Confined Together with the Horror Game’s Male Lead - Chapter 154
Chapter 154
Translator: Yonnee
—
At that moment, a flash of blinding white lightning pierced through the window.
The violet eyes staring at me became strikingly clear.
Boom!
With the sound of thunder, heavy rain crashed down on the mansion.
That sound…
We had experienced this omen many times before, so we knew exactly what was happening.
Dietrich released me and stood up.
“Dietrich, wait…”
But he was already running.
“Dietrich!”
I jumped up, knowing instinctively where he was headed.
“Dietrich! Don’t go!”
I pushed my body to its limits, running as fast as I could, but I couldn’t keep up with his speed.
I hurried down the stairs, desperate to catch him, but my foot slipped, and I collapsed to the floor.
“Dietrich! Dietrich, please!”
Ignoring the pain in my throbbing ankle, I limped after him.
By the time I made it to the second-floor landing, I could see Dietrich at the entrance hall.
Someone had entered the mansion again.
“Sir Dietrich! Why are you in such a place…”
The newcomer was wearing armor similar to Tuvio’s men—a knight, by the look of him.
“I’m glad we found you, Sir. Have you seen Sir Tuvio— Gah!”
Before the man could finish his sentence, Dietrich drew his sword and cut him down.
The knight stared blankly at Dietrich, unable to comprehend the sudden attack.
“Why…”
Cough.
Blood poured from his mouth as his body crumpled to the floor.
[ Steel Mentality is being implemented. ]
My head felt like it was about to split apart.
Even though my steel mentality was active, the reduced functionality made the pain all too real.
“Charlotte.”
The man who had just killed someone calmly ascended the stairs.
I sat there, clutching the railing, too weak to do anything but lift my head.
I didn’t even have the strength to speak anymore.
Dietrich knelt down in front of me, sinking to my level.
“I will protect you.”
“……”
“In whatever way I have to.”
I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh at his words.
“You aren’t protecting me. You’re destroying me.”
I looked into his violet eyes.
They had once been beautiful—eyes that were the embodiment of Dietrich’s fierce sense of justice.
“Dietrich, you know, I think I’ve realized something.”
I tightened my grip on the railing.
Not too long ago, I had clung to Dietrich’s shoulder as if it were the railing itself, crying my heart out.
“I didn’t realize it, but I think I might have had feelings for you.”
I was finally starting to understand why I had been so determined to help him.
“You said you fell for me at first sight. Back then, I found it ridiculous, but now, I think I felt the same way.”
“…Charlotte.”
“I must have felt something intense for you, too.”
Dietrich’s face flushed slightly, his chest rising and falling as if he were excited.
I let out a small laugh at his reaction.
“But now, looking at you… it hurts. It’s painful.”
“……”
“You’re so broken. And this overwhelming thought that I have to get you out of here… it’s not the same as before. When I look at you…”
I trailed off, struggling to find the right words, but eventually, the clarity came.
“All I feel is duty.”
“……”
“I love you out of obligation. I help you because I feel like I have to, but… what is this? Do I even still like you?”
“Charlotte…”
I could see the light in his eyes fade as his emotions plummeted.
His lips quivered as he struggled to find the words, biting down as if to stop himself from speaking.
Unable to respond, he acted instead, placing his hand over mine, gripping the railing as if begging me to hold onto him again.
“Charlotte…”
As if pleading for me to love him again.
But I let go of his hand.
“You loved me even when I was broken, but I can’t. It’s too much. I can’t do it anymore.”
At that moment, that all-too-familiar system window appeared once more.
[ Steel Mentality has been temporarily disabled. ]
[ Steel Mentality: OFF ]
I was so used to it by now that I didn’t even have the energy to scream.
My mind simply went blank.
.
.
.
When I came to, tears flowed profusely down my face without a sound, and I found myself in Dietrich’s embrace once again.
It was the same scene, repeated over and over.
Dietrich whispered as he tried to soothe me.
“You may not love me, but you still need me.”
This wretched man found pitiful solace in something so pathetic.
I just needed a vessel to hold all my overflowing emotions.
And Dietrich, the trash bin for my discarded feelings, smiled at that.
“You cannot be without me, after all.”
He found lowly comfort in being treated that way.
* * *
< Then, have you finally made your choice? Have you decided to open the door? >
The administrator of the fourth floor asked, and I nodded.
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