The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me Chapter 222 - Side Story Chapter 12

We quickly left the front of Piet Castle.

“Laurel, thank you so much! I can’t believe you went that far just to save me….”

Marta hugged me, her eyes brimming with tears.

“What kind of bastards are those guys?”

The women burst out angrily.

“What if someone hears you! Speak quietly! After everything that happened, how can you still be like that!”

Seryl looked around and pressed a finger to her lips.

“…And Laurel.”

She looked at me carefully.

“I’m sorry… for everything.”

I blinked at the unexpected apology.

“To be honest, I didn’t think you were a very good person.”

Seryl’s confession wasn’t surprising. Thinking back, I had been prickly back then too.

I had been wary of their group when they suddenly approached me. I wondered if they had some suspicious intention.

“But I was wrong. Today… I didn’t expect you to step forward for Marta like that.”

“What’s this, Seryl! Did you finally realize Laurel’s a good person?”

“Right! And Laurel, you were so cool earlier!”

“Didn’t you see? I totally changed my mind about Laurel!”

“……”

Seryl’s eyes met mine. Her face was slightly red.

“…Yeah. Laurel, you’re a good person.”

“…Th-thank you.”

Hearing something like that said directly to my face made me feel a little embarrassed.

It was a warm atmosphere.

I wasn’t used to this kind of mood. I had only been close with Marta, and I had never talked this much with the others before.

And…

Unfortunately, I had the feeling that today might be the last day for something like this.

If that knight captain recognized me….

Coming to Piet Territory might become difficult.

Even now, I had a bad feeling.

“I should get going.”

I had confirmed that Marta was safe.

That was enough.

“What? At this hour? It’s late—stay the night. Or at least leave after breakfast.”

“Yeah, Laurel. You came alone today without your husband.”

“No. It’s getting late… I think it’s better if I go before it gets any later.”

It was already night.

I would have to walk through the Cursed Land all night.

Also, the temperature dropped sharply at night, so moving at this hour wasn’t a good choice.

Even so…

It felt better not to stay here too long.

“Everyone… take care.”

I said goodbye to them.

Planning to return just like that.

Then Marta grabbed my wrist.

“Wait, Laurel…!”

“Hm?”

“You saved me, so I should repay you!”

“I didn’t do it expecting anything, so it’s oka—”

But what she said next was extremely tempting.

“I’ll give you all the novels I have!”

…Maybe I should take the books first before leaving?

 

 

****

 

 

 

In the end, even while preparing to leave, I carefully gathered the BL novels.

Carrying several volumes made the books quite heavy.

But I was so happy that the thought of having to walk a long distance with them never crossed my mind.

…It was the fitting end for someone blinded by pleasure.

No—more accurately, I simply didn’t want to think about it….

I ran.

Toward the checkpoint.

Since I had already delayed too long, I felt like I needed to leave this place quickly.

I stood in line at the checkpoint, waiting for my turn.

Fortunately, not many people were leaving the territory at this hour, so the line was short.

“Heading back?”

The gatekeeper asked.

“Y-yes….”

“That bag looks pretty heavy. What’s inside?”

“…Books.”

It was the most heart-stopping question I had heard all day.

The books inside were actually banned books.

I had no idea how they were secretly published and circulated.

“I see.”

But the gatekeeper didn’t seem interested, as if it were just a routine question.

“Pass.”

Thank goodness. I should slip out quickly.

Then—

A group of knights came rushing toward the checkpoint.

I had a bad feeling.

Clutching the books tightly, I began walking faster. After all, I had already passed inspection.

“What’s going on?”

I heard the gatekeeper’s confused voice behind me.

“We came to check whether someone has passed through the checkpoint.”

“Who are you looking for…?”

“A woman with pink hair and pink eyes. Her name is Laurel….”

Cold sweat ran down my back.

“If it’s that woman, she just passed a moment ago—”

Before he could finish speaking, a low voice cut in.

“There she is.”

At that moment, cold sweat slid down my spine. The bag in my hands became damp.

This was bad. Really bad.

“Identity forgery is a serious crime.”

“……”

“And your name… isn’t Laurel, is it?”

My heart dropped.

Instinctively, I hugged the books and took a deep breath.

What do I do? He remembered!

He was definitely one of the knights I had encountered when I worked at Evantes!

“Capture her!”

As soon as the captain gave the order, the surrounding soldiers moved all at once. The clash of armor rang in my ears a moment later.

At this rate, I would be dragged away.

What should I do?

My mind raced.

Should I reveal my identity?

That I am actually… Rose Hertas.

But if I did that…

I don’t want to go back yet.

A voice buried deep in my heart surfaced.

I still… wasn’t ready.

I didn’t want to relive the moment I lost my mother.

I…

I won’t go back.

Instinctively, I stepped backward.

“Don’t let her escape—grab her!”

A knight shouted sharply when he saw the movement. Even though no one had touched me yet, it felt like my throat was tightening.

Gazes poured in from every direction.

Then—

BOOM!

With a deafening explosion, the ground shook violently.

The impact was strong enough to make me lose my balance.

Thick tree branches whipped wildly in every direction, and a tearing roar split the air.

“We’re under attack!”

Not far away, flames seemed to shoot up as black smoke rose into the sky.

A burning smell spread through the wind.

Order collapsed instantly.

At that moment, the knights’ attention shifted all at once to the side.

I ran without thinking.

Instinct pushed me forward.

The crunch of gravel, my ragged breathing, and the pounding of my heart near my ears tangled together.

“She’s escaping! Catch her!”

Shouts erupted behind me.

Just as I felt someone reaching for me—

A black robe swept across the center of my vision.

A silver blade flashed through the air.

It was so fast the sound came later.

“Ugh!”

With a dull impact, the knights’ screams erupted behind me one after another.

I couldn’t even tell whether it was the sound of blood splattering or armor clashing.

W-what is happening…?!

Someone was attacking the knights.

My mind went blank.

But I didn’t look back.

I ran to survive.

My lungs felt like they were tearing, but I couldn’t stop.

Toward the Cursed Land.

And then…

I thought I saw red eyes flash past.

My heart pounded.

No way… no way….

For just a moment, I saw red eyes.

…Yurtha Hertas.

He had finally come all the way here to find me