For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 59
We hadn’t even been away from the capital for a full day, and we were already being attacked! I bit my lip as I stared at Feyden’s tense back.
‘No way… Could this be someone sent by Declan?’
No, it couldn’t be. Even though he had sworn never to forget me, Clovin had handed me a contract demanding that I leave the capital immediately. People like him wouldn’t assign anyone to trail me so easily.
Besides, there was no way Declan could command the Duke’s men in just one day.
I forced the image of Declan’s obsessive red eyes out of my mind.
I clenched the fabric of Ariel’s priest robes as he was standing protectively in front of me. Ariel gently placed his hand over mine, as if to calm me down.
“Feyden is with us, so there’s no need to worry too much.”
They said Feyden had been strong enough to defeat most knights even before he came of age… He was destined to become a Mercenary King, so I could trust him, right?
I hadn’t actually seen him use his sword before… but seeing how he had subdued Ford with just a kick yesterday and had never denied being strong, that must mean he was confident, right?
“I really hope so…”
Otherwise, we’re all doomed.
“Hey, Boss.”
“Y-yes?”
My mind, filled with terrifying thoughts of being dragged back by Declan, left my mouth dry. Feyden’s sharp voice broke through my thoughts.
“Come on, be honest.”
“About what?”
Feyden cracked his neck, the sound echoing loudly. His voice was nonchalant, as if he wasn’t even concerned by the seriousness of the situation.
“How much debt are you in for people to be tailing you like this? Or did you kill someone?”
I wasn’t in debt… but I did run away from someone who swore, ‘I will never forget. You will always be my master.’ If stealing Declan’s heart is a crime, then… maybe that counts?
I swallowed those unspoken thoughts and shouted,
“That’s not it!”
Feyden muttered to himself, though it was loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Ha. So you are a criminal. If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have signed the contract.”
“…I’m not!”
“Well, this is my loss, then. Looks like I’m going to have to deal with these guys all the time from now on. Meanwhile, that priest over there is just going to stand by, praying.”
As Feyden’s grumbling grew louder, the figures hiding in the shadows began to reveal themselves. Seeing the sharp weapons they were holding, I quickly hid behind Ariel.
“This is exactly why I hired you with that high salary! Do something about them!”
“This is a scam contract.”
Despite his complaints, Feyden swiftly changed his expression the moment the armed men charged at him, pushing off the ground and leaping into action.
***
Whack— Thump—
Yesterday and today, the same chaos.
‘Why do these things keep happening?’
The screams of the men and the blood pooling on the dirt overwhelmed me, and all thoughts of travel were pushed aside, replaced by fear.
The reality was so different from what I had imagined. The rosy vision of a new life I had dreamed of was far removed from this.
“Right… this is the world I’m in.”
A world where human lives are treated like insects, where it’s not strange for the person beside you to be killed. It was a brutal and unethical world from the novel.
As I watched Feyden return after clearing away the corpses, his face emotionless, I let out a thin sigh.
‘Feyden was only trying to protect us. In this world, you have to kill to survive.’
I tried to rationalize the death I had witnessed, struggling to come to terms with it. Even though I had been reborn in this body, I couldn’t become numb to death.
“I’m going to wash up.”
Feyden glanced at me with a dry look, briefly checking to see if I was unhurt before turning away and walking off.
I should thank him.
But I couldn’t get the words out.
It was only after the sound of his footsteps faded that I managed to nod slightly.
Soon, a cool cloth gently touched my cheek.
“Priest?”
“Are you alright?”
Ariel’s fingers were slightly red, likely from rinsing the cloth in the cold stream nearby.
“Thank you…”
“You must have been very frightened. You did well to endure it.”
His gaze softened as he looked into my eyes, offering a comforting smile. His warmth helped to calm the frantic beating of my heart.
As I fiddled with the small handkerchief in my hands, I glanced up at Ariel. Sitting beside me, staring at the campfire, his expression was difficult to read. I wondered what thoughts were running through his mind.
Someone who had spent his entire life in the temple, praying and listening to kind words, must have been deeply shocked by the attack we just experienced.
Even though I was overwhelmed myself, I couldn’t help but feel worried about Ariel, who seemed so fragile.
With a small voice, I began to speak, despite the fact that I had my own burdens to bear.
“I’m sorry, because of me… If you want to go back, just let me know.”
