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My Male Lead was Building up an Impenetrable Wall (6)
“Are you crazy?”
I had no idea what would happen if Rayleigh increased the intensity of his divine power now. I shouted at him.
“Then do I look like I’m in my right mind to you? If you don’t plan on killing me right now, then go apologize to Olga! Beg her for forgiveness and never threaten her like that again! If you act like a son of a b*tch to Olga again, just know that when I die, I’ll drag you with me. In the next life we’ll be born as brother and sister and I’ll torment you viciously.”
Rayleigh was the one being held by the shoulders and shaken, but I was the one who felt sick to their stomach. Still, I did my best to finish what I had to say.
“Answer me if you understand… urpp.”
“That’s enough.”
Adele, who had been watching quietly, took me up in his arms. It was embarrassing how easily he lifted me. Adele used teleportation magic, leaving Rayleigh behind without even a second glance.
My head was spinning. Adele placed me on a bed as I tried to curl up into a little ball. I could feel a very welcoming, comfy, and familiar blanket wrap around my skin.
This is my bed, right?
I lifted my head up a little, quickly surveyed my surroundings, and then laid my head back down.
Yeah, it is.
“Ms. Vesta will return soon. Don’t worry, that young lady is safe.”
“Ah, I’m glad…”
Hearing that was a huge load off of my mind. I relaxed, the strength draining from my whole body. Adele quickly grabbed one of my hands and started infusing his magic power into it.
I blinked, enveloped by a feeling I couldn’t quite describe.
“I think this is more bearable than when I touched the holy relic.”
Of course, it’s still terrible.
“It seems he hesitated unintentionally after seeing you in pain.”
Courteous and respectful as always, Adele’s words pierced my heart. It was more than just a tinge of remorse.
“I-I am sorry… Even if I had ten mouths, there is nothing that I could say.”
I spoke formally while admitting to my mistake.
Normally Adele would have given me a reassuring smile and told me that it was okay. But the reply that eventually came back was like a bolt out of the blue.
“As long as you understand, it’s fine.”
Urgh. His response stung far worse than divine power penetrating my skin. My eyes burned a little and I rubbed them.
In a voice so low that it prickled my ears, Adele asked, “Do you hate the idea of me becoming a murder that much, Anastasia?”
“Of course. The cleaner your record is, the better…”
Adele seemed to fall into thought after hearing my reply. Watching my skin gradually return to its original state, I worked up the courage to break the unbearable silence.
“S-so, how did you know where I was?”
Adele glanced towards the replica of a musical pipe made of a suspicious material.
“It produces sound under certain circumstances. I used that to set my coordinates.”
I fiddled with the musical pipe with the hand that was not currently entrusted to Adele.
“Don’t you have to go back?”
“It’s not your concern.”
Cut down with a single slash, I started sobbing.
“Uwahhhh. I’m so sorry… I’ll reflect on what I’ve done until I die. I’ll be extremely careful from now on. I won’t go anywhere near the Great Temple and I won’t even say ‘Oh my God!’ no matter how shocking the situation is.”
When I added that I was willing to write up a contract, Adele’s stiff expression relaxed ever so slightly.
“… There’s no need to go that far.”
His words were somewhat hollow, but they were unmistakably warm.
His crimson eyes, full of humor, gave me a little hope.
“Are you going to stop avoiding me now?”
“It wasn’t my intention to avoid you.”
Lies.
I replied sullenly, “You ran away when I tried to kiss you.”
Adele made an odd expression, his face both smiling and not smiling.
“Because once that line is crossed, it becomes easier the next time.”
What?
“You mean there was a line like that between us?”
When did you start pushing and pulling without my knowledge?! [1]
Adele did his best to ignore my completely flabbergasted expression.
“Anastasia, please don’t trust me too much.”
I was about to ask who I should trust if not him, when Adele let out a sigh.
“It is incredibly embarrassing having to say this, but I too am aware of the opposite sex.”
I didn’t even realize my mouth was agape until Adele lowered his head.
What did I just hear? Or more importantly, is this real?
Did he lose his mind after absorbing too much divine power?
I closed my open mouth with a hand. I didn’t have the strength to pinch my cheek, so I settled for yanking on a handful of hair.
Ouch!
“Then… then… Do you think you’d want to act more affectionately with me someday?”
Ack! I bit my tongue!
Trembling, I covered my mouth with my hand. It felt like I was going to die from the pain, the wild fluttering of my heart nearly driving me crazy. Adele replied casually, completely unaware of how impure the thoughts in my head were.
“Let’s wait and see how your condition is next time.”
“I’m fine thanks to you.”
But my tongue was seriously sore, so I shut my mouth once again.
“… Anastasia.”
“Hm?”
“If my use of magic ever makes you feel uncomfortable, please let me know.”
I realized that Adele was concerned about the conversation he’d had with Rayleigh. Of course, there was no way I’d be uncomfortable. It didn’t even bother me a little.
I had long since been tainted by Kylis’ malevolence, so what did it matter if the attribute of Adele’s magic power was a little unique? And I’d be the one lamenting if he didn’t use magic, not him.
“I really don’t mind, so use it as much as you’d like. My bedroom is always open.”
“… Do you know how dangerous the statement you just made is?”
Adele admonished me with a refreshing look on his face. But I was someone with unusually thick skin.
“Yeah, I know.”
Adele looked highly skeptical. I raised an eyebrow sulkily.
“What? I know all about those kinds of things too.”
“Yes. Of course you do.”
His voice was laced with complaint. It was a tone of voice I hardly ever heard him use and I was hit by the urge to tease him. But both Adele and I had things left to do.
As soon as the burning pain and blackened marks had completely disappeared, I removed my hand from Adele’s.
“I’m fine now, so you can go back. Everyone must be worried since you disappeared so suddenly.”
Adele just stared at me. I spoke once again.
“While you’re gone I’ll try to think of what excuse I can give my parents.”
“… You didn’t leave via the main gate, so it is likely that they are unaware of your absence.”
Vesta did grab me and jump out of the window, but…
Well considering how quickly she’d moved, it was more of a question of whether there were any witnesses who had been able to see us clearly.
“But Ms. Vesta will probably tell the Duke, right?”
“I think it’s likely that he will look the other way this time.”
I tilted my head to the side.
Will the Duke actually look the other way? Will Vesta keep today a secret?
I wasn’t sure.
Adele stood up.
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
“Alright.”
I tried to wave to him, but my body felt as heavy as cotton soaked with water, so I gave up.
Little by little my eyelids were getting lower. I was struck by a sudden sense of anxiety, feeling as though my body wasn’t my own.
“See you later.”
I sullenly said goodbye. Adele was about to turn away, but he paused. Momentarily conflicted, he seemed to come to a decision before leaning down towards me. His vibrant, golden hair drew extremely close. I felt the touch of something unbelievable brush against my forehead before disappearing.
“I hope you can let me off with just this for today.”
… What is happening to me right now?
It felt like my blood was brimming with emotions I couldn’t identify. Or maybe my blood was circulating backwards.
“Ah!”
When I came to my senses, Adele had already left. In a daze, I touched my forehead.
Uwaaaahhhh!
That was so crazy!
A soundless scream echoed inside of my mouth. I hid my bright red face under the covers, only coming back to reality when Vesta returned. Looking rather unhinged, my appearance was worrying to Vesta.
“Miss, are you all right?”
“O-of course I am.”
I raised myself up in order to talk to Vesta. Although I managed to sit up, planting my feet firmly on the floor proved impossible.
“I-I don’t have any strength…”
As if I were learning to walk for the first time, I was seized by fear. I didn’t even dare to stand up. I was absolutely certain I would fall.
Seeing my hands tremble, Vesta clicked her tongue and laid me back down. She had half forced me down, but I was still extremely grateful. It was easier to preserve my sanity while I was lying down. Vesta covered me with a blanket and I bundled myself up in it.
I mumbled timidly, “How’s Olga?”
“You look worse than her, Miss.”
Adele even helped me recover…
Vesta didn’t ask me anything and she showed no signs of being curious. I was relieved.
I still lacked the courage to come clean to my parents and tell them about the existence of Kylis and about my life expectancy. But since I couldn’t even string my thoughts together properly, it was difficult to come up with a lie. I decided to focus solely on Olga’s safety.
“I just wanted to personally check that she was okay.”
Vesta made a grim expression as though she thought I might try to crawl over to where Olga was.
“You cannot.”
“I should at least write her a letter…”
I tentatively tried to bend my fingers. They trembled shakily. It felt like they were going to cramp up.
“Mmm, I guess I’ll have to give up.”
I neatly tossed away any lingering regrets. Vesta stared fixedly at me as I burrowed into the blanket.
“Is there anything you’d like me to pass on?”
“Nope. Someone will send her a message even if I don’t.”
All I could do was hope that Rayleigh would come to his senses. If he still refused to understand where I was coming from after I put my life on the line to try to persuade him, then there was nothing I could do about it. There would be no turning back for him.
It was much better to deal with this situation now, even if it kicked up some noise. Well anyway, we were still young, so it was possible to use our ages as an excuse. Stifling a yawn, I spoke to Vesta.
“Thank you for your help.”
“I will still need to make a report, though.”
I gave her a small smile.
“I guess I’ll have to ask the Duke to be understanding and let me off.”
My vision grew dim.
I think it will be hard to hold on any longer.
“I’ll sleep for a bit…”
Rather than concealing her presence right away, Vesta stood fixed in place, gazing down at me. She looked like a graceful leopard.
Just as I was on the verge of falling into a deep sleep, I managed to squeak a word out.
“Hey.”
Vesta raised an eyebrow. I did my best to speak as clearly as I could.
“If it seems like I’m going to wake up too late… If a lot of time has passed and I haven’t woken up…”
It bothered me that I had slept for two whole days.
I had no desire to sleep for such a ridiculously long time again. I had to meet up with Olga and I really didn’t want to make Adele more worried than he already was. He was probably upset since I had acted so recklessly.
At the time I hadn’t been able to come up with a better, more amicable way of convincing Rayleigh to listen. I had been deeply shocked since I had had no idea that he would threaten Olga.
Managing to figure out what I was trying to say, Vesta nodded.
“I will take responsibility for waking you up.”
I felt a little reassured. Ilina would speak softly to me in order to wake me up, but I had some hope that Vesta Grania would wake me up by splashing water on my face.
Ah, please. Not this time. I really hate sleeping for too long.
There are so many people I want to see and just as many people waiting to see me.
“You have to. You promised.”
Unable to resist any longer, I closed my eyes.
<End of Volume 2>
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Notes:
[1] 밀고 당기기 (sometimes shortened to 밀당) or ‘pushing and pulling’ refers to a method of attracting the attention or interest of another person while in (or trying to start) a romantic relationship. One person will ‘push’ the other away by pretending to be indifferent, then ‘pull’ them closer by acting affectionate. A similar expression in English would be ‘playing hard to get’.