The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 172

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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 172

It was only this morning that he learned Rose was secretly working at the estate.

When Rihardt discovered this fact, he was overwhelmed by indescribable emotions.

Along with the question of why Rose had hidden this from him, he became anxious that she might have encountered the Lord of Ruad or Count Ascent.

Sure enough.

【I happened to catch Count Ascent’s eye. My pay increased because of it, so I think I’d regret quitting now.】

Rose, having lost her memory, spoke cheerfully without knowing anything. Seeing her like this made Rihardt feel complicated.

He couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth.

She found Rihardt’s inability to say anything suspicious, and eventually he had to say something.

Even if it would lead to another misunderstanding.

In the end, he would only become a despicable person.

Whether it was the truth or an excuse, he couldn’t even imagine how disgusting it would seem to her.

Rihardt felt a bit dejected.

【Are you very disappointed in me?】

Even asking it was a ridiculous question.

Rihardt knew Rose’s personality well. Even if she had lost her memory, her personality wouldn’t change.

Even if she weren’t herself, no one would welcome such a situation.

However.

【There’s no way that could be true.】

A firm answer and the touch of her arms embracing him.

Warm warmth melted away his anxiety.

But that was only momentary – when they entered the cabin and he saw her back, anxiety surged up again.

And even now, carrying that anxiety, he prepared a meal for Rose.

He intended to have it ready in advance so she wouldn’t have to wait when she woke up.

As the food was nearly finished, he felt something strange.

The surroundings were quiet.

Though it was natural since she was sleeping, the cabin felt as if no one else was there – he couldn’t sense any presence.

“Rose…?”

He called her name questioningly as he approached the room door.

His hand trembled as he grasped the doorknob.

When he finally opened the door, wind blew in.

The curtains fluttered mercilessly through the open window.

Cold air entered the room.

His mind went cold and rigid.

Rose had run away. She had disappeared again.

Why…!

“Stop right there, Rihardt.”

Then Rose appeared from outside the cabin, beyond the window.

Rihardt was deeply relieved that Rose hadn’t run away.

She hadn’t abandoned him.

But at the same time, he was puzzled. Why was she outside the cabin?

Rihardt watched as Rose casually climbed through the window into the room.

“My lady, why were you outside? It’s cold out there, so please come inside quickly…”

Her body was weak.

She might catch a cold from just a little exposure to the cold wind, so he should close the window for her.

Just as Rihardt was about to take a step forward.

“I told you not to come closer.”

Rose drew a line with her cold voice.

Only then did Rihardt realize that what he was trying to deny had become reality.

With a cold expression, she grabbed the necklace around her neck and pulled it.

The thin string snapped, and she threw it at Rihardt.

“Explain what this is.”

“That’s from the market…”

“Oh, let me add one thing. If you keep lying, I really will never see you again.”

* * *

Honestly, this was crazy.

At first, I had planned to run away.

No matter how I thought about it, there was no reason to take the risk.

With that thought, I climbed through the window and ran through the forest.

Then I was struck by a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘Have I done this before?’

It was strange.

As if something was about to surface…

【Rose.】

【Don’t come.】

【…】

【Don’t come! Go away. Leave me alone.】

A strange scene flickered before me.

Rihardt with a sad expression and myself desperately pushing him away.

In the scene that surfaced, I was looking at Rihardt as if he were utterly disgusting.

【Don’t touch my body!】

What was this scene? The lost memories vividly dominated my mind.

My head throbbed.

I walked unsteadily through the forest trying to calm the headache, and only came to my senses much later.

Something was strange.

This hadn’t been the first or second time this had happened.

I thought it might be related to the things Rihardt was hiding from me.

The man I had thought was a kind being who cared for me when I fell into this place was no different from a fraud.

The more I thought about it, the more I believed I needed to get away from him.

‘I did well to run away.’

But strangely, my pace of leaving the forest grew slower and slower, and soon I was turning around and heading back to the cabin.

Why?

Why?

Why was I diving back into the danger I had escaped from?

I didn’t know the reason.

Yet somehow I found myself brushing dirt and dust off my skirt and entering the room through the open window.

“So hurry up and tell me.”

Hoping that my answer would be worth the risk I was taking, I spoke while pressing down on my heart that was beating uncontrollably.

“Actually, I’ve thought it was suspicious from before. It was just a hunch, and since I had no evidence, I brushed it off thinking I was being strange. It was only possible because I trusted you.”

“….”

“But now evidence has come out, hasn’t it? This is from Pandora’s Jewel, right? Bought by a very wealthy gentleman.”

Come to think of it, Rihardt never said he owed me a debt first.

I just assumed it on my own.

And he took the bait completely.

“What is this jewel? And are we really married?”

Rihardt remained silent, unable to answer either question.

Seeing him unable to give any affirmation or denial, a laugh escaped me.

“So this really is from Pandora’s Jewel and we’re not married?”

I finally realized that fact.

Though I knew Rihardt had deceived me, strangely I wasn’t afraid of him or angry.

I just felt absurd and endlessly disappointed.

“What exactly do you do for a living?”

He deceived me. Very thoroughly.

Me, who possessed this body and knew nothing.

From his perspective, he toyed with me after I lost my memory.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

When I pressed him, his lips that seemed like they would never open slowly parted.

“…I will answer you.”

I became genuinely curious.

Usually when people are caught hiding something, they get angry or try to make up lies.

But Rihardt consistently watched my mood and fidgeted restlessly.

Why exactly?

“Please give me a little time. Just a little time and….”

“That’s not the answer I wanted.”

“….”

“Sigh. How much time do you need exactly?”

There was no answer coming back from Rihardt.

I was gradually getting irritated.

“Did I ask something difficult? If you can’t even answer that, how can I trust you? And if I give you time, who knows what lies you’ll come up with.”

“….”

“I can’t do that.”

Does he know?

That me turning back and coming all the way here after running away was an insane choice I’ll never make again in my life.

Since I took such an adventure, he should have shown me a choice of equal measure.

It was quite different from how I had been cautious earlier, worried that Rihardt might harm me.

I became certain that this man would never hurt me.

“…Rose.”

Rihardt called my name as if giving up.

Was he finally going to answer?

At that moment, Rihardt’s eyes shook violently.

“Rose, wait….”

Just as Rihardt urgently tried to call me, the cabin that had been darkly shrouded suddenly brightened.

Surprised, I looked out the window to see torches illuminating all directions.

The light was so bright I frowned, and Rihardt pulled me toward him.

“We need to run.”

“…What?”

At his sudden words, I looked up at him questioningly.

Then bang bang bang! Someone pounded on the door from outside.

I was startled by the rough sound.

How strange that I felt relieved to have this man who might be a fraud beside me, yet feared the intruder knocking on the door in the middle of the night.

The light spread so I couldn’t see how many torches there were, but it seemed quite a few people had gathered.

“Excuse me.”

The intruder’s voice came from outside.

Strangely, hearing that voice made my tense nerves relax.

Why didn’t this voice sound unfamiliar?

“We received a report.”

“….”

“We’re searching regarding a missing person case that occurred in this area, so please cooperate with us.”

A missing person case… that was the incident that had been stirring up the village lately.

“We received a tip that a criminal was seen in this vicinity.”

I held my breath and looked at Rihardt.

In this forest, no one really comes except Rihardt and me.

“That’s not true.”

Rihardt also seemed to notice my suspicion and hurriedly denied it.

But once suspicion sprouted, it wouldn’t die down with a denial lacking evidence.

“We would appreciate your cooperation with the investigation.”

“….”

“If you continue not to answer, we’ll break down the door and enter in five seconds.”

The countdown began.

“Five.”

Rihardt pulled my body toward him as if to run away.

“Let go of me!”

But I don’t trust him.

“Four.”

“Rose, please….”

Now three seconds left.

While I couldn’t figure out what to do, bang! The door broke before even three seconds passed.

The intruder had entered.

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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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