For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 4
On my fifteenth birthday, I woke up at dawn as usual and headed to the balcony.
Just like any other day, it was a typical birthday dawn with heavy snowfall.
True to the Margrave family guarding the frontier, my father and brother had returned from an expedition today. I could see their long procession in the distance.
…Up to this point, it was an ordinary day.
‘However.’
If there was one thing different today,
It was the sight of slaves chained up in a row like fish behind my father’s carriages.
Despite the deep snow in the harsh winter cold, the slaves were being dragged along wearing only thin clothes and bare feet.
In this world where human rights are trampled underfoot, slaves aren’t anything special, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the procession of slaves.
Because there was someone I was waiting for.
Leaning on the railing of my room’s balcony, I quickly scanned the appearance of the slaves and gasped.
“…He’s here.”
The slave with a large scar connecting his neck and ear, with black hair and red eyes.
He was the male lead of the novel I transmigrated into, “To Become the Master of that Collar”, and also the person I had been desperately waiting for over ten years.
When the slave’s red eyes turned toward me from afar,
A thrilling chill ran through my body.
‘The time has finally come!’
I kicked off from my spot and dashed downstairs.
***
‘Estira, stay calm. It’s all been practiced and prepared.’
“Sorry, but… I don’t know how to bathe in a noble’s bathroom.”
The reason why all the transmigrators obsessively clung to the male lead or the villain was because of their insane good looks that completely charmed them into kindness…
‘I was fully prepared and resolved for this!’
I scolded myself for almost having been nice to him, captivated by the male lead’s forlornness, and shook my head.
“What do you think happens if you catch a cold, huh?”
I deliberately hardened my expression and snapped at him hysterically. Then, the male lead shrank his shoulders and bowed his head deeply.
“…I’m sorry.”
Ah, was it too strong?
I had only practiced speaking into thin air, and since this was my first real attempt, it was difficult to gauge the intensity. Besides, having grown up scolded as a bastard, it’s been a long time since I had a proper conversation with anyone.
“Ahem.”
I glanced at the back of his round head, about to call a servant to teach him how to bathe.
My lips, which had faltered up and down, merely twitched as I struggled to continue speaking.
‘Because.’
I momentarily forgot that in this house, I couldn’t even order around a single servant as I wished.
That this was all the improvement in my situation after five years.
‘I feel a bit teary-eyed.’
Eventually, I sighed and led him to the bathroom myself.
“Go in. I’ll show you.”
Declan’s eyes darted around in confusion.
A noble lady personally doing such a task must have surprised him. But Declan would soon realize…
How plain my room is compared to other noble ladies’ rooms, and that a lady like me living in such a room isn’t much to speak of.
‘Will he ignore me like the maids in this house eventually?’
Continually reminding myself not to be overly kind to him, I began explaining with a cold expression.
“This creates bubbles when rubbed. Just fill the bucket with water and wash.”
After my somewhat unfriendly explanation, I glanced at Declan, pupils trembling slightly.
Even this shabby little bathroom seemed marvelous to Declan, who listened intently as if he had seen the Emperor’s chambers.
As the son of a duke, Declan could have lived enviably, being served in the finest bathrooms.
What was the original story thinking, making such a young child suffer like this?
‘No, no! Estira, what are you doing?’
Realizing belatedly that I was feeling sympathy for him, I quickly shook off the thought.
“I can’t stand to see you so filthy, so make sure to wash up thoroughly.”
I snapped in a sharp tone and was about to leave the bathroom when something stopped me.
It was his right arm, which seemed uncomfortable.
Declan hurried to take off his upper garment at my command, but his movements were unnatural, as if he might have broken a bone.
Seeing Declan struggle to undress with only his left hand, I couldn’t move another step.
“….”
Why does my expression have to be so calm, making it even more uncomfortable!
“Huu… Lift your arm.”
Finally, I turned back and helped him lift his garment.
Startled, Declan murmured, “The hem might be dirty…,” but I clenched my teeth and ignored his pitiful voice.
After I had completely removed his upper garment, I…
I froze in place.
“This is…”
His back was covered in scars.
The spine bones protruded sharply, and Declan’s back was filled with long scars and wounds piled on top of each other.
“Exactly….”
I didn’t know who the relentless person was, but the scars drawn several times in the same place were so deep that the flesh inside was clearly visible and festering.
It was truly… a dismal sight.
Wondering what he might think of me, standing motionless holding his clothes, Declan quickly spoke.
“It’s okay. It’s nothing. I can work.”
“….”
Watching the male lead’s calm face as he repeated the same phrase like a parrot, I was suddenly engulfed in a sense of unease.
‘What kind of unease? Well…’
Eventually, I feared that I would end up being kind to this pitiable and sad male lead and fall victim to his mad obsession—a terrifying future seemed visible.
My head started to spin.
