The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 118

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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 118

My body had completely recovered.

As if the news had spread from somewhere, nobles had flocked to the front of my room.

“I am from House Eckvan….”

“You are as beautiful as the rumors say! Your stunning beauty might blind my eyes….”

“This is a jewel made from ore that only comes from our territory….”

They were here to make an impression on me, who would become Arzen’s fiancée.

It was the most bothersome time I’d had recently.

But there was one strange thing.

“My lady! I am from Persen Estate…!”

The people from Persen Estate all stiffened when they saw my face.

They stared at my face in a daze. Like people who had received quite a shock.

And they all said the same thing.

“…You resemble her remarkably.”

“Resemble who?”

“…Ah, it’s nothing.”

It was strange.

‘Why are they acting like that?’

Even when I pressed them, they remained firmly silent. Since they absolutely wouldn’t open their mouths, there wasn’t much I could do.

However, today I didn’t have much leisure to worry about them.

Because of none other than… Rihardt.

【See you again next time.】

What did that mean?

It was an incredibly nerve-wracking statement.

‘I’m glad I told Michelle just in case.’

I couldn’t just push forward with only one option.

I had asked Michelle to prepare a new identity and means of escape.

Michelle left the North yesterday to fulfill that request.

Originally, she had no reason to stay in the North since she had completed the food delivery.

I stopped brushing my hair and turned my gaze toward the window.

Today feels particularly noisy.

Given the distance from outside to inside the room, the voices were muffled so I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Since morning, I’ve seen many people wandering around this area.

It seems something has happened at the estate.

What could it be?

I felt curious for a moment but soon dismissed it.

‘It doesn’t matter anyway since I’ll be leaving this place soon.’

In a few hours, I would be escaping from this North.

However, as if mocking my expectations, someone called for me from outside the door.

“…You need to come out urgently.”

Why do ominous things always grab hold of me and embrace me?

* * *

“…So you’re saying the Head of the Holy Knights, who came back down to the North under the Pope’s orders, was attacked?”

“That’s what they say.”

Arzen nodded as if annoyed.

What do you mean Rihardt was attacked?

“It was a fatal wound, they say.”

“….”

“He’s currently unconscious.”

Until last night, Rihardt had been with me looking perfectly fine.

That’s why I couldn’t believe the current news.

“Transcendents normally recover quickly, but his condition is critical so his regeneration isn’t working well.”

“Ah….”

“Someone urgently sent from the Temple will be coming down shortly.”

“…I see.”

I nodded for now.

However, questions still remained.

Was there anyone here capable of bringing down Rihardt, a transcendent?

Yurta came to mind, but he wasn’t the type to act so thoughtlessly.

He moves carefully, weighing situations and choosing when to act.

“So when will we be able to leave?”

It’s unfortunate, but it has nothing to do with me. We’re supposed to leave soon anyway.

However, Arzen looked somewhat displeased.

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

“…What would I need to say in this situation?”

“For instance, what kind of relationship you have with the Head of the Holy Knights.”

I couldn’t answer immediately to his sharp words that stabbed like a dagger.

Why is he asking such a question? No one should know about my meeting with Rihardt yesterday, right?

He still doesn’t know that the Head of the Holy Knights is the monster he once kept confined in his mansion long ago.

I don’t think I did anything that could be used against me….

While I was pondering, a sneer appeared on Arzen’s lips.

My momentary hesitation seemed to give him certainty.

“What kind of relationship is it?”

“We have no relationship at all.”

“Then you should have answered immediately. What kind of relationship?”

“There is some connection. I encountered him several times while staying with Baron Seiblain.”

“Is that really all?”

Why is he asking so persistently?

Arzen’s green eyes darkened further.

Tap tap, his well-manicured nails drummed nervously on the table.

I was about to answer without further hesitation, denying the relationship I’d had with Rihardt by saying that was all.

But at that moment, there was a knock.

The tension that had built between Arzen and me temporarily dissolved.

He looked annoyed.

“Something bothersome has come.”

“….”

“Come in.”

At Arzen’s word, the door swung open.

The Count entered, followed by a man in priest’s robes.

The priest looked directly at me as soon as he entered.

“Are you Miss Roji?”

I nodded.

“Are you aware of the incident that occurred at dawn today?”

He must be referring to Rihardt being attacked.

“I know about it.”

“Then this will make things easier. We have a few questions we’d like to ask Miss Roji about this matter.”

“Please go ahead.”

Something felt unsettling about this.

What business did they have coming to Arzen’s room to question me?

“The Grand Master was attacked, and we discovered several strange things. The Grand Master was attacked with a blade hidden in a hairpin, and there’s testimony that it belongs to Miss Roji.”

Things were taking a strange turn.

The priest soon pulled out a handkerchief from his chest, wrapped around something.

When he unwrapped the handkerchief before my eyes, a hairpin with dried blood was revealed.

…It was the hairpin that had been taken from me when I tried to stab Rihardt.

“Is this your item, Miss Roji?”

With testimony already given, it was difficult to deny.

“…Yes, it’s mine.”

Having received confirmation, the priest carefully wrapped the hairpin back in the handkerchief and took it away.

“Besides this, we discovered something else. Several long pink hair strands were found on the Grand Master’s body. Upon investigation, Miss Roji is the only person in this estate with pink hair.”

“…”

“It’s quite strange. Hair wouldn’t stick like that unless there was close contact.”

Wait. So this means…

“Are you saying my fiancée is under suspicion?”

Arzen, who had been quietly listening to the priest’s words, curled up one corner of his mouth in displeasure.

Unlike when dealing with me, the priest hesitated for a moment.

“…That’s not what I meant. I simply want to hear the reason.”

“What an impertinent question.”

“This is to understand the truth. Please cooperate with us.”

With suspicious points clearly discovered, trying to evade like this wouldn’t be very helpful.

Since this was my problem to begin with, Arzen stepping forward to solve it would be counterproductive. It would only deepen suspicion.

Arzen seemed to have the same thought, closing his mouth and looking for a solution.

“…The hairpin is something I lost before.”

I couldn’t say it was taken by Rihardt.

At my answer, the priest slowly raised his eyebrows.

“Then why was this lost item discovered in this manner?”

“That’s what I’d like to ask. And think about it.”

“…”

“If I were the culprit, would I use my own hairpin as the weapon? Even if I used it because the situation was urgent, I wouldn’t have left it at the scene.”

“…I never said Miss Roji was the culprit.”

“I know. The idea of me being the culprit is absurd. How could I possibly attack and successfully assault a war hero? It’s ridiculous.”

“It makes sense.”

What does that mean? I was momentarily stunned.

“The Grand Master was in a poisoned state.”

“…”

“With a weakened body, even an old person could have done it.”

A man who was fine until last night was suddenly attacked and even poisoned?

At this point, anyone but an idiot would understand.

Rihardt had personally set a trap for me.

【See you again next time.】

I remembered his drowsy voice whispering in my ear last night.

So that’s what he meant.

“The Grand Master has opened his eyes!”

Just then, someone urgently opened the door and announced important news.

“Is that really true?”

The priest who had been interrogating me turned to look at the man who came running.

The priest quickly turned around, seemingly about to head to Rihardt’s room.

I also ran after the priest.

When we arrived at Rihardt’s door, the knights standing in front blocked Arzen and my entry.

“Outsiders cannot enter. We apologize.”

“Outsiders? Are you joking right now?”

When Arzen raised his voice in anger, the knight bowed his head.

He seemed conscious of Arzen’s status.

“Let’s wait for now.”

I stopped Arzen.

He looked displeased but followed my wishes.

And after a while, the priest who had gone inside came out.

His face was dark as if something bad had happened.

“…The Grand Master says he wants to see Miss Roji alone.”

Arzen crossed his arms as if he didn’t like it.

“I’ll be back.”

“Roji.”

Arzen called out to stop me, but I went inside without hesitation.

I needed to understand the situation.

The atmosphere inside the room was bleak.

A man beautiful as a sculpture was lying there limply.

Soon sensing a presence, he lifted his closed eyes, revealing brilliant blue eyes.

“…Roji.”

He calls my name weakly.

Anyone listening would mistake him for a real victim of an attack.

Even I, who roughly guessed the circumstances, was shaken.

With a sad expression cast over his pretty face, his acting was all the more convincing.

I approached his bedside.

He turned his head while lying down and reached out to grasp my fingertips.

“…I was scared.”

I didn’t believe him as he murmured sadly and roughly pulled my caught hand away.

“Just tell me what you’re scheming.”

“Ah.”

The fragile expression disappeared instantly, and a picture-perfect smile appeared on his face.

“Did I get caught?”

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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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