Surviving As An Obsessive Servant Chapter 190 - Manellano (IF) Side Story Chapter 5

A few days later, they set aside some time to meet after class.

The place was none other than Manellano’s dorm room.

Of course, when he first suggested the location, Lobelia was so startled she immediately refused.

[ Are you crazy? ]

Even if she didn’t see Manellano as a man, she couldn’t rule out possible danger. She wasn’t that careless.

She had a vague sense that some noble boys looked at her with thoughts of toying with her and then tossing her aside.

Since Manellano got along well with many noble circles, he might have been asked by one of them to do something.

Of course, maybe that wasn’t his intention, and maybe he was being considerate since anywhere the two of them worked on the assignment would attract attention at the academy. But still—no was no.

[ Absolutely, no way. ]

[ Fine, then. We can do it in the lounge or on the cafeteria terrace. ]

Surprisingly, Manellano accepted her refusal without resistance.

[ Anywhere with a desk is fine. You choose and let me know. ]

Then he left.

……The clean way he handled it made it seem like he was sincere.

Still, Lobelia didn’t change her mind. It was better than taking a risk.

But then she happened to overhear classmates talking on the street, and that changed everything.

[ Manellano’s not ordinary. Even if he’s an illegitimate child, picking a fight with someone from the Lawrence family is no small thing. ]

At first, she thought he might have gotten into trouble just because of his usual temper.

But then, hearing what came next, she almost dropped her book in shock.

[ I still don’t get it. Was it really all because of that one girl? ]

[ Shh. Watch your mouth. We don’t want our wrists broken too. ]

Piecing together their conversation, she realized Manellano had fought a duel for her sake.

And the fact that she was only finding this out now was baffling.

‘Wait, he did something like that, and didn’t even hint about it to me?’

No matter how favored Manellano was as a count’s son, provoking a marquis’s heir was extremely risky.

And yet he had taken that risk.

‘……What did he have to gain from it?’

What’s more, unlike other students, he didn’t even ask her to share her lecture notes or explain her study methods.

‘And he didn’t even brag about it…….’

With that on her mind, she couldn’t concentrate on studying. So she went straight to his class to find him.

Luckily, he was there, and she called him out.

Normally, she would never do such a thing, but that day she couldn’t think about anything else.

[ Step outside with me. ]

Reading the seriousness in her face, Manellano stood up without argument.

Still, he kept a faint smile on his face.

Probably because he was conscious of the other students’ stares.
Even that consideration irritated Lobelia.

Knowing his personality, he could have made a show of it, but instead he always chose polite restraint.

That, too, got under her skin.

So her voice came out sharper than usual.

[ Why did you help me? ]

[ Calm down. And breathe before you speak. ]

[ I am breathing just fine right now! ]

[ Okay. Then just calm down and say it. What exactly did I help you with? ]

[ The duel! ]

[ Oh, that. I wasn’t really helping you, though. ]

He answered so casually.

If not for his hair blowing in the rooftop breeze, he looked no different than usual.

But Lobelia wasn’t fooled.

[ Don’t deny it. I heard you fought because of me. ]

[ Nope. I just did it because I felt like it. ]

[ ……. ]

His same old irritating attitude left her deflated.

She narrowed her eyes at him and asked,

[ So what, is it like—“only I get to bother her”? You fought and beat them all up with that mindset? ]

[ ……Hmm. Well, now that you say it, I guess it kind of feels that way. ]

[ You’re ridiculous, seriously! ]

Honestly, before coming here, she had felt grateful.

But with him brushing it off like this, her gratitude quickly turned into anger.

[ Ridiculous, but you like it? ]

She was about to deny it when Manellano smirked and spoke first.

[ Me too. Since you like things fair, then how about this—you can be the only one to bother me too? ]

……Hearing that, she realized someone this simple couldn’t have been plotting anything.

So she agreed to go to his dorm room.

As he had said, she didn’t like unfairness. She couldn’t be the only one pushed around.

So half out of spite, she answered,

[ Fine. Let’s meet in your dorm room. ]

[ Great. Then tomorrow, we’ll meet there. I’ll go ahead now, okay? ]

Smiling brightly, Manellano patted her shoulder and walked off.

Watching his back as he left, Lobelia felt like she had just been outplayed somehow.

And finally, today.

When the door opened and the wide room came into view, Lobelia wore a daunted expression.

The room he said he only stayed in a day or two each month was absurdly luxurious.

It was larger than most lecture halls, and the furniture looked like something only royals would use, overwhelming her completely.

Because she always saw him in the same uniform, in classrooms, she hadn’t noticed the gap before. But now she felt the difference between them clearly.

‘That diamond candelabrum…… it probably costs more than my whole house.’

“What are you doing, not coming in?”

“I’ll come in.”

“You’re not going to snoop around, right? The desk is here. Sit. Let’s start right away.”

“……”

Manellano acted as if he could read her mind.

It was convenient, but somehow irritating, so Lobelia frowned. Why did it always feel like she was being pulled along……?

Either way, she decided she would need to keep some distance after exams were over.

Vacation was coming soon anyway…… she just had to endure a little longer.

“I’ll organize the final report. Just tell me. If you don’t like it, I’ll rewrite it.”

Speaking almost like an order, Manellano swiftly snatched up what she had been looking at.

Then he set his pen upright and began writing quickly, and without meaning to, she admired it.

‘……His handwriting’s so neat.’

Judging by his build, she expected bold, heavy strokes, but his was the most elegant handwriting she had ever seen.

The truth was, Lobelia liked people with beautiful handwriting. As a child, she had even spent much time practicing it herself.

Surprised and a little envious, she stared openly until he asked,

“What. Is there a problem?”

The problem was that it was too good.

Lobelia cleared her throat and propped her chin on her arm against the desk.

The view from the room was certainly as fine as expected.

Through the closed window, she could see the leaves outside swaying gently. A spring breeze was blowing.

The presentation after the assignment was left to Lobelia.

Of course, Manellano could have done it well, but she wasn’t the type to put off responsibilities.

He accepted her decision without fuss.

“And so, my goal is to become a first-class imperial official and create an environment where many people can enjoy Terua’s culture.”

For commoners to intrude on something nobles considered their privilege—there was no way they would welcome it.

Since most of the class was nobles, one after another, they started snickering at her presentation.

Soon everyone was laughing.

But Manellano wasn’t. He rested his chin on his hand and stared at her intently.

That gaze, as if to say he supported her, made her feel strange.

‘……It’s because of him.’

Who in the world could stay unaffected when looked at like that?

Feeling oddly wronged, she sat on a bench in the courtyard. Today, she had no mood for the library.

Exams were over, and with vacation beginning soon, students were returning to their hometowns. That restless atmosphere probably added to her mood.

She trudged toward the dorm, and then saw Manellano.

His tie was loosened, his buttons undone, sleeves rolled up…… both hands shoved into his pockets.

Seeing his outfit disheveled like that, after being so neat in the morning, she realized he must have been waiting for quite a while.

“……Were you waiting for me?”

“If you know, then hurry up.”

“Is there a problem with the project?”

“No.”

Then why—she was about to ask, but Manellano spoke first.

“Lobelia. You’ll go home during vacation, right?”

During vacation.

Of course, she had to return and help with work.

She hadn’t gone yet only because today carriage fares were higher than usual, since so many students were traveling.

That made his question, coming from someone wealthy, feel irritating.

“Well, what can I do? Even if you wanted to meet, I wouldn’t during vacation. I won’t have the time.”

“Then I’ll just come see you.”

“……See me?”

She was about to ask why, but stopped.

Because the eyes looking down at her were serious.

Eyes that could make anyone’s throat dry.

And then, in a low voice, he said,

“I want to keep seeing you. I don’t think I can wait until the next term. Honestly, even seeing you for just a little while each day has been frustrating.”

“……”

“I just want to keep you in my room, from morning till night, where I can look only at you.”

Hearing that, Lobelia could only blink dumbly.

So this was…… a confession……?

She had suspected, but she didn’t really believe it would happen.

“And, Lobelia Flor. Right now, I want to give you my first kiss.”

“……”

“If you don’t want it, leave. Otherwise, close your eyes.”

Perhaps embarrassed by his trembling voice, he bit his lip and raked his hair back with a hand.

So that’s why his hair was so messy earlier—he had been doing that all along.

She knew from seeing him before the opera: that was what he did when nervous.

But why didn’t he look pathetic at all like this?

Just waiting for her, confessing with no sign of annoyance—her heart pounded uncontrollably.

“Lobelia Flor. You’re not leaving, right?”

This time, she wanted to answer first.

Before his large hand could pull her waist in, Lobelia rose up on the tips of her heels, hooking her arms around his neck.

When their eyes were nearly level, wide with surprise, she quickly shut hers.

But Manellano didn’t kiss her right away.

Opening a slit in her eyes in confusion, she met his gaze—staring at her blankly, as if in disbelief.

“Why aren’t you doing it?”

“I will. No take-backs.”

Then, as if he had never hesitated, he pressed his lips to hers.

It was fierce, wild.

When his sharp canine grazed and bit her lower lip, she felt a strange sensation.

She flinched with a small sound, ‘Ugh,’ and hunched her shoulders. At once, Manellano pulled back.

He seemed worried she might be scared, yet his hand still held firm at her back.

That contradiction made her let out a helpless laugh. Then he looked down at her, eyes reddened, and said,

“Lobelia Flor. Now you have to take proper responsibility for me.”

“……Responsibility?”

“You took my first, so you’re responsible.”

Confused, she froze—then, realizing his meaning, she gasped.

“Are you crazy? Who in the world takes responsibility just for a first kiss!”

“Me. Maybe not anyone else, but I do.”

He pulled her into his arms so she couldn’t escape.

Ah—strangely, her chest ached with fullness.

It felt like she had found something she had long been searching for.

With that feeling, she experienced the first true happiness of her life, as Manellano spoke with all his heart,

“Now I really can’t live without you.”