The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 40

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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 40

After meeting Yurta, I felt restless all day long.

‘Will that bastard really back down quietly?’

I couldn’t bring myself to believe it…

“Roji, Count Evantes is looking for you.”

I had just brought a meal to Rihardt and was slowly starting today’s tasks.

Arzen, whom I met again, didn’t look well.

“You must have finished thinking.”

Arzen was deeply buried in his chair. His usual composed appearance was nowhere to be found. A couple of shirt buttons were undone,

and cold sweat beaded on his pale forehead. He pressed one hand against his temple and looked up at me.

“I will become your personal maid, Count.”

If I had no choice anyway, I might as well accept it.

Once I made the decision, I was able to feel calm about it.

“Good thinking, Roji.”

Perhaps because it was a choice that didn’t deviate even an inch from his expectations, Arzen drew a satisfied smile.

“But if you would grant my request.”

“Request?”

“What I want is two things. First, please guarantee my life.”

Even as I said it, it seemed like crazy talk.

I glanced at Arzen’s reaction, and he frowned his fine eyes.

“I suppose I must have seemed like an evil master who would harm your life.”

Isn’t that right though?

Normally I would have smoothly lied and said that wasn’t the case, but strangely, no lies came out now.

I felt like I was doing something terrible to my conscience.

When no answer of denial came, Arzen slowly stroked his chin and smiled.

“How disappointing.”

“…I think you’re a good master who gives the best treatment to a mere maid.”

“Too late, Roji.”

Arzen only gently scolded me and didn’t seem to have any intention of doing anything to me.

How strange indeed.

A master who was so merciless to the servants who failed to prevent Rihardt’s escape, yet treats a maid who precariously crosses the line with such tolerance.

In the original work, it says it’s because Arzen extremely hates having his possessions slip away.

But for simple attachment, there’s too much disconnect from his usual behavior.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Arzen isn’t a bad person normally.

“So what’s the second condition?”

“…The second condition is.”

I took a breath.

I struggled one last time before speaking. Was it really okay to say this?

“Please release all the servants who were punished for failing to prevent the monster’s escape.”

Those imprisoned.

I only saw Ella, but she wasn’t the only one punished.

At my words, Arzen frowned his fine brow.

“Presumptuous.”

“I’m sorry.”

I guess this won’t work after all.

It was crazy talk indeed.

Even if Arzen had been lenient with an impudent maid so far, it was uncertain whether he would leave alone a maid who dared to interfere with her master’s decisions.

“Why? She’s a maid who has nothing to do with you, isn’t she.”

Instead of showing displeasure at my presumptuous request, Arzen showed pure curiosity.

“…It’s true we have no relationship.”

Ella was just a maid I had conversed with a few times, with no great connection. Moreover, there were others I didn’t even know.

But…

【I heard the monster was looking for a pink-haired maid!】

Ella’s words echoed in my ears like a scream, making my head ring.

According to the original story, Rihardt shouldn’t be able to escape right now.

Moreover, being with me makes his pain better? My influence must have played a part in his escape.

‘I must have unintentionally helped him.’

Ella being imprisoned was my fault. So I couldn’t just ignore it and move on.

“I need assurance that Count will not harm me.”

“How would that give you any assurance?”

“Count may not know this, but an unexpected action from someone of high status can sometimes provide assurance to a mere maid like me.”

I paused as if choosing my words and swallowed.

“Their safety is also proof that can reassure me, being in the same position. That’s why I’m making this request.”

When I finished speaking, Arzen crossed his arms and tilted his head subtly. It was a gaze that lingered somewhere between interest and rejection.

“I wonder if you’re valuable enough for me to grant all those requests.”

“Value is for Count to judge, but I think I can prevent the monster in the basement from escaping.”

The moment I spoke, the scene from the day Rihardt escaped flashed through my mind.

…Surely it was my power that prevented Rihardt from escaping.

If I could use that power, I might be able to shake off the transcendents.

Of course, that would be if I stayed here without running away, so the original story wouldn’t go off track.

“Indeed Roji, if the monster really likes you as you say, then you would have that much value.”

“…”

When Arzen spoke the lie I had carelessly told to survive, I bowed my head deeply.

Even though he doesn’t believe it anyway…

“I just think that appointing me as your personal maid among so many maids must have some meaning…”

“You speak well.”

Saying that, Arzen quietly pressed his temple firmly.

I didn’t miss his face briefly contorting.

That’s when it happened.

“…Ugh.”

A low groan escaped from Arzen’s lips. His composed posture crumbled and his head suddenly drooped.

Golden hair flowed down to cover his forehead.

His shoulders trembled slightly, and his breathing became rougher than before. Like someone suppressing pain.

I hurriedly approached Arzen.

“Are you alright?”

The moment I reached out my hand.

Rough and violent hands snatched my wrist.

“Count…!”

Before I could finish speaking, my vision tilted.

He pulled me sharply toward himself, and losing my balance, I fell into an embrace on the sofa.

Our breaths collided.

The solid armrest touched my back, and Arzen’s body heat was directly transmitted from the front.

It was too close. Every time I breathed in, his breath brushed against my skin.

“…Are you hurt somewhere?”

I asked carefully. Arzen was acting strange.

“No.”

I had been worried because he hadn’t looked well since earlier, but the reaction I got back was excessively sensitive.

He who had been suppressing his pain while pretending to have a calm face suddenly showed displeasure at the question of whether it hurt.

“…I understand your request, so please leave now, Roji.”

I had to leave the room without receiving any definitive answer.

* * *

After being practically driven out of Arzen’s room, he didn’t call for me for several days.

I thought there might be a small commotion of calling a physician afterward, but the manor remained quiet without any such incident.

‘He seems to be sick somewhere…’

Why is he enduring it without calling a physician?

He acted as if his weakness had been exposed.

‘…I don’t know.’

It’s his own business, so he’ll handle it himself. It’s not something I need to worry about.

And I had one important problem remaining.

‘It should be around this time…’

When ‘that person’ enters this manor.

The very person who greatly contributes to helping Rihardt escape from this manor.

At the same time, the person who will now determine my life or death.

“I heard new male servants came in yesterday?”

“That’s right. You must be glad to have fewer hands to manage.”

Just then, the maids working near me while cleaning windows brought up the topic.

I quickly turned my head and asked them.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Ro, Roji…”

“Is it true that new servants came in yesterday?”

“…I heard you became a dedicated maid.”

The news that I had become a dedicated maid must have spread quickly, as the maids around me looked at me pitifully.

“It’s okay, Roji. You just need to watch carefully so he can’t escape.”

“Right. Roji does her work well.”

“No, girls. I’m fine. But new servants came in?”

“Roji, you didn’t know because you’re not interested in these things? I heard they hired three or four new servants.”

They already hired them.

Since there was no progress in the relationship between Arzen and Rihardt like in the original work, I couldn’t tell the flow of the story.

So I thought it was still the early part, but the spy is already here…

‘Maybe it’s not this hiring, but they’ll come in during the next hiring?’

“…Do you happen to know when the Marquis House hires servants?”

“We don’t know that either. They don’t hire periodically, but when they feel they need people.”

“Right. But the pay here is so good that positions rarely open up. So there probably aren’t many opportunities to hire people?”

Then the probability that the spy came in this time is very high.

“But Roji, now that you’ve become a maid, can we treat you the same as before?”

“No. Just treat me the same as you always have.”

They offered comfort jokingly, perhaps worried about me.

I was grateful for their efforts to lighten the mood, but it wasn’t comforting.

One maid even prepared a gift for me.

“This is a hairpin I bought when I went on leave last time. Isn’t it pretty? I think it would suit you well, Roji.”

“Why are you giving me this…”

“You helped me before, Roji. It’s a gift. Don’t refuse and just take it.”

I received the gift in bewilderment. It was a hairpin that looked like a hair ornament.

“Ah! Should I put it in for you?”

The maid kindly put the pretty hairpin in my hair. Then she said it suited me well.

“Thank you, but I really don’t need things like this.”

If something comes, something must go.

As I am now, I can’t give anything in return, so I tried to refuse, but the maid whispered with a serious face.

“No. You’ll need it. It’s a secret, but…”

The maid secretly put her mouth close to my ear.

“Actually, if you turn the pin, there’s a hidden blade.”

“…?”

Why on earth would she have such a blade?

I was puzzled, but thinking it would be good to have, I decided to keep quiet.

“Thank you. I’ll take it gratefully.”

The atmosphere was warm and friendly.

The sun was slowly setting like that.

“I’ll go now. I have to deliver a meal.”

“Take care, Roji.”

The maids around me look at me pitifully, as if I’m so pitiful.

As I was going down the stairs like that, I saw a servant looking around.

Seeing him unable to do this or that, I thought he might not know the way.

‘Come to think of it, I heard that new servants recently entered the Marquis House.’

Seeing how inexperienced he still looks, maybe he hasn’t memorized the way?

I approached the man who was looking around in the hall.

“Excuse me…”

“Gasp!”

When I approached, the man was greatly startled like someone caught committing a crime.

“Wh, what is it!”

“I didn’t intend to startle you. I’m sorry. You looked troubled, so I wanted to help…”

“I, I don’t need it!”

I was flustered when the man got angry even though I was trying to help.

I smiled awkwardly, said I understood, and backed away.

Indeed, unnecessary meddling doesn’t suit me.

The man also hurriedly left, perhaps because of me. It was quite a suspicious sight.

‘Suspicious.’

I watched the man hurriedly leaving for a long time, then went down to the basement to deliver a meal to Rihardt as planned.

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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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