Ch. 87
The Young Master I Carefully Raised Became ObsessiveThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
Notes
TL: Hello everyone, have a good day after reading this! I hope you enjoyed it ~
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
TL: Hello everyone, have a good day after reading this! I hope you enjoyed it ~
“Laila, I will protect you, even if it means I have to die.”
“Ardion, that’s…”
“Even if you don’t love me, even if you use me, I will still be by your side.”
“…”
“Even if it’s a pretentious act that kills me, I will gladly do it for you.”
Ardion slowly pulled away and looked at me. When our eyes met, the corner of his lips lifted. I stared at him blankly. His gaze was blinding, filled with a sense of determination.
As he continued to look at me, he said slowly, “I love you, Laila.”
Although I had heard those words before, strangely, they felt different this time. Ardion smiled brightly. For some reason, that smile seemed to carry a hint of sadness.
I felt uneasy for reasons I couldn’t explain.
“Ardion, please don’t try so hard for me.”
The more he tried, the more things went awry. It reminded me of all the effort I had put into things back at the Duke Orchid Mansion.
“If I don’t try, you’ll just abandon me, won’t you?”
“What?” I was caught off guard by his unexpected words.
He continued, “I wasn’t going to say this, but Laila, you’ve never once said you loved me.”
“…”
“Even if it’s a lie.”
I found myself too frozen to say anything. Even if I told him I loved him now, I felt like he wouldn’t believe me.
He’d just think I said it out of necessity in this situation.
As I remained silent, Ardion tightened his embrace around me, seemingly wanting to trap me even more. “It’s okay if you don’t say it. I’ll just love you more… Just like always.”
“…”
“Goodnight, Laila.”
Ardion’s voice echoed in my ears. I lifted my head, feeling confused, but he had already closed his eyes. His black hair fell gently, and beneath it, his long eyelashes created a perfect shadow, harmonizing with his peaceful expression.
I listened to his steady breathing while trapped in his arms. It almost felt like it was the best thing for me to do right now.
❋ ❋ ❋
It was the same routine for an entire week. Every morning when I woke up, Ardion was beside me. Today, as well, when our eyes met, he smiled and kissed my cheek.
When his lips parted, he said, “Laila, I’ll be back tonight. I’ve been busy with the trial and preparing for Rowell’s coronation.”
“Is Rowell already holding the coronation?”
Ardion nodded lightly.
“What about the emperor’s funeral?”
While here, I had hardly heard any news or read any newspapers. Plus, being thrown into prison so suddenly made me feel cut off from the world.
“The funeral was a few days ago. Normally, the mourning period for the emperor lasts a month, but Rowell decided to change it.”
“So, that’s why the coronation is being prepared so quickly?”
Ardion nodded. Then he gently pressed his hand against my ankle.
I brought my feet together and said, “Since I’m not going to die, could you at least release my ankle?”
Ardion slowly raised his gaze. “Laila, it’s better for you to stay here for a while. It’s dangerous outside.”
“I won’t leave here,” I hurriedly said.
But Ardion smiled and shook his head.
“Then at least let me read the newspaper.”
He turned towards the door.
I quickly added, “I just feel so suffocated.”
“Laila, the news is mostly bad. It’s better if you don’t read it.”
“But I want to know what’s going on outside…”
“I’ll tell you everything. But there’s nothing significant yet. Things are still being prepared.”
I felt frustrated.
There was no need to ask him more. I could tell his answers would always be the same. I glanced around and suddenly felt a sense of emptiness. Every morning, Derol used to wake up with me. Although he sometimes slept elsewhere, most of the time we were together.
I looked at Ardion, who was staring at me, seemingly waiting for me to speak.
“I want to be with Derol.”
“I understand.” Ardion kissed my cheek and left the room.
A few minutes later, I rang a bell.
What could be so bad in the news that he didn’t want me to see it? Was everyone, just like Rowell said, speaking ill of me?
While I was lost in thought, I heard a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
The servant opened the door and bowed. “Did you call for me?”
“Could you bring me a newspaper?”
At the mention of the newspaper, the servant’s face went pale. “Why? I’m sorry, but His Highness instructed us not to give you one.”
“Could I still ask for it, please?”
“I’m terribly sorry.” The servant bowed her head awkwardly.
Reluctantly, I lay back on the bed.
She approached me hesitantly. “Is there anything else you need?”
“I would like Derol brought here as soon as possible.”
The servant nodded and left the room. I realized, while staring at the white ceiling, that I didn’t even know the date or the day of the week anymore.
I’m truly trapped. A smile escaped me at the thought. The confinement I had desperately avoided had come at last, completely unintended. The more I tried to avoid it, the more tangled things became. I could feel anger rising inside me.
I simply closed my eyes. Since nothing else worked, I wanted to sleep and forget this moment.
How many hours had passed? In the haze of my consciousness, sounds around me buzzed. I opened my eyes and turned my head.
I saw familiar faces. It looked like a conference room, and in the main seat sat Rowell, with Serina by his side. But it seemed they couldn’t see me, as though I weren’t there.
Then one of the nobles sitting nearby spoke up. “The prince is the biggest problem. He has the blessing of mana, so he won’t give up easily, even at the temple.”
“But once His Highness the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, it should be simple to send the prince away to a remote area, right?”
“That’s true, but the nobility and the people are supporting the prince, even after all his reckless actions. There are rumors that he’s married to a commoner, but he’s being painted as pure-hearted. It’s impossible to remove him just like that.”
“Not to mention, Duchess Heverun is involved, so the situation isn’t looking good.”
Tap, tap.
Rowell tapped his fingers on the table. The sound was regular, distinct among the murmur of the other nobles’ voices.
“Getting rid of the prince is probably the best course of action.”
Tap.
His fingers stopped.
“It seems he’s ready to end his own life anyway.”
At those words, the faces of the surrounding nobles brightened.
“Really? If that’s the case, things should work themselves out, right?”
“That’s right.” Rowell smiled, but his expression quickly darkened.
Serina whispered to him, “Is your health still not good?”
“Why does this keep happening?” Rowell’s expression was sour.
Serina hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Perhaps it’s too much to have placed the magical drug in your heart. But you know, right? The only way for mana to flow properly between you two is through this method.”
“Then, does that mean Laila can see me now?”
“I’m not sure about that. But it doesn’t matter, does it? What can they do now? Ardion already promised to give up everything and fully offer his mana at the coronation.”
“That’s true, but it’d be better to kill Ardion before that. After all, the mana doesn’t all come to me, and it will spread at the temple. I despise the temple.”
“So, you’ve really decided to go against the prophecy?”
“Yes. That damn prophecy has only bound me. The temple will burn down eventually, and it’s better to end Ardion before that happens.”
Serina laughed. “You’ve made the right choice. It’s best to eliminate the source of trouble from the root. How about we kidnap Laila and use her to lure Ardion?”
At that moment, my body swayed. I collapsed into the seat, but no one seemed to notice me. They continued talking and laughing among themselves.
Is this a dream?
I wished it was a dream. That way, everything would be a lie.
Above all, it was shocking that Ardion would offer all his mana at the coronation ceremony.
Please, let it be a dream…
I wanted to wake up from the dream so badly.
At that moment, Rowell clutched his chest and frowned. At that moment, I opened my eyes as I felt something pulling me.
As soon as I opened my eyes, my breath came out on its own. I was barely exhaling when I heard the sound of someone running towards me. I lowered my head at the familiar sound and saw Derol.
“Master!”
I quickly reached out and lifted Derol up. “Derol, how have you been?”
“I’m fine. But are you okay? You’re sweating a lot.”
“I had a strange dream.”
“A dream?”
I nodded. But strangely, it didn’t feel like a dream. It felt all too real. Above all, Serina had talked to Rowell about the magical drug back there. Furthermore, the things Ardion had said to me…
Just then, a sudden knock on the door startled me. Derol gently patted my hand, his small hand helping ease my anxiety a little.
“Laila, may I come in?”
It was Ventu’s voice.
“Yes, come in.”
I managed to squeeze out the words, and the door opened. This time, it was only Ventu.
Holding a long piece of paper, she looked at me carefully. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes. What is it?”
“Oh, the results came in. The conclusion is the substance on your wrist is indeed a magical drug. More importantly, we can feel your mana, but there are traces of overexertion in your mana usage.”
Hearing that, I felt a sense of relief. Derol looked at me. I met his gaze and nodded.
Then a question suddenly came to my mind. Why was it only discovered now?