Surviving As An Obsessive Servant – Chapter 145

Author: Asternkm

By the time I finally woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

After being tormented all night without a wink of sleep, I blinked my bleary eyes.

The extravagant ceiling mural, far more ornate than the one in my own room, and the way my arms were tangled like rope around a certain someone—both were starting to feel way too familiar.

‘…I really thought I was going to die. But I survived, huh.’

I had thought I would die in two ways.

One—because it had felt too good.

And two—because it had been too exhausting.

‘Once or twice was great. Three or four times was pushing it, but still manageable…’

But even after all that, Edric had kept going, clinging to me like he couldn’t get close enough.

At some point, I had stopped trying to hold him back and given in to my own greed as well.

No matter how much I let him have, he still wanted more.

Why? Why is he this obsessed with me?

I had been flustered. A little scared, even.

But I hadn’t hated it.

I had liked it.

Back then, it had felt like it wouldn’t matter if my body completely fell apart.

I groaned softly and shifted my gaze.

And immediately, I met a pair of unwavering green eyes, watching me closely.

I knew it. Even during the moments when I had blacked out, he must have been staring at me like this.

‘…Hasn’t he gotten tired of looking at me after all these years?’

It was so ridiculous that I let out a dry laugh—only to be hit by a familiar sense of duty.

‘Oh, right. Morning already.’

I had to take care of the young master.

Out of pure habit, I asked, “Do you want some water…? Huh?”

Mid-sentence, I reflexively touched my throat.

‘…My voice is back?’

Last night, I could barely squeak out a word, but now it was coming out normally.

While I was still confused, Edric sat up, the soft sheets slipping down his body.

I immediately covered my eyes—though my fingers were very widely spread.

But instead of the usual distracting sight that made my brain shut down, he was already wrapped in his robe.

A chuckle escaped him.

“Do you want to look, or not?”

“Half and half.”

Edric—who had been carrying a water bottle and a cup in each hand—laughed softly before setting them on the bedside table.

Then, he carefully supported my neck and helped me sit up.

It wasn’t even proper assistance.

He was handling me like I was made of delicate glass—which was rich, considering how rough he had been last night.

I shot him a look as I chugged down the water he gave me. It tasted oddly sweet.

Even after I was done drinking, he continued doting on me, wiping my lips with a handkerchief.

He was being so gentle it actually tickled.

Even when I had been five years old, my parents hadn’t babied me this much.

Yet, as he fussed over me, he pulled his robe tighter.

“I told you, it’s not ugly.”

“…Still.”

Scars were scattered across his shoulders and back.

When I had asked about them yesterday, he had told me they were from a poison-tipped arrow shot by a barbarian chieftain.

It hadn’t been a one-sided attack—whoever it was had clearly been desperate enough to use something underhanded.

And because it wasn’t an ordinary poison, even his Dif purification abilities couldn’t erase it.

That was why he was reluctant to show me his back. Whenever my fingers brushed over the scars, he flinched.

It made my heart ache.

‘How much must that have hurt…?’

And it made me angry.

This was always the problem with Edric.

He always tried to bear everything alone.

I would just have to nag him about it until he learned better.

So, I spoke lightly, as if it were no big deal.

“So what if I see?”

“…”

“I’m going to keep seeing them anyway.”

Edric lowered his gaze, embarrassed.

Then, after a moment, he gave a small nod.

“…Okay.”

I really had no idea if he was the one who was embarrassed or me.

I quietly fixed his tousled hair and sat up.

That was when I realized it.

All the soreness—the lingering aches and tingling from last night—had completely disappeared.

Even my body felt fresh, like I had just taken a long bath.

‘When did he even do this?’

I reached up and ruffled his hair, feeling very proud of him.

Then, I moved to get out of bed—

Only for Edric to immediately ask, “Where are you going?”

His tone was clear: Why are you getting up instead of lying here with me?

I glanced at him.

Sure, the sun was already high, but Edric didn’t have any obligations today.

He probably wanted to rest together for a bit longer before checking out the magic stone tablets.

But that was secondary.

I had one priority right now.

“I have to wash the bedding.”

“…??”

Unlike me—who was already feeling urgent—Edric just blinked, confused.

I pulled the blanket over my head in absolute mortification.

“We can’t just leave it like this!”

“…Then where do you take it?”

“I have to wash it myself and hang it to dry! I mean, think about it. I’ve lived here for years—”

It was one thing for people to find out we had that kind of relationship.

But at the very least, I had to be the one to clean up after it.

‘There’s no way—no way—I can let someone else handle this.’

But Edric still didn’t seem to understand.

“You’re really okay just leaving it like this?”

Then, as soon as I asked the question—

I had my answer.

‘Oh… right. He’s… Edric.’

This was the same person who had never cleaned up after himself in his life.

I let out a defeated laugh.

And just as I did, Edric leaned in, pressing his lips against my forehead.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it right away.”

“You’re going to wash the bedding yourself?”

He didn’t sound like he was planning to make me do it.

Not that he ever would.

‘He really means to do it himself… But then how do I sneak this out?’

I fell into deep thought.

‘Maybe I could climb down the side of the building—no, wait. That’s a terrible idea. The guards would definitely see me.’

I was about to persuade him to just leave it to me, since I was good at handling these things discreetly—

But he spoke first.

“Lobel, I think you forget who I am sometimes.”

Before I could even blink—

“Use me.”

The sheets and pillows instantly became fresh and dry, as if they had just been laundered.

He had soaked them with his Dif magic and evaporated the moisture in an instant.

‘…Wow. That’s actually amazing.’

Edric looked at me expectantly, his expression practically begging for praise.

At this point, he was blatantly asking for a kiss.

I gave him a quick peck.

He closed his eyes like he was savoring it, which was so cute that I kissed him a few more times.

But the moment I tried to pull away, he captured my lips again.

This time, it was deeper.

A real kiss.

Memories of last night flashed through my mind, making me instinctively squeeze my eyes shut—

But unlike before, there was no awkward bumping of teeth, no painful nose collisions.

‘…Wait. Since when did he get this good?!’

Sure, Edric was smart, but… did that apply to this kind of learning too?

When I opened my eyes, I saw him grinning at me, his expression warm and affectionate.

It made my heart itch.

But it was really time to stop now.

Even though he had helped speed things up, there was still work to be done.

I hesitated, feeling guilty about what I was about to say.

“Young Master… There’s something else I haven’t told you yet.”

Edric’s expression didn’t even flicker.

At this point, he seemed completely unfazed—like he was ready for anything I might say.

But the moment he heard my next words—

His face shattered.

“I… have to go home.”

****

Edric outright rejected the reality of what he had just heard.

This had to be a joke…

It had to be.

They had just confirmed their feelings for each other. And now she was saying she was leaving?

That didn’t make any sense.

But before he could even respond, Lobel was already picking up her clothes from the floor, slipping them on one by one.

The sight of her silver hair swaying over her bare shoulders, the smooth curve of her back—it made his heart pound so hard it felt like it might burst.

But that feeling didn’t last.

Because, as always, Lobel moved quickly.

In mere moments, she was fully dressed again.

A story she had once told him suddenly surfaced in his mind.

[There’s a story from my hometown.]

[…What kind of story?]

[It’s called The Woodcutter and the Celestial Maiden. This idiot woodcutter fell for a celestial maiden and stole her clothes so she wouldn’t be able to leave. What a complete bastard.]

Lobel had gritted her teeth as if she had personally suffered the injustice.

[Young Master, promise me you’ll never turn out like that.]

…At this moment, Edric envied that bastard.

He wanted to be like him.

But he knew how much Lobel loved her family.

He couldn’t hide her clothes.

And he couldn’t stop her.

He could only watch her, utterly dejected.

Then, she approached him.

“I told you before, but… I’m not exactly the best daughter. I haven’t even been honest with my family about my situation.”

Lobel smiled as she spoke, but guilt flickered in her eyes.

“I’ve done wrong by them. If I wait any longer, it’ll only get worse. I have to go home, tell them the truth, and take my scolding like I deserve.”

“Lobel. That’s not just on you. It’s my fault too. So let me go with you—”

“Edric.”

For the first time, she called him by his name.

Not Young Master.

Her voice was firm, almost strict.

It was still Lobel’s voice, but it felt strangely unfamiliar.

And yet…

He liked it.

His heart pounded in a different way now—like he had just discovered a new, unknown side of her.

Blushing slightly at her lover’s reaction, Lobel wrapped her arms around him.

“I don’t want the man I love to feel uncomfortable or unwelcome.”

“…”

“Let me talk to them first, and then I’ll invite you properly. Since you’re my first ever relationship… I’m sure my parents will be curious about you.”

Though their size difference made it seem like Lobel had been completely swallowed up in his embrace, for some reason, Edric felt like he was the one being held.

For the first time in his life—

He understood what it meant to feel safe.

Not even his mother’s arms, nor the protection of the Black Chain Knights, had ever given him this kind of peace.

“Just wait a little longer. When the time comes, we’ll go together, and you can formally meet them. Okay?”

He didn’t respond.

But he had already accepted it.

Even so—

As Lobel kissed him softly, soothing him with her hands—

He turned his gaze to the wall, sulking.

If he stayed like this, maybe she wouldn’t leave immediately.

Not for long.

Just a little bit longer.