The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 190

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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 190

Selline often embraced me. The warmth of our touching bodies made me feel cozy and fuzzy inside.

Besides that, when holding a woman close, I could feel her soft skin and slender body up close.

But when did it start, I wonder.

When her skin became rough like tree bark, and her body gradually grew thinner and thinner.

“There were noticeable changes, so why didn’t I realize it right away?”

It was pure curiosity. Why didn’t I notice when a deep hole was dug in flat ground?

“Seeing her body covered in stitched marks reminded me of a teddy bear.”

“…A teddy bear?”

He furrowed his brow as if he couldn’t understand my explanation. He must have imagined a plump, cute teddy bear stuffed full of cotton.

“When I was little, I had a very old teddy bear. It was so worn that one of its arms would often fall off, but we couldn’t afford to buy a new one, so I kept sewing it back on with a needle each time.”

Selline’s body at that time was exactly like the teddy bear I had as a child.

“The story has gotten too long. I wanted to save Mother. So I made plans and prepared in my own way, but I failed in an aspect I never expected.”

“How did you fail?”

“Mother found out. That I was fake.”

I thought I could hide it for a lifetime. That poor woman had considered me her daughter for nearly 10 years.

“Fake…”

“I’m similar to you. I lived pretending to be her daughter when I wasn’t.”

I remember the raindrops that fell on the woman’s eyelids and flowed like tears.

I pushed that memory aside and looked at him calmly.

“Anyway, that’s how things failed and Mother died.”

“…”

“Then three years ago, a woman suddenly appeared before me claiming to be her real daughter.”

A woman whose entire life had been stolen because of me.

I vividly remember the situation then. The cold snowflakes seeping between my skin and the piercing cold that struck my head.

The strong hands that strangled my neck.

“Mother’s real daughter. The name ‘Roji’ that Mother gave belonged to that child.”

“…”

“…Anyway, that’s it. That’s the identity of the Benefactor. To be precise, I’m the imposter.”

I shook off Rihardt’s hand and stood up from my seat.

The painting of the gaunt woman with a faint smile came into view again. It was because of that painting. That I impulsively blurted out those words.

Suddenly, I recalled the face of a woman who had sat in the same pose as the woman in the painting long ago, facing an artist.

At that time, Selline looked at the artist with an awkward smile, then shifted her gaze to me standing beside him.

She looked like an innocent young girl.

“Rose.”

Then Rihardt called my name.

I didn’t want to say anything more, but I hated the prolonged silence even more, so I forced myself to speak.

“I don’t understand what Roji is thinking. Why is that child offering sacrifices? That’s no different from what Count Herthas did to Mother.”

“…So that’s why you were trying to stop that woman.”

At that moment, I couldn’t say anything. It wasn’t because he hit the mark.

I just couldn’t answer. I couldn’t remember why I was acting this way.

Rihardt quietly lifted me into his arms.

“Rest, Rose.”

“…”

“There’s still plenty of time before we go to the caravan, so it would be good to rest for a while.”

Instead of continuing the conversation, he gently laid me down on the bed.

“Rest well. I’ll do my best to make sure you can.”

I nodded and silently turned over.

And so a day passed at this manor.

The time spent at the manor was peaceful.

I was worried because of the cold dinner atmosphere on the first day, but they avoided us so obviously.

We were able to spend our time peacefully until the last day, to a strange degree.

On the day we left for the caravan, naturally no one came out to see us off.

We quietly left the manor.

Even on the road to Yuren Caravan, we only exchanged necessary words.

Occasionally he would approach me with his smooth talk, but the conversations didn’t last long. I don’t know why, but the silence wasn’t particularly uncomfortable.

At the end of that road, we arrived at the caravan.

When we showed the ring Anri had given us to the caravan people, we were able to join without any trouble.

After a few days, the day came to head to the Cursed Land.

“Hey, get it together!”

There was a brief commotion.

* * *

When he opened his eyes, Yurta noticed his body’s significantly worsened condition.

“Are you awake?”

Seeing Yurta who had survived safely, Roji added that it was unfortunate. As if she had only wished for his death.

He had lived and overcome the curse.

And he looked at Roji with eyes that no longer wavered.

“Yes, Sister.”

The reed that had easily swayed in the wind now stood upright without the slightest movement.

He was as calm as if nothing had happened.

The woman immediately noticed the change.

But before the woman could feel displeasure, Yurta knelt on one knee like a docile dog.

“If you give me a chance, I will bring the fake and make her kneel before you, Sister.”

What could his ulterior motive be.

The woman doesn’t readily believe Yurta’s words. The situation wasn’t good enough to believe immediately.

“You’re not planning to abandon me and go to that fake, are you?”

She asked as if testing him, but the man looked at her with unwavering eyes.

“Please trust me, Sister.”

As if he was speaking from his heart.

* * *

Clatter clatter. The carriage shook.

“There are cases where those who go to the Cursed Land often return mad.”

The Caravan Leader who was guiding us at Anri’s request explained about what had happened earlier.

Just before departing for the Cursed Land, members of the caravan who had gone there first returned.

In terrible condition.

He couldn’t come to his senses and had seizures for a while.

“Until I went to see the Cursed Land myself, I thought all that talk about land where demon blood flows was lies, but after seeing such things happen several times, I can’t help but believe it now. Anyway, it’s an ominous land.”

The man shook his head as if disgusted.

“Why does such precious resources have to be in that kind of land… Sigh, but what business do you two have entering that land?”

The man who had been talking to himself threw out the question he had been curious about.

As I was pondering since I couldn’t think of a proper answer, Rihardt placed his hand over mine.

“We are scholars.”

…Scholars?

“So we want to research that Cursed Land and write a paper about it.”

How can he lie so easily without even wetting his lips?

“Oh, so you’re a scholar. Then you must both be incredibly smart. Yes, scholars are naturally overflowing with curiosity.”

The man nodded his head, then looked at us with a serious expression.

“Still, the Cursed Land is dangerous. Don’t come a second time.”

“Of course. Thank you for your concern.”

On the way, Rihardt had a conversation with the Caravan Leader. To be precise, the Caravan Leader talked one-sidedly while Rihardt listened and responded appropriately.

The Caravan Leader was pleased, calling Rihardt a well-mannered young man.

“But why are you two scholars trying to secretly go to the Cursed Land through our trading company? Are you conducting some secret research?”

Just then, the carriage came to a stop.

Looking out the window, I saw a massive barrier with knights blocking the path ahead.

“We’ve arrived. Right ahead is the Cursed Land.”

The place where Roji and Sian had been.

The barrier blocked the view beyond, but the nearby trees were withered and black as if rotting.

When the wind blew, the trees screamed and shook their branches as if they had been injected with poison.

Then, from among the dark trees, a familiar carriage appeared.

It was the Evantes Family’s carriage.

It wasn’t strange. The Evantes Family managed this land.

Looking around, I saw quite a few things bearing the Evantes seal, not just the carriage.

But something was odd.

That carriage was far too ornate to be an ordinary carriage. As if some noble was riding in it…

As I watched with questioning eyes, the carriage door opened.

Golden hair that shone even in the land where darkness had settled thickly.

I unconsciously opened my mouth.

The sculpture-like man shone alone on the rough ground.

Count Arzen Evantes.

【Roji, I have a proposal for you. Would you consider getting engaged to me?】

I suddenly recalled the words he had said to me long ago and bit my lips.

Then Arzen turned his head this way. Afraid he might see me, I immediately pulled away from the window.

“Oh my. Count Evantes rarely comes here, so why today of all days…”

The Caravan Leader rubbed his wrinkled brow as if troubled.

“Our trading company has strong trust, so we usually pass through inspections easily, but when Count Evantes comes…”

“Inspection! Everyone come out!”

The Caravan Leader spoke with difficulty.

“We absolutely can’t pass through.”

“…”

“You two might 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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