The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 130

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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 130
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“Duchess Valienne, a carriage sent by the Crown Prince has arrived!”
At Victoria’s words—and she seemed delighted about it—I glanced out the window.
A massive golden carriage bearing the seal of the Axilpherion Imperial Family stood before the Duchess’s Residence.
As a black horse with a lustrous sheen across its entire body reared up restlessly, the coachman calmly soothed the animals.
“…Should I go, or shouldn’t I?”
At my murmur, Victoria raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Is there any particular reason you wouldn’t go?”
A reason not to go.
‘Because I’ve felt oddly unsettled since last night.’
A strange melancholy bloomed in my chest like a mirage, rising softly and persistently.
‘But I don’t know why I feel this way.’
Had I perhaps become sulky?
Could it be because he didn’t thank me yesterday?!
When I had even saved his life?
No, no—that’s far too childish a reason. Childish Anette, always seeking recognition.
“Tell him I decline the invitation.”
Yes, I was childish and always seeking recognition.
As I spoke with my eyes downcast, Victoria stroked her chin and said:
“But he nearly died yesterday… there’s no guarantee he’ll be safe today, is there?”
“He’ll be fine.”
He looked quite robust, after all.
At my composed response, Victoria smiled ‘brightly’ and held up her index finger, delivering an ominous statement.
“Our great-uncle collapsed and recovered the very next day, but he passed away suddenly that same day.”
“…!?”
Please don’t say such frightening things with such a cheerful expression, Victoria.
I thought for a few seconds before reluctantly rising to my feet.
“…Tell him I’m coming.”
When I finally arrived at the Imperial Palace by carriage, attendants guided me to the Greenhouse as if they had been waiting.
It was a beautiful greenhouse filled with colorful flowers cultivated by magic, where small birds chirped sweetly.
My heart felt refreshed, as though I had been invited to a spring festival.
‘The air is wonderful too.’
Among the fragrance of fresh greenery, there was also a delicious aroma wafting through.
It seemed I had been invited for dinner.
“Welcome.”
Then came a familiar voice—low and rich, striking against my ears.
“Anette.”
“….”
When I turned around, he stood beneath the cascading light of mana stones.
Beneath hair as dark as pitch lay eyes of crimson red. He stood with his hands casually thrust into his pockets, and dressed in his formal uniform today, he looked far more striking than usual.
The jacket fit snugly across his broad shoulders, and the sight made my heart flutter with an almost painful beauty.
‘Why does Sisrain look so handsome today of all days?’
I momentarily lost my words before finally finding my voice.
“Thank you for the invitation, Your Highness.”
He narrowed his eyes with a faint smile and gestured with his chin.
“Sit.”
At the small dining table in the Greenhouse. The table wasn’t wide enough to maintain much distance while dining, but the menu composition was peculiar.
Everything, all of it―
‘These are all my favorites.’
Was this how he expressed his gratitude?
My mood softened somewhat, and I sat down to taste the delicious dishes in small portions.
“Did you call me here for dinner, Your Highness?”
“Yes.”
He nodded and answered simply.
I tore off a piece of bread roll and asked.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Perfectly fine. In fact, I’m overflowing with energy. I want to use it somewhere, anywhere.”
His crimson eyes narrowed playfully toward me.
…Where exactly would you use it?
Why do you say such things while looking at me, Your Highness?
Why are your eyes like that, Sisrain?
It’s a misunderstanding, surely a misunderstanding.
Yesterday’s kiss must have summoned some mischievous demon that was now clouding my judgment.
I watched him deftly handle his knife, then spoke in the tone of a twelve-year-old ‘older sister’ scolding an ill-mannered eleven-year-old brat.
“Aren’t you grateful?”
“….”
“I saved someone who was dying―”
“Of course I’m grateful. You saved my life.”
At that moment, Sisrain cut off my words and offered his thanks (though it felt somewhat ambiguous).
A piece of meat tinged with blood slipped past his clean lips. He chewed it nonchalantly while meeting my gaze.
Then he simply said this.
“I’ll repay you.”
As if it were some sort of debt.
“…I see.”
I too answered briefly and busied myself with my utensils.
―And then I realized.
‘It wasn’t that I was disappointed he didn’t say thank you.’
This is strange.
Then why does my heart feel this way?
* * *
After dinner, we took a walk (Sisrain suggested it).
I dismissed all the attendants, and as we strolled through the Imperial Palace Garden alone together, I felt the refreshing night air against my skin.
We walked side by side.
I was aware that he matched his stride to mine, slowing his pace to accommodate my own.
“Hey, Sisrain…”
“Mm.”
He raised his dark brows and glanced down at me with a sidelong look.
Walking beside him like this, I felt acutely how tall he was.
“Do you remember what happened yesterday?”
With just the two of us, I spoke more casually. It was easier to be honest this way.
But then.
“…?”
Sisrain’s response was ambiguous.
He tilted his head slightly to the side as if uncertain, then brought it back.
…Is that truly your entire answer, sir?
How startled I had been yesterday!
I thought I was dying, so I did whatever it took to save you.
That was.
…my first kiss.
“…!”
Ah, in that moment, I understood.
I had finally found the reason for my discontent.
Sisrain treated yesterday’s events so casually, so differently from how I felt about them.
‘He doesn’t even remember it.’
Though in fairness, he did seem consumed by pain.
It would be difficult to remember every detail while not in one’s right mind.
…I cannot blame him.
I exhaled deeply and busied myself unwrapping something, placing it in my palm.
Then, lifting my eyes slightly, I asked.
“Want a candy?”
In my hand lay a sweet pink candy.
―It truly was mismatched.
This large man and candy.
Even as a child, Sisrain had never particularly enjoyed sweets.
As an adult, even less so.
I offered it knowing full well. It seemed I wanted to indulge in some small (rather petty) mischief.
“I’ll take it.”
Sisrain grasped my wrist and, bending his head down considerably, gently took the candy from my palm with his lips.
“…!”
So you really are eating it.
Even though it tastes terrible.
Generally speaking, it should taste good.
I gazed up at him with curious eyes. How could he eat candy with such an expressionless face?
He’d wear the same look if he’d bitten into gravel.
Not a single milligram of affection for sweetness showed on his face.
I asked carefully.
“Sisrain, you don’t like candy?”
“No. I hate it.”
“…Then why did you accept it?”
He looked down at me slowly, hands clasped behind his back. His eyes held a mischievous, tender gleam.
“I wanted to see what our Duchess was trying to feed me.”
“…It tastes bad, doesn’t it?”
“Extremely.”
He furrowed his brows and laughed playfully.
‘I feel sorry now.’
I was being needlessly spiteful.
It wasn’t that I deliberately forgot—it was because it hurt.
In truth, I understood what a first kiss meant better than anyone.
No matter what excuses I made about it being an emergency measure, it was never simply that. The moment my heart felt like it would burst, the breath we shared, the vivid sensation—it was still etched into me.
I walked beside Sisrain, who moved with long, unhurried strides, matching my pace with my relatively shorter steps.
I murmured to myself.
“How could I possibly forget?”
Crunch.
He chewed and swallowed the tasteless candy quickly, muttering softly.
“—You’re driving me crazy with how cute you are.”
I didn’t catch it clearly, and looked up at him.
A large hand cupped my cheek.
Sisrain, who had stopped walking, lowered his head to meet my gaze.
“Which one was it?”
“What?”
“The one where you begged on your knees like a madman, pleading me not to leave?”
His crimson eyes held me clearly. My cheeks burned at our locked gaze.
“Or…”
His gaze slid toward my lips.
My lips, still carrying the sweet taste of candy, bit down on his red ones.
During a kiss so tender it could go no further, the muscles of his jaw moved ever so slightly.
Sisrain, who claimed to hate candy, melted her sweetly on his tongue instead, swallowing her down.
Anette’s hands, uncertain what to do, lifted slightly into the air.
At the faint sound of our lips parting, my heart ached.
“….”
Large hands found hers, which had been grasping at empty air, and slowly intertwined their fingers together.
His crimson eyes burned with unmistakable clarity, more earnest and genuine than ever before.
He seemed like a man whose heart had been consumed entirely by thirst and fervor for her.
The small yearning Anette had felt throughout the night paled in comparison to his.
Against her lips, still carrying her scent, he whispered.
“I love you, Anette.”
Their lips met again, followed by a kiss so sweet and tender it clouded her mind.
Mingled with his warm breath, his low voice poured forth a single, undeniable truth.
“I love you.”

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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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