🔊 TTS Settings
CHAPTER 103…………………………….
In the painting, Linaria stared straight ahead with a somber gaze.
Maximilian had her portrait with him.
In that instant, Kaas’s mind went blank.
His other hand instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword.
I should have killed him.
He should have drawn his sword back then, not his fist.
“Kaas?”
At that moment, Linaria’s voice reached him.
Kaas jerked his head up and turned toward her.
“You heard what I said, right? We’re leaving as soon as dawn breaks. Be ready.”
“…Yeah.”
His heart was still pounding wildly, refusing to calm.
But as he looked at her face, the trembling gradually subsided.
He finally managed to speak.
“Come to think of it, you bent down earlier—did you drop something?”
Linaria, who had been distracted by her conversation with Ricardo, tilted her head in confusion.
But—
“No.”
Kaas shook his head.
“It’s nothing.”
He had promised not to kill.
Hiding the murderous urge that boiled within him, Kaas slipped the locket bearing her portrait back into his pocket.
While Linaria and Ricardo conversed in the dining room, Maximilian climbed the stairs with brisk steps.
Seems coming to Obel Castle was the right choice. I’ve been bored lately, but there’s certainly no chance of that here.
The taste of blood in his mouth was foul, and the cheek that had been struck throbbed painfully.
It hurt disgustingly bad.
But what irritated him most was the look in that insect’s eyes—the one who had dared to meet his gaze head-on.
“So you’ve at least got eyes enough to recognize something precious.”
That worm.
He desired the same thing as himself.
“How dare he, not knowing his place.”
Maximilian muttered the words through clenched teeth.
“The lady’s attitude—putting me and that fool on the same scale—is equally offensive, but she’s a half-wit, so I’ll be generous.”
Unlike with Kaas, he showed a forgiving attitude toward Linaria.
It was probably just an accident, like when she stepped on his foot while dancing.
Once they were married, she would realize how foolish she’d been.
Normally, he would never have let such insolence pass, but when he thought of Linaria’s face, he could tolerate it.
“I’ve been more than considerate with her.”
Maximilian suddenly realized he was smiling.
Even though his stay in Obel had been filled with unpleasant events, he was amused.
It must have been because of the excitement over what was to come.
A sense of exhilaration he’d never felt during the monotonous days in the imperial palace took hold of him.
“Ha, haha.”
Maximilian had never failed to get what he wanted.
Failure was a word for the inferior.
“In the end, I’ll have to use that method.”
He reached inside his jacket and pulled out the item his mother had given him—a small perfume bottle.
“Maximilian, when you meet Lady Obel, spray this scent.”
“What is it?”
“A fragrance with an awakening effect.”
At the time, Maximilian had frowned at her reply.
He already disliked the idea of coming all the way to Obel for Linaria, and now his mother was giving him something like this.
“I didn’t know you made things like this, Mother.”
“One must do whatever is necessary. The effect is strong, so use only a little. Too much inhalation might cause memory loss.”
“Mother, do I look that incompetent to you?”
“You’re my son—of course not. But, Maximilian, there’s no harm in being thorough.”
After seeing Lady Obel today, he realized his mother had been right.
The thought annoyed him, and he frowned slightly as he tucked the perfume bottle back into his pocket.
But something felt missing.
“Hm? Where did it go?”
The locket with Linaria’s portrait was gone.
He must have dropped it somewhere.
Still, Maximilian didn’t care much.
By tonight, he would have the real her in his hands, not just a picture.
“Good riddance. It wasn’t even that good a likeness anyway.”
He’d replace it soon enough.
Wishing for tomorrow to come quickly, Linaria went to bed early.
And she dreamed.
The same dream as always.
“Please, please…”
A dark room where not a single ray of light entered.
The buzz of flies filled her ears.
She had failed to protect her father.
“My lady, just one more night and everything will be fine.”
Unaware that he was her father’s killer, she had endured as his fiancée.
Because of that foolishness, she lost someone precious.
And then—
“…Sentence Linaria Obel to be hanged.”
A thick rope wrapped around her neck.
She couldn’t breathe.
It’s just a dream. Wake up.
Having suffered it so many times, she vaguely realized it was a dream.
Linaria struggled desperately to escape that horrible fate.
And when she opened her eyes—
“You should’ve controlled your strength! What are we going to do? You won’t be charged with treason for this, right?”
“Not yet.”
“Not yet? That’s your answer? Unbelievable!”
Maximilian lay unconscious on the floor while Kaas and Anna bickered loudly.
Or more precisely, Anna was yelling, and Kaas was replying curtly.
Even Ricardo stood there with a grave expression, staring down at Maximilian’s prone form.
“…?”
Linaria blinked, feeling tears trail down her cheeks.
No wonder her vision was blurry—her eyes were full of tears.
Sleepwalking again? But why are Kaas and Anna here… and my brother too?
Her mind was still foggy from sleep.
Linaria didn’t even think to wipe her tears; she just stared blankly at them.
The situation before her felt more dreamlike than any dream.
“Oh, my lady.”
Anna, who had been glaring daggers at Kaas, noticed Linaria looking at them.
Her expression instantly softened into a smile.
“…Anna.”
“You’re awake?”
Realizing Linaria was fully conscious, Anna spoke sweetly—
and then, shove—
she nudged Maximilian’s head aside with her foot.
To explain why Maximilian was lying on the floor, we must go back to when Linaria had already fallen asleep.
Late that night, Maximilian took the stimulant and went to Linaria’s bedroom.
He had easily learned its location from a servant.
Since everyone was asleep, he met no one on the way.
“Lady Obel, I have something to discuss with you.”
Knock, knock.
He rapped on the door.
There was no response.
Creak—
Growing impatient, Maximilian opened the door without waiting.
And—
“Where did she go?”
The bed was empty.
Looking around, his gaze drifted to the window.
“Hm?”
There, in the garden, was a woman crouched alone.
It was Linaria.
Even in the dark, her silvery hair shone brightly—there was no mistaking her.
“What’s she doing out there?”
Puzzled, he went outside, only to hear sobbing.
Linaria was crying.
Something must have upset her deeply.
A woman weeping alone at night.
Maximilian’s lips curled upward.
If I act sympathetic, she’ll fall for it right away. This will be easier than I thought.
He might not even need to use the stimulant after all.
Still, just in case, he lightly sprayed it as he reached for her.
At that moment—
“!”
His arm was seized.
It wasn’t Linaria who had grabbed him—she was still crouched, crying.
Maximilian’s face twisted in shock and anger as he looked upon the one bold enough to catch his arm.
