How to Run Away from Obsessed Men

Episode 47

Lindsey couldn’t quite understand why Raysis and Rosalyn were fighting right in front of her.

‘Well, I had a vague idea that Rosalyn was behind the keepsake incident,’ she thought.

Lindsey had suspected that Rosalyn was the one who had framed her, but now that it was confirmed, she was still taken aback.

She quietly stared at Rosalyn.

Lindsey couldn’t comprehend why Rosalyn harbored so much animosity toward her.

Ever since childhood, there had been plenty of people who disliked her for no apparent reason.

‘No, it wasn’t without reason. It was because of my tainted blood.’

The fact that her blood was impure always created enemies for her. But Rosalyn’s actions went beyond mere disdain.

While others simply ignored her, Rosalyn genuinely hated her—to the point of falsely accusing her of things she hadn’t done.

“Both of you, get out. As you can see, I’m not in the best shape,” Lindsey said, pointing to her face.

Her face was covered in visible wounds.

“Oh, and while you’re leaving, could you fetch Room 503?”

Rosalyn stared at Lindsey in disbelief. Even though everything had been exposed, Lindsey showed no sign of caring.

‘Is she seriously talking about that orphan in this situation?’

Room 503 referred to the orphan boy Mikhail had brought along with Lindsey. To Rosalyn, he was insignificant, someone she wouldn’t even think about under the current circumstances.

Yet here Lindsey was, instructing Raysis to fetch the boy with an almost arrogant tone.

‘And that indifferent attitude…!’

Rosalyn expected Raysis to be furious. Lindsey’s behavior was insufferably insolent.

But Raysis didn’t get angry. Instead, he looked at Lindsey with concern.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m not alright. So please, both of you, leave.”

‘What is going on?’

Rosalyn’s eyes trembled as she looked at Raysis.

“Alright, you should rest. Let’s go, Rosalyn,” Raysis said.

“Raysis, brother! Didn’t you hear what she said? She was so disrespectful, and you’re just going to let her off?”

“Lindsey’s not well. Now is not the time for you to be saying such things.”

Lindsey watched the scene unfold with her arms crossed.

Something about Rosalyn’s situation felt oddly familiar. It reminded her of the times when Rosalyn would lash out at her and people would make excuses for Rosalyn’s behavior.

“Miss Rosalyn is unwell.”

“Healthy Miss Lindsey, why don’t you give way?”

“Lindsey, why are you always so eager to bring Rosalyn down?”

Lindsey and Rosalyn’s eyes met.

Rosalyn was glaring at her with a murderous expression. Despite the fact that it was Raysis who had gotten angry, it seemed like Rosalyn was directing her fury toward Lindsey instead.

Lindsey smirked, raising one side of her lips. Seeing that, Rosalyn’s face turned crimson, almost as if it would explode.

Just before leaving, Raysis said one last thing.

“I’m really glad you made it back safely.”

Hearing those words made Lindsey feel deeply uncomfortable.

‘Why is he acting like this now?’

Back when Rosalyn had insulted and scorned her, he hadn’t said a word in her defense.

‘It’s not like I can reclaim the time I lost…’

Even if Raysis suddenly started pretending to care, it wouldn’t undo the wounds of her past.

⋆★⋆

Lindsey observed the boy who entered her room.

Now dressed in clean clothes and with his matted hair washed, the boy appeared surprisingly handsome. Like the transcendent beings in this world, who followed the law that good looks equaled strength, the boy possessed considerable power.

Room 503. The failed project of Count Ruwan.

‘Count Ruwan must have known that 503 was a powerful transcendent.’

And yet, he had neglected him.

“Your name is Luke. It means ‘the one who struggles’ in the ancient language.”

The boy blinked, unable to say anything at first.

“Don’t you like the name?”

Luke, the boy, quickly shook his head.

“No, no, I love it. I’m just overwhelmed.”

Lindsey found herself slightly pleased as well.

‘For my naming sense, it’s actually not bad.’

She nodded in satisfaction.

“I’m glad you like it. It suits you well.”

She reached out to pat Luke on the head, and his face flushed red like a ripe persimmon. He clasped his hands together, not knowing what to do.

“You can stay at the Kesion marquisate from now on, if you want.”

“……”

“Would it be alright if I asked you to act as my bodyguard? Of course, it’s just a formality. It’s the only way for you to stay here without doing servant work.”

“Why are you being so kind to me?” Luke asked, clearly unused to such kindness, and Lindsey wasn’t the only one who found it strange.

“When I was a child, I desperately needed help. I thought you might need it, too.”

In her childhood, Lindsey had needed a protector more than anything. She hadn’t known how to live or what it took to lead a happy life.

She had decided that she would become Luke’s protector.

‘When I disappear from this wretched family, I’ll ask Bianca to take care of him.’

If she hadn’t noticed him, it would be a different story. But now that he was in her sight, she couldn’t just leave him.

Her time in this place was almost up. Bianca would take good care of him once she left.

“Children should grow up like children, without worries. That’s my belief.”

It was at that moment.

Luke, who had been standing in front of her, suddenly stiffened, then embraced Lindsey, pulling her into his arms.

He quickly drew his sword toward the window.

“Who’s there?!”

Lindsey’s gaze followed his to the window, and when she saw Mikhail standing there, her expression darkened.

“No, Luke. Please step out for a moment.”

Luke hesitated for a brief second but, seeing Lindsey’s gentle smile, nodded and left the room.

As soon as Luke was gone, Mikhail opened the window and entered.

Just like Kenyan before him, Mikhail seemed to prefer entering through windows rather than using the perfectly functional door.

‘Is there some kind of rule that transcendent beings aren’t allowed to use doors?’ Lindsey mused as she studied Mikhail’s condition.

His clothes were covered in blood. But now she knew. The blood on his clothes wasn’t his.

‘It’s the blood of monsters… and knights…’

All of it was because of her.

“Thank you and I’m sorry. You’ve gone through so much because of me. Thanks to you, I’m alive.”

Mikhail’s complexion was pale from the repeated missions.

Lindsey sighed and reached out her hand toward him.

“Give me your hand.”

“Why?”

“I need to heal you.”

Mikhail’s gaze moved from her head, to her shoulders, and down to her hand, as if he could see through her entirely.

“Hurry.”

At her urging, Mikhail finally extended his hand. It was warm. Lindsey grasped his hand and began to guide him.

Even now, Mikhail’s face remained expressionless. It was strange.

‘He must be feeling good, but…’

How could someone remain so impassive?

After a long silence, Mikhail finally spoke in a casual tone.

“Is stroking someone’s head also part of the healing process?”

Lindsey tilted her head at the unexpected comment.

She wondered if she had heard him correctly.

“What did you say?”

“I’m asking about stroking someone’s head.”

It seemed Mikhail had seen her earlier when she was patting Luke’s head.

But so what?

A playful glint sparked in Lindsey’s eyes.

“Are you asking me to stroke your head too?”

Mikhail didn’t respond.

Lindsey was taken aback. She had thought it was a ridiculous question, but Mikhail’s expression remained unusually serious.

‘Is he that tired? Did he ask because he wanted quicker healing?’

In reality, it didn’t matter whether she held his hand or stroked his head—the effectiveness of the guiding process wouldn’t change.

Mikhail probably didn’t know that, which was why he made such a request.

Her decision didn’t take long.

Lindsey guided Mikhail to sit on the sofa. He obediently followed her lead, almost like a child.

Anyone else watching might have been shocked at the sight of the infamous “Demon of the Battlefield,” Mikhail, acting so compliant.

But Lindsey didn’t think much of it.

‘It’s not a difficult request. There’s no reason I can’t do it.’

She began to gently stroke Mikhail’s head. He closed his eyes slowly, seemingly savoring the moment.

Sunlight streamed in from the window, and the room fell into an unusually serene silence. Lindsey continued to guide Mikhail.

It was a peaceful afternoon.

⋆★⋆

Lindsey stared with a sullen face at the merchants who had come to see her.

“That looks stunning on you, milady.”

“Lady Lindsey’s beauty is already renowned throughout the empire, and now we see why.”

They were doing their best to flatter her.

“Lindsey, you’re now representing our family, so you need to look your best. Wear something as extravagant as possible,” Crain had said as he sent the merchants her way.

‘The hunting competition…’

In a short while, the empire’s grandest hunting competition would take place.

‘There will be so many nobles attending.’

It was the empire’s biggest festival.

Essentially, it was a competition to determine who among the transcendent beings was the best.

It was also one of the rare occasions when the hunting grounds of the imperial capital were opened.

‘Sylvia will likely make an appearance that day as well.’

Using the hunting competition as an excuse, she would return to the capital.

And that day—

It was the day Lindsey would die.