How to Run Away from Obsessed Men

Episode 68

“Come to think of it, I heard that Kenyan Radian is getting engaged,” Felia remarked.

At her words, Lindsey lifted her head.

“And it’s an engagement with the Kesey Ducal family from the Eastern Empire.”

“Is that so? How interesting. Could it be something Azhet Radian planned?”

She was curious about what kind of chaos the bomb named Kenyan might create.

‘How will Kenyan react?’

Lindsey recalled the look on Kenyan’s face as he gazed at her. The reverence in his eyes, as if he were worshipping a deity.

How could she not understand the meaning behind that gaze?

Lindsey decided she would willingly use his feelings to her advantage.

What might happen to Kenyan as a result was of no concern to her.

‘Let him die if he must.’

If he were to die for the sake of fulfilling her desire, even that didn’t matter to her. To Lindsey, that was the extent of Kenyan’s worth.

He, too, should taste the despair she had once experienced.

She couldn’t help but wonder.

“Do you think Kenyan Radian will accept the engagement?”

Felia tilted her head, puzzled by Lindsey’s question.

“Of course, why wouldn’t he? There’s no reason for him to refuse. It’s for the benefit of the Radian Ducal family.”

“What if he refuses?”

“Well… the Radian family would likely suffer significant consequences.”

At Felia’s response, Lindsey smiled with amusement.

⋆★⋆

Kenyan sat across from Lady Reina.

She was a beautiful woman dressed in luxurious clothes. Truly a captivating figure.

Her beauty was enough to earn her the title of the Eastern Empire’s finest, with her reputation reaching even the distant Rohan Empire.

But such things meant little to Kenyan.

No matter how someone looked, it held no meaning for him.

‘Black hair.’

The only thing that caught Kenyan’s attention was that Lady Reina’s hair color was the same as Lindsey’s.

Azhet leaned close to Kenyan’s ear and whispered.

“Kenyan, why aren’t you greeting her?”

Lady Reina could easily fill the void left by Sylvia.

He held high hopes for this meeting.

‘Even if Kenyan has been acting strangely lately…’

Still, Kenyan had lived as a noble for decades.

Yet, it seemed as if Kenyan didn’t hear Azhet’s words at all. His expression remained indifferent, showing no interest.

“You’re a man of few words, I see.”

Lady Reina tilted her head, puzzled by Kenyan’s cold demeanor.

“Apologies, Lady. I haven’t had time to heal since returning from my mission.”

“Oh dear, in that case, shouldn’t you be resting instead of dining?”

“I couldn’t keep you waiting any longer, my lady.”

Azhet’s words made Lady Reina smile coolly. In truth, she already found Kenyan unappealing.

‘Does he have a woman he cares for?’

Even as he looked at her, it felt as though his gaze was elsewhere.

Kenyan’s next words caused the lady’s expression to twist with disbelief.

“I’m not interested in this engagement.”

“You’re not interested in the engagement?”

“Yes, so I’d appreciate it if we didn’t waste each other’s time.”

“Kenyan!”

The dining room erupted into chaos.

Azhet seemed utterly stunned.

He let out a hollow laugh as he stared at Kenyan.

He couldn’t believe what his brother had done.

“How dare you be so disrespectful?”

“…”

“Sir Azhet, say something.”

“Kenyan’s been unwell lately…”

Azhet couldn’t finish his sentence, as Kenyan stood up from his chair.

“I’m more clear-headed now than ever before.”

“…”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been this sane in my entire life.”

With those words, Kenyan turned his back. Azhet felt himself going numb.

This was utter catastrophe.

⋆★⋆

Sylvia felt like her mind was drifting.

She walked like a condemned prisoner, surrounded by knights with stern expressions.

The monastery where she would be staying was located in the Asen Empire. It was clear that this was Raysis’s way of erasing her completely.

Sylvia was overwhelmed with despair.

‘How did I end up like this?’

She felt indignant.

To be dressed in such shabby clothes and subjected to the disdainful stares of others.

‘And it’s all because of Lindsey Kesion.’

Sylvia scowled at the food placed in front of her.

“This is it?”

“The monastery values temperance.”

In the first few weeks, she had thrown the food and raged against the meager offerings.

But every time she did, people only frowned at her.

The annoyance in their eyes filled Sylvia with humiliation.

It reminded her too much of the expressions she and the Radian servants used to have when they tormented Lindsey.

‘Am I being treated like that lowly wretch?’

Sylvia’s face flushed with anger at the unbearable reality.

Yet it didn’t take long for her to submit to it.

She had grown accustomed to the pitiful meals in no time.

‘One day, I will have my revenge.’

And she thought of Lindsey. Lindsey was dead, but Sylvia was still alive.

In the end, that was the difference in their status.

No matter her sins, Sylvia wouldn’t face death.

She clung to that thought, enduring each day by telling herself she was better off than Lindsey.

‘This is ridiculous. I’m no criminal.’

It was late evening.

Sylvia scowled as she looked at the iron bars fitted on the carriage.

Her situation, trapped in a rickety, foul-smelling carriage, unable to step outside, felt laughable.

And that wasn’t the worst of it.

Transcendents, who visited her occasionally, were utterly incompetent.

Thinking that their lack of skill was due to their common birth made her feel sick.

‘And I’m expected to heal such lowly creatures.’

She was in the midst of lamenting her fate when—

“Sylvia. Someone has come to see you.”

Sylvia’s eyes flashed with a wild gleam. Nobles sent to monasteries were stripped of their family names.

‘How dare those insolent people…!’

Sylvia couldn’t bear hearing her name without the title of Radian.

“They are a distinguished guest, so mind your manners.”

With that, the knight escorted Sylvia. They arrived at an opulent hotel room.

It looked far more luxurious than any place she’d been able to visit even when she was with the Radian family.

‘A noble of this caliber is visiting me…?’

Her curiosity was short-lived.

Sylvia’s eyes widened when she saw the noble slowly entering the hotel room.

“What… What is this…?”

It was someone the knight deemed worthy of being called distinguished.

But why was Lindsey standing there?

Sylvia rubbed her eyes. No matter how she looked, it was Lindsey.

“That’s impossible, impossible…”

“Dead, you mean?”

Was this a dream?

Sylvia glared at Lindsey, who was approaching her, with anger in her eyes.

Even if it was a dream, she didn’t like it. Lindsey was dressed in elegant clothes, adorned with expensive jewels.

It was a far cry from the shabby look she used to see on her at the Radian Ducal House.

The sight of Lindsey looking every bit the noble made Sylvia tremble with rage.

“You’re no noble, yet you dare to act like one?”

At Sylvia’s words, Lindsey lifted one corner of her mouth into a mocking smile.

“You wretched thing! Get out of my dreams!”

“Sorry, but this is reality.”

“Reality, you say?”

“Indeed. It’s reality that you’re headed to the monastery and that I am a noble.”

“What nonsense is this?”

Lindsey flashed a sly smile.

And then—

Someone else entered the room.

“Kalia Riken, what are you doing here?”

Sylvia knew Kalia too. What was such a high-ranking noble from the Asen Empire doing here?

And Kalia’s next words nearly made Sylvia lose consciousness.

“My daughter wanted to see you.”

“Daughter?”

“Yes, Lindsey is my daughter. Lindsey Riken. A noble of the highest order.”

Sylvia shook her head.

She must be dreaming. There was no other explanation. How else could Lindsey Kesion suddenly appear and claim to be Lindsey Riken?

Sylvia stumbled, collapsing into a chair.

“Stop talking nonsense! That lowly Lindsey Kesion, a noble?”

At Sylvia’s outburst, Lindsey shook her head with a smirk. Her gaze turned cold as she looked at Sylvia.

“Sylvia Radian. Ah, but I suppose you’re not a Radian anymore.”

“…”

“You’ll have to relinquish your name when you enter the monastery. So, you’re no longer a noble, Sylvia.”