The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 100

What did I just hear?

Even when Rihardt gently arranged my disheveled hair with slow movements, I was momentarily dazed and couldn’t react at all.

I only came to my senses after Rihardt brushed away my bangs and pressed his lips to my forehead.

No, this is an absurd situation, isn’t it?

You should be saying that to the guy who imprisoned you, so why are you saying it to me!

“I told you not to take off your mask, but you seem quite startled.”

“…Why exactly did you come to catch me?”

By now, people from Evantes who want to catch me might have arrived too.

Time was of the essence, and I couldn’t stay caught by Rihardt like this.

“You absolutely refused to take off your mask in front of me, but you take it off so casually in front of other people.”

Incomprehensibly, he had a somewhat displeased expression.

“Stop being ridiculous and let me go.”

“Why should I do that?”

His utterly confident words left me momentarily speechless.

“Are you saying this in your right mind?”

“What does it matter if I’m in my right mind or not.”

What kind of fresh nonsense is this again?

“From now on, I’ll be taking you with me, criminal Miss Roji.”

“Who’s a criminal?”

“Then you wouldn’t mind if I handed you over to Count Evantes?”

Seeing me rendered speechless, Rihardt smiled.

“You know I’m not avoiding you because I’m a criminal.”

“Then?”

“Well, because you ran away…”

I was about to say it was because you ran away, but I closed my mouth.

That day three years ago, the moment I betrayed him came to mind.

Three years is quite a long time.

Long enough for past wounds and scars to fade.

Though memories of the past occasionally surface, I eventually forget them and get absorbed in other thoughts.

That’s what three years meant to me.

At first, not long after I betrayed Rihardt, I kept dwelling on and recalling only that moment.

His distorted expression and his final words.

His words that he would remember me kept echoing in my ears, tormenting me.

“Tell me, Roji. Why did you stop talking?”

He’s doing this while knowing everything.

‘I am sorry about what happened then, but…’

No matter what, I couldn’t keep being held captive by him.

Yes. It was agonizing, I felt terrible, and I regretted it. But I couldn’t be bound by that incident for the rest of my life.

Even if I went back to that time, I would make the same choice.

“I know you hate me a lot. You must have been puzzled when I suddenly changed my attitude after we agreed to run away together.”

“…”

“But I had my reasons. I’ll explain.”

“Fine.”

Rihardt answered readily.

Was he going to listen to what I had to say? Perhaps there was hope that I might be able to persuade him.

‘The knights from Evantes will come, so I need to hurry.’

I hastily explained to him what had happened in the past.

“You might not believe it, but… I heard that demon worshippers were going to break in to kidnap you. They said they would kill everyone in the Count’s manor.”

Now that I said it out loud, it really sounded absurd. But it was true.

“So to somehow resolve this situation, I looked for Lucas or Count Evantes. I tried to do everything I could, but there was no way.”

“Is that so?”

“…I was sorry about that time. If I hadn’t done that, the people in the Count’s manor would have died, and you would have been dragged away by the demon worshippers.”

As I went on explaining why I had no choice but to do that, Rihardt smiled meaningfully.

That incomprehensible smile made me uneasy, so I stopped talking. But when I looked again, Rihardt’s expression showed sympathy.

…Did he understand?

I hurriedly continued my explanation.

“You had also taken medicine that day and were in a lot of pain physically. So it was also to protect you. I had no choice.”

“Hmm. You must have had no choice.”

“That’s right. Do you understand…?”

Contrary to my expectations, when Rihardt spoke as if he understood without a single word of denial, I thought things might work out well.

Perhaps I could escape from the shackles of guilt.

We’d clear up all past resentments and both go our separate ways.

I know it’s a selfish thought, but still, ‘I’ am my top priority.

Then Rihardt smiled gently.

“Of course I understand. In such a situation, you really had no choice.”

Seeing Rihardt speak with a very sympathetic expression, my face naturally brightened.

“Thank you for understanding. Actually, I haven’t been at ease since then. I was very worried about you…”

Was it my imagination that Rihardt’s blue eyes flashed sharply at that moment? I momentarily hesitated while speaking.

“I’m glad you’re safe. To think you even became the Head of the Holy Knights…”

“And Miss Roji became Count Seiblain’s aide.”

“That’s right.”

Though I probably can’t officially act as an aide anymore.

“Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up…”

I looked at Rihardt cautiously.

“Will you let me go? I’m a bit busy right now.”

I twisted my waist to escape from his embrace. But I still couldn’t move at all. Rather, Rihardt hugged my waist even tighter.

…Why is he doing this?

“Um…”

“Rihardt.”

“Yes?”

“You promised to call me Rihardt.”

“…I did?”

Did I say such a thing? While I was pondering this, Rihardt smiled brightly.

“Three years ago.”

“Ah…”

The memory from three years ago is vague.

I couldn’t tell if I had said such a thing, but right now it would be better not to go against his mood.

Calling him by name isn’t difficult anyway.

“Please call my name, Roji.”

“…Rihardt.”

“Again.”

“Rihardt.”

When I did as he wanted, Rihardt smiled with satisfaction.

I also faced him and forced a smile, but I was getting increasingly anxious.

I need to escape before Arzen’s knights arrive!

“Nice. You calling my name.”

“It’s not difficult. So now please let me go…”

“Call me often from now on too, Roji.”

From now on?

What does that mean? I need to escape right now, but it sounds like he’s saying we’ll continue to be together.

“…The misunderstanding has been cleared up.”

“That’s right. I only just learned about such a tragic story.”

“Then let me go. I need to leave urgently right now…”

“But there’s one part I don’t understand.”

Rihardt’s blue eyes turned cold.

“Then why didn’t you tell me back then?”

“…What.”

“If the situation had been reversed, I would have told Miss Roji first that I was being threatened by demon worshippers.”

“…”

At that moment, I was at a loss for words.

I opened and closed my mouth several times, trying to find something to say.

“Well… because nothing would have changed even if I told you.”

What would have been different if I had told you back then that demon worshippers were going to attack this place?

What could you have possibly done when you were collapsed and suffering from taking drugs?

As if seeing through my thoughts, the expression disappeared from Rihardt’s face.

“Then let me ask one more thing. Did I have any reason to sacrifice myself for the servants who were on the verge of being massacred?”

“That’s…”

I couldn’t answer easily.

Rihardt had no reason to sacrifice himself.

The sacrifice of the few for the many may seem like it’s for everyone’s benefit, but in reality, there was hypocrisy underneath that trampled on the opinion of the few.

I know that too.

“Aren’t they all the same anyway? They pretended not to see me trapped in that place so they could survive.”

It wasn’t wrong.

From Rihardt’s perspective, all those servants were selfish humans.

He was asking whether he should have suffered for their sake.

“…Then should I have just watched everyone die back then?”

But what was I supposed to do?

“You wouldn’t die. You’d just suffer a little.”

“…”

“Then everyone would live. If you just suffered a little…”

Back then, I had to make a choice and weigh which was more valuable.

Wasn’t the lives of many people more important than the brief pain one person would experience? That’s what I thought then, and I still think the same now.

“In the end, you escaped from that place and are living well. Isn’t that enough?”

After blurting out the raw thoughts that had risen to my throat, I saw those contemptuous blue eyes and finally realized my mistake.

“I mean…”

Trying to avoid those cold blue eyes, I forced myself to look apologetic.

“I’m sorry. I misspoke. You’re not at fault. That’s why I felt so sorry toward you. But, but…”

“That’s enough.”

The single phrase that cut off my words made me feel ashamed, as if I had exposed my ugly nature to the very bottom.

“I quite enjoyed listening to what you had to say. But now I think it would have been better if you hadn’t said anything at all.”

“…”

What exactly was I supposed to do? What should I have done?

Now even I was confused and couldn’t tell what was what anymore.

Then I heard a clattering sound from far away.

What’s that sound? It resembled the sound of horse hooves.

I turned my head to look in the direction of the sound, and Rihardt smiled.

“They seem to be coming.”

“…Coming.”

“Who else could it be? Count Evantes’s knights. Ah, did he come in person?”

“…What.”

“You wouldn’t know, but the Count came in person, didn’t he?”

At that moment, I felt all the blood drain from my body.

Don’t tell me he’s planning to get revenge by handing me over to Arzen?

“…Let me go right now.”

“Roji.”

“…Let go, let go! I said let go!”

I need to run away immediately.

I twisted my body desperately and hit his chest to remove the arm that was firmly holding my waist, but it was useless.

Rihardt looked at me pitifully, then lowered his head and whispered in my ear.

“That’s what you get for making me angry.”

Hot breath touched my ear, but my whole body felt freezing cold.

“Never again, absolutely never, will I let you go.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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