The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 191

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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 191

We came all this way with difficulty, only to get caught by Arzen and have to go back?

I couldn’t help but curse this damn timing.

But then the caravan leader burst out laughing.

“Just kidding, miss. I was playing a little prank and you fell for it completely.”

“…?”

“Here, take these.”

The caravan leader handed artifacts to Rihardt and me.

This is….

“They’re artifacts that change your appearance. Anri told me to give these to you two.”

“….”

“Seeing how you’re hiding like this, I guess it’s not pure research?”

Though he spoke questioningly, the caravan leader didn’t seem to intend to pry further.

“Still, be careful. What I said about possibly getting caught was somewhat sincere.”

The caravan leader told us to wear the artifacts properly and opened the carriage door to get out.

Rihardt and I put on the artifacts properly and went outside.

The inspection afterward went smoothly.

Since the caravan leader had deep trust with the Evantes Family, the knights conducted our inspection rather carelessly.

‘If there was a plan like this, you should have told us in advance.’

I felt slightly resentful toward the caravan leader who was smiling innocently.

Then Arzen’s gaze turned toward me.

I felt like I was falling into a green marsh and quickly averted my eyes, but Arzen turned his steps in this direction.

“The inspection is finished. Now everyone may pass….”

“Stop.”

“Count?”

The knight sent a puzzled look toward Arzen who had suddenly approached.

“Do it again.”

“Pardon?”

“Conduct the inspection again. From the beginning.”

The knight looked at Arzen with a bewildered face. Even the caravan leader seemed surprised as if this was unusual.

“Then, then we’ll conduct the inspection again.”

A faint question arose in the knight’s eyes, but his opponent was Count Evantes. He couldn’t dare object.

The inspection began again.

It was a tedious procedure, but no one thought so.

Everyone followed the knight’s instructions while extremely tense.

And so my turn came again.

“Miss Elena Teslly?”

The knight called the forged name and confirmed my identity.

And just when it seemed like it would pass smoothly.

“Wait.”

Arzen stopped the knight.

“Elena Teslly?”

And he called my forged name.

“…Is there something strange?”

When the atmosphere became ominous, the caravan leader hid me behind his back as if protecting me. As if this irritated him, Arzen’s eyebrows rose sharply.

“Elena Teslly, you shall remain here.”

It was like a bolt from the blue.

Why on earth? Could it be that my identity was discovered?

“That won’t do, Count!”

The flustered caravan leader shouted at Arzen, but he cleanly ignored it and asked me.

“Is there some reason you shouldn’t stay?”

“…Count, I don’t know why you’re doing this, but everyone I bring has a necessary reason.”

“What reason?”

“Elena has studied the Cursed Land for a long time and has extensive knowledge. So….”

“If that’s the problem, I’ll assign someone new to you.”

The caravan leader seemed at a loss for words, staring blankly at Arzen’s curved lips.

“…Elena is a child I cherish, Count.”

“Do you think I might harm her? If so, don’t worry.”

There was absolutely no getting through to him.

The caravan leader also seemed to lack confidence in continuing to persuade him, opening and closing his mouth several times before shutting it again.

And he looked at me with an apologetic face.

There seemed to be no way out.

It had been so long that I had forgotten what kind of person the man before me was.

“I’ll stay.”

When I obediently answered according to his will, Rihardt grabbed my arm.

What else could I do? There was no other way.

As if reading my expression, his blue eyes grew coldly distant.

Seeing the murderous intent rising in his eyes, he looked ready to draw his sword and break through this situation immediately.

I shook off Rihardt’s arm before he could do something absurd.

“Then where should I stay?”

When I showed myself complying obediently with his opinion, dissatisfaction flashed in Arzen’s eyes.

“No, never mind. I changed my mind. Elena Teslly, I permit you to enter the Cursed Land with the Yuren Caravan.”

“…?”

Whatever he was thinking, everyone including me suspected Arzen’s intentions.

I tensed up wondering if it might be a test, but nothing happened until we entered the Cursed Land.

Only then did I realize.

Ah, right. That man was someone whose moods changed as unpredictably as boiling porridge.

“We, we seem to have passed safely.”

After a long while, everyone seemed relieved and belatedly exhaled deeply.

“I’m already feeling short of breath. This is why I hate this land. When I come to this place, I feel like my body gets cursed too.”

The caravan leader, who had stopped the carriage and gotten out, grumbled while distributing luggage to us.

Inside were some food supplies and weapons for self-defense.

“Are you two not having difficulty?”

It was difficult. As he said, from the moment we came to this place, the air felt distinctly different.

At some point, beads of sweat had formed on my forehead.

“This is as far as we can take you. Please do well, you two. We’ll meet again here later.”

And so we parted with the caravan leader for now.

From now on, Rihardt and I would wander this land searching for Sian.

How much time had passed? Calling this land cursed wasn’t just empty talk.

My breathing was labored and my head was dizzy.

Like when climbing to high altitudes, my whole body felt pressed down and I felt short of oxygen.

If I was like this, how much worse must it be for Rihardt?

However, Rihardt supported me without showing any sign of difficulty.

“Rose, are you alright?”

Rihardt took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat flowing down my cheeks.

I slowly pushed away his hand and answered that I was fine.

“Should we leave if it’s too difficult?”

“…No. Let’s hurry and go.”

“Get on my back.”

“It’s fine. I’m okay.”

A back-and-forth argument continued for a while. Having no energy left to overpower him, I eventually ended up on his back.

The wind blew constantly throughout the Cursed Land.

Like a wind that steals life away, like an accidentally stepped-on twig, my whole body felt like it would crumble to pieces.

At this rate, I felt like I would die before finding Sian.

Maybe Sian’s plan was for me to die here, I thought to that extent.

My whole body burned as if my flesh was on fire. Ever since coming to this place, it’s been nothing but agony.

“…Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

He doesn’t seem to be dying like I am.

Am I particularly suffering more than others?

My consciousness grows hazy.

Every time Rihardt walked, my body swayed and nausea rose up.

I hung limply on his back, gazing at the cursed land.

Dry, brittle branches swayed helplessly in the wind, and rotting leaves barely clinging on fell down.

Every time the branches collided with each other in the wind, my head ached as if someone was screaming directly into my ears.

Then, someone spoke to me.

‘Kill him.’

‘Kill Rihardt.’

* * *

At the entrance of the Cursed Land. The knights beside Arzen showed clear bewilderment after witnessing their master’s uncharacteristic behavior.

‘Why did that woman come to mind of all people.’

What happened earlier was quite impulsive.

Was her name Elena Teslly?

Even though I had just confirmed the name moments ago, it was already fading from memory.

But that moment when we faced each other remained vividly etched in my mind.

How should I explain it. The moment I saw her, I was drawn by an animalistic instinct. She reminded me of someone from long ago.

A woman who was once my maid, then my fiancée, then ran away.

It was an unpleasant sensation.

‘If I meet her again…’

I wouldn’t be able to treat the woman the same way as before.

I could no longer act like a gentle fiancé toward her.

His green eyes darkened.

“Count!”

Just then, one of the knights rushed over urgently.

“The Benefactor has sent a letter!”

The Benefactor?

Arzen opened the letter with a tired expression and little interest. And in the letter…

[The fake has headed toward the Cursed Land. She’s traveling with the Yuren Caravan under the name ‘Elena Teslly’.]

Arzen’s expression changed after reading the brief letter.

The knights who had been watching Arzen tensed up when they saw the smile forming at the corners of his mouth.

The wind swept past the back of their necks.

“Capture the Yuren Caravan immediately.”

Arzen folded the letter carefully and gave the order with a bright smile.

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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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