If They Get Obsessed, I’m Doomed - Chapter 83

Chapter 42.2

The professor briefly explained.

“So, that concludes our lesson for today. I look forward to working with you all over the next month.”

With those words, the class ended quickly.

Unlike other classes, where at least an hour was spent outlining the course or doing light prep work, this one wrapped up in just a few minutes. Naturally, the students welcomed the lecture that ended in just a few minutes. They were excited at the thought of spending the extra free time relaxing after the early dismissal.

The classroom filled with the buzz of chatter.

Ariel was planning to take advantage of the commotion and slip out of the classroom. She felt burdened by the students’ gazes directed at her, sitting next to the Prince. To avoid their stares, now—while everyone was busy laughing and chatting—seemed like her best chance to escape.

She quickly gathered her things and tried to stand up, but her chair wouldn’t budge.

‘Is something caught?’

She glanced under the desk but didn’t notice anything out of place. As Ariel turned her head, she spotted a white sleeve poking out beside the armrest.

It was Skylar’s sleeve.

It turned out that his arm was draped firmly behind the backrest of her chair, completely blocking it. He leaned against the wall, his hand planted firmly on it. He was pressing so hard that the blue veins stood out on the back of his pale hand.

‘…What is he doing?’

Flustered, Ariel turned her head to look at him. Despite clearly feeling her gaze, his profile remained stubbornly fixed forward, refusing to meet her eyes.

“I can’t get out, so could you move your arm?”

“….”

“Skylar?”

Even when she called his name, he acted as if he hadn’t heard her. His arm, which was wrapped around her like a barricade, showed no signs of moving.

Ariel began to regret choosing the seat by the wall. She tried several times to get out, but Skylar wouldn’t budge.

In the end, she gave up and just sat still.

One by one, the students left the classroom in groups. Occasionally, their eyes surreptitiously flicked toward Ariel and Skylar as if they were witnessing the strange sight of the Prince keeping the Count’s daughter captive.

“Stop staring and leave quietly.”

Skylar, who had been silent, spoke coldly to the uninvited onlookers. The students, who had been watching out of curiosity, quickly headed for the door at the Prince’s command. Even after that, he maintained his posture until the classroom was completely empty. He continued to remain silent.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, she spoke first.

“Is something wrong?”

“Do you want to go to the central hall?”

His unexpected question caught Ariel off guard, and she was slow to respond.

“What?”

“I’m inviting you.”

“The central hall… you mean the imperial palace?”

Skylar silently nodded in response.

The mention of the imperial palace out of nowhere made her uneasy, so she pressed for a reason.

“What’s going on?”

“Does there need to be something going on?”

“Of course… I can’t just go without a reason.”

“Why not? You can go even if there’s no particular reason.”

“No, there has to be a reason. It’s not like it’s my home—it’s the imperial palace…”

“Who knows? It might become your home.”

‘…What was that supposed to mean?’

Ariel froze, her mind spinning at the weight of his words, which could be interpreted in so many ways.

It felt like she was finally beginning to understand why this prince had been trying to pull her inside the walls of the imperial palace. Skylar was subtly suggesting they become closer, perhaps even hinting at an engagement. This was the real reason behind what he had left unsaid at the Count’s estate.

‘So, this is why he was holding back his words.’

It was more than Ariel had anticipated, and she felt a mix of unease and nervousness.

Of course, the engagement proposal would likely take the form of a political marriage. There was no way a prince of the empire was naively confessing his feelings.

Yet, it was clear that the intent behind it wasn’t political.

Her family’s land might be valuable, but in the grand scheme of imperial power, it was just land. It wouldn’t hold much sway in the empire’s political games. Even if the Countess generously offered it to the imperial family, it still wouldn’t justify making her only daughter a princess. There were far better candidates for a political marriage—a princess from another kingdom or a daughter of a prestigious marquis family.

As a prince, his choices were abundant. However, if he was so insistent on proposing a political marriage to her, what other reason could there be besides personal interest?

‘Is this really just two hearts?’

Ariel was genuinely scared.

If she accepted his proposal, she would be locked into his personal route, and the routes with other targets would be over. With the title of the prince’s fiancée, how could she possibly pursue anyone else? It was obvious that she wouldn’t even be able to meet any other targets.

She suddenly felt the blood drain from her face.

“I can’t go without a reason.”

Skylar frowned as Ariel bluntly rejected his offer after a long silence.

His cold gaze and the way his face twisted into a scowl were frightening, but she stood her ground. Even now, she still needed to raise his favorability, which meant she couldn’t push him away completely. Drawing the line and settling for just being friends, where his affection might stagnate, was not an option.

‘What kind of game is this?!’

She sighed inwardly in frustration but pretended to be oblivious. She acted as if the imperial palace made her uncomfortable, as though she didn’t understand the underlying meaning of his proposal.

“I’m a countess’s daughter… Given my status, I can’t just set foot in the imperial palace without a reason. Even though I spent most of my time at home, I know at least that much. I really appreciate the offer, but…”

“I already said it doesn’t matter. Why are you overcomplicating this?”

“Even so, treating the imperial palace like it’s my own home would be too rude. No matter how casually we speak to each other, that’s personal, and the imperial palace is a public place.”

“So, you’re saying you’ll only go if there’s an official reason?”

“Yes. To me, the imperial palace is an official place, so I won’t go unless there’s an official reason.”

“….”

“Because that’s proper etiquette…”

Ariel struggled to get her refusal out but her voice kept trembling, making her refusal sound pitiful.

Skylar sighed deeply, visibly suppressing his irritation.

“…I was just asking if you wanted to have lunch together.”

“….”

“Do you not want that either?”

His tone had shifted, becoming much more cautious. His slightly sullen expression made her hesitate. In the meanwhile, his arm was still blocking her chair. Trapped with no way to leave, she found herself in a position where she was essentially being forced to answer.

“Is… His Majesty the Emperor going to be there?”

“No, it’s just us. Satisfied now?”

Skylar’s casual reply left no room for her to refuse.

Ariel hesitated, but having lunch seemed like a less pressured situation than visiting the imperial palace.

“If it’s just that, then it’s fin—”

“It doesn’t seem fine to me.”

Just as Ariel reluctantly opened her mouth to agree, a playful voice chimed in from the open door.