The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 153
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 153
That night, a commotion broke out.
In the middle of the night, Aaron’s parents suddenly came and pounded on our door.
“After all I’ve done for you, how dare you hit my son without knowing your place? This is why you shouldn’t take in black-haired beasts…”
Aaron’s parents clicked their tongues.
“Selline, since we’ve had our time together, if your daughter apologizes, I’ll let this matter slide.”
It was disgusting how they spoke as if they were our superiors.
But what could I possibly say to that?
The fact remained that we were receiving charity from them in our difficult circumstances.
I was fine with it. I was prepared to apologize.
“Roji, really?”
It felt uncomfortable to lie, but there was no choice.
“…Roji, why are you bruised here?”
At that moment, Selline’s gaze trembled slightly.
“Go inside for a moment.”
That day, I saw Selline angry for the first time.
* * *
At first, it was just an argument.
But Aaron’s parents tried to lay hands on Selline, calling her impudent, and it soon escalated into a physical fight.
Surprisingly, it was Selline’s overwhelming victory.
How such strength came from her frail frame remains a mystery even now, after all this time.
After that incident, Aaron’s parents spoke ill of us throughout the village.
They were quite influential figures in the village, and among the villagers, there were those who looked unfavorably upon Selline, who raised a child alone while working at a tavern.
That’s how we fell out of favor with the villagers.
Black-haired beasts who didn’t know their place.
That’s what we were.
People’s cold shoulders and subtle harassment continued, and Selline even lost her job. It was the hardest time in that village.
When things became desperate, Selline asked me.
“You know, Roji. Should we leave together, mom and you?”
“I’m fine with anywhere.”
It was an appealing suggestion when we could barely hold on any longer.
Anywhere but here would be fine.
I had no idea what would happen then.
It was the year I turned twelve.
“From now on, you are Roji Herthas.”
Herthas?
Why did that name come up? Isn’t that the family of some sub-villain?
I looked at Selline in surprise, and she gripped my hand tightly and said.
“Our daughter is going to live as a noble young lady now.”
Later, I deeply regretted not refusing to go from that very spot.
It would have been better to become beggars and settle in another village with her instead.
Then Selline, mom, wouldn’t have died.
Count Herthas gave me the name Rose.
“My name is Roji though.”
It wasn’t a name I was particularly attached to, but I said it out of mild displeasure at the man’s arbitrary behavior.
“The name Roji sounds too common, doesn’t it? Now that you’re a Herthas, you should have a name that befits that status.”
What difference was there between Roji and Rose anyway?
I demanded that Selline explain the circumstances behind this sudden turn of events, but she simply answered that they had “fallen in love with each other.”
A lie.
How could it be love when their eyes looking at each other were so dry? It was nonsense.
By the way, if I remembered correctly, the Herthas family had a sister who would be killed by Arzen.
Yurta would use that as an opportunity to approach Arzen…
‘Could that possibly be me?’
Surely I wouldn’t have to live trapped in this world until that moment came?
Ah, this is really depressing.
It was devastating that we had left the village as if being chased out, and had nowhere to go except Herthas.
Moreover, there were too many suspicious aspects for this to be a marriage just to play at being lovers for show.
Had Selline been asking me before if I wanted to become a noble young lady because she knew about this situation in advance?
‘Is there really a need to pry deeply?’
There was no need to get deeply involved in Selline’s circumstances.
After all, I wasn’t really her daughter and I had to return anyway.
That’s how I came to meet the two brothers in the Herthas family.
“I told you beforehand, so you should know. She’s your sister.”
You can’t imagine how surprised I was when Count Herthas introduced his two sons.
I don’t know about Yurta, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
It was because I was amazed by the boy’s elegant and sculpture-like appearance, the way one would admire a work of art.
‘I was surprised when I saw Dillen too…’
Come to think of it, he seemed to resemble Dillen somehow…
I was looking at Yurta with a sense of déjà vu when the boy who had been approaching with a bored expression suddenly looked up in surprise.
‘Huh?’
Our eyes met.
Yurta’s red eyes, which had been like an abyss, sparkled. Goosebumps ran all over me.
But the tension didn’t last long.
Thunk!
A stone that flew from somewhere hit my head.
“Ow!”
“Roji!”
I grabbed my head in surprise from the pain, and Selline quickly embraced me.
I immediately turned my gaze toward the direction the stone had come from and hardened my expression.
Dillen?
I stared at him blankly for a moment. Why are you…
“I won’t accept it!”
As I stared at Dillen blankly, he shouted angrily.
“Dillen! What do you think you’re doing right now!”
“What am I doing? That’s not my mom or my sister!”
After shouting that, Dillen turned and ran away.
I stared blankly at Dillen as he disappeared into the distance.
Only a few months had passed, but the gentle boy from my memories had become a thorny ruffian.
“Roji, are you okay? Oh my! Blood…!”
Selline cried out in alarm.
Then someone tugged at my sleeve from behind.
“Sister.”
The child smiled gently and wiped the blood flowing from my wounded forehead.
“If it’s alright, please let me treat Sister.”
The sight of the young boy gently taking my hand and leading me had the power to turn the bleak atmosphere heartwarming.
Even I was completely fooled by the affectionate smile the child wore.
It was a moment I would curse myself for being stupid for the rest of my life.
To defend myself against this unfair accusation, no one would be able to resist being enchanted by such careful touches and gentle smiles, as if handling something precious.
* * *
To be honest, I didn’t dislike Yurta from the beginning.
“I prepared this because I thought it would suit Sister’s eye color well.”
Saying he bought it while passing by, Yurta showed me a pink diamond ring.
The brilliantly shining jewel was truly beautiful.
Yurta slipped the pink diamond ring onto the ring finger of my left hand.
Seeing how it fit my finger perfectly, it definitely wasn’t something he bought while just passing by.
“You’re beautiful, Sister.”
“Yes, it’s pretty.”
I thought his words about wanting to make a good impression on me were just courtesy, but perhaps they weren’t just empty words—he treated me well.
Life in Herthas was certainly better than the village I had been in before.
However, whether it was the village or this place, it was equally quiet and lonely.
That’s why Yurta’s presence was welcome in a way.
A young child saying he liked me and following me around—how could he not be adorable?
I often patted Yurta’s head, and each time I did, he made a strange expression.
“Do you dislike it?”
When I tried to pull my hand away, even his surprised head-shaking was cute.
I must have been completely smitten.
Back then, I was foolishly deceived by his act.
I didn’t know why he would become a sub male lead obsessed with the heroine in the future, but at the time I thought he was just a genuinely good child.
Since Yurta was the one who helped me adapt to this place, I didn’t dare suspect him.
“How stupid.”
At times like that, Dillen would mock me.
“Do you really think that bastard acts that way because he likes you?”
“…”
“That bastard doesn’t like you. You’re just a toy to him.”
Dillen tried his best to hurl insults at me.
The once gentle boy transformed into a demon-like figure, desperately trying to torment me.
Sometimes he would even swing his fists at me.
At those times, I was overcome by a strange feeling.
The boy who had once shone brightly had fallen and become no different from the village children who used to bully me.
It was the appearance I hated most, and yet…
【Please don’t let Mother be sick…】
The image of the boy praying earnestly kept flickering before my eyes.
Of course he wouldn’t look kindly upon the woman and daughter who had taken the place of the dead Countess.
“Get out if you don’t want to die.”
Looking into the angry boy’s red eyes, I don’t know what I was thinking when I blurted out those words.
“Dillen, don’t you remember me?”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————