How to Run Away from Obsessed Men

Episode 34

Kenyan couldn’t say a word. He couldn’t even muster the strength to be angry at Azhet. Deep down, he already knew the truth.

He and his brother were far too similar. They could read each other’s emotions instantly.

‘I have feelings for her…?’

Since when?

How did this happen?

His legs began to tremble.

Azhet’s hand rested on Kenyan’s shoulder.

“Of course, if you want that woman, I’ll do whatever it takes to help you. Just say the word. Do you want to take her as your mistress?”

Azhet had known all along. He knew exactly when Kenyan had developed feelings for Lindsey.

It had all started on a cold winter day.

Lindsey had visited their family estate, and Azhet had gone to greet her along with Kenyan.

And that was when he had noticed it.

His younger brother, usually indifferent to everything, had blushed. From that moment on, Lindsey was always in Kenyan’s sight.

Lindsey Kesion.

At first, Azhet thought it was just a passing interest.

Lindsey was unlike anyone they had ever encountered before.

‘Clumsy, foolish, and lowborn.’

But even as time passed, Kenyan’s interest in her didn’t fade. That’s why Azhet had allowed Sylvia’s schemes to continue.

‘It’s also why I delayed breaking off the engagement.’

He knew Kenyan wouldn’t dare harbor deep feelings for his older brother’s fiancée. Azhet didn’t want Kenyan wasting his time on something useless.

“I believe people should be with others of their own status. I only accepted the engagement with Lindsey Kesion to pave the way for my engagement with Rosalyn.”

Azhet’s face was cold as he spoke, and Kenyan was taken aback. He had thought Azhet was engaged to Lindsey with the intent of marrying her.

But Lindsey had been nothing more than a pawn to be used and discarded.

‘So, he never intended to marry her.’

That’s why Azhet had stood by and watched, knowing everything that was happening.

Kenyan clenched his fists tightly.

Azhet continued.

“Mother has been in league with the black magicians. It’s because of that woman.”

“What did you say, brother?”

“The black magicians attacked us during the Northern campaign on Mother’s orders.”

Kenyan’s face turned pale.

“Mother tried to kill her?”

“Yes.”

Kenyan’s eyes shook.

The image of Lindsey struggling, gasping for air, filled his mind. The person responsible for her suffering had been his own mother.

“But why…?”

Azhet frowned, clearly annoyed by the situation.

“Mother must have noticed as well. That you had feelings for someone of filthy blood.”

“……”

“Because of you, that woman nearly died. Those who reach beyond their station often pay with their lives.”

“Because of me?”

“If it weren’t for you, Mother wouldn’t have gone so far as to try and kill her. She wouldn’t have used such extreme methods.”

While Kenyan was reeling from the shock, Azhet was merely irritated by the inconvenience.

He spoke again.

“Princess Rebecca is already aware of the situation. Mother will have to face the consequences.”

⋆★⋆

Kenyan walked in a daze, Azhet’s words still echoing in his mind.

As much as he disliked Lindsey, the thought of Sylvia trying to kill her was unfathomable.

‘Maybe brother is mistaken.’

But deep down, Kenyan knew the truth.

“That filthy girl, it would’ve been better if she never existed.”

“At least it’s fortunate that Azhet didn’t develop feelings for her.”

Those were words Sylvia had often muttered. If she had suspected that Kenyan cared for Lindsey, it was clear why she would have tried to kill her.

‘Because I looked at Lindsey Kesion.’

Sylvia must have found that unbearable.

‘I should tell Mother I don’t have feelings for her. Maybe then she’ll change her mind.’

It was then that he heard it.

“Why! Why did it fail?!”

Sylvia’s voice rang in his ears.

“Why is that filthy wretch still alive?!”

Kenyan’s heart sank. He knew exactly who his mother was talking about.

“Ke-Kenyan, should I send a message to Lady Sylvia?” a servant asked nervously.

“No, don’t. I’ll go in.”

Kenyan stepped into the room without a word.

His heart pounded loudly in his chest.

Thump. Thump.

It felt like his heart was going to burst out of his ribcage.

“Who beheaded the black magicians?!” Sylvia screamed.

Sylvia’s voice was filled with rage as Kenyan walked past the servants guarding the door.

“I paid a heavy price to those black magicians. Do you know how much divine power I used to heal their leader? And now, all I get in return are their heads!”

“What are you talking about, Mother?” Kenyan’s voice was cold.

Sylvia froze.

Slowly, she turned around to see Kenyan staring at her with an expression of horror and disgust.

Why is he looking at me like that? Sylvia couldn’t understand.

“K-Kenyan?”

Kenyan’s face twisted with disbelief.

“Did you hate her that much?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Obvious?”

“That filthy girl seduced you!”

“She didn’t do anything.”

“What do you mean? Didn’t you see how she humiliated me during the engagement talks?”

“Humiliated? Mother, it was you who slapped Lindsey Kesion!”

“S-Stop it, Kenyan!”

Kenyan had tried to understand.

He had tried to justify his mother’s cruel treatment of Lindsey, thinking it was because she loved him too much.

He had tried to rationalize her relentless persecution.

After all, no noble would easily accept Lindsey’s lowly status.

But even so, he didn’t want to believe that his mother was truly so heartless.

‘Maybe I’ve just been trying to ignore it all this time.’

The truth was, Sylvia hated Lindsey not for what she did, but for who she was. No matter what Lindsey accomplished, it would never change her low birth in Sylvia’s eyes.

To Sylvia, Lindsey’s character didn’t matter.

Sylvia had ignored her own actions and blamed everything on Lindsey.

That truth tore Kenyan apart.

His mother had tried to kill Lindsey.

It wasn’t enough that she had tormented her, falsely accused her, and colluded with black magicians. All of this was Sylvia’s doing.

“Colluding with black magicians is a serious crime. I can’t ignore this,” Kenyan said sternly.

Sylvia’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Kenyan, you understand what you’re saying, don’t you?”

“……”

“You’re not thinking straight. That filthy girl must have manipulated you!”

“……”

“How could you say such things to me, your own mother?”

“Mother.”

Kenyan’s eyes burned with anger, and Sylvia staggered back, stunned.

“You need to rest. I’ll inform Brother Azhet.”

“……”

“I’m sure the Kesion Marquisate will be satisfied with that as well. You must take responsibility for everything you’ve done, Mother.”

“Kenyan, you need healing, don’t you?”

Kenyan let out a bitter smile. He knew that, to Sylvia, divine power was her greatest weapon.

But even that didn’t matter to him anymore. Sylvia didn’t realize it yet, but her divine power was fading. Slowly but surely.

Though she believed that her noble blood meant the goddess would always watch over her, it was clear that the goddess was withdrawing her blessing from Sylvia.

In contrast, Lindsey, whom Sylvia had always scorned for her low birth, had extraordinary divine power.

‘Not that it changes anything.’

Even if Sylvia’s divine power had remained intact, the outcome wouldn’t have changed.

“Lrsen is a nice place,” Kenyan said.

Sylvia shivered at the cold tone in her son’s voice.

“What if I refuse to go?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“Princess Rebecca already knows, Mother. She knows about your collusion with the black magicians.”

Sylvia’s face turned ashen. The image of the ruthless First Princess flashed in her mind.

Lrsen was far from the capital. Kenyan’s words hit her hard—he intended to send her there, far away from the center of power.

If she was exiled to Lrsen, she would lose all influence in high society.

Sylvia had always been a powerful figure in social circles. A simple gesture from her could change the entire atmosphere of a banquet.

If she was sent to Lrsen, other nobles would surely mock her.

‘If I go there, I might never return to high society.’

Sylvia grabbed Kenyan’s arm, her voice desperate.

“Why, Kenyan? Why are you so worried about that filthy girl who nearly died? What happened to you?”

“Mother, there will be no change in my decision.”

The very situation Sylvia had feared had come to pass. Her son had fallen for that lowborn girl.