The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me Chapter 240 - Side Story Chapter 30

I was wandering around Piet Castle with nothing to do.

For someone who had been brought here like a prisoner, Argen had given me quite a bit of freedom.

‘But it looks like Richard is completely locked up…’

…Is it really okay for me to be this relaxed alone? I started to feel sorry for Richard.

Of course, I wasn’t completely free either. The person Argen assigned as my “guard” was following right behind me.

‘What guard? More like surveillance.’

I let out a sigh as I looked around the castle. It was to understand the layout in case something happened.

And…

Honestly, there wasn’t much to do except walk around until Argen showed up.

Before I knew it, I had reached the castle exit during my walk.

Beyond the door, the wide-open view outside the castle stretched out clearly.

Busy servants moved around the grounds, and knights stood on strict guard.

‘Can I go outside?’

Since Argen brought me here, I hadn’t stepped outside the castle even once.

I could walk around inside freely, but would this be allowed too…?

I quietly stepped toward the exit. When I glanced back, the guards looked hesitant.

Taking this chance, I decided to test them boldly.

“It’s not time for our appointment yet.”

A familiar voice came from behind.

I had to tilt my head up quite a bit before I spotted Argen.

He seemed to have just come down the stairs, standing by the railing and looking down at me. His green eyes looked like they were watching how far I would go.

“And what about you, Marquis? Did you finish what you said you’d do this afternoon?”

I meant going to see Richard.

“I was just about to go, but then I spotted you, Rosie.”

Argen smiled faintly.

It felt like he was silently blaming me for keeping him from going, even beneath that smooth smile.

I wanted to return a crooked smile, but I held it back and turned around.

Toward Argen.

Then I walked up the stairs quickly.

His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he hadn’t expected that.

“Marquis.”

“…Yes, Rosie.”

I smiled brightly and grabbed his collar.

“Don’t go. Play with me instead. Right now.”

The green eyes that had been piercing through me wavered.

At this close distance, his uneven, heated breath brushed past my cheek.

But the tense air only lasted a moment.

Argen calmly removed my hand from his collar, pretending to stay composed.

“That’s difficult.”

His fingers brushed my forehead, gently moving my loose hair behind my ear.

Then he pulled away without hesitation.

“I’m quite busy right now.”

It was a clear rejection.

“Let’s meet at the appointed time.”

Argen passed by me and continued down the stairs.

I watched him grow farther away step by step, then placed my hand over my forehead where he had just touched.

His calm fingertips had been far too warm.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

He only looked back once.

Her pink hair fluttered softly in the wind.

The woman eventually stepped outside the castle.

‘…Of course she did.’

It was obvious she had been debating whether to cross the line in front of him. The more he held back, the more boldly she stepped over the line he had drawn.

As if she was determined to test just how far she could go.

The woman who reappeared after two years was planning to shake him once again.

From head to toe, she looked as sweet as cotton candy, yet sometimes she acted like a venomous snake.

‘What should I do?’

This time, I don’t want to let things go your way, Rosie.

“Marquis, this way.”

A knight extended his arm, guiding him, cutting through the lingering image of the woman.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Argen turned his gaze away from her.

The place he headed to was the underground of Piet Castle.

Torches mounted on the walls crackled, barely lighting the damp underground.

Moisture clung to the old stone walls revealed under the flickering light.

The air smelled of burning smoke mixed with old iron.

“Isn’t this quite a familiar situation?”

Argen’s gaze stayed on the flickering torch, but there was only one person here who could respond.

Beyond the bars, bright blue eyes glared at him.

“…You’d better not provoke me.”

Richard warned in a low voice. It sounded like he had been starving for a long time.

Of course.

Argen had taken her.

“You should remember that if I want to leave, I can do so at any time.”

Unlike the past, when he had been imprisoned in the Evanthes estate, he had grown stronger day by day. He could break these restraints in an instant.

The only reason he was holding back was because of Rose.

Because that’s what she wanted.

“Is that so? Then go ahead, break out of the prison and escape.”

Argen sneered quietly.

“Then the imperial family will decide you need to be killed.”

“……”

“If you don’t want to spend your life on the run, you’d better stay quietly locked up there until I say otherwise.”

The imperial family wanted to reinstate Richard as the commander of the holy knights.

But there was a condition.

He had to return to the battlefield and prove himself.

Plant the empire’s flag in defeated lands and spread its glory—that was Richard’s role.

But that only applied if he remained obedient.

“With a single report from me, your situation can change at any time.”

“……”

“And I want you to lose control.”

Argen let out a mocking laugh.

Realizing Argen’s scheme, Richard frowned.

“There are plenty of reasons I can make up to keep you locked here.”

He was doing this on purpose—provoking Richard so the imperial family would order his execution.

“The choice is yours. Will you wait quietly, or lose patience and…”

Argen trailed off, his green eyes filled with deep contempt for the beast behind the bars.

“A disobedient hunting dog deserves to be discarded.”

With those words, Argen left.

“…Ha.”

Left alone in the silence, Richard let out a slow laugh.

Did Argen Evantes really think he feared something like that?

Richard was always ready to destroy this castle.

He was just waiting for Rose.

Just one week.

After that, he wouldn’t hold back.

And already, one day had passed.

 

 

****

 

 

When the time came, Argen showed up.

It was around sunset.

I was sitting quietly on the bed, reading a book.

“Rosie.”

Argen called my name.

I looked at the man standing at the door waiting for me, then let out a small laugh.

“…Why are you laughing?”

“It’s just… I didn’t think you’d really come.”

“What?”

At his puzzled response, I simply smiled.

“You keep your promises well, Marquis.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t come?”

“It’s more like… you don’t really have to.”

I meant it.

Considering his position and mine, it wouldn’t have been strange at all if Argen broke the promise.

Not only that—

He could’ve reminded me of my situation in other ways.

He could’ve locked me up or even denied me food. But so far, he hadn’t done any of that.

Argen leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, looking at me. His gaze tilted slightly.

“So, Rosie. You only keep promises when there’s a reason?”

“You’re kinder than you look, Marquis.”

“…What?”

Argen froze as if he had heard something unbelievable.

Then, after a moment of thought, he spoke again.

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No way.”

I got up from the bed and walked toward him.

Then I grabbed his arm, just like I had earlier on the stairs.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Marquis.”

“…You waited?”

I smiled brightly.

“Of course. We made a promise. I said I’d show you something interesting.”

“……”

“So let’s go together.”

I led Argen out of the room.

This time, he didn’t pull away.