The Obsessive Male Lead Is Jealous Of My Doll - Chapter 56

Chapter 28.2

Oh no, not just any animal, but bears… That would be troublesome.

‘What should I do? I wanted to show her around Applewood Street, but it’s still under reconstruction. I was hoping to surprise her during the upcoming New Year’s celebration.’

While she was deep in thought, Zion chimed in with a cheerful tone.

[ It’ll be fine if you go during broad daylight. Even when I followed Eloisa to Cocoel Forest, I never saw a bear. And if anything happens, I’m here too. Honestly, isn’t the human over there more like a bear? ]

Following Zion’s gaze, she spotted Joseph, who did indeed resemble a big red bear¹, and she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

Karentina made up her mind, watching Stella desperately plead to go while Ignis firmly refused.

“Your Highness.”

As those piercing red eyes turned toward her, she felt a chill run down her spine, making her flinch.

“If you’re busy, would it be alright if I took Lady Stella instead? I’ll bring Sir Butler and my doll, Zion. And if you’re still uneasy, I can bring the knights with us as well.”

His wary eyes turned as sharp as pointed ice shards.

“You expect me to send the Princess with you, not knowing what could happen in the forest? If a demonic beast appears, does the Young Lady have the power to save her?”

She understood Ignis’s concern, who spoke harshly. Nonetheless, she also felt that keeping Stella sheltered like a delicate flower in a greenhouse wasn’t good either.

“We’ll leave early and return before sunset. While the outside can be dangerous, she can’t stay locked inside like this forever.”

“Ha. Do you really think that’s a reasonable plan right now?”

Karentina and Ignis’s gazes clashed, tension crackling between them like invisible sparks. As she saw the two of them like that, a smile crept up Stella’s face, and she clapped her hands.

“Then we can all go together!”

“What?”

“Yes?”

As if she had been waiting for this moment, the child’s golden eyelashes fluttered.

“If Brother is there, I’ll be safe, and Karen and I can explore the outside of the northern castle.”

When Karentina remained silent with a reluctant expression, Ignis narrowed his eyes.

“It seems you’re not happy about me coming along?”

She couldn’t hide her bewilderment at his twisted tone. To be honest, having Ignis join them was uncomfortable… but it was the best option for Stella’s safety.

Karentina hurriedly waved her hands in denial.

“That’s not it. The truth is, I haven’t been outside the room much myself, so I don’t really know anything about that forest. Unlike Princess Stella, I don’t think I’ll be able to properly guide Your Highness…”

As she trailed off, the expressions of the people in the dining room changed in an instant. Those who had been looking at her with sympathetic eyes quietly shifted their gaze toward Ignis.

A short sigh was followed by his low voice.

“…I don’t need a guide.”

She didn’t mean to evoke sympathy. Karentina couldn’t help but feel frustrated by the way people always looked at her like that whenever she spoke.

“So, we’re going to the forest to see the elks, right?”

At the sight of Stella stomping her feet eagerly with her eyes sparkling with excitement, she couldn’t shake the strange feeling that she had just taken the bait like a fish hooked on a line.

‘That happened just yesterday.’

Holding Leah in her arms, Stella hummed cheerfully as she gazed out the window of the carriage.

‘Well, since we’re here, I might as well enjoy myself with Stella.’

After traveling a bit further, they arrived at Cocoel Forest. Karentina stepped out of the carriage, shielding her eyes from the warm sunlight with her hand.

“Wow!”

A gasp escaped her lips before she even realized it.

She couldn’t take her eyes off the towering trees that seemed to touch the sky, surrounding a large river bordered by glaciers. The blue, unfrozen water was dotted with small fishing boats, out to catch winter fish. The white snow reflected the sunlight, making it feel unexpectedly warm and cozy despite the cold weather.

“It’s really beautiful.”

As she muttered softly, Stella, who was holding her hand tightly, nodded in agreement.

Ignis, having dismounted from his horse, checked on Stella to make sure she was all right, clearly relieved that she seemed fine. He must have been worried she might have felt motion sickness again.

“Young Lady!”

Karentina quickly turned her head at Sasha’s voice. She blinked several times as she looked at where Sasha and Zion were standing.

‘Oh my God, what is this?’

In front of her stood a large camping tent made of thick fabric, perfectly set up for an outdoor outing.

“We’ve prepared it so it wouldn’t be cold.”

Zion, Sasha, and the other employees, who had arrived earlier, had set up the large outdoor tent to ensure that Stella and Karentina wouldn’t get cold. Now she understood why Zion had sounded so confident earlier—it was all to show her this.

“Zion, thank you for getting here early and setting everything up. You’ve worked hard.”

“It was nothing.”

Karen smiled warmly at Zion and turned around.

‘…Huh?’

But then she noticed Ignis’s persistent gaze fixed on her.

¹ [ The author used a figurative expression, “붉은 곰,” to describe Joseph’s appearance, comparing him to a bear with a reddish tint—possibly due to his complexion, clothing, or hair color. The ‘red bear’ metaphor emphasizes his large, imposing, and strong physical presence, while the red element adds a unique detail that makes him stand out. It’s not a reference to an actual bear but rather a creative way to describe his appearance or demeanor. ] ↩