The Obsessive Male Lead Is Obsessed With Me! - Chapter 95

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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 95

Whenever she looked at Lionel, she always thought he was creepy like an emotionless doll, but today was somehow different.

It was an instinct close to survival. Without realizing it, she had crossed a river of no return… Fear? Anxiety? Threat?

‘No, that can’t be.’

The Empress shook her head to brush away the various emotions that had just crossed her mind.

Whatever others might say about him being upright, strong-willed, and fit to be the next emperor, except for his childhood, he was a weak fool who had never dared to utter a single word of rebellion or complaint in front of her.

Even though the throne had been taken from him, the Empress couldn’t imagine Lionel rebelling against her. So she could boldly unfurl her fan and shout.

“Get out! If you cause a disturbance with useless lingering attachments, I will never forgive you!”

“…”

Lionel rose from his seat without saying a word. He gave the Empress a perfunctory bow and left. There was not a trace of regret in his steps.

Only then could the Empress let out a long breath and relax her shoulders.

And she realized. That she had been tense in front of Lionel.

‘Me? Why on earth?’

Belatedly, cold sweat also trickled down her forehead. With hands trembling slightly as she clenched her fists, the Empress called for the Imperial Guards.

“Watch carefully to see if the Second Prince leaves the Imperial Palace and heads to the temple!”

Two Imperial Guards who received the order immediately chased after Lionel.

But by then, Lionel had already disappeared. Clicking their tongues briefly in frustration, they immediately set out to find Lionel.

Whether the Imperial Guards were wandering around looking for him or not, Lionel, who had escaped from the Empress’s Palace, headed to the Second Prince’s Palace.

Although he had been away for three years and six months, he hadn’t stopped being the owner of this palace.

But there wasn’t a single person in the Second Prince’s Palace. While it seemed to have been maintained until recently as there was no dust accumulated on the corridors or furniture, the cold air that could be felt when people had been absent for several days was circulating throughout the palace.

Perhaps it was fortunate. Anyone in this palace would have been under the Empress’s influence anyway.

Lionel headed straight to his bedroom.

Fortunately, most of the items in the room hadn’t disappeared. Lionel scanned the entire room to see if there was anything he needed to take.

But there was nothing that caught his eye.

That was natural since truly important things, like the fountain pen Cecilia had given him as a gift, he had taken with him when he left for the Northern Region.

Still, he had come just in case…

Lionel came to realize a fact anew. This place had never been his home.

“…”

Just as he was repeatedly stroking his left chest that felt strangely empty, he sensed a presence from outside.

A moment later. The person who appeared beyond the open door was Cayen.

“Well, well, who do we have here? Isn’t this the commander-in-chief who made quite the achievement in the Northern Region?”

“…Brother.”

Cayen, whom he was seeing after a long time, seemed to have grown a little taller than when he last saw him.

But because he had barely any muscle, let alone fat, on his body, his frail impression had actually become stronger.

This was even more so because of his pale complexion without any color, and the Imperial Guard waiting behind him as if afraid he might collapse at any moment.

“How utterly heartless. If you returned home after such a long time, you should have come to see your brother first to ask about his well-being. You really… always make me come looking for you.”

“…”

“Come, let me see your face.”

Cayen approached Lionel and placed his hand on his cheek.

Three years ago, when they stood facing each other like this, Cayen’s eye level was subtly higher, but now Lionel was clearly taller.

Cayen clicked his tongue lightly as if displeased with Lionel looking down at him, and roughly let go of Lionel’s face.

Then he looked Lionel up and down with a displeased gaze.

“So, why did you come here when you were ordered to go straight to the temple? What lingering attachment do you have?”

“I came to pack my belongings.”

“Belongings? Is there anything in this room worth taking?”

Cayen looked around the room with a sneer.

Except for practical furniture needed for daily use, there were no collections that revealed the owner’s preferences or decorative items that adorned the room.

In fact, even when Lionel lived here, there was hardly any sense of life, so what could be said about now.

“There doesn’t seem to be much to pack, but even so, what use would worldly possessions be for someone who will devote themselves to the temple.”

Cayen checked Lionel’s hands to see if he had packed anything separately before speaking with a click of his tongue.

“Consider it practice in advance. How can you cut off worldly ties if you cling to every little object.”

“…”

“Now you must abandon your family, your subordinates… even your beautiful fiancée, right?”

Crack, the sound of something breaking echoed in his ears once again.

At the same time, Lionel’s jaw tensed strongly. It was the first time in nearly ten years that he had shown agitation in front of Cayen.

But Cayen, not noticing this fact, patted Lionel’s shoulder encouragingly.

“I’ll be in the Imperial Palace, you’ll be in the temple. It’s quite a nice picture to see brothers rising to high places side by side. I’ll support you, so you support me too. Ah, yes. For now, I’d like you to congratulate me on my marriage first. Instead of a ceremony, today at the coronation, together with the Empress’s coronation… Cecil… the Empress… the oracle… Ugh!”

Cayen’s voice, which had been continuing cheerfully, began to break intermittently, and soon he collapsed with rough groans.

“Your Highness!”

The startled Imperial Guards rushed over and quickly supported Cayen’s body.

But Cayen, holding his head with both hands, muttered incomprehensible words while suffering in pain, and soon lost consciousness.

“Your Highness! Are you alright? Your Highness, Your Highness!”

“He won’t wake up from all that shaking. Take him to the court physician.”

“Ah, yes…! Let’s go!”

One Imperial Guard immediately carried Cayen on his back, while the other guards led the way.

Left in that place were only Lionel and two Imperial Guards.

The Imperial Guards looked at Lionel with troubled faces, then hesitantly approached him.

“Your Highness… We shall escort you to the temple.”

But Lionel didn’t move at all.

The guards felt an inexplicable eeriness from Lionel, who stared into space with darkly sunken eyes, as if before a storm.

That brief time felt like an eternity. Just as the guards instinctively stepped back in fear, fortunately Lionel walked outside.

The two guards watched him anxiously, worried about what they would do if Lionel acted unpredictably, but fortunately no such thing happened.

Lionel mounted his horse, pulled down his hood to cover his face, and began heading outside.

He didn’t attempt to shake off the two guards either. So the two thought they could complete the Empress’s orders without any problems, but there was one variable.

The road was completely blocked by the carriages of nobles entering the Imperial Palace to attend the coronation.

“It seems we cannot go this way.”

“Your Highness, we shall escort you by another route. …Your Highness?”

Following Lionel’s gaze as he stood still as if nailed to that spot, the two Imperial Guards simultaneously gasped.

Where Lionel’s gaze was fixed. There was Cecilia, who had just gotten out of her carriage.

Perhaps because there had been the Emperor’s funeral a few hours ago. Her outfit was overall close to achromatic, and it was noticeable that she had avoided overly sparkling jewelry.

However, despite that, she was beautiful as she smiled brightly.

Like a flower bud sprouting among light green shoots. Like a sugar doll decorating the top of a wedding cake. Like a ballerina in a music box crafted with care by an artisan. Like a princess from a fairy tale filled with warm colors.

Even though she had turned twenty this year, there was still a youthful feeling remaining in various parts of her face.

But precisely that charming atmosphere created by the combination of a girl’s liveliness and a lady’s elegance made it impossible to take one’s eyes off her.

The two Imperial Guards, who had been unconsciously looking in that direction, also belatedly startled and cleared their throats.

“Your Highness. You must go now.”

“…”

“Your Highness?”

Regardless of what the Imperial Guards were saying behind him, Lionel was recalling something Cecilia had once said.

“You really must tell me I’m pretty when I’m truly pretty.”

But she was too far away from him. As if reminding him that he should no longer approach her, he could hear the whispers of several nobles getting out of their carriages.

“Is it alright to proceed with the coronation when His Highness the Second Prince hasn’t returned yet? Even if there was an oracle…”

“The marriage registration is already complete and the Emperor and Empress’s coronation will proceed together later. Since he was engaged to the one who received the oracle of becoming Empress, naturally His Highness the First Prince should ascend to the throne.”

The one who received the oracle of becoming Empress. Engagement.

Crack, that sound grew louder and echoed in Lionel’s ears again.

Meanwhile, Cecilia entered the Grand Hall where the coronation would be held, with her hand on Albert’s elbow.

The moment Cecilia was no longer visible, Lionel’s gaze, which had been fixed on her, turned to Albert’s elbow that she had been holding.

Right now, Cecilia’s brother was escorting her.

But if he devoted himself to the temple and broke off his engagement with her, she would become Empress according to the oracle.

Standing beside Cayen, who would become Emperor, becoming Empress…

She would show that brilliant smile to his brother, not him, kiss him, whisper words of love, shed tears, and live as a family.

With another man, not him.

With the plunderer who had stolen everything from him his entire life!

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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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