The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me Chapter 217 - Side Story Chapter 7

Unable to contain my curiosity, I eventually opened the door and stepped outside.

The cabin was softly lit by the warm glow of a yellow candle. My eyes met Richard’s, who was holding an artifact in his hand.

[We are still waiting for the Captain’s return. Please, we beg you to reconsider our intentions—]

 

The artifact went dark before the sentence finished.

Richard had cut the connection.

Maybe I shouldn’t have come out.

It felt like I had overheard something I wasn’t meant to hear.

“Rose, you’re awake?”

Had Richard just woken up, or had he not slept at all?

“Richard… um… you’ve been in contact with the Holy Knights?”

I had no idea.

During the year and a half we had been living together, there hadn’t been the slightest sign of it.

“I only managed to contact them recently.”

“I see… It sounded like the Holy Knights want you to return.”

Richard didn’t say anything.

“…Are you going to go back?”

“What do you think?”

Me…?

Would my opinion really matter for something like that?

“Your opinion matters the most. But if you ask mine… we can’t hide forever.”

I looked at Richard.

He said nothing.

Why…?

Did he intend to hide here forever?

Crackle.

The warm fire in the nearby stove flickered softly.

“Rose, I liked living here with you.”

He spoke quietly.

“And you seem to smile more often now… so this time feels very precious to me.”

He was right.

At first, Richard had terrified me.

But strangely enough… the time I spent with him had been the most peaceful time I’d had in this world.

I thought back to the years I had spent in Hertas.

They were days filled with terrible despair.

“So I don’t want to break this happiness.”

“Returning won’t destroy your happiness.”

“Rose, but—”

“I know, Richard.”

I knew it all too well.

And I also knew we couldn’t let ourselves be swallowed by comfort.

When I lived in Hertas, I constantly prayed for one thing.

For all my memories to disappear.

That was how I became “Rozy” and began a new life in Evantes.

But no matter how much I tried to avoid everything, the ending was never good.

I had only run away for a while.

Eventually, I would have to face it all.

“I heard someone has been attacking groups of Holy Knights to find you.”

“…How much did you hear?”

“From that part just now. It sounds like the Holy Knights need you.”

Even if we lived hidden away here, it wasn’t as though we were completely ignorant of what was happening in the Empire.

Richard was a Transcendent.

One of the few in the entire continent.

The world was moving very busily trying to find him.

“You’re not going to help them? They’re still your people.”

“Rose, I cannot leave you behind.”

“Richard…”

“Holy Knights are accustomed to offering their lives. And I am no longer a Holy Knight.”

I had expected that answer.

Even if this man acted gentle in front of me, his nature hadn’t changed.

Because he loved me obsessively.

Because even if the entire world burned, the thorn under my fingernail would matter more to him.

“But Richard, we’re not going to stay together forever.”

At those words, Richard’s expression froze.

“Rose.”

“It’s the truth, Richard.”

Someday, even these peaceful days would end.

They couldn’t last forever.

“…The time I spent here with you truly made me happy.”

He reached out and desperately grabbed my wrist.

“Was I the only one who felt that way?”

His eyes looked like they were begging.

He waited for my answer.

But I said nothing.

And so the conversation that night ended.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

…It seems like Richard is angry.

I stared at the dish in front of me.

It was filled with green onions.

He didn’t usually put this much…

“Eat well, Rose.”

He was smiling, but his eyes were cold.

…Oh.

For the first time, Richard felt a little scary.

With that many green onions, I couldn’t even taste the food.

I just ate quietly, pretending not to notice the icy atmosphere.

After I finished eating, Richard cleared the plates as he always did.

He looked like he was about to wash them.

“Um, Richard… I’ll do it today.”

I really wanted to.

“It’s fine, Rose. I’ll do it.”

He smiled gently.

But it was still cold.

That made it even scarier.

“N-no, Richard. Give it to me.”

I tried to take the plate from his hand.

But Richard simply raised his arm higher.

I lifted my hand to reach it…

Too far.

Once again, I realized just how tall Richard was.

I ended up staring at his handsome face shadowed by the light.

“If you truly want to help me…”

Richard turned his head slightly.

“Could you open the jam on that shelf? My hands are wet.”

Since I was already eager to help, I confidently grabbed the jar.

“This is nothing—”

The lid didn’t move at all.

It felt like it had been welded shut.

I tried harder.

All that happened was my palm turning red.

As I struggled, Richard clicked his tongue.

“Right. You’re weak. I forgot.”

“N-no, wait…”

Richard took the jar from my hand.

The lid that wouldn’t budge before opened easily.

I stared at the jar in disbelief.

“Then Rose, could you pump some water for the dishes? The pump is old, so it takes a bit of skill.”

I walked confidently toward the pump.

The jam lid had been tough, but this was different.

I had read about it in a book.

“You pour the priming water first…!”

I poured water into the pump opening and pumped the handle enthusiastically.

But the pump only made pathetic wheezing noises.

No water came out.

“…Huh? I definitely poured water.”

Even after pumping until I was sweating, nothing happened.

When I started panting from exhaustion, Richard approached from behind.

His hands covered mine on the handle.

His firm chest pressed lightly against my back.

“If you only use force, the air leaks out.”

Holding my hands, he moved the handle.

He pulled it down firmly—

Splash!

A strong stream of water suddenly poured out.

“See? Rose really can’t even drink a sip of water without me.”

“….”

“Poor Rose. Can you really live alone without me?”

Richard said it in a pitying tone.

But he wasn’t actually pitying me.

This man…

He was definitely getting revenge for yesterday.

But since what he said was technically true, I couldn’t argue.

“Rose, how could I possibly leave you behind like this?”

“….”

“Isn’t that right?”

Richard grinned triumphantly.

“Just sit down, Rose. I’ll do the dishes—”

“I can do that much. I worked as a maid before, you know.”

That’s where I met you.

“Oh right, you did.”

His response was surprisingly bland.

…Now I felt stubbornly determined to learn housework properly.

Just then—

BOOM!

A loud crash sounded outside.

The house shook.

Startled, I nearly tripped over my own feet.

Richard caught me.

“…What was that? Why suddenly—”

“I’ll go check.”

“I’m coming with you.”

Richard and I stepped outside.

And we quickly discovered the cause of the noise.

I cautiously looked at Richard.

“…Richard, I think you really need to go somewhere.”

The purification-water artifact had broken.

…And if that thing didn’t get fixed, we wouldn’t have water anymore.