The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 14

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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 14
* * *
Sisrain and I made our way to a secluded place where no one could find us.
There, I explained everything in detail.
The black shadow I’d seen at the Secret Hideout and the stories I’d heard from Mimosa.
Sisrain listened to my account quietly, without much reaction.
‘I was right to tell him.’
Even as I spoke, I felt certain of it.
The culprit would undoubtedly continue committing crimes. It was far wiser to know and prepare in advance than to suffer unprepared. And it would be easier for two of us to respond than one.
Besides, two could handle it more smoothly than one alone.
Yet even as I shared everything, I deliberately withheld one crucial fact: there were two suspects.
It was intentional. I couldn’t bring myself to mention Heinrich.
“That’s how it is, Sisrain.”
I finished my account and studied his expression. Had he been deeply shocked?
But Sisrain simply answered:
“I see.”
‘What? That’s it?’
His response felt almost dry. Even the wounded look I’d glimpsed moments ago seemed to have vanished.
“…Sis, you’re not surprised at all?”
An answer came to my question.
“Everyone hates me anyway. There’s nothing strange about it.”
The boy said this and simply lowered his crimson eyes.
This situation felt familiar.
His words struck my heart with a heavy, dull blow.
“I make people angry.”
Why did I suddenly remember what Sisrain had said before?
‘Sis. You’re too young to be accustomed to being hated and hurt.’
My chest felt heavy and aching, as if filled with gravel.
Without thinking, my fists clenched tight.
“No. I like you, Sis!”
“…Huh?”
Sisrain’s expression shifted as if he’d been struck, and he looked at me.
Then his ears and the nape of his neck began to flush.
I emphasized, looking directly into his eyes.
“The Forest Children all like you too. Really. Everyone likes you!”
Sisrain blinked, his expression uncertain.
“…No, they don’t.”
“Yes, they do!”
It seemed he wouldn’t believe me no matter how many times I said it. Not until he felt it himself.
I grasped both his hands firmly and looked directly into his eyes.
“So, no matter what that brat does from now on, you won’t be hurt at all.”
“….”
“There are plenty of people who will help you.”
I just wish Sisrain understood that.
I spoke with determined eyes.
“Of course, I’m one of those people who will help.”
But somehow that didn’t feel like enough. I raised my fist high and emphasized strongly.
“No, I’m the leader!”
At my spirited cry, Sisrain’s sharp gaze softened.
His ruby-like eyes curved gently as he smiled.
“Yes, Anette.”
Good.
“Now we just need to wait patiently. Until that wretched little brat makes his next move.”
Go ahead and try to do something.
This time, I won’t miss it for anything.
And that mischievous little demon didn’t disappoint my expectations, immediately springing into action.
* * *
“Waaaah! My teddy bear is gone! Boohoo! What do I do!”
Just before the last class of that day.
Reina burst into tears, crying profusely.
“A teddy bear? What teddy bear?”
“The legendary rare teddy bear!”
“Huh? That’s the teddy bear your prospective parents gave you!”
Children swarmed around like clouds, stamping their feet together.
“Did you look carefully?”
“Sniff sniff, I looked everywhere. I had it placed carefully on top of my desk… and when I came back from outdoor practice, it was gone. Waaaah!”
‘How could she leave something so precious just sitting on her desk like that.’
Is this how a foreigner feels watching Koreans leave their laptops and wallets on café tables while they go to the restroom?
But I didn’t want to blame Reina.
‘There had never been theft in the Forest before.’
The children here were all so obedient and kind that they couldn’t even imagine stealing from a friend.
Since food and clothing were relatively abundant, they didn’t have much greed either.
But for something to suddenly go missing was quite a significant incident in the Forest.
I spoke with a soothing smile.
“I’ll find it for you. Let’s all search carefully together, okay?”
“Yes! Don’t cry, we’ll find it for you!”
Julian blinked his large sky-blue eyes and raised his cute little fist.
I clapped my hands together and said.
“Alright everyone, let’s play a treasure hunt! Please find the teddy bear keychain we saw earlier!”
“Yes!”
At my words, the children scattered with excited cheers, searching high and low throughout the classroom.
Once I called it a “treasure hunt,” they all beamed with delight as they searched for the teddy bear.
That was precisely when Julius entered the classroom.
“What is all this commotion about?”
He was the instructor for noble etiquette lessons and oversaw the socialization of the young saplings.
After Julius heard the full account from me, his deep blue eyes beneath his golden hair gleamed with cold displeasure as he spoke.
“A theft, then.”
“…It could just be lost! Hehe.”
Teacher, if you say it like that, you’ll frighten the children. Show a little consideration.
“Anette, what is a theft?”
Julian asked, his sky-blue eyes sparkling with curiosity.
‘Well, since he’s just a little one, he won’t understand and won’t be frightened anyway.’
That’s a relief, at least.
I lowered my brows with a smile, gently stroking Julian’s fluffy hair, and answered.
“I’ll explain what it means next year.”
“Okay!”
That was when it happened.
“Found it!”
One of the smaller children held up the teddy bear—its eyes gleaming like sapphires—and cried out cheerfully.
“The teddy bear was in Sisrain’s locker!”
“…!”
In an instant, all eyes turned toward Sisrain. Not only Reina, whose face was streaked with tears, but Heinrich and Julius as well.
I pressed my lips together tightly.
‘It’s finally begun.’
* * *
“This is utterly unacceptable.”
Mimosa arrived at the classroom immediately and assessed the situation.
“I share Mimosa’s sentiment entirely. Kleptomania among the promising scions of noble houses who will lead Eldorado in the future? …How dreadful.”
Julius’s gaze, laden with contempt, pierced through Sisrain. Sisrain lowered his eyes like a condemned criminal.
“….”
Seeing how accustomed he appeared to being unjustly accused, my heart suddenly ached for him.
‘Poor child, don’t lose your spirit!’
I spread my arms wide, positioning myself in front of Sisrain, and declared.
“Sisrain would never do such a thing. Someone deliberately planted it to frame him!”
“What do you think, Reina?”
At Mimosa’s question, all eyes turned toward Reina.
“….”
Reina stared at Sisrain with eyes and nose reddened from crying.
Sisrain could not bring himself to meet her gaze and looked away.
The boy would believe he was despised.
However, the words that came from Reina’s mouth were utterly unexpected.
“I don’t think Sisrain took my things. Could it be a prank by a ‘house sprite’…?”
Rather than suspecting Sisrain of theft, Reina was an innocent child who believed more readily in the mischief of legendary sprites.
Just then, Julian burst forward with both fists clenched and shouted.
“No way! Sisrain is kind!”
“Sisrain isn’t a bad child, teacher!”
Shasha trembled as if it were her own affair and cried out as well. Her cotton-candy-pink twin tails bounced upward.
Then the other little ones nodded their chestnut-brown heads and spoke.
“No way, Sisrain would never do that?”
“It must have been the house sprite.”
“You idiots! Where does a house sprite exist in this world? …It was definitely that bald apple tree getting angry and summoning a spirit!”
Another little one who had played in the water with Sisrain raised their tiny fern-like hand with a sparkle and spoke.
“Sisrain is such a kind child that he wouldn’t covet a friend’s things! No jealousy, teacher.”
‘You’re all kinder than I am, you little ones.’
My chest felt tight as I watched the children rush to embrace Sisrain.
“….”
Sisrain gazed at the children with eyes that seemed unfamiliar yet trembling with emotion.
Being trusted by someone—it was likely the first time he had ever experienced such a thing.
“Everyone hates me anyway. There’s nothing strange about it.”
For a boy who had thought such things, this would be a bewildering and strangely warm experience.
The boy’s eyes, red like a midsummer sunset, slowly closed. Then, as if he had made a decision, his long lashes lifted.
Sisrain slowly opened his mouth with clear eyes.
“I….”
All eyes in the room suddenly focused on the boy.
Though his voice was still young, Sisrain spoke with confidence.
“I absolutely did not steal anything, Mimosa.”
“…!”
I was so startled that I covered my mouth with both hands.
It was the first time. The boy who had hidden in a cave because even facing others was difficult, the boy who had cowered and trembled—he had finally shown such courage.
‘Our Sisrain has really come so far….’
Suddenly, the words Putolio had spoken came to mind.
“You are all lives abandoned by your parents.”
Perhaps those words were true. But that didn’t mean I wanted to stay silent whenever I faced injustice and live my whole life curled up like a worm.
No matter how one was born, one’s life was precious. The boy was showing me that.
‘You did really well, Sisrain….’
Overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling, I felt tears welling up inside.

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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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