I Ran Away With Obsessive Male Lead's Child

Chapter 21

 

Here is the translated text with the name “Leticia” instead of “Letitia”:

 

Now that he said he wouldn’t love her, could it be that she wanted him more?

 

Leticia pressed her lips tightly at his words. She would never say the words he desired.

 

She wished she could plead more, beg more, and hoped he would be crushed beneath her.

 

Despairing, resenting, blaming herself, resigning, and hoping again.

 

She wished he would experience what she had gone through exactly the same. Perhaps he would never know.

 

How it feels to be abandoned by someone you love. How it feels to face the one who let go of your hand at the brink of death.

 

“…Too late, huff…sorry.”

 

Leticia barely squeezed out her voice.

 

If she wished to love him again, if she wanted him to remain unchanged, then it wasn’t herself that needed to change.

 

As she brushed his lips with her hand, she lowered herself and lightly met his lips.

 

“Too… late, huff…!”

 

Yet, if he begged and asked for forgiveness from her.

 

If he wanted her, begged to have her.

 

Anytime, she would nestle in his embrace and smile brightly. Even if she couldn’t love him as before, for the sake of living.

 

Yes, she wanted to live. She didn’t want to die miserably again.

 

“Whisper to me that you love me. Until my heart turns back. Anytime, beg and beg again.”

 

Leticia hoped her desires reached him.

 

She wanted to harbor hope for a little change in him. Unlike before, he embraced her and yearned for her.

 

She hugged him tightly, filled with the overwhelming pleasure coursing through her body.

 

For the first time, she poured out the words in her heart.

 

Tears kept welling up in her golden eyes as her emotions, wavering and uncertain, cascaded down like a waterfall.

“Please, just love me.”

 

This was her final dignity.

 

She vowed never to ask him to love her. She wouldn’t beg.

 

If Arden shattered even this last shred of her dignity, she wouldn’t be able to bear it.

 

Arden stared at her tear-filled eyes as she lay in his arms, then wordlessly pressed his lips against hers, over and over, holding her tightly.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

Arden quietly gazed at the sleeping Leticia. What could she possibly have wanted to say?

 

If she didn’t say it, he would never know.

 

Understanding her heart was difficult. Her golden eyes, like melted honey, were beautiful but inscrutable.

 

“What… do you want?”

 

He wanted to peer into Leticia’s mind.

 

What had made her so sorrowful? His heart crumbled at the sight of her tears endlessly streaming down.

 

Arden thought the tears weren’t because of him. He wasn’t that significant to her.

 

“I need to find that bastard quickly.”

 

Leticia had said no, but whatever it was, Arden had received a note about her.

 

It might be a letter trying to separate him and Leticia. It should be that simple… “Damn it.”

 

He held her sleeping form close, chewing on his lip.

 

He still shivered with the anxiety lingering around him. It felt like she would disappear from his side.

 

Everyone Arden had loved had left him. Even his only remaining brother. So, he didn’t believe in love.

 

If that was love, then love was useless to him, to the point where he’d rather jump into hellfire.

 

Feeble emotions that plunged the other into sadness. Unnecessary feelings that made one realize the loneliness and solitude of being left alone.

 

So, he tried not to love anyone. His brother’s words, “Don’t love me,” felt like a curse.

It’s as if he’s forgotten how to love and be loved. He has grown numb to love.

 

His parents, his only brother, all gone. After everyone left, all that remained for him was the sadness and emptiness that covered his entire being. Why should he, who never received proper love, bear all of this?

 

There was no one on his side here. He felt like he was walking on thin ice every day, enduring it all. Enduring the despair-filled voice that visited him every night.

 

A woman who didn’t belong in this lonely palace.

 

A woman who always filled his side with sadness when she was around.

 

Leticia Boarte. Until she came, Arden had been living trapped in lonely despair.

 

“You said you wanted to make sure, but what are you going to do now that you’re asleep first?”

 

He sighed deeply, unable to take his eyes off the sleeping Leticia as he gently brushed her hair away from her face.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

Leticia opened her eyes.

 

Her eyes moved quickly, scanning the situation in the warmth.

 

As she slowly raised her head, she saw Arden sleeping.

 

She gently removed his hand that held her tightly, trying not to disturb him.

 

Stopping her actions as she noticed his subtly furrowed brow, Leticia blinked.

 

His sleeping form fascinated her.

 

“He’s really asleep.”

 

She reached out and touched his forehead.

 

His sleeping expression didn’t look comfortable. She felt concerned seeing his distorted face, as if he were having a nightmare.

 

Leticia suddenly recalled the day she had a dream. What if it wasn’t a dream?

 

“No way.”

 

Why would he sneak into her room like that? Wouldn’t it be better if he came in confidently and demanded it?

 

Leticia shook her head, clearing her thoughts.

 

Knock, knock, knock.

At that moment, with the sound of knocking, Mary’s voice could be heard.

 

Knowing that Arden was in the room, Mary wouldn’t have called unless it was urgent.

 

“Wait here.”

 

Surprised to see Arden not wearing anything, she turned her head after covering his face with the blanket and then comfortably got out of bed.

 

If Arden woke up, he would probably tell her to go to her room, but sadly, he continued to sleep soundly. With no choice, she put on a robe and quietly opened the door.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Lord Raymond is seeking an audience. He says it’s urgent…”

 

“What’s the urgency? Tell me.”

 

“Well…”

 

Mary glanced around awkwardly.

 

Leticia briefly looked at Arden and then promised to send him off before closing the door.

 

“I wanted him to sleep a little longer.”

 

Now that he could sleep well, it would be fine. Of course, she would help depending on how he behaved.

 

But for now, urgent matters came first.

 

Leticia composed herself and approached him, gently shaking his body.

 

“My lord, please wake up.”

 

“…”

 

“Lord Raymond seeks you urgently.”

 

“…”

 

He seemed deeply asleep. Helplessly, Leticia reached out and touched his forehead, closing her eyes and thinking of something.

 

A faint smile crept onto her lips.

 

“Ugh!”

 

With a dull scream, he woke up, gasping for breath.

 

Even though it was just a short while, cold sweat dripped down his face. Leticia pretended not to notice and spoke to him.

 

“Are you awake? Since the confirmation is done, I’d appreciate it if you could leave now.”

 

“…Am I being chased away as soon as I wake up?”

 

He brushed his hair back and sat up against the headboard.

 

Leticia gestured towards the door and spoke to him.

 

“I heard Lord Raymond is seeking you. It seems urgent, but since he didn’t tell me anything when I asked, I don’t know the details.”

 

“…Urgent?”

“Why don’t you go and ask directly for more details?”

 

Arden got up from his seat, putting on his shirt and glanced at Leticia.

 

“You seem to have a noble hobby.”

 

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

 

“There was no need to wake me up like that.”

 

He didn’t take his eyes off her as he dressed.

 

She wished she had dreamed of paperwork towering over him like a tower, but it was just her wishful thinking; it wasn’t going to happen.

 

“I just shook you to wake you up.”

 

“It wouldn’t be that simple.”

 

Arden said, eyes half-lidded.

 

“Could he really control dreams? Impossible.”

 

She tried to calm her surprised heart and put on a nonchalant expression.

 

It was probably just a coincidence.

 

Ignoring his gaze, Leticia headed towards the sofa. She simply smiled faintly without responding to Arden’s words.

 

After finishing his preparations, Arden approached the door.

 

Though the atmosphere between them remained awkward, their expressions softened.

 

“Looks like I have one more reason not to let you go.”

 

Leticia turned her head at Arden’s words, but he had already left the room.

 

Arden opened the door to the study and gave Raymond a scrutinizing look.

 

“Tell me, what urgent matter compelled you to seek me out?”

 

“A few days ago, when the queen visited the duchy, it seems someone also visited the duchy at a similar time.”

 

“And?”

 

Arden didn’t like Raymond’s hesitation. As shadows began to creep over Arden’s face, Raymond hastily spoke up.

 

“They say it was a man named Karen.”

 

“Karen?”

 

“Yes, according to what we’ve found, it seems he visited the duchy each time the queen did.”

 

For some reason, the face of the man Arden had conversed with at the duchy came to mind. He hadn’t seen his face properly, but his silvery hair sparkling in the sunlight was vivid.

 

Arden’s head throbbed.

 

“Are you suggesting he had secret meetings in the duchy without my knowledge?”

“The probability is even higher that it wasn’t just a coincidence. Visiting at overlapping schedules is…”

 

“It’s not so common. And meeting in a place where men and women can avoid the gaze of others is even more suspicious.”

 

As Arden’s straight eyebrows twitched, Raymond hastily continued.

 

“Perhaps Your Majesty should inquire directly with the queen. It might be just a misunderstanding.”

 

“A misunderstanding?”

 

He stretched out his long legs and approached the chair, crossing his legs with a leisurely movement.

 

A subtle madness flickered in his blue eyes. A sly smirk kept appearing at the corner of his mouth.

 

Arden turned his head to face Raymond directly.

 

“Do you really think so, Raymond?”

 

Leaning back further into his chair, he asked his advisor.