For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 88
“Feyden! Put down that sword immediately!”
“Sorry, but I can’t. This guy’s a rat.”
At Feyden’s fierce accusation, Ariel lowered his gaze slowly, unable to bring himself to look at Estira’s face, which was likely painted with disappointment.
“I said, put the sword down right now!”
“I have to kill him now to avoid future trouble.”
Feyden’s grip on the sword tightened as Estira’s urgent voice echoed through the forest.
“You’re saying it’s because Ariel betrayed us?”
“Of course.”
Estira remained silent for a moment at those words. Then, in a firm voice, she locked eyes with Feyden and said,
“…You’re a traitor too, aren’t you?”
The forest, shrouded in dim blue twilight, fell into an eerie silence.
***
My eyes bore into Feyden as if I could pierce through him, and even Ariel, who had been lost and wandering, slowly turned to face him.
The silence grew colder.
The sound of leaves rustling in the trees and the friendly feelings I once had for Feyden all faded away, turning to ice.
Because Feyden had lied to me with a brazen face, pretending to know nothing.
“Hey, potato. What’s this nonsense about being a traitor? I’m telling you, he’s the traitor.”
“Don’t bother trying to explain. I’m saying this because I already know.”
The forest, now fully cloaked in darkness, was mercilessly unforgiving.
The fast-encroaching shadows stole away our visibility, and the cold breeze winding through the trees wrapped itself tightly around me.
I rubbed my freezing arms but was also acutely aware of the sweat running down my forehead. My body was clearly not in good condition. My limbs felt heavy, and the cold sweat hinted at the onset of a serious illness.
I wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep, my head growing heavier with every passing second, but Feyden showed no intention of offering any help.
He shook his head in disbelief, his expression incredulous, and approached me.
“Potato, where did you hear such ridiculous things? What did that priest say to you?”
“Don’t try to pin this on Ariel. He has nothing to do with it.”
“Ha. Look at you. You always side with the priest and come down hard on me. Even though I caught him selling our information to a hooded bastard, my words don’t matter to you?”
The one who dealt the blow is the one getting mad. How ironic.
I didn’t bother trying to understand what had suddenly angered Feyden. I just stared at him silently.
Perhaps my calm demeanor frustrated him further, as Feyden stomped toward me, his heavy steps shaking the ground beneath him.
His large frame completely blocked my view.
“Do you even understand what’s important right now?”
“At least better than you do, Feyden. I know enough to understand that protecting our travel companions should come first.”
Feyden raked his hand roughly through his hair, his lips moving as if to utter harsh curses that didn’t make it out as sound.
“That bastard sold our information. He’s not a companion anymore. Get it?”
“I understand. I also understand that you’re no longer a companion.”
“…What?”
“You sold my information too.”
Feyden’s mouth clamped shut as he tried to argue. He must have realized that I wasn’t joking or speaking lightly. Nor was this something he could excuse away.
His hand, which had reached out as if to grab my arm in anger, hesitated before he pulled it back.
“You…”
“I’ve known all along.”
“From the start?”
“Yes.”
“Then why…”
“Why didn’t I say anything? Because I never expected trust in the first place. From you, or Ariel.”
At my dry response, both Feyden and Ariel’s expressions began to contort.
Ariel looked stricken, unable to meet my eyes, and his lips, pressed tightly together, had gone pale. Feyden’s expression was harder to read, caught somewhere between anger and pain, as he stared into my eyes.
“You didn’t expect trust?”
“Yes. Let’s just say I saw this coming.”
Finally, I leaned against a tree trunk, letting my exhaustion show. My confrontation with Feyden had drained more energy than I anticipated.
I wetted my parched mouth with saliva and turned my body slowly.
“So, stop saying you’ll kill Ariel. It doesn’t matter if there’s one traitor or two. And stop fighting, both of you.”
“……”
“Let’s go. It’s late.”
“Wait, you…!”
As I turned to walk away, my steps faltered when Feyden grabbed me roughly from behind, causing me to step on an uneven tree root.
Losing my balance, I felt the world spin and my vision darken momentarily.
“Ah.”
Clutching my dizzy head, I turned to look at Feyden, who had spun me around.
“Hey, are you…”
But before he could finish, I felt the strength leave my body entirely, and I collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
