I Helped The Imprisoned Male Lead And He Became Obsessed - Chapter 89

Emilian’s crimson eyes, like radiant gemstones, rippled deeply with emotion.

“‘Not a misunderstanding’ means…”

He spoke slowly, carefully choosing his words.

“…that you weren’t just pitying me?”

The lamplight on the bedside table cast a soft glow over his face. I gazed up at him, unmoving for a moment, then cautiously sat upright.

Where do I even begin?

How do I explain it all?

After rejecting his confession and running to a place where he could no longer reach me, would he believe me now if I said I cared for him? Would he dismiss it, saying I was confusing pity with love?

Even if he did, I couldn’t blame him.

But… I don’t want to let him keep misunderstanding forever.

Breaking the silence that hung heavily between us, I finally began to speak.

“When I first met you as a child… maybe, back then, it was just pity. I couldn’t turn a blind eye to you, suffering from those cruel experiments.”

Emilian listened intently, his face calm, like still water. But beneath that serene exterior, I could sense something stirring, like a whirlpool just below the surface.

“But things are different now,” I continued.

I couldn’t pinpoint exactly when I began to feel this way about him. I only knew that the strength he carried, something I lacked, had drawn me in.

Even when faced with unbearable pain, he never gave up. That resilience, that unyielding spirit, shone brighter than any gemstone I had ever seen.

“Maybe… I was drawn to that light without even realizing it.”

As if untangling a knotted thread, my suppressed emotions slowly unraveled.

This wasn’t something I was used to. Sharing my heart—confessing my feelings—was unfamiliar territory. It was clumsy, awkward, and deeply embarrassing. My gaze dropped instinctively, avoiding his.

Was this how Emilian had felt when he confessed to me?

I’d never realized how much courage it took to utter the simple words, “I like you.”

“Emil… I…”

Only one final phrase remained, yet my lips refused to move. Had I used up all my courage during my earlier ramblings?

Then, I felt warmth against my skin—a gentle yet firm touch.

Emilian’s hand tilted my chin upward, aligning my gaze with his.

His eyes burned, intense and scorching, like they could consume me whole in that moment.

“Look at me and say it,” he said, his voice quiet but commanding.

Of course, Emilian had always been quick to pick up on things, even as a child.

I, on the other hand, was terrible at hiding my emotions. Whatever I felt always found its way to my face.

I tried to glance away, but Emilian didn’t let me.

My head, gently held in place by his hand, didn’t budge. He didn’t seem to be using much force, yet I couldn’t escape his steady grip.

Gripping the edge of the blanket between my fingers, I murmured, “You already know what I want to say, don’t you?”

“Maybe. But sometimes, words need to be spoken to be truly understood,” he replied with unshaken composure.

I couldn’t help but think he was teasing me, even though he already knew.

The lamplight flickered in his crimson eyes, mirroring the glow of the flame.

Looking into them, I suddenly recalled a memory. The night we had released sky lanterns together, their light decorating the dark heavens like stars.

I could vividly picture his face from that night, the moment he told me how he felt.

I hadn’t been able to respond then, but now, I couldn’t leave things unsaid.

Once I made that decision, the words came effortlessly, flowing from my lips.

“I like you, Emilian.”

For so long, I had lacked the courage to admit this, even to myself. Unlike Serena, I didn’t have the power to heal him.

Perhaps this decision was selfish.

But I didn’t want to hide my feelings anymore.

The memory of the previous night—the moment in the forest when death had stared me in the face—came rushing back.

All that time, I had buried my emotions so deeply that I almost left without ever telling him the truth.

I’d convinced myself it was okay, that he didn’t need to know.

But in that moment of near loss, I realized how much I had been lying to myself.

I didn’t want to carry that regret again.

So, I spoke, finally letting it out:

“Emilian, I love you.”

My voice rang clearly, reaching him.

It was like a spark had been struck, igniting something within him.

His once calm gaze flared with sudden warmth. Reaching out, he touched my face gently, his fingers brushing against my skin.

“Anise… you break down my resolve so easily.”

A soft smile curved his lips, as warm and sweet as honey.

“I’ll take back what I said before. I don’t care if it was just pity—because I know it’s not.”

As Emilian tilted his head slightly, the distance between us closed. His cool, refreshing scent filled the air, his warm breath brushing against my skin, and my heart pounded fiercely in my chest.

“I want you completely,” he murmured, his voice tinged with the raw hunger of someone who had been yearning for far too long. “Then, now, and always.”

His strong arm encircled my waist, pulling me closer, and his hand gently cradled the back of my head, guiding me to him.

When his lips captured mine, it was soft yet unrelenting. I closed my eyes and surrendered to him, feeling the connection deepen as his tongue brushed lightly against my teeth before slipping inside.

His movements were deliberate, tender yet consuming, his warm tongue tangling with mine, exploring, teasing. Every stroke sent tremors down my spine, a familiar yet overwhelming sensation that left me trembling.

“Hah…”

Our breaths mingled, heavy and damp, as his grip around me tightened, as if he were afraid to ever let go again.

I raised my arms and wrapped them around him, holding him just as tightly, pouring all my emotions into that embrace.

I didn’t know what lay at the end of this path, but I had made my choice.

I wouldn’t run away anymore.

***

A warm, white glow enveloped my wounded arm, cascading over the injuries like sunlight breaking through a cloud. Everywhere the light touched, the gashes slowly knitted themselves back together, leaving no trace of the harm that had been done.

I marveled at the sight, captivated by the healing process, when Emilian’s firm voice broke through my thoughts.

“Not even the smallest scar should remain. That’s why I brought you here,” he said, arms crossed, standing at the foot of the examination bed.

The priest who was performing the healing looked up at him nervously, wiping beads of sweat from his brow.

Earlier that morning, Emilian had brought the priest all the way from a neighboring village.

The closest temple was half a day’s journey by carriage, but Emilian had flown over the mountains using his magic, carrying the priest along like a piece of luggage.

‘I nearly fell over in shock when he arrived, practically dragging the priest with him.’

Looking composed but speaking with chilling intent, Emilian had told the priest, “If even a millimeter of a scar remains, I’ll make sure the same wound appears on your body.”

His expression was pleasant, his tone light, but the words themselves were anything but.

The priest’s hands had trembled like leaves, and he worked even more diligently to channel divine energy into my wound.

“Emil, stop intimidating the priest,” I had scolded softly, shaking my head at him.

“Intimidation? That’s a harsh interpretation. I was offering encouragement,” he replied with an innocent smile, his voice calm as ever.

Then, without a hint of hesitation, he bent down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.

Perhaps it was because we had finally shared our feelings the night before, but Emilian had become utterly unabashed in his affection for me.

He showed no regard for others’ presence, leaving me flustered under his direct displays of love.

We’re not alone here! The priest is right there!

I glanced toward the priest, expecting his reaction, but he seemed to have decided that ignoring everything except the wound was the safest course of action. Whether he truly hadn’t noticed or was pretending not to see, I couldn’t tell.

Though I was thrilled to be with Emilian, his boldness left me with a slightly awkward smile.

Finally, the priest let out a weary sigh and said, “The treatment is complete, Your Grace.”

His face was pale, and he looked utterly drained, as though he’d poured every last drop of his divine energy into healing me.

Looking at my arm, I was amazed to find it completely healed. The wounds the wolf’s claws had left were gone, as if they had never existed.

“Thank you so much for coming all this way and for treating me, Father.”

“It was nothing. It’s an honor to be of service to the future Duchess,” the young priest said with a polite bow to both Emilian and me before exiting the apothecary.

I barely had time to protest or clarify before he was gone.

Standing by the doorway, I turned to Emilian with narrowed eyes, my tone accusatory.

“Future Duchess? Did you really tell him that?”

“Better to get used to hearing it now,” Emilian replied, his lips curving into a crescent smile.

As he spoke, his hand slid smoothly around my waist, pulling me into his embrace. The casual possessiveness in his gesture made me let out a small, flustered sound.

“What if the children see?” I whispered, my voice tinged with exasperation.

“What’s the problem? They should know by now—we’re a couple,” he murmured, his tone sweet yet unyielding.

His words made my heart flutter with a pleasant rhythm, reaffirming that the events of last night weren’t just a dream.

But then, his hand began to wander, slipping subtly under the hem of my tunic. The glint in his eye made it clear he intended to pick up where he’d left off the night before.

I grabbed his wandering hand, halting its advance. My narrowed eyes met his mischievous gaze.

“There’s something more urgent right now,” I said firmly. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about that building we need to investigate.”

Emilian didn’t resist as I held his hand, but his gaze shifted toward the forest in the distance. The golden morning sunlight highlighted the sharp angles of his handsome profile.

“Of course I remember,” he said, his tone smooth, before leaning down to bury his face against my neck.

“Does that mean I’ll have your permission when we get back?” he asked teasingly, his warm breath sending a shiver down my spine.

“That’s…”

I hesitated, reminded of how long he had waited—seven long years—for me to reciprocate his feelings. It made his impatience more understandable, though I still couldn’t help but feel flustered.

“…I’ll think about it,” I said quickly, slipping out of his embrace and picking up my pace toward the apothecary door.

Behind me, Emilian chuckled, his laughter crisp and light like a summer breeze.

The sound carried a quiet confidence, as if to say: No matter how fast you run, I’ll always be two steps ahead.

***

As we descended through the thick canopy of the forest, the gray building slowly came into view.

The dense trees formed a natural roof, making it hard to spot the structure at first, but as Emilian carefully lowered our altitude, it became unmistakable—a stark, unnatural presence crouched amid the lush greenery.

When Emilian set me down, my feet met the firm ground, and I steadied myself.

Even under the bright midday sun, the building exuded an eerie, oppressive atmosphere.

Emilian began heading toward the partially collapsed entrance, his steps confident yet cautious.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked, glancing back at me. “I can go in alone.”

“No,” I said firmly. “We’ll go together.”

The memory of the wolf attack the previous night still sent chills down my spine, making me hesitate for a fraction of a second. But I quickly shook it off.

I didn’t want to leave this investigation solely to Emilian. More importantly, I didn’t want him to face a place like this alone—a place that so vividly resembled the facility of our shared nightmares.

Together, we stepped inside.

The corridor with rows of barred cells had been on the second floor. The memory of those cells, reminiscent of rooms that once imprisoned test subjects, weighed heavily on me.

The possibility that children could still be held here had haunted me since the previous night.

We decided to head upstairs first, climbing the creaking staircase carefully. The tension in the air thickened as we ascended.

When we reached the second floor and turned the corner, my eyes widened in shock.

“What… is that?”