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Chapter 8
It’s Troublesome When the Male Leads of Tragic Novels Become Obsessed
“What the… That’s creepy…”
I frowned and brushed his hand away.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Don’t be alarmed. I was only taking a look.”
“……”
“After all, you’re the person that boy treasures most.”
…What was he talking about?
Had meeting Julieta completely driven him insane?
I stared at Gabriel with irritated eyes. His entire aura was completely different from before.
Unlike the past, when he had always wrapped himself from head to toe in priestly robes, the buttons of his robe were now undone, exposing his collarbone.
On top of that, his lazy, decadent gaze gave off an inexplicably dangerous atmosphere.
‘What the hell…? Did he seriously become a completely different person?’
I couldn’t stand not knowing the truth.
Without beating around the bush, I asked him,
“Who exactly are you? You don’t seem like the Gabriel I know.”
“…”
Gabriel simply stared at me without answering.
His gaze was so heavy and lingering that it sent chills down my spine.
“……Gabriel?”
Unable to bear the silence any longer, I called his name softly.
‘Enough already. Hurry up and reveal who you really are.’
That was the look I shot him.
At that moment, one corner of Gabriel’s lips slowly curled upward.
“Mercy ends here. Do not seek me out again.”
“What? What are you talking about all of a sudden…?”
“If you interfere with my plans… I won’t spare you, even if it’s you…”
With those final words, he dismissed me.
After that, I couldn’t meet Gabriel again until Julieta went berserk.
“Damn it… That useless split-personality bastard…”
Just remembering him made my anger flare up again.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and calmly organized my thoughts.
Whether Gabriel had a split personality or not wasn’t important.
The only thing that mattered now was reforming all the obsessive male leads.
If Gabriel really had two personalities…
Then I’d simply reform both of them.
There was no need to make things complicated.
“Fine, Gabriel. This time I’ll make sure to straighten you out.”
With a wicked smile, I entered the prayer hall.
If my prediction was correct, he’d be praying to the goddess Robenia inside.
*
The prayer hall was solemn and sacred.
I quietly searched every corner until—
“Ah, there he is.”
Standing before the statue of the Goddess Robenia was a tall man dressed in spotless white priestly robes.
Although his face was hidden beneath a white veil, I recognized him immediately from my memories of the previous timeline.
It was Gabriel.
All right… time to start making Gabriel obsessed with me.
“W-Wait…”
But when the moment actually came, my feet refused to move.
“Ugh… I seriously can’t do this while sober.”
Apparently, unlike the obsessive male leads, I wasn’t naturally fearless.
Sighing, I pulled out a small vial I had hidden inside my clothes.
Inside was a magical potion that boosted one’s confidence.
“Guess I’ll borrow the power of magic.”
I uncorked it and drank the whole thing.
Instantly, an inexplicable confidence surged through me.
Perfect.
Now I finally had the courage to cause trouble.
With renewed determination, I strode confidently toward Gabriel.
He was praying devoutly before the Goddess Robenia, his hands clasped together as he quietly recited his prayer.
Not a single movement of his posture was out of place.
Ahem.
I deliberately cleared my throat.
The soft chanting abruptly stopped.
Startled, Gabriel quickly turned toward me.
“O-Oh? L-Lady Ariadne?”
Perhaps because Ariadne was so famous, he recognized me immediately.
“W-What brings you here?”
Clearly flustered, Gabriel hurriedly lowered his head.
‘Why does he always get so startled whenever he sees me?’
Crossing my arms, I looked at him with annoyance.
At first I was going to speak politely, like I had in my previous life.
Then I changed my mind.
‘Obsessive male leads always speak casually.’
They tended to view everyone else as beneath them.
Arrogance.
Rudeness.
Those two traits practically defined them.
So, in an aloof voice, I said,
“I came to the prayer hall to pray. Is there a problem with that?”
“N-No, not at all… It’s just… high-ranking nobles usually use the First Prayer Hall.”
He wasn’t wrong.
The Temple of Robenia had twenty-four prayer halls.
Nobles generally used the First Prayer Hall because it was closest to the entrance and lavishly decorated to suit aristocratic tastes.
As a result, many priests were stationed there, hoping to build connections with influential nobles.
But Gabriel always used the Twenty-Fourth Prayer Hall.
Located in the deepest corner of the temple, hardly anyone ever came here.
It was peaceful and quiet—the perfect place for solitary prayer.
Which also works perfectly for me.
No one would hear the ridiculous nonsense I was about to say.
Suppressing another sigh, I approached Gabriel.
“I usually do use the First Prayer Hall. But from now on, I think I’ll come here more often.”
“I-I see… Then… shall I leave?”
“No. More importantly…”
Uncrossing my arms, I stepped closer.
As the distance between us shrank, Gabriel instinctively tried to step backward.
Immediately, I stopped him with a cold voice.
“How insolent. You dare retreat in front of me?”
Since Gabriel was an unpredictable lunatic, establishing dominance was essential.
If I treated him too gently like I had during my third life, things might end the same way.
I glared at him as if I intended to devour him whole.
Then I asked coolly,
“Who gave you permission to move away from me?”
“I… I-I’m sorry…”
Fortunately, my intimidation seemed effective.
Gabriel lowered his head awkwardly.
“Y-You were just… so close that I instinctively…”
“Really? If you’re sorry… then take it off.”
“……E-Excuse me? W-Whaaat?”
His eyes trembled in complete disbelief.
‘Aaaah… Even saying this out loud is making me cringe to death…’
After all, cutting people off and speaking however they pleased was an obsessive male lead’s trademark.
After a brief pause, I continued,
“Why are you so surprised? I meant the cloth covering your face.”
“A-Ah… I misunderstood… M-My apologies, Lady Ariadne…”
Only then did Gabriel hurriedly remove the white veil.
Rustle.
As the cloth slipped away, Gabriel’s face slowly came into view.
His pure white hair shimmered beneath the sunlight without a single blemish.
After silently studying his face for a moment, I ordered,
“You’re too tall. Lower yourself.”
“……Yes.”
Gabriel obediently complied.
Even though the order was unreasonable, he didn’t protest.
Come to think of it…
He had always been like this.
During my third life, I’d visited him almost every day to reform him.
Yet he had never once shown irritation or acted bothered.
Whenever I lectured him about becoming the perfect gentleman, he’d simply smile and promise that he would.
Unlike the other male leads, he had never once lost his temper with me.
Of course…
Once the original story began, he changed into a completely different person.
Making everything I’d done meaningless.
The memory made anger rise inside me again.
Frowning, I suddenly grabbed Gabriel by the chin.
“L-Lady?”
He called out in surprise.
Shock and confusion filled his eyes.
Ignoring him, I turned his face from side to side exactly as he’d once done to me.
To the left—
A sharp, elegant nose.
To the right—
Eyes as clear as polished glass.
From every angle…
He was absurdly handsome.
His refined, ascetic appearance made him seem almost inhuman.
I released his chin roughly.
Looking down at him with cold eyes, I declared,
“You’re quite beautiful.”
“……Pardon?”
Gabriel blinked innocently.
He looked utterly unable to comprehend what he’d just heard.
To be honest…
I wasn’t entirely sure what I was saying either.
Maybe the potion was working a little too well.
Without thinking, I simply repeated a line I’d once read in a romance novel.
It had been spoken by an obsessive male lead who fell in love at first sight and wanted to possess the heroine.
“I’ve never seen such a beautiful priest before… What’s your name?”
Gabriel stammered nervously,
“I-I… My name is… Gabriel Higgins…”
“Very well, Gabriel.”
“From today onward… you’re my personal priest.”
An obsessive male lead overflowing with possessiveness would naturally declare,
“You’re mine.”
And afterward, in a quiet voice—as though talking to himself, yet loud enough for the heroine to hear—he would murmur,
“There’s no way I’m handing this over to anyone else.”
