The Obsessive Male Lead Is Jealous Of My Doll - Chapter 62

Chapter 31.2

While Stella wouldn’t carelessly share Leah’s abilities, Karentina thought it was best to be cautious. She squeezed the little girl’s hand tightly.

“Stella, I have a favor to ask you.”

“Huh?”

“Can you keep it a secret that Leah has special abilities?”

“Why would you want to hide such an incredible ability?”

Stella’s eyes widened as she tilted her head in confusion.

“I’m different from His Highness the Crown Prince and Stella. Since I didn’t manifest as a transcendent, I could die if I’m not careful.”

“Huup!”

Stella gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. Then, as if making her mind, she balled her tiny fist.

“I get it. When I turn six, I’ll become transcendent, too, and then I’ll protect you, Karen.”

Karentina couldn’t help but smile faintly at the child’s cute declaration, which sounded almost like a proposal.

“Thank you.”

Stella snuggled into her embrace.

“I promise, from now on, I’ll never do anything that would endanger you again, Karentina.”

“Stella…”

As she listened to Stella’s sweet voice, Karentina felt a warmth welling up in her chest. It seemed like the child had changed after what happened in Cocoel Forest. She had always seen her as just a little girl, but now there was a newfound conviction in her gaze, and her eyes were filled with resolve.

Children always seem to grow up in the blink of an eye.

Feeling as if she were the one being comforted, Karentina hugged Stella even tighter.

̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊

That night.

Perhaps because she was still feeling shaken, even after taking medication, sleep wouldn’t come easily.

[ Divine power isn’t all-powerful, so you should try to sleep early. ]

Leah’s fluffy cotton-like form, freshly dried, perched on top of her head.

“I can’t sleep for some reason.”

Leah plopped down beside her and spoke in a gentle voice.

[ Shall I make some tea to help with insomnia? ]

“No, it’s okay. But Leah, wasn’t it difficult for you to wash?”

Leah hesitated, rolling her eyes before responding.

[ His Highness the Crown Prince helped me. ]

Karentina gasped in surprise.

[ Gemma washed me, but I was having trouble because the water wouldn’t drain from my body. His Highness instantly dried me with his magic. ]

“Wasn’t it too hot?”

Leah shook her head slowly.

[ Not at all. It was warm, and I felt just like I did when I first met you, Karentina. ]

Leah’s emotions seemed to flow into Karentina, likely because she had genuinely enjoyed the experience. It was filled with warmth and care.

‘I’ll have to thank him later,’ Karentina thought, letting out a small sigh.

[ Are you okay? ]

Zion muttered in a voice filled with concern.

‘Of course. But Zion, where are you?’

[ ….! ]

Karentina asked again, puzzled by the strange distance she’d sensed from Zion for a while.

[ You’re quite perceptive. ]

‘It’s not that I’m perceptive; it’s just that we’re connected. The same goes for Leah. So, it’s only natural to ask when I feel your presence faintly.’

[ …I’m following someone who looks like me. ]

‘What?’

She quickly sat up in bed, her upper body rising abruptly.

‘Ignis? Why?’

[ He was heading somewhere… and it seemed suspicious. ]

The thought that Ignis might be searching for her made her mouth go dry.

‘Where are you now?’

[ Cocoel Forest. ]

It wasn’t the demonic beast hunting grounds where Demion was, but Cocoel Forest. Karentina furrowed her brow, confused by his destination.

‘Could he be going to kill the bears?’

The thought seemed far-fetched, but she asked anyway. Zion cut her off firmly.

[ No. He’s looking for any remaining demonic beasts. ]

‘Remaining beasts?’

[ Actually… there have been a few times when I followed the guy who looks like me while you were sleeping, and every dawn, he searches the northern area, hunting down any remaining beasts. ]

Karentina exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, pulling her knees up to her chest.

He must have been worried that there might still beasts left, which explains why he was so reluctant to let Stella go into the forest. The idea that he was wandering the vast northern forests alone, secretly hunting down the remaining demonic beasts, hit her hard.

It felt as though she had been struck in the head.

‘I had no idea… I’ve been so thoughtless. Ignis is going to make a great emperor.’

Overwhelmed with guilt, she didn’t know what to do, but Zion spoke in a calm voice.

[ This is going to take a while, so you should try to sleep. His movements are always the same. I’ll return to the castle soon. He’s not looking for you, so don’t worry. ]

‘Thank you, Zion. For taking care of me in so many ways.’

Zion pouted and clicked his tongue lightly.

[ Hmph. It’s nothing. Just try not to get hurt. If you’re in pain, both Leah and I will feel it too. ]

She couldn’t help but chuckle at Zion’s words, which were laced with genuine concern and worry.

As Leah nestled into her arms and gently patted her back with her fluffy cotton-like form, her heart was so warm that she couldn’t resist the rush of sleep and soon closed her eyes.

̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊

Rustling.

Karentina rubbed her eyes as she heard a tickling sound near her ear, wondering what Leah was doing.

Leah, ears perked up, fixed her gaze on the door.