NOVEL NEXT After Resignation, I Refuse the Obsession from the Male Leads
Chapter 12
Priest Lumière was taken aback by the male lead’s reaction.
“Young Grand Duke Lupesque, this is something the temple should celebrate greatly.” “It’s dangerous when we still haven’t figured out who’s behind the incident. And for Lowell.” The mastermind chimed in, backing up the male lead’s warning. “Lupesque is right, Lumière.” “My lord.” “If we make a fuss and lose a new ability user, it’ll be a loss for the temple.” “….” The Priest nodded reluctantly in agreement. “Yes… I will keep it quiet, Miss Lowell.” “Ah, yes.” “I will take responsibility for investigating which family you are from. Since I confirmed the presence of divine power earlier, it shouldn’t be difficult!” “Yes…” “I’ll make sure to give you good news!” “Thank you.” The other person seemed very excited, but I was just feeling complicated. My parents might have abandoned me, or there could have been some terrible accident that caused us to be separated. As my ability assessment seemed to come to an end, the male lead turned to look at me. “Lowell, as you can tell now… your ability is quite special. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it counters black magic.” “Ah, yes.” “If that ability becomes known, the Magic Tower might forcibly take you.” “What happens if I get dragged to the Magic Tower?” “…They like research.” “….” If I were to explain this in a romantic comedy style, it would mean that I would become formalin. ‘It’s a choice between dying from a work-related accident or being dragged off as a strange research subject.’ The path before my eyes was full of thorns. And like a slave with no way out, I eventually surrendered. “Haa… I will sign the employment contract.” Then the male lead’s eyes sparkled as if he had received a proposal acceptance… When I saw the contract in front of me, I could only sigh. ‘I don’t know anymore.’ However, my hand holding the pen still trembled. ‘Layla Lowell’, why is it so hard to write that name! “Lowell. Do you have tremors?” At that moment, the male lead spoke seriously. The distance between us was infinitely close. The gazes exchanged between us were infinitely intense. The male lead clung to the thought of enduring hell together. I felt like… someone clinging to the edge of a cliff, fighting for survival. “Should I help you?” “…It’s okay.” Hands off. In contrast, Seamus signed without any fuss. Our employment contracts thus ended up in the hands of the mastermind. “Well, then this concludes the recruitment of new recruits.” The mastermind seemed very satisfied. “I look forward to working with you, Lowell. And you too, Finley.” I can’t really look forward to working with you… Having failed in my grand goal of sucking honey, my mind felt like it had been trampled by an elephant. ‘Should I just show them what a chaotic work attitude looks like starting tomorrow?’ I said I can’t be absent, but can I be late? ‘Alright. The work starts at 9, but I’ll arrive around 9:15 and spend 45 minutes drinking coffee.’ However, the mastermind smiled even brighter. “Oh, that’s right. Miss Lowell, Mr. Finley.” “Yes?” “…Yes.” “Just in case, start commuting from the palace dormitory for a while.” What kind of nonsense is this? Those whose parents’ homes are far from the capital could stay in the dormitory. But the orphanage isn’t that far away… “Since you’ve been caught up in a black magic incident, we need to maintain strict security for a while. You can’t cause trouble where there are children, right?” “Ugh.” If you say that, I have nothing to say. What if, in a place busy with a dozen or so children to care for, the security personnel assigned because of me start bustling around? ‘Oh, I don’t even have to imagine it.’ It would be a nuisance beyond measure. “Finley, what about you?” “…I already live in the dormitory.” If I keep doing this, I’ll see you every day from morning to night. But as soon as I thought that, the male lead nodded his head. “Since the situation is not good, I’ll pick you up every morning.” …What did he say? No matter how much of a workaholic he is, this is too much. He’s really coming to the dorm to pick up his junior? And he’ll do it himself every morning? The moment I stupidly opened my mouth, the male lead’s eyes lit up when he saw me. “Lowell, I guess I should go to the place you’re staying, right?” “Uh, right… I need to inform the director over there about the situation as well…” “Okay. Let’s go together.” “Yes?” “I’ll be your mentor from now on. I need to take responsibility and help you.” It’s clear that this romance fantasy world has a completely wrong understanding of what a mentor is. ‘Since when did a mentor take care of their junior’s moving arrangements?” That same day, early evening. The male lead really went with me to the orphanage building. To be honest, I didn’t want to take him, but I didn’t have the mental energy to stop him. ‘Instead, I’ll ask you one thing.’ Before getting off the carriage, I firmly stopped the male lead. “I’ll go inside first to pack my bags, so can you come in later?” “Hmm? Why didn’t you go with me from the beginning?” “If I call you later, you can come in.” …because if I didn’t tell him in advance, he would witness the chaos firsthand. It’s not because I’m embarrassed of the orphanage kids. “Sister, you’re here!” “Whoa, Sister Layla is here!” Even though we don’t share the same blood… I had no reason to feel ashamed of the children I had cared for, even before the memories of my ‘previous life’ returned. [Congratulations on getting hired!] [As expected Sister, you’re the smartest!] These kids were the only ones who congratulated me on my success. ‘It’s the adults that the male lead shouldn’t be seeing.’ “Layla!” Director May said as she walked quickly toward me. Judging by her expression, it looked like she was so heated that you could fry an egg on her head. “Why are you coming home so late! I told you to help the kids bathe right after work!” “The other teachers…” “They’ve all finished work!” Mhm, so you’re asking me to do work the moment I arrive, even though I don’t get paid extra. When I didn’t answer, Director May frowned. “But how much do you get paid? You have to give it to me without me asking.” “It hasn’t even been a month yet, so I’m not sure how much it is.” “Don’t talk back!” “….” “You’re not a good kid who knows gratitude, are you? You’ve been acting really strange lately.” I stared blankly. The old me… In other words, before I regained the memories of my past life, I was obedient. ‘Because this person is my guardian.’ She called me out when I was studying and made me do chores every day, but she wanted to be recognized. [Director, I got an award this time!] [Oh, really? Go and change the kids’ diapers.] [But Director, I want to take the civil service exam… Could I please have just a little time to study…] [What? How do you expect to become an exemplary civil servant without taking care of your younger siblings? You know it’s always the ones who can’t study that complain about not having enough time, right?] […Ah, yes.] It was annoying, but surprisingly, ‘this level of guardian’ wasn’t the worst. ‘Because there was no beating.’ Instead, she would wake me up in the middle of the night or early in the morning and make me do things. Bathing the children, washing the wet blankets, etc. All the hard tasks that the paid teachers didn’t want to do ended up being my responsibility. Even though they brushed it off as a way to repay them for raising me, there was no recognition at all for the hardships I endured. ‘Even now, she won’t ask if I’m okay, even though my complexion doesn’t look good.’ Well, that’s how human relationships are. ‘I should explain the situation in advance. I need to manage my expression before the male lead comes.’ “Director, I have something to tell you…”“Oh my.” But before I could say anything, the director’s eyes widened. A small blush even appeared on both cheeks. ‘What on earth are you looking at?’ Ah, no way. The male lead, who I had told to wait in the carriage, was now approaching me from behind. Seeing that, I understood why the director would go from being angry to making a fuss. ‘Because he’s the most handsome man in this world.’ Black hair slightly swaying in the evening breeze. Deep red eyes, perfectly harmonized facial features. A handsome man who exuded a cool air filled with superiority. The director whispered softly to me in excitement. “Layla. Who on earth is that person?” “He’s a senior at my workplace. From the Lupesque Grand Duchy…” “Oh my oh my! But why is he here?!” The director gave me a look that said, ‘Perhaps!’ ‘Put that kind of misunderstanding aside.’ That person is just a workaholic mentor in this world. “Lowell.” “P, please wait a little longer…” “I’m sorry. I couldn’t wait for you, so I came out.” He’s a senior who makes things strangely difficult just to finish a sentence. 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