I Helped The Imprisoned Male Lead And He Became Obsessed - Chapter 70

For a moment, it felt as though time had stopped. All sound disappeared, and everything around us blurred, except for Emilian.

“I like you.” The words echoed in my ears.

The emotions Emilian had long suppressed and I had avoided acknowledging came through with crystal clarity.

Facing the overflow of his affection, my heart began to race uncontrollably. The harder I tried to calm it, the more intense the feeling became.

From childhood until now, I had always thought of Emilian as my closest friend. But…

The way my heart fluttered, the way I’d felt nervous every time our fingers brushed—it wasn’t the kind of affection one feels for a friend.

‘I… I think I like Emilian too.’

I couldn’t pinpoint when it had started, but I realized that if I didn’t care for him, I wouldn’t feel so elated hearing him confess.

I looked at Emilian, who was waiting for my answer.

“Emil, I…”

The words “I don’t dislike you either” rose to the tip of my tongue. But just as I was about to speak,

A face suddenly flashed in my mind—a woman with pale blonde hair and golden eyes.

Serena.

The person who was supposed to be here. The only one who could truly save Emilian.

As her image surfaced, clarity struck me like a cold splash of water.

If I accepted his confession…

‘Emilian might lose his chance to be healed by Serena.’

The dragon’s power coursing through Emilian’s body was too potent. Purifying it would require Serena to pour every ounce of her divine power into the process—a dangerous and life-threatening undertaking.

In the original story, Serena had loved Emilian deeply, and that love gave her the courage to risk everything. But now?

Though Serena had shown signs of affection for Emilian, they weren’t in love the way they were in the novel.

If I became the one at Emilian’s side, would Serena still make the same sacrifice? Or would Emilian’s chance at survival slip away?

I couldn’t be certain that Serena would take the risk to heal Emilian, especially when her feelings for him weren’t as deep as they had been in the novel.

And I couldn’t bear to push Emilian into such an uncertain situation.

Being with him filled me with joy and excitement, but…

Emilian had endured unimaginable suffering from the experiments conducted at the Transcendent Research Institute. More than anything, I wanted him to live free of pain from now on. That was my one and only wish.

So…

I gripped the hem of my clothing tightly and averted my gaze. I forced down the torrent of emotions threatening to spill over, suppressing them before they could escape.

“I’m sorry, Emil.”

As I uttered my rejection, Emilian’s crimson eyes wavered. The sweet, melting smile that had graced his lips disappeared, replaced by a taut, unreadable expression.

Was he angry with me? The thought crossed my mind, but before I could dwell on it, Emilian spoke.

“Anise, is that truly how you feel?”

I couldn’t answer right away. But having already rejected him, I couldn’t take back my words now.

After a long, difficult pause, I opened my mouth.

“…Yes. It’s the truth.”

The words came out with great effort.

Desperate to escape before hurting him further, I turned to leave. But Emilian grabbed my hand before I could walk away.

I tried to pull free, but his grip was strong. When I looked back, my eyes met his.

“Anise, you’ve always…”

His ruby-red eyes bore into me, sharp enough to pierce my resolve.

“…been terrible at lying.”

“…”

Even if he had seen through my lie, it wouldn’t change my decision.

I looked away, unable to speak. Seeing my silence, Emilian’s voice grew more intense.

“Why are you hiding your feelings?”

My feelings don’t matter.

What matters is you being healed from the side effects of those experiments, and never having to suffer again.

I swallowed those words, locking them inside, and met his gaze.

“I’m not hiding anything. So please… let me go.”

My voice was firm. The strength in his grip faltered slightly, and his neatly drawn brows furrowed.

He spoke again, his voice trembling with a pain he couldn’t hide.

“Do you really hate me?”

“…”

“Do you not have even the smallest feelings for me?”

If I wanted to reject him completely, I should have said yes. But I couldn’t bring myself to say those words.

I bit down on my lip, the weight of his question pressing on me. Unable to face him any longer, I twisted my wrist free from his grasp.

“I’m sorry, Emil. My answer won’t change.”

I enunciated each word carefully, hoping to leave him with no lingering hope. Then, as if fleeing, I turned and walked away.

Pushing through the festive crowd, I ran. Emilian’s wounded expression replayed in my mind, over and over. I thought it might have been easier if he’d just gotten angry instead.

But… this is for the best.

In the novel, Emilian should have already been healed by Serena. If things continued like this, his condition would only worsen with time.

I still couldn’t forget the image of him collapsing during our trip to Kelburn, writhing in pain and letting out agonized groans.

It felt as if all the pain he had endured was somehow my fault.

That was why I had to set everything right, even if it was only now.

As I ran, as though fleeing from everything, that single thought consumed my mind, echoing over and over.

***

In the distant sky, lanterns floated, illuminating the night brighter than the stars. All around, the lively sounds of the festival filled the air. Laughter erupted like fireworks, and the faces of couples gazing into each other’s eyes were adorned with blissful smiles.

Couples. Emilian had thought, perhaps, he and Anise could become something like that. But had it all been just a delusion?

A bitter chuckle escaped his lips.

“I didn’t think I’d be rejected like this.”

He exhaled sharply and tilted his head back, gazing up at the lantern-lit sky. Their glow painted the heavens like a masterpiece, but Emilian barely noticed. He ran a hand carelessly through his wind-tousled hair.

…At the very least, he hadn’t believed she hated him.

She had always been kind to him. Even if her inherent kindness had misled him into mistaking it for something more, he didn’t mind.

What he couldn’t handle any longer was suppressing his feelings, pretending they didn’t exist. His initial plan—to win her heart slowly and patiently—had unraveled. Seven years of restraint had reached their limit.

“I’m sorry, Emil.”

Her words, spoken after he finally confessed, were a rejection.

But those blue eyes of hers, glistening as if on the verge of tears, told him otherwise.

Her refusal couldn’t have been her true feelings.

But why? Was it because of the difference in their statuses?

Anise had always lacked ambition. Even things that were rightfully hers, she considered excessive, and undeserved.

If that was the reason, then it was a relief. But if there was another, deeper reason she couldn’t reveal…

Above his head, fireworks exploded with resounding bangs, scattering brilliant cascades of light across the sky. It was a magnificent sight, yet to Emilian, it meant nothing.

A world without her was no more than a drab, colorless void.

And so—

“Whatever the reason, I have no intention of letting you go.”

Her wishes didn’t matter. If she refused him, he would take her by force if necessary.

As he turned away, his crimson eyes deepened to a shade dark enough to swallow the light.

***

By the time I returned to the palace in a carriage, it was late at night.

The room was shrouded in darkness. Without even removing my coat, I collapsed onto the edge of the bed. My body felt heavy as if drained of all energy, as though I had completed an arduous task.

Sitting in the dark, Emilian’s face kept appearing in my mind.

Emil… Will he be okay?

Part of me wished he wasn’t too hurt. Yet at the same time, I wondered what right I had to worry about him after rejecting him.

Letting out a long sigh, I stood and turned on the magical stone lamp, which bathed the room in a warm, soft glow.

The familiar sight of my quarters came into view: a dresser with drawers, a desk made of fine wood, and a marble washstand. It was a room I had grown accustomed to.

Ever since I had followed Emilian to the palace, this had been my home.

Running my fingers over the worn edge of the desk, I thought,

…It’s time to leave for good.

From the beginning, I had resolved to leave as soon as the heroine appeared.

For seven years, I had stayed, indulging in the comfort and stability this place offered. But now, I had no more excuses to delay.

Swallowing the sting spreading through my chest, I closed my eyes, pretending not to feel it.

The next day, the research lab was busier than usual.

Dr. Hermann was preoccupied with clinical trials for a newly developed medication, while Theo was immersed in preparing for his research presentation.

The lab buzzed with energy, yet all I could do was steel my heart for the decision I had made.

On a normal day, the lab would have been filled with occasional chatter. But today, everyone seemed like a workaholic, fully immersed in their research.

By noon, the lab’s cafeteria was bustling with researchers.

As I dipped a piece of freshly baked white bread into steaming chicken soup, I asked hesitantly,

“Dr. Hermann, may I take a day off tomorrow?”

Dr. Hermann, who was layering thinly sliced smoked ham, cheese, and olives onto a piece of crispy bread, replied,

“There’s nothing urgent at the moment, so I don’t see why not. Is there a reason?”

“My health… isn’t great,” I said, trying to sound casual.

The guilt of lying to them jabbed at my conscience.

Theo, who was eating braised beef, chimed in,

“I heard you went to the lantern festival with the Duke yesterday. Maybe you caught too much of the river breeze?”

I forced an awkward smile.

“I think I dressed too lightly.”

“Ah, that explains it. You do look a bit pale today,” Dr. Hermann remarked with concern.

“If you’re feeling unwell, leave early today and get some rest.”

Their genuine worry pierced my heart. Over the years, I had grown so fond of them that lying to them felt unbearably painful.

For a moment, I considered whether I should at least say goodbye. But…

If I wanted to keep my departure a secret, this was the only way.

As I watched the two of them discuss research topics over their meal, I lowered my gaze.

I’m sorry, Dr. Hermann. Sorry, Theo.

***

Back at the lab, I began packing the research materials I had been working on into my bag.

Dr. Hermann and Theo were so absorbed in their work that they didn’t seem to notice what I was doing.

To avoid raising suspicion, I only took the essentials, leaving the rest behind. Taking everything would look too deliberate.

This way, I’ll be able to continue my research even after I leave…

Closing my bag, my gaze fell on a small medicine bottle sitting on the desk.

I picked up the brown bottle, watching the golden liquid inside shimmer as it swirled. Emilian might rely on this medication in my absence, but it wouldn’t be enough. His pain was growing worse, and eventually, he’d reach his limit. When that time came, Serena would be his only hope for healing.

No matter how much Emilian resisted it, that was the way the story was meant to unfold…

By the time the sun began to set, I had said goodbye to Dr. Hermann and Theo and left the lab.

There was much to do to prepare for my departure from the palace. I already had a destination in mind, and now that the decision was made, I needed to move quickly. The longer I delayed, the harder it would be to leave.

Thanks to the royalties from the patent on the Carmarine treatment, I don’t have to worry about funds to settle down.

As I walked, planning my next steps, I followed a path lined with blooming spring flowers.

It was then that someone appeared, walking toward me along the same path.

The sight of them made my expression freeze.

Of all the people I wanted to avoid, it had to be him.

And, of course, he was smiling as he approached me.