For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 38
Caw, caw.
On the high roof of the Duke’s castle, birds with black eyes and black feathers sat in a row, waiting for a chance to feast.
Their shining black pupils stayed fixed on the highest point of the sharp iron gate.
If it weren’t for that human shaking all over, guarding the food, they would have feasted already.
Caw.
“Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away!”
The person desperately trying to fend off the crows was none other than Lavelier. She had spent an entire day running around, trying to chase away the birds.
This action continued whether the crows were there or not.
“Go away, go away!”
Her eyes, repeating the same phrase like a parrot that knew only one sentence, were unfocused, looking like those of a dead animal.
When the townsfolk, having heard the news about the Margrave’s family, approached the gate, they clicked their tongues and turned away, deterred by Lavelier swinging her skirt to block them.
None of them showed any signs of sympathy on their faces. They merely nodded, acknowledging it as a fitting end.
After the carriage from the capital had departed, someone approached Lavelier, who was lying on the ground staring at the moon.
“B-Brother?”
She shot up upon seeing a man dressed similarly and bearing a similar demeanor to Pacion.
She crawled towards him with her messy hands, grabbing his hem and sobbing.
“B-Brother. Where did you…go…?”
But her brief moment of regained sanity was cut short when the man grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up.
Unable to resist his strong grip, Lavelier was dragged away like a sack of potatoes by the stranger, while others dressed similarly emerged from the shadows.
Without a sound, they replaced the heads on the iron bars with similar-looking ones and quickly disappeared.
And no one found it strange that Lavelier went missing.
***
“Y-Young Duke. You shouldn’t get up yet. Your fever is still high…! Young Duke!”
His vision was blurry, and his head felt like it was going to explode. His limbs, moving awkwardly, didn’t feel like his own, but he had to go.
He had no choice but to go.
If he remained bedridden like this, Estira, his master, would surely leave him behind.
He had tried every possible way to get to Estira but often ended up confined to his room. But he couldn’t give up.
He had heard that preparations for departure to the mansion in the capital were complete.
‘I won’t go anywhere without Estira.’
Declan looked up at the knight blocking his door and clasped his hands in front of his face.
“Please open the door. I need to go. I need to go to my master.”
“Young Duke… That lady will also be going to the capital. For now, you need to rest.”
“Useless slaves get discarded. Please. Open the door.”
Where did he think he was going with a body that couldn’t even stand properly?
The knight, Owen, who was in charge of guarding Declan, was deeply troubled.
Hadn’t he lived his whole life as a slave? He was so young, yet his mind was in such a state.
Owen clicked his tongue in pity.
The Young Duke, who was light enough to lift with one hand, was trembling with fear.
“The capital is far from here. You need to be healthy to ride the carriage for such a long journey, Young Duke.”
“Please let me go to my master, Sir Knight.”
As a father with a son of the same age, Owen felt a heavy heart. How should he console this Young Duke?
Owen forcibly laid Declan down on the bed and covered him up to his neck with a blanket, pondering deeply.
How did his wife console their son when he threw a tantrum?
She usually spoke slowly in a warm voice while making eye contact.
“Young Duke. Don’t worry.”
Then, she would make a sweet deal, like promising him his favorite snack.
“If you sleep well and your fever goes down, I’m sure you can be with Miss Estira.”
“….”
When their son made a grumpy face at her words, she would sometimes use a stronger tactic, like a threat.
Owen didn’t want to use such an extreme method on this unstable child, but continuing to refuse medicine and not sleep was more dangerous.
Owen handed Declan the medicine and explained softly.
“If you are unwell, we cannot leave for the capital. Miss Estira seems to be eagerly awaiting the moment to depart.”
Declan’s eyes, filled with desperation, wavered slightly.
Come to think of it, his master often showed a dreamy face, imagining what the capital might be like.
It was full of wonderful things but so far away that not just anyone could go.
Ah, I see.
‘Master wanted to go to the capital and used me for that purpose.’
That was the reason. She needed him. She wouldn’t abandon him.
Despite his feverish and overwhelmed thoughts, Declan came to his own conclusion and closed his eyes tightly.
If they went to the capital, he could be with his master. They would only be apart for a short time.
Declan was scared but didn’t want to hinder what she wanted. Especially not because he was sick and might hold her back.
Having made up his mind, Declan slowly extended his hand from under the blanket and looked up at Owen.
“If I take the medicine… I can see my master, right?”
