in love?”
“Pardon? …Suddenly?”
It was a very unexpected and awkward question, but since His Highness the Prince had asked, he had to answer.
“I did have a few relationships during my time at the military academy.”
“I see. Each time, what kind of event made you realize that you loved that person?”
“Pardon? No, I’ve never actually been in love.”
At this, Lionel showed an extremely disappointed expression.
“You dated without being in love?”
Though Lionel didn’t say a single word, Belrose felt as if he was being criticized as a playboy.
She jumped up and strongly denied it.
“No! Isn’t that how all student relationships are in the first place? You can start one easily as long as there’s some mutual attraction!”
“What’s the difference between casual attraction and love?”
“Uh, that’s…. Well….”
Even the questions during the Imperial Knights’ pressure interview weren’t this difficult.
Belrose struggled and squeezed out an answer with difficulty.
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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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