Male Lead, Don’t Follow Me! - Chapter 4

***

As I suffered alone, I recalled what my mother used to tell me when I was young.

<If you keep not listening, I’ll send you to the forbidden forest!>

Back then, parents often told disobedient children that they would send them to the forbidden forest, known for monster sightings.

Those words were like a bolt from the blue for young children, often causing them to burst into tears.

Among them, I too would grab my mother’s legs and suddenly change my attitude, promising to behave well when I heard such words.

‘And yet, that place has become where my story is heard.’

No one came because of the rumors about monsters, and people started to avoid it.

But knowing everything, I thought there was no better place to pour out my story than here.

At first, I started by talking about trivial things.

For example, I began calmly saying that this was inside a novel and that I would soon die, but as the resentment welled up, I ended up sobbing while telling the story.

For a while, I spoke quietly, shedding tears and snot, wondering if someone might hear…

“But people can’t hear me anyway, right?”

People tend to become numb and bolder as time passes.

What started as whispered lamentations gradually turned into shouting to vent my frustrations.

In fact, yelling like that did make me feel better.

“Bishwaltz has a mole on his butt!”

“You bastard, just try to lay a finger on Ephelia! Even if you do, I can’t do anything! But things won’t go your way! I hope you trip and fall!”

After meeting Bishwaltz, I would come here grinding my teeth, revealing his secrets, and even cursing the male lead for Ephelia’s future.

For Ephelia to live, I must live, and for her to stay away from Bishwaltz, I must survive.

Of course, this was because I was certain that others couldn’t hear me.

***

“But why was my voice heard?”

I fell into deep thought while biting my nails. Nervously chewing without realizing it, I felt a gaze and quietly folded my hands.

“My lady, is something troubling you?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Yes, very much so.”

I subtly averted my gaze.

Ena’s eyes were intense, but I knew well that the person who pretends not to know wins.

Ena let out a small sigh and started to groom me, combing my hair.

“Have you heard the recent buzz?”

My pinkish hair began to flow smoothly under Ena’s hands.

‘Could Ena have also heard about the forbidden forest?’

I watched carefully, looking for the right timing, unsure how to bring it up first.

Although I had been going there often lately, I hadn’t gone since the rumors spread, just in case.

“Why? Did something happen?”

I feigned ignorance and asked Ena. I rolled my eyes while quietly submitting to Ena’s touch.

“Didn’t you hear at the gathering about strange sounds from the forbidden forest?”

“Ah… Y-yes, I heard. But why?”

“Well, Duke Bishwaltz…”

Duke Bishwaltz what…? I grew anxious at Ena’s hesitation.

“They say he’s gay!”

So it was that story after all. I wonder how far it has spread.

“Th-that might not be true, right?”

I felt guilty. At this rate, it might even reach the Duke’s ears.

‘Perhaps it already has.’

Have I ever hated my past self so much? I wanted to tear my hair out.

‘Where can I go to talk now?’

There were still many things I hadn’t said, but it was best to lay low until things calmed down.

Although I felt sorry for the Duke, it was very sad to lose a place where I could open up and talk.

“But there are also rumors about a monster appearing, and they say there’s even an investigation?”

“Well, that’s true…?”

“Then, my lady… are you going too?!”

Ena covered her mouth with a shocked expression and whimpered.

Since I did possess the power of spirits, if help was requested, I would have to go out of duty.

“But you barely have any power! If you go, you won’t even be able to use your power against the monster…”

“It won’t be that bad, right?”

Although my spirit power was weak, I had many items. I thought I could manage somehow with those.

I might not be max level, but I shouldn’t be a complete newbie either…

“What do you mean it won’t be that bad? You look like you’d collapse at the slightest touch! I must inform the Madam.”

“No…”

Bang!

“Kiara! Let’s say you’re sick for the time being.”

The door burst open, and my mother shouted at me.

Judging by her disheveled hair, she must have rushed here as soon as she heard the news.

“My child! Your father will speak well…! No, why are you here at this hour?”

“And you…”

Mother and Father looked at each other’s faces in front of the door and nodded.

It was nice to see the two of them united in their determination as if they had become one after a long time.

‘But something feels off…’

A moment of silence filled the room.

My parents, who had been eyeing each other, soon composed themselves as if nothing had happened and hardened their expressions.

Father spoke to me firmly.

“From today on, you’ve fallen ill, so remember that.”

“Me?”

But I’m perfectly fine. I raised both hands and looked at Ena.

However, it seems she was of the same mind.

She began to mess up my neatly arranged hair and applied powder to my lips, creating a sickly makeup that anyone would recognize.

Before I knew it, my face had turned pale and bloodless.

“Yes, Kiara. Do as your father says. To this mother’s eyes, you look terribly ill.”

“No, am I really sick?”

I wondered when I had fallen ill without realizing it. Somehow, being told I was sick made me feel like I actually was…

Not going to the forbidden forest meant I wouldn’t encounter Bishwaltz, which was more than perfect for me.

‘There’s nothing to gain by going to that forest anyway.’

Led by Ena’s hand, I eventually lay down on the bed and blinked while staring blankly at the ceiling.

I should send a letter to Ephelia, she’ll be worried.

“Now rest. Think of it as staying secluded in the mansion for a while.”

“Yes, I understand.”

If they tell me to rest, I should rest with peace of mind.

“…”

Wait a minute!

Just as I was about to close my eyes, I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten.

I used to mark the spots where I secretly picked and hid rare herbs with a handkerchief so I wouldn’t forget.

Since they were so precious, I thought it would raise suspicion if I took too many at once, so it was to remember the locations.

I had left them there without much thought because I was planning to go again this week.

“No!”

Fortunately, our family crest wasn’t embroidered on the handkerchief. But thanks to the magic potion I applied, it glows at night.

That meant that if someone found the potion, they could easily identify the owner of the scarf. The glowing magic potion was expensive, making it perfect for identifying who bought it.

In a panic, I hurriedly changed into my outdoor clothes.

‘At this rate, I’ll be summoned tomorrow!’

If I were caught, everyone would surely find it strange that I went alone to a forest teeming with monsters.

“Even if it’s clumsy, I should at least do this much to show sincerity, right?”

I carefully covered a pillow with a blanket, pretending it was me, and headed towards the window.

Peeking down, the dizzying height made me hesitate.

‘If I jump from here, something will definitely break.’

I didn’t dare to endure such pain.

In the end, I took out the teleport scroll I had been saving.

It broke my heart, but if I kept saving this, I might have to offer my neck instead.

Riiip.

With the sound of money being spent, my vision flickered.

***

As soon as I felt the familiar scent of the forest, I opened my eyes with a sigh of relief. The forest, with darkness slightly settling in, was still profound and gloomy.

To me, the quietness of this place felt like a sanctuary.

The leaves rustling in the wind added to the desolation, but I was already used to this much.

“Fortunately, at this hour, there’s no one…”

Gasp!

Startled, I quickly untied the handkerchief.

I hastily put it in my bosom and hid behind a tree. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might jump out of my mouth.

‘Why are the footsteps getting closer?!’

The sound of someone treading on grass could be heard.

It was clear that someone was walking towards me.

“So, you’re saying you definitely heard something here?”

“Yes.”