The Obsessed Male Lead Who Will Kill Me Has Become Strange

– 5 – 

 

A few days later, the night market that Abby took me to was truly a new world.

The world from the novel I had transmigrated into felt even more enchanting, and I momentarily forgot about the precarious situation I was in.

It was full of all kinds of food and things to see, and a wide variety of goods were being traded, ranging from daily necessities to rare items imported from other empires, antiques and expensive luxuries.

Abby explained that most of the merchants were from the Everetian Empire, but there were also traders from other countries selling their goods.

She mentioned that there were even illegal traders operating without permits.

As I turned from the main street into an alley, led by Abby, there were carts piled up and selling romance novels.

Hello, dear carts

I missed romance novels!

There seemed to be not just one or two carts but at least a dozen lined up.

It was exhilarating to think that I could browse through these novels without anyone nagging at me.

Whenever I was watching a web novel or webtoon at home, my mom would start to scold me, so I had to pay close attention.

Furthermore, after graduation, a strange virus hit the entire world, making it difficult to even find part-time jobs, let alone full-time employment. With no allowance given at home, I had to unsubscribe from paid chapters as a result of financial constraints.

But Kailyn is the daughter of a Duke with a lot of money, and there is no one to scold her.

These gracious books would help me forget the stress of surviving in such harsh conditions.

However, since it was a thick paper book and I had to sneak it into my room, I thought I could only buy two books at most, as Abby said.

As I was carefully selecting the books that caught my eye, Abby spoke up.

“Lynn, this cart has the best quality picture books. But I already have them all, so I’m going to check out the new novels over there. Will you be okay here?”

Yes, yes!

They say this place is the best! I’ll stay here!

“Alright. See you later.”

The next night market wouldn’t open until the middle of next month.

Although I wanted to drag the cart home with me, it wasn’t feasible, so I had to choose carefully.

As I flipped through each page to find one with appealing illustrations, Abby left to explore the new releases in novels.

Hmmm… Is this something different again?

The art style was quite different from the 19th grade webtoon I’ve been watching. Just like in the world of the roman world, all the dresses were drawn in detail down to every wrinkle, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe watching how they meticulously took off all those clothes.

A crucial scene, a crucial scene!

I quickly turned the page.

Thump. Finally! At last, the long-awaited crucial scene appeared.

‘Gasp.’

Unbelievable!

Just like this…….

It can’t be sexy without a mosaic!!!!!!

As I welcomed the scenes that I couldn’t take my eyes off, I was enjoying the drawings as if diving into the book.

Huh? But what is this?

Suddenly, I noticed some slightly unfamiliar characters next to the drawing.

It was a font that was different from the other fonts in the book.

<Viewer discretion advised>

Caution behind?

Ah! Right, that’s right, isn’t it!

Always be careful.

It was a moment when I admired the kindness of the book…

A citrus scent rushed behind my ears along with the sudden warmth I felt behind my back.

‘!!!’

With a strange premonition, I reflexively turned around.

‘It can’t be!’ I prayed desperately….

But alas…….

Tragically, there was someone behind me who shouldn’t be there!

And that someone’s eyes were glued to the exact painting I was looking at, a painting that needed a lot of ‘viewer discretion’.

At least those eyes should be Abby!

It has to be that way!

Even though I already recognized the difference in eye color, I cried out an internal scream.

However, it was impossible for Abby’s brown eyes would have miraculously turned blue at that moment.

Her hair was no longer Abby’s red.

In a world I’d barely been in for long, there shouldn’t be many familiar faces, it shouldn’t….

Of all people!

It was a familiar face.

Silver hair, clear skin, features that looked gentle, and smooth skin that seemed like it had been spread with butter, and a faint blush.

Actually, I wasn’t sure if the owner of those eyes knew me, but at least I knew this face.

The most handsome man in the world and my favorite male protagonist was Calix, but this man in front of me also had a beauty that I could never forget.

Eden Darkus.

Even though he was standing behind me, the man who was looking at the high-quality painting with me in a comfortable-looking posture was Eden Darkus, the older brother of the female protagonist Estelle and the Crown Prince of the Darkus Empire.

The one who had flashed me a suspicious smile at the royal party not long ago.

Momentarily dazed, I quickly turned my head forward and shut the book I had been reading.

Stay calm, stay calm!

He couldn’t have seen my face.

And even if he did, there’s no guarantee he’d recognize me, right?

After all, we’d only met eyes once.

Finished with the mind control, I put the book down on the cart with the most natural movement I could and tried to leave the cart gracefully and smoothly, moving my body as little as possible.

Yeah, if I slip away like this, we’ll never even meet here!

But before my first step could fully touch the ground, the voice of the man behind me hit me hard on the back of my head.

“Miss Kailyn Brockburg.”

Oh, my!

So you know me too….

And you saw me clearly.

I felt extremely awkward.

Why does your voice sound so sweet again?

I feel ridiculous like this.

Okay, let’s pretend I didn’t hear!

I couldn’t possibly have been charmed by that soft voice that stuck to my ears like honey in this crowded alley of book carriages! That’s it!

I momentarily hesitated before picking up my pace again.

“Princess Brockburg, the daughter of Duke Luctine Brockburg!”

But the slightly raised voice grabbed onto my head like sticky gum.

This strategy failed too….

I could no longer run away unnoticed.

For he had raised his voice enough to be heard by the others near the cart.

Oh, that rascal.

Blow the horn already!

How does he know me so well?

I had no choice but to stop walking and turn around to face him, barely keeping my face from distorting.

He approached me with a bright smile.

What’s with that smile again?

Now that I look at him, he’s handsome, but somehow unlucky.

Yeah!

Let’s face him confidently!

What’s wrong with reading adult comics!

I’m a respectable adult, you know.

Adult content is just a natural part of human life, isn’t it?

And buying adult comics at the night market isn’t illegal. Or… Is it illegal?

Well, even if it’s illegal, what does it have to do with that Prince!

Yeah! Let’s be confident!

As I struggled internally to turn embarrassment into confidence, he pitifully said to me.

“So you are Miss Kailyn Brockburg. I was worried it might not be you.”

Worried? What for?

He knew exactly who I was.

What kind of a flirt doesn’t forget a girl he’s seen once?

“Who are you…….”

I pretended not to know him at all, as nonchalantly as possible.

“Oh, I’m Eden Darkus. You can just call me Eden.”

Got it. Eden.

“Yes, hello? Eden. Well, I must be going now.”

We exchanged greetings, so can we just leave it at that?

“Miss Kailyn Brockburg, the beloved daughter of Duke Brockburg, one of the high officials of the Everetian Empire, I didn’t expect to meet you here, in this famous night market book cart.”

Ugh….

If you didn’t expect to see me, you could’ve just pretended not to see me until the end. Why do you have to hold me like this and pretend you know me?

He was now not only emphasizing my father’s title but also mine.

Well, beloved daughter?

Seriously, he’s on the verge of shoving my family register in my face.

His voice was so loud and high that even the carriage owner and nearby merchants started glancing at me.

Damn… foreign prince…

This is annoying.

Why on earth pretend like you know me? We are not related!

“Ahaha…. Yes. I came here for the first time today, in my entire life, because it’s famous. Eden, sir. Enjoy your sightseeing. I’m really busy….”

I wanted to keep pretending not to know that he’s the prince of the Darkus Empire, but he quickly continued speaking.

“Miss Brockburg, if you’re busy, just choose from this carriage. At a glance, the books here seem to be of the highest quality. I noticed a while ago that yours looked good too.”

“Eh?”

You’re not talking about quality or level… right?

“It seems you have a discerning taste. You may not be very satisfied if you try other carriages in terms of artistic and factual integrity.”

Oops!!!! It seems I’ve hit the mark…….

This won’t do…. I need to have a word with this guy and clear the air.

My plan to just pass by him had to be adjusted without any choice.

I approached him closely, making sure others couldn’t hear my voice.

“Your Highness Eden Darkus!”

“Ah… I see you already knew who I was. I almost felt disappointed that you had forgotten about me.”

Oh my goodness. I made a mistake!

My plan to pretend I didn’t know him had failed.

As a writer, I should be adept at this, but instead, I ended up making a blunder from an omniscient writer’s perspective.

At this point, pretending not to know anything seemed futile.

Aware of the gazes of the surrounding merchants, I lowered my voice even further.

“Well, I actually met you at the party. But how does His Highness know me?”

He started speaking to me in a manner befitting his status.

“How could I forget a memorable beauty like you? That was the purpose of attending the party. When I saw a beautiful lady engrossed in reading, I took a closer look, and it turned out to be the beloved daughter of Duke Brockburg, whom I saw at the party. Ah! Can I call you Miss Kailyn?”

Miss Kailyn?

When did you and I ever meet for you to call me Kailyn?

He’s just spouting nonsense like a playboy!

Why did I have to bump into someone like him here!

I didn’t even write a scene where Eden and Kailyn were talking!

I felt annoyed, but quickly calmed down.

I thought I’d better keep a tight rein on this guy’s mouth now that things have turned out like this.

After all, he’s a foreigner. We probably won’t see each other much in the future.

“Well, I see… Haha. Yes, it’s fine whatever you call me. It was nice to meet you. But, Your Highness, you’ll quickly forget our meeting at the night market, won’t you? I have a feeling I’ll forever forget meeting the prince here….”

We probably won’t see each other again, but even if we do, let’s agree to forget this encounter, shall we?

“Ah… I was so struck by the book you were reading, ‘The Unforgettable Night of the Duke’s Beloved’… I wonder if I’ll be able to forget it so easily….”

Damn it.

Was that the title?

And of all things, it’s titled ‘The Duke’s Beloved’?