For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 25
Last night—
Before breaking into the office safe, I made a separate visit.
Knock, knock.
“It’s me, Gina.”
It was the servants’ quarters.
Late at night, Gina opened the door reluctantly, suspicious of my visit.
Creak.
She peeked through the small opening.
“What brings you here, Miss…?”
Since the incident at the laundry area, she hadn’t bullied or ignored me, but her expression asked why I was here now.
I wedged my foot in the door gap and pushed it open.
“Let’s talk inside.”
Reluctantly, Gina opened the door fully, and I walked in and closed it behind me.
In the silence that settled between us, Gina’s eyes darted around, trying to read my expression.
Knowing each other for five years, it was the first time I had sought her out, so her suspicion was understandable.
Not wanting to waste time, I got straight to the point.
“Take this.”
A pearl necklace dropped onto Gina’s palm. Next, a small ruby-encrusted ring, then a sapphire-dusted scarf.
With each expensive item that landed in her hand, Gina’s face grew more and more ashen.
“Wow. You do remember, don’t you?”
“….”
“Yes. These are the items you stole from Lavelier and pinned on me.”
Gina, holding the valuable items, started to tremble.
She seemed terrified that I might use my changed status to tell someone important.
‘As if I’d stoop that low.’
I gently folded her fingers over each item. Eventually, she was clutching the expensive accessories in her fist.
“Take these and leave now.”
“What?”
“If you sell those jewels, you’ll have a few months’ worth of living expenses.”
“Leave? What are you saying…?”
Kneeling, Gina looked up at me with a face about to cry.
“Enne, she… told me you stole these jewels. I met her just now.”
“Enne? No, that can’t be true!”
Did she truly believe her closest friend, Enne, wouldn’t betray her?
Such shallow friendship.
“When I asked if she would rather be kicked out penniless for covering up your crime or name the real culprit and get some money, she immediately said it was you.”
“…Enne….”
Gina’s eyes darkened with despair and anger.
“So run away now. I’ll help you escape with your lover, Belvo.”
“Why… why are you helping me, Miss?”
I stared at Gina’s tear-streaked face and then smiled brightly.
“Does it look like I’m helping?”
“…Pardon?”
No, I’m not.
I warned her that she could either lose the jewels and get kicked out or leave with them, and she stuffed the jewels into her bosom.
“You’re really helping me escape with Belvo, right?”
“Of course. There’s not much time. The search party will start at dawn.”
So run away quickly.
As far as possible.
That way, I can buy some time.
I watched them from a distance as they fled, carrying only a simple bag and Belvo who had a broken arm, then turned away.
They wouldn’t get far before being executed.
***
“Listen carefully, Declan.”
“Yes.”
“You and I are accomplices. So, you mustn’t tell anyone about this secret. Do you understand?”
“Accomplices…? Of course! I only follow your will, Master.”
Declan’s eyes seemed to sparkle at the words ‘accomplices’ and ‘secret’.
…It must be a misunderstanding I can ignore.
He didn’t seem to care that he was in danger because of me; he was just excitedly watching the guards patrolling outside.
‘…Can I trust him? This kid.’
I let out a silent sigh as I watched Declan’s back, his gaze fixed out the window.
It felt like he had been following me more closely since we broke into the safe together.
Like children sharing a secret and giggling together. This is just making me more worried.
The third rule. My personal rule of not engaging in idle talk or sharing emotions was crumbling.
No matter how hard I tried not to chat, living in the same room for weeks, it wasn’t easy to stay silent like enemies.
I had to accept that there were significant flaws in the rules I had set.
And breaking those rules came with a hefty price.
My mouth felt dry.
Declan, wagging an invisible tail, made me increasingly anxious.
The time to part from him was approaching.
But if he felt this close to me and considered me a comrade…
Once we go our separate ways, it might be difficult to sever his interest. Rather, it might just fuel his obsessive tendencies even more.
I wanted to cut all ties with him the moment we part, so watching him have this growing sense of closeness was uncomfortable.
