The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 50

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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 50
I’m being adopted by the Prince.
Without telling him?
“Hmm, isn’t this something to be congratulated about? Though I suppose you’re not pleased.”
I couldn’t learn the full details of why the adoption was happening, but from what Mimosa said next, one thing was certain.
“You’ve experienced it yourself, so you know—the Prince is a truly frightening person, Anette.”
“…Yes.”
“Never cross him. I wish you good fortune.”
‘Anette doesn’t want this. She’s being forced to go.’
Why?
If she were the clever older sister I know, she would have found a way to avoid the adoption altogether.
Besides, Anette didn’t seem to even like the Prince.
During that ‘socialization training’, I vividly remembered how she flinched when the Prince’s hand moved toward her.
She seemed afraid of him.
“Forced to go…”
And yet, despite going against her will, she planned to leave tomorrow morning without saying a word to me.
Without telling me, she intended to depart.
‘She promised to spend my birthday with me…’
The sting of betrayal pierced through my entire body like a blade, and I squeezed my eyes shut.
Suddenly, I recalled the first time I met the girl.
“Hello? So you’re Heinrich.”
‘Hello’—such a simple, light greeting.
Yet with those words alone, my entire life transformed completely.
Into the hollow existence of an empty boy, Anette’s light had flooded in and filled every void.
Losing that light meant losing the warmth of my heart.
Being left alone once more.
I hated it with a passion that could kill.
If she left, I wouldn’t be able to live properly.
I would go mad, spending my entire life pining for Anette.
‘She must have been worrying about this for a while.’
Not long ago, at the Lake, Anette had asked me a question about ‘adoption’. She must have already heard about it by then.
Since the adoption was unwilling, she probably agonized over ways to avoid it.
‘But she failed, or it didn’t work out.’
From the earlier conversation, Mimosa spoke as though the adoption had been ‘decided’ right then and there.
So between the time she asked at the Lake and when the adoption was decided, there was a gap.
Within that empty space, Anette must have made some effort on her own.
But ultimately, for some reason, she had no choice but to leave in secret.
“…”
The perceptive boy, having grasped the situation in an instant, ran his damp silver hair through his fingers and whispered.
“You could have just told me, older sister.”
Then I would have helped.
―I told you, if anyone bothers you, I’ll tear them to shreds.
It didn’t matter who the opponent was.
“I’ll help you.”
My pupils trembled like a winter blizzard.
“If the man who wanted to adopt me disappears… I won’t have to go anywhere.”
I touched the restraint device with a dangerous gesture.
Tomorrow, Gerard would come to The Forest and return to the Imperial Palace, only to be brutally murdered in a mysterious attack.
No one would understand the reason.
The perpetrator would be a powerful mage capable of disposing of a single human like a fly, and would even use an ‘invisibility’ magical artifact not registered with the Mage Tower.
By the time the boy rode in a carriage and returned to The Forest, no one would know the truth.
It was while I was devising this perilous plan.
“You can’t do that, Heinrich. That’s wrong!”
A girl with lovely jade-green eyes emerged from the mirror and scolded me.
It was Anette from my imagination.
I slowly reached out and caressed her cold cheek, whispering softly.
“I’m sorry, Anette.”
My beautiful dark eyes curved sweetly like poisoned chocolate as I gazed at her.
“As always, I’ll commit the wrongs in secret from you.”
You just keep loving me, innocent one.
―Without knowing anything.
* * *
“One, two, three, four… let me see. Have I finished them all?”
I counted the colorful cards one by one in the Warehouse.
They were letters I was leaving for the children.
“Phew.”
There were individual cards for the children I was close to, and cards for all the Forest Children.
‘There’s no time to say goodbye properly.’
The sadness would be soothed when they saw these cards.
Had I somehow sensed this parting long ago?
I felt a bit of longing, but my mood was quite serene.
‘Someday we’ll meet again as a wonderful bakery owner and nobles of the Empire, my dear children.’
I left a bubble-blowing set for Shasha and a sweets set for Julian separately.
Now let me pack my things.
“Heave… oh?”
As I held the treasure pouch, my eyes sparkled involuntarily.
“Powerful financial therapy for a melancholic heart?!”
This is healing.
I sniffed the treasure like a drug dealer savoring the scent of quality medicine, rubbing my nose eagerly.
Hehe, so this is what capitalism tastes like.
Just looking at it brings me joy.
I prioritized the treasure and began packing my belongings.
“Hmm, I’ll have to abandon everything in the Dormitory anyway… so I should pack as light as possible.”
If I packed my things in the Dormitory where the children were, anyone would assume I was being adopted tomorrow.
I didn’t want to cause unnecessary commotion.
‘Besides, if things go south, I’ll need to grab just the treasure and bolt.’
When fleeing, the lighter the load, the better.
So all I really needed was my body, the treasure, and the treasure, and… more treasure.
Then suddenly, something caught my eye.
It was a necklace with an empty locket hanging from it.
“―Hmm, should I take this too?”
Maybe I should just leave it.
“But it’s the necklace Mother gave me.”
Of course, I don’t actually know if my real mother gave it to me.
Despite being a locket, there wasn’t a single photograph inside.
If you’re going to abandon your daughter anyway, what’s so difficult about putting in a photo so she can find you later?
I felt a pang of loneliness.
“It seems I wasn’t loved by Mother in this life either.”
If she truly wanted me to find her, she would have at least included a photograph.
The old orphanage director had told me that this necklace was in the cradle when I was abandoned.
―Mother was probably a poor commoner.
The locket was made of wood, and the necklace itself was strung on a fraying leather cord that looked extremely old.
But in a way, it was fortunate—if it had been an expensive necklace, that greedy orphanage director would never have given it to me.
“….”
I stared at the locket for a moment, then made my decision.
“I’ll take it with me.”
Every time I looked at it, I felt disappointed, and I missed a mother I’d never even met.
But it was still the only trace of my family.
I slipped the empty locket into my treasure pouch.
That simple packing was done.
Now all that remained was―
‘Deciding how to escape.’
I stared intently at the reusable teleportation device on the table.
It was a gift from Marquis Biije.
Hmm, there was at least one thing already decided.
‘I absolutely must escape before arriving at the Imperial Palace!’
Gerard knows about my abilities.
So once I enter the palace, he definitely won’t treat me as a normal imperial daughter.
Even if he pretends to do so on the surface for the sake of appearances, behind closed doors he’ll resort to all manner of sinister methods to try to “awaken” me.
And he’ll certainly keep strict surveillance to ensure no rumors of him abusing his adopted daughter leak out.
‘The carriage… yes, escaping from the carriage would be the cleanest approach.’
Gerard and I would be traveling in separate carriages, wouldn’t we?
Since I hadn’t formally enrolled yet, I remained a commoner in the eyes of the law, while he was royalty.
My lowly status meant I faced discrimination under Imperial law, but… ironically, that worked in my favor.
So I’d devised two possible escape routes.
1. Use the teleportation spell to Winston House.
2. Utilize Julius.
Plan 1 involved first sending a letter to Marquis Biije through the teleportation spell, then teleporting from the carriage to Winston House, and finally fleeing far away.
Since it was a reusable teleportation artifact, it should hold up for at least two uses, right?
‘Using the teleportation without Marquis Biije’s knowledge would be―’
“Impossible.”
I muttered to myself.
This teleportation spell was likely connected directly to the interior of Winston House.
Though I’d only met that gentle, innocent father-in-law prospect once… somehow, I sensed he wouldn’t refuse my desperate plea.
Just as small herbivores instinctively sense danger, I’d learned to recognize those who harbored goodwill toward me.
It was like how an injured stray cat somehow knows which kind-hearted person to approach and rub against.
“Hmm.”
‘But if he were to help me and something went wrong…’
Marquis Biije Winston would be put in a difficult position.
“Please accept this flower.”
That sweet Bamtoli gentleman might even be harmed.
I quietly fingered the invitation bearing Marquis Winston’s signature.
This was the purest gesture of goodwill I’d ever received from an adult.
“…”
That’s why it mattered so much.
When I first read the invitation, my eyes had nearly welled with tears.
I’m still so grateful. And because of that…
‘I simply can’t put him in danger.’
Plan 1 was scrapped.
‘In the end, I won’t be able to accept Marquis Winston’s invitation.’
I felt disappointed and a pang of regret, having looked forward to it so much.
“I should leave a message for the Marquis.”
He’d shown such kindness, even offering his patronage and extending an invitation. It would be wrong to simply disappear.
I wrote a brief letter.
I explained that while I’d greatly anticipated our meeting, an urgent and personal matter had arisen, forcing me to leave the Forest at first light.
I also wrote that I wouldn’t be in the Empire for some time.
So I asked him not to search for me.
If by chance he did look for me and Gerard happened to notice, he might grow suspicious—so protecting my benefactor was my true purpose.
At the end, I wrote the words I’d wanted to say most.
「 Thank you for treating me with such warmth. 」
It was genuine.
Though it was brief, I could never forget it….
I carefully sent the letter via teleportation.
It should reach the Winston House right away, shouldn’t it?
‘So now the only option left is Plan B.’
I fidgeted with the ring that allowed me to command a rather useful Archmage.
“Julius could spirit me away without a trace.”
Of course, if Gerard happened to notice and Julius got caught up in this mess too―
“That wouldn’t be my problem.”
I thought rather coldly.
‘Ah, so I’m the type of master who’s surprisingly ruthless to my slaves.’
Hehe, my own wickedness.
I chuckled, rubbing my nose.
In any case, if he’s one of the Empire’s finest mages, he won’t die pathetically even if caught—unless he runs desperately like a lizard with its tail on fire.
Of course, there was one thing that bothered me.
‘I’d be robbing the children of an excellent tutor in noble etiquette.’
It would be dangerous for him to stay in the Forest after helping me escape.
But my life is on the line too, so there’s no helping it.
“Alright then. I’ll summon Julius―”
Just as I made my decision and began to lift the ring.
Thud―!
A dull sound came from directly behind me.
“…?!”
I spun around in shock, and what met my eyes was a mysterious boy dressed like a ‘phantom thief.’
Beneath the white mask adorned with smiling eyes and mouth, a red ‘diamond’ from a poker card was drawn under his left eye.
He sat perched on the windowsill as if he’d simply dropped from the sky.
“Shhhh.”
Just as I was about to cry out, he closed the distance in an instant and pressed his index finger to my lips.
The mask tilted in a gentle smile.
“I’ve come to make a deal, Anette.”
“…!”

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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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