The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 119

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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 119
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A sun-drenched afternoon.
At the sound of someone knocking twice on the Duchess’s Residence window—tap, tap—I immediately turned my gaze toward it.
It was a Baby Squirrel, small and gleaming like a bean with dark eyes, nose, and mouth.
‘Kyle must have sent it.’
“Come in!”
I smiled lightly and opened the window.
He could visit in person instead of sending a messenger squirrel.
…Is he busy?
As I stroked the Baby Squirrel, who bowed respectfully as always, my mood brightened.
Mm, so soft and warm.
“Hello there, you adorable little friend.”
I retrieved sunflower seeds and walnuts from the small nut jar by the window (I’d taken to keeping nuts there after communicating with Kyle) and held them out.
The squirrel’s cheeks, gleaming with those dark, shiny eyes, puffed out instantly.
The satisfied squirrel exchanged the sunflower seeds for a letter.
“Well, let’s see what he has to say.”
There didn’t seem to be any particular reason for a letter.
「 My lady,
I intend to visit the Duchess’s Residence in ten minutes.
Please feel free to refuse if you are busy.
Forgive me for this sudden and discourteous visit without prior arrangement.
As an apology for my rudeness, I send ahead this creature with chubby cheeks and charming appeal. 」
…Oh my, the earnest deer is being cute?
‘His charm was at its peak when stacking egg tarts, Kyle.’
Of course, when I asked him about it later, he claimed to have no memory of it whatsoever (his face had turned as red as a cherry tart).
“You’re truly considerate, aren’t you?”
I laughed watching the bundle of cuteness wiggle its cheeks.
As if understanding, the Baby Squirrel wagged its fluffy tail and bowed repeatedly.
‘The very model of nobility.’
Polite and cautious (especially with me, it seemed).
I wish he’d relax a bit more now.
…Though there is also that chihuahua who suddenly appears from the bed and rolls around in the blankets.
It was refreshing to see a man visit the Duchess’s Residence through proper channels for once.
Ten minutes later.
Kyle arrived at the Duchess’s Residence, punctual as a blade.
“My lady.”
Emerald eyes reminiscent of coral islands curved beneath soft brown hair.
He smiled gently.
“Thank you for understanding my sudden visit.”
“How could I refuse when you’re being so charming?”
He smiled bashfully and lowered his head, his dimples deepening.
With a handsome man like that, promises were unnecessary—it was fine either way.
“You don’t need to schedule an appointment in advance. You can visit whenever you like when I’m at the Duchess’s Residence.”
“…Is that so?”
“Of course! Think of it as a small bakery. Though I must admit, it’s rather grand and spacious for a bakery… but still.”
“…”
I raised my index finger for emphasis.
“Let’s call it a special privilege for our regular customer ‘Bread Lover’!”
That way, business would move along more smoothly.
Recently, Kyle had agreed to help me wrap up my request by finding the informant.
There was no other word for them but informant.
After our conversation, we concluded that whoever reported my location to Gerard must be someone from our inner circle.
‘Bayonere Island is an extremely isolated place.’
It wasn’t somewhere people could easily visit for tourism, and outsiders rarely came and went.
‘On an island that small, if a new person had arrived, I would have known.’
―So the probability of someone from Eldora who was knowledgeable enough to know Gerard was searching for me ‘coincidentally’ arriving and discovering me was zero.
In the end, it had to be someone from our inner circle.
That was the conclusion Kyle and I had reached together. It was as I was nodding in agreement.
“…So I don’t need to schedule an appointment in advance.”
Wait, hadn’t we already moved past that topic?
He was still dwelling on it.
Kyle smiled with evident emotion, his gentle eyes widening.
“That’s truly wonderful to hear, my lady.”
“…”
“I’m delighted that we can meet comfortably without needing to arrange appointments beforehand.”
That wasn’t quite what I meant, but somehow the atmosphere had become awkward.
“…It’s nothing special.”
“It means a great deal to me.”
For someone who had spent so long lingering on the periphery, it could be nothing but significant.
For someone whose entire existence had been either circling as a small boy in a squirrel mask or merely pretending to be a regular bakery customer to remain by her side.
“―I’m truly delighted.”
He smiled genuinely, placing his hand over his heart.
“…”
Anette gazed blankly at that fleeting, beautiful smile.
But only for a moment.
Then Kyle began, “Oh, that’s right,” and spoke.
“I’ve found a lead on the informant.”
“…!”
Anette asked in surprise.
“Is that so? If it’s just a clue, then you haven’t found the culprit yet… but would you be willing to tell me?”
“That is…”
Should I speak? The reason I broached the subject in the first place was that I had been waiting for her to finally uncover the ‘informant’.
But truly,
if it really was the work of the Grand Duke or the Crown Prince…
Could she possibly avoid being hurt?
Kyle asked carefully.
“What do you intend to do if you find that person?”
“If I find them…”
Anette’s jade-green eyes darkened. Compared to her usual self, it was startling to see such a cold expression on her face.
“I must take revenge. Just as I resolved to do with Gerard.”
“…”
The skin beneath Kyle’s eyes twitched slightly.
“I’ve been thinking about it constantly these past few days.”
“…”
“After sending Mother away so futilely, I found myself trapped in regret, doing nothing but hypothesize.”
She whispered, her eyes downcast.
“What if that informant hadn’t revealed my location?”
That flare had begun to glow once Derchis Valienne’s life became critical, but it must have been alive when the signal was sent.
―Even if she had been nothing but a breathing body in that bed.
“Then I would have seen Mother in Eldorado without Gerard’s coercion.”
“…”
“Alive as she was. Perhaps I might have found a way to wake her… no, I would have found it for certain.”
Anette was certain of this.
She was someone who had guided most of her life according to her own desires.
Had she possessed a goal as desperate as ‘Mother’s life’, she would have given everything to achieve it.
Even if she had failed, at least she would not have been reduced to grasping her mother’s already-cold hand and weeping—
―she would not have endured such a cruel emptiness.
“Gerard took Mother’s life, but it was the ‘informant’ who created the circumstances for it to happen.”
“…”
“I will hold them accountable for that.”
Her voice was calm, yet it carried an unmistakably resolute will.
Kyle met Anette’s cold gaze quietly.
His heart grew heavy.
“…”
‘This is serious.’
He knew what Sisrain Crown Prince and Grand Duke Hyacinth meant to Anette.
If the truth were revealed, if their identities were exposed…
Could she possibly avoid being wounded when facing the one responsible for her mother’s death?
‘I am worried about you, Anette.’
She had already cleared the clouds from her face, smiling brightly as she always did.
“Even a thread of a clue would help. Please share what you know, Kyle.”
He took a step back.
“I apologize, but I think it’s better to speak once I’m certain. There could be strange misunderstandings otherwise.”
Her words held no fault, and it was true that the ‘informant’ bore some responsibility for Anette’s mother’s death.
‘―Though they never intended it.’
At that time, no one had even known who her mother was.
But if he made her suspect both people she relied on right now, that would be cruel to Anette.
So it was right to speak only after becoming certain.
“I can promise you that I will find the answer soon.”
She wore a curious expression, but soon replied with respect for Kyle’s intentions.
“Yes.”
Kyle looked at her bright face, then asked carefully.
“How have you been lately… Are you managing alright?”
“Of course~! I’m living as diligently as I did when I first opened the Bakery. I’m learning how to manage the Duchess’s various businesses, and I’m gradually becoming accustomed to the title of Duchess Valienne, though I’m still clumsy at it.”
“….”
“It seems like a position just as charming as being the owner of the Bakery.”
Anette chattered on calmly.
―With a face like a bright spring day.
“Also, I’m preparing for my mother’s funeral. I want to give her the best send-off possible.”
Seeing that face, Kyle felt somewhat reassured. It seemed she was coping well.
“That’s a relief. I worried you might always be grieving because of what happened to your mother.”
“I am sad.”
“…!”
He had thought her face had forgotten all sorrow. Kyle’s pupils trembled.
Anette still spoke with a smile on her face.
“But I don’t want to be consumed by grief and lose the precious present.”
“….”
“Just as I always have, I will continue to live each day positively, laugh often, and find happiness.”
For a moment, he had the illusion that her face was shining with brilliant light.
Anette smiled quietly.
“While working hard at what I must do.”
―Kyle felt it. Behind those clear, gentle jade-green eyes lay such an unwavering resolve.
She was stronger than he had ever imagined.
…Still, she was exactly as that boy wearing the Baby Squirrel mask had once admired her.
Kyle felt his heart racing wildly as he spoke.

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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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