Now You’re Obsessed - Chapter 25

‘Why is that coming up all of a sudden?’

And given the current situation, Lionel could misunderstand and think she and Caelo were getting married…

As expected, Lionel’s face turned completely pale, confirming her thoughts.

His lips moved several times as if to say something, but then they closed again. Ariel, unsure of what to do, stood frozen.

‘That expression…’

It was extremely rare for Lionel to show such an expression. Having watched him for a long time, Ariel knew that face appeared only when he was truly heartbroken.

‘Why?’

While she was wondering, Lionel made eye contact with her. The moment she saw that, Ariel’s chest ached even more.

‘Lionel.’

He appeared calm, but Ariel could see everything. He was at a loss for what to do. He looked as precarious as when he had been chased up a tree by a hunting dog, and he was afraid she might agree with Caelo. His frozen eyes and slightly parted lips revealed his inner turmoil.

‘But you…’

As Ariel, startled by Lionel’s face, unconsciously stepped back, Lionel unexpectedly turned slowly and began to walk away.

And Ariel saw it.

“…….”

For a while, Ariel stood there dazed, then started to follow him. Caelo’s hand, which had been on her shoulder, fell away with her movement.

“Ariel!”

“See you later, Caelo!”

“Don’t go, Ariel!”

Caelo’s voice was unexpectedly desperate. Ariel hesitated, turned to look at him, and spoke.

“Sorry. I need to take care of Lionel…”

“It’s not like that anymore!”

“…….”

“You decided to let go. You have no reason to go. How long will you be tied to that guy, without even considering your own feelings…”

“Don’t say that, Caelo.”

Caelo flinched and froze at Ariel’s calm words.

“I liked him because I wanted to, and I followed him because I wanted to. I wasn’t being swayed by Lionel.”

“Sorry. That wasn’t my intention…”

“I learned and gained a lot in the process. It wasn’t something I did against my will.”

As she spoke, Ariel realized anew. Liking Lionel wasn’t just a painful dark history for her. She had gained a lot from it.

“And just because I’ve let go of my feelings doesn’t mean I won’t treat Lionel as a friend.”

“But Ariel…”

Ariel lightly shook her head. After seeing Lionel’s face like that, she couldn’t just ignore it and leave. Whether she still had feelings for him or, as she told Caelo, it was purely out of friendly affection.

‘I’ll regret it if I leave like this.’

So Ariel answered Caelo with a deliberately bright smile.

“Anyway, we’ll see each other again when I go to Veloto! I’ve said what I needed to today… Thank you!”

After saying that, she hurriedly started walking. She no longer heard Caelo’s voice from behind.

* * *

“Lionel!”

Calling out to Lionel, Ariel followed him deeper into the garden. The academy’s garden was softly lit for the ball, and as she went to the more secluded areas, she could hear the rustling sounds of lovers under the shadows of trees.

“Aah…”

“Haa.”

Ignoring the moans and sounds of lovers in the corners, Ariel entered a maze made of rose bushes. Once inside, the lewd noises from outside were blocked out.

“Lionel?”

Ahead, she saw Lionel’s back as he walked silently. When she called his name, he flinched and stopped, then started walking faster.

“Wait, Lionel!”

Ariel quickened her pace as well. The deeper she went, the more the blue and purple roses glistened in the moonlight and filled the air with their fragrance.

‘Strange.’

Lionel, who seemed within reach, was not getting any closer. She felt a sense of urgency. Since she was wearing slightly higher heels than usual, she couldn’t move as fast as she wanted. Her feet, pinched by the shoes, began to hurt.

“Lionel… Ah!”

The next moment, her ankle twisted. Ariel closed her eyes, bracing for a harsh impact with the ground.

Thud!

A firm yet somewhat soft sensation touched her cheek. Lionel’s chest, who had quickly returned, caught her completely.

“…Ariel.”

As Lionel held her shoulders and set her back on her feet, he turned to leave again. Ariel grabbed his face with both hands. Her gloved hands instantly became wet with his tears.

“We need to talk!”

Ariel said, looking into Lionel’s tear-streaked face. This was why she had followed him.

‘Because he left while crying.’

Caelo might not have noticed, but Ariel saw the transparent tears at the corner of his eyes. She couldn’t just watch him cry. Maybe it was because she had already made him cry once before.

And at least, she didn’t want to leave the Holy Kingdom with the memory of Lionel crying. She would rather remember him as manly and sensual, just like he was when he pushed her roughly.

‘Stop thinking bad thoughts!’

Ariel scolded herself, caressing Lionel’s cheeks. His tears always weakened her resolve.

“Lionel, I don’t know why you’re crying…”

Just as she was about to tell him not to cry and remind him of his usual dignity.

“Hup!”

Suddenly, his tear-soaked face pressed against her cheek. She realized a moment later that his tongue was inside her mouth.

“Mmm…”

His tongue slid along her hard palate, teasing the soft flesh inside. Ariel, flustered, flailed for a moment before unconsciously following his tongue’s movements.

Lionel led her with surprising skill. It seemed his kissing skills had improved.

“Mmm…”

The rational part of her mind, which knew they should stop, faded with each sticky kiss. The thought that someone might see them outside also dissipated as his tongue slid deeper, touching her tender flesh.

“Haa.”

Ariel clung to Lionel’s arm, and only then did their lips part.

“Puh…”

As she breathed heavily, Lionel’s hand lifted her dress and settled on her thigh. He was in a position where he could easily reach her p*ssy if he moved a bit further. Her pale thigh was slightly plump between his fingers.

Realizing this belatedly, Ariel looked at Lionel in shock.

“Lionel?”

Where did he learn such smooth, natural movements? Her admiration was quickly pushed aside by returning rationality. She cleared her throat and looked at Lionel.

“Um… What about the event with the Holy Knight Order?”

Not knowing what else to say, she asked the first question that came to mind. The answer she received was unexpected.

“I quit the Holy Knights.”

“What?”

‘Quit?’

Lionel quit being a holy knight?

That didn’t make sense to Ariel. Lionel had no reason to quit. He was doing well enough to be appointed as the new commander of the subjugation team, and he had both popularity and fame. Unlike her, he wasn’t lacking in holy power. If someone like Lionel didn’t become a holy knight, who would?

But the next words were even more shocking.

“To do that, I made a vow of prohibition.”

“Vow of prohibition?”

Ariel finally understood why the ballroom had been so chaotic. It wasn’t just anyone; it was Lionel Frenderick who made the vow of prohibition. The diamond of the Holy Kingdom and the favored child of the gods.

But why?

“W-Was it because of what happened with me… Did you get punished?”

Her voice trembled with shock. While holy knights didn’t have a strict vow of chastity like priests, they were expected to maintain a certain level of dignity.

‘Could it be because of what happened with me that time?’

But that incident was truly unavoidable. What could two injured and isolated people do when attacked by monsters? Lionel even fought to protect her, who had no holy power. How did their secret get out?

‘Should I go and beg the commander of the Holy Knight Order?’

As Ariel’s mind went blank, Lionel’s lips trembled slightly, and he asked.

“…If I say yes, will you not go with that man?”

“Lionel? What are you…”

“If I lie and say I was punished because of you, will you not go with that man?”

Ariel involuntarily opened her mouth. Watching her, Lionel groaned and pressed his lips to hers.

“You made me like this.”

“Hmph!”

Lionel’s hand, which had been caressing her thigh, finally moved up to rub her p*ssy over her underwear. His heated voice pierced through her.

“You made me want to enter here anytime, making it impossible to stay sane.”

“What?”

“You turned my body into one that’s full of lust…”

The last words came out like a complaint. Ariel wanted to shout, ‘Who are you to say that?’ but swallowed her moan. She felt like things were getting stranger.

Then Lionel asked again.

“You said you liked me and wanted to marry me.”

‘You liked me.’

‘You liked me so much that you did those things.

It sounded similar to the words he had said on the day they had s*x like beasts. Hearing Lionel bring up the black history she wanted to forget, Ariel’s ears turned red. Lionel bit down on her thin, tender skin and whispered.