The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 167

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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 167

“Hanna, this place is….”

“Lord Anri, I’ve brought Rose as you requested.”

Instead of explaining to me, Hanna immediately knocked on the door.

‘As requested?’

This feels ominous as hell. From the way things are going, it seems Count Ascent was looking for me.

But why?

“Come in.”

Once permission was granted, Hanna pushed me into Anri’s room.

As soon as I entered the room, a cool fragrance drifted in on the breeze.

Semi-transparent white curtains fluttered, and a man leaning against the window frame turned his head toward me.

Light blonde hair swayed in the wind, and familiar-looking green eyes curved into crescents.

“Hello.”

“…Greetings, Count Ascent.”

I immediately bowed my head deeply. I had learned not to look nobility directly in the eye.

But right above my head, a displeased voice fell.

“Lift your head.”

“…Yes.”

Anri called me here but had nothing particular to say. He just quietly stared at me intently.

The gaze that examined me thoroughly from head to toe was uncomfortable. The sensation of being swallowed by his stare.

“…Is there something you wish to say to me?”

Don’t tell me that bastard Rihardt actually borrowed money from Count Ascent?

Otherwise, there would be no reason for Anri to specifically call for me.

I felt like the ground beneath my feet had collapsed, sending me tumbling into an abyss—betrayed by the axe I trusted.

I was thinking I’d definitely divorce him when I returned, when Anri smiled softly and spoke again.

“Strange. You seem like you don’t know me.”

“Pardon?”

I had to desperately rack my brain.

“…I do know you. You’re Count Ascent.”

“Not that.”

Not that?

All that circled in my head were the two words ‘Rihardt. Debt.’

But since I wasn’t certain, I couldn’t bring up that topic first.

“You’re the co-master of the family that serves as the Benefactor’s right hand, and you run a money-lending business….”

“You seem quite interested in me? You know quite a lot.”

What are you talking about? That’s hardly significant information.

It would be hard to find anyone in this land who doesn’t know about the Ascent family.

“I’m joking. Relax your expression.”

“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying, Count. If you could explain a bit more….”

However, as if my words didn’t matter at all, Anri was lost in thought with his hand brought up under his nose.

Was that such a difficult question to answer?

“…You really do look like you know nothing.”

Anri muttered quietly.

“From today, you’ll be attending to me.”

“Pardon?”

I didn’t immediately understand Anri’s words.

“Don’t you want to?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to… Then what about Hanna?”

As far as I knew, Hanna was the one attending to Anri.

“Hanna can do other work.”

When he replied as if asking what the problem was, I found myself at a loss for words.

So basically, the rolling stone just knocked out the embedded stone.

“But I’ve never done anything like attending to someone before.”

“You’ve never attended to anyone before?”

Strangely, at those words, Anri wore a smile resembling a sneer. What’s that about?

“…No. I haven’t worked at the estate for long either, and I’m sure I’ll only make mistakes. So this kind of work should be done by Hanna….”

“No, you’ll do it.”

“Pardon?”

“You’ll definitely do well.”

Though there was no basis for it whatsoever, Anri’s eyes held clear conviction.

And so I left the room without being able to say a word properly.

Leaving behind only the feeble excuse that I needed time for a proper handover.

“Why did Lord Anri call for you?”

When I came outside, Hanna with her sullen face asked me.

“He said I should attend to Lord Anri starting today?”

“What?”

Hanna snorted in disbelief and entered Anri’s room.

And shortly after, she came out with a face pale as a sheet.

“What on earth did you do to Lord Anri?”

The shock must have been great as her eyelashes trembled. Clear anger was contained in her eyes.

“If you heard it inside, you should know.”

I didn’t watch Hanna’s mood like I had before.

I was tired of constantly being on edge, and from how things were going, it seemed like Hanna’s backing would disappear.

Of course, since you never know how things will turn out, I had no intention of treating her carelessly right now.

However, just from my half-hearted response, Hanna seemed to sufficiently realize her situation.

“Do you think I’m ridiculous right now?”

“No. You’re not ridiculous.”

I just don’t need to keep catering to you anymore.

I passed by Hanna and headed toward the stairs.

From her current state, it didn’t seem like she would properly explain the work of attending to someone.

“Rose, I’ve been serving Lord Anri all along.”

Then Hanna, who had been standing behind me, spoke up.

I stopped in front of the stairs.

“I worked incredibly hard to catch Lord Anri’s eye. Even doing very difficult tasks.”

“…Hanna, I understand your feelings, but this was Count Ascent’s choice.”

As if I wanted to attend to Anri.

‘Creepy man.’

That was my assessment of Anri.

He clearly seemed to know me but wouldn’t give a clear answer. His constantly probing tone made me uncomfortable.

“You know what, Rose? This position is harder to maintain than to achieve.”

At that moment, the expression that appeared on Hanna’s face was strange.

“Actually, my position has been threatened more than once or twice.”

“….”

“You’re never a special existence to Lord Anri. You’re just a momentary interest to that bored man.”

“Hanna….”

Just as I was fumbling to say something, Hanna’s hand pushed my back.

‘Huh?’

The question was brief.

My body, pushed with force, tumbled down the stairs.

“Ah!”

My body, which had tumbled down without even being able to resist once, cried out in pain.

Fortunately, I wasn’t seriously injured, but my entire body ached unbearably.

‘What the hell…!’

I looked up at Hanna with bewildered eyes as she came down the stairs with light steps.

“If you try to steal my position, I won’t let you get away with it.”

“Ugh… Are you crazy right now?”

What is she talking about…

“Kyaaah! Rose fell down the stairs!”

At that moment, Hanna screamed loudly as if she were shocked. I was left speechless.

It was a series of sudden situations, making it difficult to respond immediately.

People who heard her voice immediately rushed over here.

“My goodness! Rose, what happened!”

“She must have slipped because the stairs were slippery. Look at this! The stairs weren’t properly dried of moisture.”

Hanna naturally blamed the maid who had mopped the stairs.

“That’s not it, Hanna did this…!”

I tried to fight back immediately at this absurd situation, but several pairs of cold eyes looked at me.

“Rose.”

At that moment, a familiar voice called me.

It was Chelsea, who had given me a tour of the estate yesterday. She shook her head at me as if giving me a hint.

【Be careful of Hanna.】

【If Hanna targets you, just bow your head right away. She’s the type who tries to break you down even more if you say anything. There have been plenty of girls who got into more trouble for talking back to her.】

“Rose, what were you saying about Hanna?”

The Head Maid asked me, interrupting what I was saying.

I suddenly had this thought.

Didn’t the maids who suffered at Hanna’s hands ever try to tell the Head Maid anything?

‘Of course they did.’

They just didn’t help even when told.

But the situation is different now.

Hanna was kicked out of her position serving Anri. So she should be powerless now…

But why is Hanna acting so confidently?

【Actually, my position has been threatened more than once or twice.】

More than once or twice. That means Hanna definitely had something that allowed her to survive those threats.

Does it even make sense for a mere maid who serves a master to have a louder voice than the Head Maid?

Hanna has ‘something’ that even the Head Maid can’t touch.

I couldn’t be certain, but I made a quick judgment.

‘I didn’t want to serve Anri in the first place.’

It might sound like a pathetic excuse to escape this situation, but it might be better to claim I’m injured and let Hanna take back serving Anri.

That’s probably what Hanna was aiming for when she did this.

“Rose, why aren’t you answering?”

When I remained silent without saying anything, the Head Maid urged me.

Should I go along with Hanna’s wishes, or should I tell the truth?

I had to make a decision quickly.

“I saw it.”

At that moment, an unexpected voice came from behind, a step away from the commotion.

“I saw that woman push Rose from the top of the stairs.”

I quickly turned my head toward where the voice came from.

Black eyes resembling black pearls were gazing at me.

Sian, why are you here?

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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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