The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me Chapter 244 - Side Story Chapter 34

“…What do you mean by that?”

At my firm declaration, Richard asked back in disbelief.

“The Marquis Evanthes intends to interfere with you. To stop you from being reinstated.”

Argen wanted me, which was why he kept Richard locked up here—but ironically, Richard himself was also bound tightly by my one decision.

“I heard the knights will soon go out to subjugate monsters. It’ll be the perfect chance for you to escape alone.”

“…Then just come with me. Why do you keep pushing me to leave alone?”

“If I run away with you, Argen will lose control and try even harder to ruin you.”

In that case, Richard might become a fugitive endlessly hunted by Evanthes.

Until he safely escaped and reclaimed his rightful place, the most reasonable plan was for me to stay here and keep Argen’s attention on me.

‘Argen won’t be able to touch you carelessly if he’s watching me.’

That much was certain.

Even now, Richard was imprisoned—but Argen hadn’t crossed the line of taking his life.

In the end, all three of us were just tightly trapped in this situation together. It was almost absurd.

“…What did that man say to you?”

Richard growled the question.

Argen hadn’t said it directly, but the gleam in his eyes last night had already said everything.

“…It’s just temporary separation. If you leave first, I’ll—”

“He will never let you go easily. Rose, there may never be another chance for you to escape.”

Richard’s voice was gentle, but it was clearly a warning.

“Rose, you should come with me.”

His large hands tightened around mine through the bars.

Beyond the iron, his piercing blue eyes burned with stubborn intensity.

“Do you think I stayed here for nothing?”

Richard tilted his chin slightly, rattling the heavy silver restraints on his wrists.

Clank—

The cold metallic sound echoed sharply. It was a silent threat—if he wanted, he could break these restraints anytime.

“I was waiting for you.”

“……”

“I believed you when you said you’d come with me. Not that you’d tell me to leave alone.”

Richard was blaming me.

“I stayed here waiting for you.”

He pressed his forehead lightly against the bars, his gaze fixed only on me.

“…Of course, I didn’t expect you to go so far as to steal the key like this.”

“Richard, I—”

“So don’t tell me to leave you behind.”

My head started to ache.

The weight of this man’s blind faith in me—waiting obediently in this hellish dungeon because of a single promise—pressed heavily on my mind.

What was I supposed to do with someone this hopelessly devoted?

“I’m worried about you.”

“…Worried?”

“Yes. That something might happen to you.”

Richard blinked slowly, then his lips softened into a warm smile.

“You’re worried about me.”

That smile didn’t belong in this dark, damp prison at all.

“I like hearing that. Even if I don’t like your half-hearted attempt to send me away alone.”

“…Honestly.”

I sighed deeply and rubbed my face with my free hand.

While I suffered internally, Richard only smiled peacefully.

“Rose. I will wait three more days for you.”

Three days.

That was also the limit of his patience for me.

“And after that, we leave together?”

“…Together.”

“Yes. Together.”

At that moment, something tightly shut inside my chest began to waver.

…What should I do?

‘Am I actually wanting to go with Richard?’

No.

I quickly forced that dangerous thought down.

‘We can’t live our whole lives as fugitives. We should part ways here…’

But his gaze was too earnest, too desperate.

I knew that look well.

Soft, fragile, almost tragic—but utterly unwilling to accept any conclusion other than the one he wanted.

He was the kind of man who would keep searching for me no matter how long it took, even before Evanthes could.

“Let’s run away together, Rose.”

My mind said no.

But my thoughts tangled every time I met those eyes.

In the end, I gripped the iron bars tightly and lowered my head.

Ah… really.

A bitter sigh slipped through my lips.

Then—

A cold hand slipped through the bars and gently lifted my chin.

“Don’t do that, Rose.”

“….”

“Look at me.”

“I am looking.”

“Good. Then don’t avoid my eyes.”

I let out a disbelieving laugh.

“Richard, let’s leave together.”

At some point, I had stopped being able to refuse him so easily.

He had always tried to yield to me—but I no longer wanted to push him to the edge either.

“I’ll go with you.”

“…With me.”

“Yes. With you.”

“Sounds like a romantic escape together.”

His cheeks flushed with boyish happiness.

Honestly…

I exhaled heavily, shoulders drooping.

“You might be branded a fugitive. You won’t be reinstated—you’ll become even more of a criminal.”

“I don’t care.”

“I care. I’ve already decided I’m done living as a fugitive.”

At my sharp complaint, Richard frowned slightly, as if seriously thinking.

“Understood.”

…Understood?

“I’ll also do my best to find a way—for you, Rose.”

“What way?”

“Yes. I think there must be one.”

“What kind of way—”

Clang!

At that moment, a sharp metallic sound sliced through the prison.

The sound of something striking iron.

I immediately understood.

‘Time’s up.’

The knights above were signaling urgently—their guard shift was about to change.

Cold sweat ran down my back.

As I turned in a hurry—

Richard’s voice followed me quietly.

“Then you must run away with me, Rose.”

“….”

“I won’t ask you to leave right now. I’ll come to you in three days.”

A promise from a beast giving me time he didn’t have to give.

As I pulled away from the bars, reluctantly letting go of my warmth, Richard watched me with a lingering gaze.

Then, from the darkness, he smiled—certain and unwavering.

“So Rose. See you then.”