The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 103

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 103
The moment I thought I was done for, utterly and irrevocably dead, had passed.
And the first thing I did after crawling back from the gates of hell was to receive a proposal.
“….”
Splash, splash—
Below the Cliff, I could hear the sound of black waves crashing violently. Was it just my imagination that it didn’t sound as terrifying as before? Facing the Cliff, even the strong wind felt strangely cool against my skin.
I looked down at Sisrain. His face had gone somewhat vacant, his gaze distant and unfocused.
‘I can’t make sense of him.’
What was he thinking?
Truth be told, when Sisrain first came to Bayonere, I had only sensed an intense ‘obsession’ and ‘possessiveness’ radiating from him.
―The red thread around my wrist was proof of that.
‘I thought he’d simply grown into the obsessive madman from the novel.’
That his object of obsession had merely shifted from Heinrich to me.
But….
‘Sometimes it feels like there’s something more.’
In those eyes that looked down at me from the Cliff just moments ago, I sensed a fervent emotion that I could never have read in the original novel.
―Was it all just my misunderstanding?
“I should….”
Give him an answer.
He had proposed, so I owed him some kind of response, yet my gaze kept being drawn back to Sisrain.
This close—I had never seen him like this before.
‘It was a first.’
His dark eyes were sharp as if sliced by a blade. Yet there was something strange about them. The tenderness I sensed in that gaze.
Eyes like the scorching sun at the height of summer.
I wanted to touch them.
But I shouldn’t, should I?
Slowly—
It was an impulse my reason couldn’t suppress. Without thinking, my hand moved forward. As if I were bewitched….
From his handsome forehead, where black hair cascaded down, to the high, sharp bridge of his nose, I carefully traced my index finger downward,
And his eyes gradually responded, taking me in.
“….”
A thrilling tension coursed through me.
Like touching a beast that pretends to be docile before me, yet could turn savage at any moment.
Then he smiled. As his sharply defined lips curved upward, his white teeth gleamed faintly.
And then,
―Snap!
He seized the hand that had been boldly touching him.
“…!!!”
Anette’s eyes widened like a trapped rabbit’s.
As his gaze fell openly on her small, flustered lips, her face flushed crimson.
“Ah.”
As he tilted his head, our noses nearly crossed at a dangerously intimate angle.
The corner of his mouth, framed by the sharpened line of his jaw, curved upward subtly.
It was a dizzying distance—one where the slightest movement would bring our lips together. That was precisely when Sisrain rose without hesitation.
“…!”
Startled, Anette quickly grasped his shoulders, barely maintaining the distance between us.
Even that fleeting brush of contact set my lips ablaze as if touched by embers, my heart burning away.
‘I’m sitting on top of Sisrain.’
The heat radiating from where our bodies met was so intense that Anette immediately tried to rise.
But then—
His forearm clamped around my waist like a snare around a thrashing rabbit, pulling me down even closer.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“…!”
“You answer first, then you can stand.”
His crimson eyes relentlessly ensnared her fleeing gaze.
“…Right now, an answer…?”
That’s too unreasonable, Sisrain.
Aren’t you being too hasty?
Heinrich and Kyle both said they’d give me time, that they’d wait!
Anette managed to speak, calling out to him.
“…Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Sisrain’s eyes narrowed as if he’d been struck deeply.
“You only call me ‘Your Highness the Crown Prince’ when it’s disadvantageous for you.”
A pang—
Anette’s eyes widened slightly. Her expression screamed, ‘Oh, I’ve been caught.’ He rested his forehead against her shoulder, whispering with a petulant tone.
“And yet I can’t bring myself to hate you, not even a little. Teach me how to hate you, Anette.”
His voice sounded impossibly sweet—enough to flush her cheeks.
His large hand enveloped mine, and before I could fully register what was happening, a ring had been slipped onto my finger.
It was a beautiful ring. One that matched the color of her eyes.
A pale jade-green gemstone, beautiful as the very essence of early spring.
It was so delicate and elegant that one could never imagine this rough, terrifying man had prepared it.
—It gleamed like something crafted by fairies, and the size fit perfectly, as if measured beforehand.
Yet before this perfect ring, I could only say this.
“…I’ve never thought about marriage.”
“….”
Sisrain wrapped his hand around my wrist, then pressed his warm lips to my delicate, pale fingers adorned with his ring.
—It was an affectionate kiss.
“Then you can begin considering it from now on.”
“It will take a very long time.”
—An extraordinarily long time.
The truth is, I have absolutely no intention of getting married right now, Sisrain.
And on top of that, my husband would be an “obsessive maniac.”
…I can barely even imagine such a honeymoon.
‘It’s different with Heinrich and Kyle.’
I could imagine married life with those two, at least abstractly (though my imagination was terribly distorted), but with Sisrain? Not at all.
If I actually married such an unpredictable and dangerous man,
my heart might burst from the strain and I’d die young?
For the sake of my peaceful life, I would need to give this considerable thought.
“It will take time.”
“…Yes, it seems I’ll need time to make up my mind.”
“We’ll see.”
Sisrain’s clean lips curved upward beautifully.
“I think you’ll decide soon enough.”
…Why? Why such an ominous statement?
Bewildered, I widened my eyes.
But I would soon understand the meaning behind Sisrain’s words.
―And that too,
the moment we returned to the village.
* * *
“…This is.”
The instant we returned to the village, I was confronted with utter devastation.
Shattered fences, ruined crops, carts split in half, and livestock lying wounded on the ground.
In the midst of this chaos, an elderly man sat dazed on the dirt, and children were crying.
My vision swam for a moment, and I rushed frantically toward the people to ask.
“What on earth happened here?”
“Anette….”
Noah, who had been sitting dazed atop a broken cart, rose when he saw me.
“Anette!”
He rushed toward me and embraced me tightly.
“Noah… what is all this? These swords… those people!”
Terrifying swords lay scattered across the ground. Injured villagers were visible everywhere.
Noah wiped tears from his glistening eyes as he looked at me.
“People came looking for you. They destroyed the village and threatened everyone.”
“…!!!”
Then, standing alone with noble composure amid the chaos, a man stepped forward.
It was Heinrich. Beneath his silver hair, his beautiful eyes narrowed as he looked at me.
“Anette, don’t worry. Those arrogant bastards are already in hell.”
“…Heinrich.”
“The trackers I―”
Heinrich made a clean slashing gesture across his throat with his thumb.
Even so, this chaos…
this utter mess.
Bayonere Island had been a peaceful, beautiful place where good people lived. If not for me, today would have been peaceful too, and they would never have known such terror.
Because of me, everyone has been hurt like this. The people precious to me…
For the first time, I felt a bone-deep regret. I should never have come here in the first place.
‘Everything is ruined because of me.’
This Bayonere Island that I love has become a complete disaster.
“…
Gerard, I won’t let you off easy.
I clenched my fists and swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat.
For the first time, I felt an intense, burning rage. Not the urge to flee in fear, but the desire to destroy him utterly.
Steadying my shattered heart, I slowly helped the elderly man to his feet and soothed the children.
“…Master, are you alright?”
Kyle and Larva arrived belatedly. I didn’t need to think hard to understand how desperately they must have searched for me.
I pleaded earnestly with Kyle and Larva. They too had grown attached to Bayonere. Their eyes as they surveyed the surroundings were filled with sorrow.
“Please, help us. I’m begging you.”
“…Yes.”
We slowly cleared away the broken fences, righted the overturned carts, and tended to the livestock. As we worked, I felt a corner of my heart slowly crumbling.
Only then did I understand.
―This place was my hometown.
These people were no different from my own family.
If Gerard had learned my location, this wouldn’t end with just one attack.
This would happen again.
The very fact that thugs searching for me had come here meant the villagers had surely noticed.
―That if I stayed, something like this would happen again.
Was that why?
From the villagers, each holding their parents or their children close, I felt a strange gaze I had never received before.
‘…I can’t stay in Bayonere anymore.’
After finishing the cleanup with determination, I bowed deeply to the people.
“I’m truly sorry!”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
“This happened because of me. I’m truly… so sorry!”
“…Anette.”
Tears welled up in Noah’s eyes.
That was when it happened.
A voice completely different from what I expected burst forth.
“From those damned bastards, we will protect you from now on!”
A thunderous, resounding voice.
“That’s right, Anette. We’ll keep watch 24 hours from now on! If anyone comes looking for you again, you hide in our house! We’ll beat every last one of those bastards!”
“…”
I lifted my head in shock, and by then, every villager—children and adults alike—had armed themselves with weapons.
Most were farming tools, but each face burned with genuine determination.
“….”
I stared at them one by one, as if lost in a dream.
Genji had a hoe slung across his shoulder, teeth gritted, while Merilyn had rolled up her sleeves. Even the Twin Children clutched small slingshots.
Jake from the Produce Market, Mislin who had helped at the party—not a single person was without a weapon.
“We can’t hand Anette over to those vicious bastards. We’re all of the same mind, aren’t we?”
“That’s right! Absolutely!”
Thunderous voices of agreement erupted from all around. Though fear hadn’t completely vanished from their eyes, the will to protect burned far stronger.
“…All of you.”
My vision blurred suddenly, and tears welled up.
―They were simply too good.
My throat tightened, and I couldn’t speak another word.
A single phrase of genuine gratitude.
Watching me, Genji quietly wiped his own tears. It was then.
“Are you all plotting some touching conspiracy? …How dare you.”
A mocking voice cut through the air.
The uninvited guest appeared without hesitation in the devastated village.
―Raven-black hair and reptilian teal eyes. Brilliant feathers sprouted from ornate ears.
Gerard’s adjutant, Abilos Teje.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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