The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me Chapter 245 - Side Story Chapter 35

“I was so nervous! Those guys suddenly came back…!”

Thanks to the knights, I safely made it out of the underground prison.

The knights who had kept watch looked like their souls had left their bodies from all the tension.

“I’m really glad you made it out safely!”

“Good work.”

Thanks to them, I had been able to meet Richard without being caught.

“Then… does this mean you’ll forgive the mistake we made toward you, my lady?”

They looked at me with desperate expressions.

To think such desperate men had been harassing the territory’s civilians—it was absurd.

‘Hmm. What should I do.’

In any case, I had received their help. I couldn’t go back on my word. And they had clearly struggled for it.

“Alright. I’ll forgive the mistake you made toward me.”

“…Thank you, my lady!”

“But.”

Their bright smiles froze again. They looked anxious, waiting for my next words.

“I’m only forgiving what you did to me.”

I couldn’t forgive everything they had done to others.

It wasn’t my place—and it was beyond my authority.

“T-that’s different from what you said earlier! You said you’d keep our secret if we helped you in the dungeon…!”

The large man’s face turned pale in an instant.

It wasn’t anger—it was fear of Argen’s cruelty that made him panic.

“I’ll keep my promise.”

I crossed my arms.

“However, if you keep using the Evanthes name like you have been, it’ll eventually reach the Marquis’ ears.”

“We won’t do it again! We swear!”

Panic-filled vows came pouring out.

I looked them up and down and shrugged lightly.

“And what you’ve done in the territory so far… that might reach him too.”

“T-that…!”

“That’s something you’ll have to fix yourselves. Apologize to the townspeople. Return what you took.”

“Yes! We will! And we’ll apologize too!”

They nodded frantically.

To think people who feared Argen this much had been abusing his name.

Of course, what they feared most wasn’t punishment itself—but being discovered for harassing the Count’s lover.

That explained their desperation.

‘But even if Argen finds out…’

He would likely be displeased about his name being tarnished, but he probably wouldn’t care much about what they did to me personally.

Just as I reached that conclusion—

“What’s going on here?”

A low, chilling voice echoed through the hallway.

“F-F-F-F-F-F-For-For-For-For-For-For-For-F-F-F-F-F-F-!”

The knights stiffened as if they had seen death itself and bowed instantly.

A man stood there.

Golden hair gleamed under the pale light, and cold green eyes stripped everything bare.

A perfect, overwhelming man who made the air itself feel frozen.

‘Speak of the devil.’

“What were you discussing with them?”

Argen’s suspicious gaze landed on me.

“W-we were just—”

“I wasn’t asking you.”

The knights immediately shut up.

They were visibly terrified of him.

Though my heart dropped for a moment at his sudden appearance, I kept my expression calm.

“I heard you were busy today.”

It would be bad to look even slightly flustered.

“Who said that?”

Argen’s brow lifted slightly.

“Just my guess.”

“Why?”

I smiled faintly.

“You skipped lunch with me.”

For a moment, something flickered across his usually emotionless face.

He stared at me, momentarily speechless.

“…”

Behind me, I heard the knights gasp.

‘What is with them?’

Right. I had told them Argen was my lover.

‘I should get him out of here.’

I couldn’t risk my lie being exposed after extracting promises from them.

I quickly stepped closer to Argen.

“You made me skip my meal too, you know.”

“…You really are something.”

“Let’s go.”

Argen rubbed his forehead and let out a quiet laugh.

As I led him away, I heard the knights whisper behind us.

“I’ve never seen the Marquis like that before…”

 

 

****

 

 

 

We ended up in the castle’s dining room.

A full meal had already been prepared, steaming as soon as we sat down.

‘Did he actually take my words about skipping meals seriously?’

I glanced at the lavish table, slightly stunned.

I hadn’t eaten breakfast—but not because I was waiting for him. I simply hadn’t had an appetite.

Clink.

I casually picked up my fork and glanced at him.

Argen hadn’t touched his food at all. He was just watching me.

“Why aren’t you eating more?”

“…I’m full.”

Of course, I was also not hungry—given I was planning an escape and sitting in front of the man I needed to deceive.

“What were you doing earlier?”

So it begins.

“I got lost during a walk and asked those knights for directions.”

“You talked for quite a while for just asking directions.”

His green eyes narrowed sharply over the teacup.

There was clear suspicion—like a snake coiling tighter.

“Jealous men aren’t attractive, Marquis.”

“…”

He ran a hand through his golden hair roughly—an uncharacteristic gesture.

“You really drive me insane.”

“….”

That wasn’t the effect I wanted.

Time to change the subject.

“Ah! I heard there’s trouble near the Piet walls?”

His expression tightened.

“Nothing serious.”

“Are you leaving for the subjugation too?”

“Why are you asking that?”

His tone sharpened.

His gaze turned razor-like.

He didn’t like me being involved in this.

‘Why?’

What difference would it make if I knew?

I was only thinking of escaping during the chaos—but he couldn’t possibly know that.

Maybe he was just wary of me causing trouble during the disturbance.

In any case, pushing further seemed unwise.

So I stayed silent.

The heavy silence returned.

Then—

“…Piet Territory is the outermost border region.”

Argen suddenly spoke.

“If the barrier breaks, monsters will pour out—and barbarians may invade.”

He paused.

“This subjugation will take time. I’ll be away for a while.”

So that really would be my chance to escape…

“So, Rose. Don’t move an inch.”

My hand froze mid-air holding the teacup.

But I calmly set it down, as if nothing had happened.

“Of course, Marquis.”

I smiled—like the most obedient lover in the world.

 

 

Time passed.

One day… two days…

The third day—the day I had promised Richard—finally arrived.