The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 96

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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 96
“You’re lying.”
Anette raised her hand and covered his lips.
Then she whispered softly.
“…Even though you’re not.”
Sisrain’s crimson eyes widened slightly. Then he bared his white teeth and gently bit her slender finger.
“…Ah!”
Anette gasped and jumped to her feet, pushing against his solid shoulder with her hand (though it barely budged).
Anette quickly composed herself, calming her startled nerves.
Then she spoke hurriedly.
“…Your Highness. It appears you’ve finished changing, so I shall take my leave now.”
Sisrain is constantly scheming to swallow me whole the moment I show an opening.
I nearly lost my composure and let myself be swept away.
―That was dangerous. This won’t do.
Anette hastily shifted her demeanor from “Sis” to “Your Highness,” bowed quickly, and left the room.
She deliberately ignored the soft laughter that echoed from behind her.
* * *
“Anette, why did it take you so long to change clothes?”
As I stepped outside, Merilyn gave me a puzzled look.
“What were you doing in there?”
“Ah… just a moment.”
I smiled awkwardly.
“I was just tidying up a bit. Everyone’s been fine, right?”
“Everyone’s been eating and drinking merrily. It’s all thanks to you, Anette.”
It was true. The people were now thoroughly intoxicated, and their laughter grew even louder.
It was a pleasant sight to behold.
‘The Shields are enjoying themselves quite unexpectedly?’
I had thought they wouldn’t blend well with the villagers.
But then again, since we’d just met, they were all fitting in as if they were original residents of the village.
Just then, a large Shields member called out to me.
“Lady Anette!”
I smiled and approached their table.
This table was completely devoted to drinking—an enormous pile of empty rum bottles was stacked there.
“The party is truly delightful! There’s so much meat and alcohol.”
“Especially having all sorts of drinks available—that’s wonderful.”
“A party needs alcohol, after all!”
I furrowed my brow and spoke.
“The villagers each contributed a bit. That’s how we ended up with such a variety of drinks.”
…Did I gather too much?
Everyone seemed to be on the verge of complete intoxication.
In particular, one of the Shields members called One-Eye was proudly displaying his glass eye (everyone was clearly drunk, judging by their applause).
Just watching made me feel like I’d get drunk too.
I’d already drained two bottles of rum and found myself caught up in the festive atmosphere. Swept up in the merriment, I clapped along with them.
But when I glanced around, I noticed someone was missing. I asked one of the Shields members who still seemed relatively lucid.
“Say, where’s Marquis Winston?”
“He left. Really just up and left.”
Where on earth could he have gone? As my eyes widened, the Shields member beside me offered a supplementary explanation.
“Our commander can’t handle alcohol well, and the villagers kept insisting he drink…”
The Shields member, though somewhat rough-looking, seemed to have a generous heart, and spoke in hushed, conspiratorial tones.
“Our commander truly cannot drink, but he always has this confidence that ‘surely I can manage this much?'”
―Just how bad is it, exactly?
“He’s drunk and disappeared right now.”
“How much did he drink?”
“Two sips.”
“…!”
…Forgive me, but I think even a Squirrel could manage that much if they tried.
Two sips, not even two glasses?
I calmly inquired about the whereabouts of the intoxicated deer.
“When he gets drunk, where does he usually go?”
“Well, he probably goes somewhere quiet and sits peacefully by himself.”
“Does he ever, when drunk, suddenly scatter roses around and hit someone or…?”
“Not at all.”
The Shields member grinned widely.
“He may not hold his liquor well, but he doesn’t have a bad temperament when drinking. After all, alcohol reveals one’s true nature, doesn’t it?”
So that meant his true nature wasn’t bad.
Seeing how his comrade spoke of him, he really must be a good-natured deer (though occasionally a crazed carnivorous deer emerges).
“Thank you for telling me.”
I excused myself and walked along the Garden, searching for Kyle, who was likely somewhere intoxicated.
‘I should look after him.’
It felt like I’d been transported back to childhood.
The boy with the Squirrel mask would sometimes hide in quiet places, and I’d have to search for him.
The Garden would be too noisy, so he definitely wouldn’t be there. I’d have to search inside.
Entering the empty First Floor Kitchen, I spotted the back of a man with soft, honey-colored hair sitting alone at a small table in the corner.
He sat motionless, doing something.
‘What is he doing?’
I crept forward with cat-like steps to peek secretly.
He was―
“….”
His fair cheeks flushed, he was carefully picking up egg tarts one by one with his long fingers and stacking them like a tower.
“Pfft.”
I burst into laughter without meaning to.
‘That’s adorable.’
At the sound of my laughter, Kyle glanced over at me.
“…Master.”
He smiled gently like a dog waiting for its owner, and his Indian dimple deepened attractively.
Goodness, even a handsome man looks cute when he’s drunk?
I sat down across from him.
“Kyle, why are you stacking egg tarts?”
“They’re delicious.”
I burst into laughter again, a soft puff of amusement.
It was refreshing to see Kyle—always so noble and courteous and dignified—like this.
Kyle rested his chin in his large hand, dozing off slightly.
In the meantime, his long eyelashes caught my attention.
‘Why are they so long?’
―Like a real deer.
Now that I look at it, his lips curve up so beautifully?
Even without smiling, the corners of his mouth are raised.
How curious.
Normally I wouldn’t have been able to observe such details, but the drunk deer was truly defenseless.
“Master…”
“Yes?”
“I really, truly… like you.”
It was a confession made as he was nearly falling asleep.
A smile spread across my face without my realizing it. Because his expression was so pure and endearing.
Hair the color of autumn’s soft sunlight fell across his deep eye sockets, and his cool nose pointed downward.
He flushed as he licked his full lips.
“Though I may be lacking….”
“….”
“My love for you… reaches this high.”
When he said “this high,” he pointed to the tower of egg tarts.
“Pfft.”
I covered my mouth with my hand curled into a fist and laughed. I didn’t want to wake him if I laughed too loudly.
I’m truly grateful.
That you like me as much as this tower of egg tarts.
I responded with a smile.
“Kyle, there’s nothing lacking about you. Not a single thing.”
“No. I’m lacking….”
His ears and white nape flushed as he murmured softly.
“You’re so beautiful… when I look at you… I tremble.”
His voice grew quieter.
So the words “become an idiot” were barely audible.
I gazed at him with a gentle smile.
The tension drained from the hand supporting his chin, and soon he folded both arms on the table as a pillow, resting one cheek against them as he dozed off.
Worried it might inconvenience him, I carefully moved the plate aside, and he let out a soft “mm…” before reaching out to grasp my hand.
With his large hand, holding only my thumb.
So carefully.
I gazed quietly at his sleeping face. The noise from outside felt distant, and his drowsy breathing was quite pleasant to listen to.
Even the faint smell of alcohol clinging to him was endearing.
“I should have recorded this on video…”
Then it would become a lifetime of embarrassing material (albeit adorable) that I could use to blackmail and manipulate you with, Kyle.
‘You really shouldn’t drink. The wicked older sisters will snatch you right up, you innocent little deer.’
I carefully withdrew my thumb from his grasp.
Whether he had fallen completely asleep, he merely turned his head and fell silent.
Soon after, he murmured something like “wicked fox… so unfair…” (though I couldn’t quite make out the words), but then he quieted down.
I carefully rose to my feet.
Then I fetched a blanket and draped it warmly across his shoulders.
‘One person is asleep now.’
Since he’s in innocent deer mode, he won’t cause trouble.
The dangerous crown prince is in his room, so where did our Heinrich go?
Looking out the window, the party was winding down to its final moments.
As I searched for Heinrich through the window, I spotted a glimmering light in the corner of the Kitchen.
“Huh…?”
It looked just like the glow of a tiny fairy.
As I approached, a rather curious sight unfolded before me.
It was definitely the white flowering potted plant I kept, but a small letter had been tucked into the flowers and was swaying back and forth.
I’m here, look at this!
―as if to say.
“What is this…?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. It felt unmistakably like something Heinrich would do.
Only our Heinrich could create something this whimsical.
I carefully reached out and retrieved the letter (and curiously, the moment I took it, the flower’s movement ceased).
It was a beautiful purple card.
I glanced around once, then carefully opened the card.
「 Sister, come to my side.
There’s something I really want to do together with you.
Important note: Come alone and in secret 」
“The important note is quite adorable, isn’t it…?”
But it doesn’t say where I’m supposed to go?
The moment I tilted my head in confusion, the purple card instantly transformed into a small butterfly and fluttered away―
“Wow!”
The butterfly scattering light circled before me once, as if beckoning me to follow.
Following Heinrich’s request, I began to secretly trail the butterfly, leaving both Sisrain and the sleeping Kyle behind.
The butterfly matched my pace—neither hurrying nor dawdling.
I emerged from the Bakery and climbed the Hill with purpose.
And then.
“…!”
My eyes widened as I finally laid eyes on Heinrich.
―Was such a thing even possible?

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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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