The Obsessive Male Lead Is Obsessed With Me! - Chapter 85

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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 85

 

“Is it urgent?”

 

“It’s not urgent, but… No, it is urgent.”

 

“I see.”

 

Perhaps hearing the voices from outside, the movement in his inner pocket became still.

 

If she had expressed discomfort, he wouldn’t have accepted their conversation, but confirming that Cecilia had postponed her own business, Lionel sat back down in his chair.

 

“Speak.”

 

“We lack education and cannot use sophisticated vocabulary. As always, we’ll get straight to the point.”

 

“Go ahead.”

 

As soon as Lionel gave permission, all five knights rose from their seats and knelt on one knee on the floor.

 

And before Lionel could even react, they bowed their heads and shouted loudly.

 

“Please take us with you when you return to the capital!”

 

“…What?”

 

Lionel was taken aback because these were originally knights from the northern region.

 

No, since the lords who had knighted them were all dead, perhaps they should be called former knights.

 

Having lost family and friends to monsters and been robbed of their homeland, they were united by vengeance and fought monsters more bravely than anyone.

 

Their achievements were so great that they were certain to receive medals from the Emperor. Some who had made particularly great contributions might even receive titles and estates to become lords themselves.

 

Thinking they might not know this fact, Lionel explained.

 

“You must be well aware that your achievements are not small. If you’re anxious about not receiving rewards worthy of those achievements…”

 

“No! We simply wish to follow Your Highness!”

 

“Wasn’t it Your Highness who saved us when we were about to die!”

 

They had sworn to serve their lord with loyalty and protect the weak, but ultimately failed to protect their lord, their families, and the weak, so they should have broken their swords.

 

These men, who had barely managed to protect the surviving refugees to the Sernan River, had actually tried to break their swords or take their own lives.

 

The person who stopped them was none other than Lionel.

 

“With such weak spirits, no wonder you couldn’t protect anyone.”

 

Lionel told them if they wanted to die, go die outside, and threw the knights into monster territory.

 

Since they wanted to die, they could just die there. But while they had resolved to die themselves, they apparently didn’t want to die to the monsters that had dishonored them.

 

The northern knights fought fiercely, and fought, and fought again.

 

In that process, they succeeded in revenge, reclaimed the lost land, and rescued refugees in danger.

 

They were able to face again those they had tried to abandon, and became able to protect them.

 

“Therefore, we beg you! Please continue to guide us on the righteous path!”

 

The knights shouted resolutely. They bowed their heads deeply, determined not to rise until Lionel accepted them.

 

Perhaps sensing their resolve.

 

Lionel pushed his chair back with a scraping sound and stood up.

 

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

 

“What? Why!”

 

“Are you children?”

 

Lionel’s gaze looking down at the knights contained disdain.

 

The knights who received that gaze directly let out groans. The impact was greater because the words came from Lionel, who had just turned twenty this year.

 

“Wasn’t saving your lives once enough? Find your own path to survival.”

 

Lionel coldly passed by the knights as if he had nothing more to say.

 

Honestly, it was harsh. Cecilia seemed to think so too, tapping Lionel’s chest from inside the pocket as if asking whether he should speak like that.

 

But Lionel didn’t stop walking even while gently stroking his chest, and only the knights were left alone in the meeting room.

 

Their gazes watching the entrance Lionel had exited through were full of wistfulness.

 

However, contrary to Cecilia’s concern, they weren’t hurt at all. Rather, the emotion behind the wistfulness was actually admiration.

 

“See? What did I tell you? I said he’d reject us with such cold words.”

 

“If we stay in the north, we can receive titles and estates and live comfortably, but he must not like that we’re trying to follow him, abandoning wealth and glory.”

 

If Lionel had heard, he would have immediately said no, but fortunately or unfortunately, Lionel couldn’t hear their conversation.

 

So he couldn’t stop their rampage either.

 

“His Highness will surely leave us behind and depart.”

 

“But surely if we secretly follow him, he’ll ask why we did such a foolish thing but still accept us.”

 

“Let’s go! Even if we can’t be formally knighted, we’ll become His Highness’s elite devoted to serving His Highness!”

 

Completely unaware that the northern knights were making such conspiracy-like resolutions, Lionel returned to his quarters, locked the door, and carefully took the blue bird out of his pocket.

 

“Liri, is that right?”

 

“Yes! That’s me!”

 

Cecilia, now quite accustomed to Ruda’s body, fluttered up to double-check that no one else was in Lionel’s room, then perched on his shoulder and continued speaking.

 

“Weren’t you too cold to the knights earlier? From what I saw, they seemed to genuinely follow Lionel?”

 

“The youngest among them is twenty-eight. At that age, they should know how to be mentally independent.”

 

“Wow, so cold…”

 

Cecilia felt sorry for the northern knights, but on the other hand, she thought Lionel’s words weren’t completely wrong either.

 

“Actually, it wouldn’t look very good to bring down a bunch of knights swearing loyalty to Lionel personally rather than the imperial family.”

 

If handled poorly, it might cause misunderstandings about trying to claim succession rights through military force.

 

“Hmm, but actually, there might not be much need to worry about that…”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“It’s still just a rumor, but I heard such talk in the capital. That His Majesty the Emperor gave orders to prepare for a crown prince investiture ceremony.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“It’s just a rumor. But now the monster wave is almost completely over!”

 

As if suddenly curious, Cecilia moved to Lionel’s palm extended before her and jumped a few times on it, taking small steps.

 

“How are the monsters? Are they still being discovered?”

 

“Most of the search teams have already returned. Once the remaining two teams return, we can declare it over.”

 

“Wow, that’s great! Then we can finally return to the capital!”

 

Ruda’s bottom, inhabited by Cecilia’s consciousness, wiggled left and right excitedly.

 

The long blue tail feathers growing behind swayed along with it, showing that she was truly excited.

 

Watching this, the corners of Lionel’s mouth curved up gently.

 

Though he himself wasn’t aware of it, apart from the past when he was called an emotionless doll, he had now become able to smile quite naturally.

 

It was just unfortunate that only one person and one creature could see that smile.

 

Lionel, who had moved to the desk, carefully moved his hand so the back of it touched the desk.

 

Once the floor was stably fixed, Cecilia rolled this way and that way.

 

Suddenly, Lionel imagined Cecilia rolling around like that on a bed in human form, and reflexively opened his mouth.

 

“I miss you.”

 

“What? …Me?”

 

Lionel nodded without hesitation.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Hmm hmm, just wait a little. Once we return to the capital, you’ll see me constantly whether you like it or not.”

 

“I don’t think I’ll ever dislike it.”

 

“…Of course you won’t!”

 

Cecilia, who had sprung up, flapped her wings and wiggled her bottom again.

 

Lionel, who had smiled without realizing it, curved his other hand like a cave and brought it over the blue bird’s head.

 

Then Cecilia burrowed into the inside of Lionel’s palm and rubbed her head and body against the inside.

 

The small, warm warmth beating rapidly softened his heart.

 

Lionel exhaled slowly while carefully stroking the soft bird’s body. Meanwhile, he pictured Cecilia’s face in his mind.

 

What would she look like now that she had become an adult like him?

 

It was a face he had imagined countless times. But the process of imagining what hairstyle she might have today, what clothes she wore, how much taller she had grown, was never boring.

 

How similar would the real Cecilia be to the one in his imagination, and how different?

 

Just imagining made his heart beat faster. It was an anticipation he hadn’t felt since childhood.

 

As if Cecilia was also in a good mood like Lionel, a cheerful humming flowed from between her tiny beak.

 

Suddenly, he remembered the song that Liri used to sing generously when he was young and whined that he couldn’t sleep.

 

The question of whether she remembered that song rose to his throat, but Lionel swallowed it.

 

Because Liri has no memories now.

 

“Liri.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“When I return to the Capital and become Crown Prince.”

 

What came to Lionel’s mind as he paused his words wasn’t the image of himself gaining power and honor by becoming Crown Prince.

 

“Shall we hold a formal engagement ceremony?”

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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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