The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 169

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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 169

When I woke up in the morning, I found the space beside me empty.

I definitely slept with Rihardt yesterday, so where did he go?

My confusion was brief as a delicious smell reached my nose.

‘He must be preparing a meal.’

I yawned lazily and stretched.

I roughly brushed down my messy hair and got up from the bed to shake off the remaining drowsiness.

It had already been several days since the incident with Hanna.

At first, I couldn’t move properly because of the bruises, but now I was much better.

I looked at the fading bruises and wondered when all the injuries would heal completely.

As I wandered around absentmindedly, Rihardt’s clothes hanging in the corner caught my eye.

More precisely, I noticed a box sticking out from his pocket.

What’s that?

Without much thought, I took the box out of his clothes and opened it.

‘Huh?’

It was something I never expected.

Something I never would have imagined Rihardt would have.

I was momentarily stunned by the brilliantly shining pink diamond.

I was surprised by the expensive-looking jewel, and it gave me a sense of déjà vu.

Where did I see this… Ah.

I remembered the newspapers making a big fuss about this jewel for a while.

The jewel that sold for a record-breaking price at auction.

Was it called Pandora’s Jewel? It looked exactly like the jewel now in my hand.

I stared at the jewel blankly and let out a small laugh.

‘No way. What am I thinking? There’s no way that could be here.’

It must be something similar. A fake? Something like that? Right? In the newspaper it was just a jewel, but this is in necklace form.

“You’re up early, my lady.”

Just then, Rihardt, who had discovered I was awake, spoke with surprise.

Well, it was my daily routine to never wake up before he woke me.

“The meal is just ready, so I was about to wake you…”

He was approaching me with a smile when he stopped short upon seeing the jewel in my hand.

“My lady, that’s…”

“Oh, sorry. I opened it without permission.”

He was noticeably flustered. So much so that I found myself reading his expression too.

Was it a secret? Maybe it was a surprise gift? And I thoughtlessly opened it?

How innocent. I even found it a bit cute.

Then suddenly I had a doubt.

This pink diamond, though it’s probably fake. But what if this jewel wasn’t meant for me but for someone else?

There’s no guarantee he intended to give it to me.

Suddenly I felt annoyed.

“But Rihardt, what is this?”

Rihardt’s lips curved up awkwardly.

Why can’t you answer? Really? Were you really going to give this to someone else besides me?

“I asked what this is.”

“Well…”

“Who were you planning to give this to?”

“…Ah, that’s what you were asking.”

“…?”

Then what did he think I was asking about?

“Of course I bought it to give to you. I didn’t plan to reveal it this way though…”

“Then why were you flustered?”

Rihardt hesitated for a moment.

“…I was afraid you might dislike it.”

“Me?”

Why would I dislike it?

“I thought it was pretty because it resembles the color of your eyes, so I bought it. But you don’t look favorably upon me spending money on such things…”

Ah, that was the reason.

Indeed, I had been nagging Rihardt every time he brought expensive dresses claiming they were clothes for me.

How much debt does the house have, yet you buy such things. Each time, Rihardt would look very dejected.

“Is this expensive?”

Come to think of it, I should check that too. Though it’s a belated question, it was an issue I needed to address.

Rihardt quickly shook his head.

“I bought it at the market.”

“…Markets these days sell items of this quality?”

The quality seems too good for something sold at a market.

“Don’t buy things like this next time. But thank you since it’s a gift for me.”

Rihardt smiled brightly, seemingly happy that I accepted the jewel.

“But this looks similar to that pink diamond that was in the newspaper? It was so unique that it stuck in my memory, but I didn’t know they sold similar things at markets too.”

“…”

I said it out of curiosity, but Rihardt visibly flinched.

Why is he acting like that?

“Don’t just stand there blankly, put this around my neck. How can the person who gave the gift stand there like a criminal?”

“Ah.”

Only then did Rihardt relax and approach me.

He carefully brushed aside my hair and caressed the back of my neck. I shivered at the ticklish sensation.

“…What are you doing.”

“You’re beautiful.”

He smoothly uttered those embarrassing words and bent down to kiss my neck.

I couldn’t stand the ticklish sensation and burst into laughter.

Finding my reaction amusing, Rihardt aggressively kissed my neck.

“…Ah, stop!”

“…”

“W-wait… Mmph.”

I tried twisting my body this way and that, but he had no intention of stopping.

I giggled in his arms for quite a while.

* * *

“What’s with that jewel?”

I headed to the estate wearing the necklace Rihardt had bought me.

The sparkling necklace drew many people’s attention.

“Oh, I know that! I saw it in the newspaper!”

“What? Don’t tell me it’s Pandora’s Jewel…?”

The maids immediately recalled that jewel that had caused such a stir, but soon shook their heads as if it couldn’t be.

Their eyes were full of conviction that such an expensive necklace couldn’t possibly be around my neck.

Of course, I agree with them. That’s exactly what I think too.

“I just bought it because it was pretty when I saw it being sold at the market.”

“Really?”

“They sell things like this at markets?”

Everyone spoke as if they were amazed.

“Where’s that market? Tell me too.”

“I don’t know either. My husband bought it for me.”

“Husband? Rose, are you married?”

I hadn’t been working there long, and since Hanna had it out for me, the other maids had been keeping their distance.

It felt strange to suddenly receive attention from the other maids over a single necklace.

“But is that really fake?”

Then a maid who was interested in jewelry asked playfully.

“I heard there was such a case long ago. An expensive jewel somehow ended up in the market, and someone bought it and immediately became rich…”

“Oh, come on! The jewel that was in the newspaper was already sold at auction, so how could it be circulating in the market?”

What a ridiculous story.

And there’s no way such lucky fortune would happen to me.

“By any chance, didn’t Count Ascent give this to you as a gift?”

Then another maid asked another strange question.

Why would Anri come up here?

“Why would Count Ascent buy me something like this?”

“…Well, it’s just that Count Ascent has been showing interest in you.”

“That’s right. Count Ascent even asked other servants about how you were doing. And Rose, didn’t you also receive expensive medicine as a gift?”

Ah.

Anri did send medicine to me after I got injured.

However, it felt burdensome somehow, so I didn’t use it and only used the medicine Rihardt applied for me.

“I told you I have a husband. Everyone stop saying strange things…”

“Hey, you girls. Stop chattering and get back to work.”

Then Hanna’s sharp voice came from behind us.

Hanna glared at us once, then turned and left with an icy wind swirling around her.

“…She didn’t hear what we were saying, did she?”

I had a feeling she probably did.

* * *

The wind in Ruad Estate was chilly.

It felt as if autumn was passing and winter was coming, with cold flowing through my entire body.

Dillen looked around the estate gloomily.

The reason he came here was simple.

【Dillen, go to Ruad Estate.】

Rose spoke to him in words that were closer to a command than a request or suggestion.

And she briefly added the reason afterward.

【We received a report that the Paladin Commander might be at Ruad Estate. So I want to know more details, but the people I sent to that area aren’t coming back.】

【…】

【You know what this means. If it’s not a trap, then he’s really there.】

Rose smiled brightly as if she had finally found what she was looking for.

Dillen hadn’t seen her smile like that in a very long time.

Rose usually smiled often, but those smiles were completely dried up.

That’s why Dillen froze in place, unable to do anything in front of her genuine bright smile.

【Where the Paladin Commander is, that fake must be there too.】

【…】

【Bring me the fake.】

The fake.

Five years ago, when Rose disappeared from Herthas, while she was becoming the Benefactor, that fake who looked exactly like Rose and shook up Yurta and Dillen.

Dillen gritted his teeth.

【…Count Ascent is at Ruad Estate. Do I really need to go?】

【You know I can’t trust Anri.】

At that moment, Dillen wanted to ask Rose.

Then do you trust me?

You don’t trust me either.

He had no choice but to swallow those burning words that felt like his insides were on fire.

Perhaps he would have to swallow them for the rest of his life, even if his tongue burned and his throat was scorched.

【After you find the fake…】

【…】

【You can do it, right?】

【…】

【Give me faith, Dillen. Don’t disappoint me anymore.】

Rose had changed.

To the point where she would demand things she would never have asked for before.

“The spies’ communications were cut off around this area.”

Then Rose’s knight spoke to Dillen.

More precisely, he was someone Rose had assigned to Dillen as a surveillance role.

She still didn’t trust Dillen.

Dillen blankly looked up at the sky over Ruad.

The sky was overcast.

When would it snow 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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