The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 16

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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 16
“Sisrain, are you alright?”
After Julius left, I made sure to check on Sisrain first.
He had been wrongly accused of theft and subjected to all manner of cruel words.
‘He’d only just barely escaped the Cave.’
A boy who had hidden away because the world terrified and overwhelmed him was now forced to face its cold, piercing gaze once more.
For Sisrain, it was a wound deep enough to scar. If I were in his position, I think I’d want to abandon everything and run away.
We can catch the real culprit, but the emotional wounds carved into a child’s heart are rarely reversed.
Fortunately, however, Sisrain looked at me and nodded calmly.
“I’m fine, Anette.”
“…Are you sure?”
“Yes. You taught me that if I wait patiently, things will work out.”
The boy smiled faintly.
“Since I expected this, I wasn’t hurt by it.”
…Oh my, our little one has grown so much. Everyone, look how wonderful our boy is!
If Sisrain could endure without being wounded, catching that little demon would be child’s play.
I spoke with a radiant smile.
“You did so well standing up confidently and saying it wasn’t you! Sis.”
“…It was my first time.”
Sisrain lowered his crimson eyes beneath his black hair, looking somewhat embarrassed.
“I’ve never denied a false accusation before.”
…
Anywhere else, he would have simply endured it.
Even if others branded him unfairly, he wouldn’t have dared to protest.
A strange heat surged through my chest. I clenched my fists tightly and spoke.
“…Sis. From now on, whenever something isn’t your fault, you tell them it isn’t. Understood?”
“Yes.”
He nodded so obediently that it was too precious not to embrace him.
“…!”
For a moment, I felt Sisrain’s hands fluttering uncertainly in the air.
Soon the bewildered boy carefully placed his small hands on my back.
That warmth felt so wonderful.
After our brief embrace ended and I pulled away to look at him, the boy’s face had flushed a deep crimson, like a perfectly ripe tomato.
‘Hehe, how adorable.’
“You know what, Sis? I just had a brilliant idea!”
“…Oh? What kind of idea?”
At this moment, there could only be one ‘brilliant idea’ on my mind.
I spoke with gleaming eyes.
“I’ve figured out how to catch that ‘little demon’ who’s framing you as a thief.”
“Really?”
“Yeah! But we need to wait and see. I don’t know if they’ll steal again or try to torment you some other way.”
If they come at me differently, I’ll need to devise a fresh strategy to counter them.
But if they steal again….
“If something like today happens once more, I think I’ll be able to catch them in one swift move.”
“How?”
Instead of answering, I smiled knowingly and winked.
“Just trust me!”
* * *
I went straight to Reina. She was tenderly caressing a small teddy bear brooch.
“Reina, would it be okay if I asked you something?”
“Of course! If it’s you, Anette, you’re always welcome! Ask me anything!”
Reina nodded enthusiastically, her blueberry-colored eyes sparkling with delight.
‘Eager cooperation. Excellent.’
Thanks to her willingness, I could ask the question that had been nagging at me without hesitation.
“Did you happen to mention that teddy bear brooch anywhere else besides when you showed it off in the Classroom earlier?”
Heinrich definitely wasn’t in the Classroom when Reina was showing off the brooch earlier.
There’s no way he could have stolen and hidden something he didn’t even know existed.
On the other hand, Vivian was in the Classroom and definitely heard that boasting.
‘So depending on Reina’s answer, the fates of little devil suspects number one and two will be decided.’
If Reina hadn’t mentioned it anywhere else, the culprit would narrow down to Vivian. Only Vivian would have known about the teddy bear’s existence between the two of them.
“Hmm….”
Reina’s innocent eyes brightened as she thought carefully, then her brows furrowed slightly.
“I showed it to Heinrich earlier.”
My heart was pierced by a sharp blade.
“…Really?”
“Yeah. But Heinrich told me not to be too happy about it. He said he’s received dozens of gifts like this, but no noble has ever actually filed an adoption request….”
“….”
“He said it’s exactly the same as giving treats to a dog or cat because they’re cute.”
Ah… So Heinrich knew about it too.
I see.
A shadow fell across my face. I hadn’t realized it myself, but it seemed I had been hoping for a different answer from Reina.
“What’s wrong? Are you upset, Anette?”
“Oh, no!”
I quickly changed my expression and gave her a bright smile.
Then I clasped both my hands together.
“Reina, you’ll definitely find a good family.”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
I nodded quickly.
Reina’s face bloomed into a lovely, flower-like smile.
‘There’s no need for such a good child to be disappointed and hurt beforehand.’
In truth, there were many cases in The Forest where adoptions came close but fell through, yet there were far more instances where adoptions actually succeeded.
This was because all the children there were truly excellent and lovable.
Of course, Heinrich was different.
Adopting an Awakened One of Special Grade 1 required an absolutely staggering sum of money—an amount even the most renowned nobles could not easily afford.
Because of this, he was bound to experience heartbreak. Adoptions falling through after coming so close, or being treated like a true son only to be abandoned.
That was why I understood Heinrich’s inability to trust people, his aversion to them, and how he clung only to me.
‘How pitiful….’
I swallowed my bitterness and finished comforting Reina before returning to my seat.
“Sigh.”
A light sigh escaped me without my realizing it.
‘The moment I heard that Heinrich knew, I found myself disappointed without meaning to.’
I had been unconsciously hoping that Vivian was the culprit.
Even while helping Sisrain, who had been wrongly accused, I harbored such feelings.
I felt terribly sorry toward Vivian.
‘I’m sorry, Vivian.’
Looking at the small back of her platinum blonde head, I offered a sincere apology.
If I lost objectivity and accused a strict child of being the culprit, there would be no meaning in helping Sisrain.
I had to think objectively. I absolutely had to.
No matter how much I love Heinrich.
“All right.”
I habitually turned the apple Sisrain had given me—now polished smooth from handling—over in my hands and nodded firmly.
“Sister, what’s that apple?”
“Oh, you startled me!”
Heinrich, who had approached without my noticing, rested his chin on his hand and smiled sweetly.
“What were you thinking about that you didn’t notice me coming?”
“….”
I opened my eyes wide and glanced to the side.
Heinrich’s slender violet eyes looked exactly like a baby kitten seeking attention.
His smiling face was far too beautiful.
Heinrich buried his head against my shoulder with a soft thud, then gently rubbed his forehead against mine—his own form of affection.
“Sister. Answer me.”
“…!”
‘Oh no, my objectivity is melting away like snow…!’
How difficult it was to remain coldly objective before my favorite person, truly.
Yet I forced myself to keep my eyes wide open and maintain my composure.
‘This is for Heinrich’s sake too!’
If Heinrich continued to wrong Sisrain, eventually the truth would come to light.
From that point on, the story would unfold exactly as it did in the original.
Thinking of that distant future where both Sisrain and Heinrich would suffer and slowly perish, my mind suddenly cleared.
I recalled those nights when I had wept for the Heinrich of the original story, soaking my pillowcase with tears before sleep claimed me.
‘…I can never let that happen to you, Heinrich.’
“Heinrich, where have you been just now?”
“Hmm.”
“Why did it take so long? You were gone for quite a while.”
At my question, Heinrich finally shrugged his shoulders with an indifferent air and replied.
“Oh, I was going to come back right away, but Mimosa called me over and we talked in her room for a bit.”
“…!”
In that instant, my conversation with Mimosa came flooding back.
“For the sake of procedure, I’m questioning all the children who have access to my office.”
She had said she would speak with all the children suspected of tampering with the student records.
…But why had Heinrich gone to her office? And what could they have discussed for such an extended period?
Could it be that Mimosa found Heinrich suspicious enough to pose so many questions and engage him in such a lengthy conversation?
I gazed at Heinrich with eyes that had grown slightly unfamiliar.
My heart quickened with tension.
Then, I carefully opened my mouth.
“What did you talk about in Mimosa’s office?”
“That is….”
Heinrich leaned his head closer to me.
The tip of my nose tingled at his distinctive sweet scent.
Thump, thump.
Then, like a little devil, Heinrich whispered in a languid voice against my ear.

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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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