How to Run Away from Obsessed Men

Episode 53

“Ah, it’s not a well-known story in our empire,” Felia said, continuing. “I wouldn’t have known about it either if I hadn’t gone to train in the Asen Empire.”

“…”

“Of course, they say she ‘disappeared,’ but there’s also a rumor that Duke Riken killed his useless daughter.”

“Killed his daughter?! Why would anyone do such a thing?!”

“Sometimes, the world is full of unbelievable stories. Duke Riken is a perfectionist, and there’s a rumor that his daughter was a failure.”

“A failure?!”

“Yes, they say she wasn’t a transcendent, nor a cleric.”

Lindsey’s face twisted in disgust. Hearing that reminded her of Crain. He, too, would often dispose of his children under the guise of an accident if they became useless.

Felia’s words left Lindsey feeling unsettled. Why had Mikhail told her to go to such a place?

If the territory was locked down, it would be hard to find a sorcerer or anyone who could help with her dimensional shift. And the idea of going to a land ruled by someone like Crain filled her with dread.

‘Maybe I shouldn’t go.’

But, for some inexplicable reason, Crain’s voice kept echoing in her mind, the way he would mutter about her mother whenever he was in a bad mood.

“A self-important woman, an utterly dreadful person!”

When Lindsey once asked about her mother, Crain had made a face of pure disgust.

In his reaction, Lindsey had seen a deep inferiority complex. She had always wondered, though—what kind of person could anger Crain so much?

“Even your face, which looks just like hers, irritates me to no end.”

“Don’t ever mention that woman again. Just thinking about her makes me sick.”

“Your mother abandoned you. That’s all you need to remember.”

Lindsey had believed Crain. He had always told her that her mother had taken money and left her behind.

She had abandoned Lindsey because she couldn’t handle living in the marquisate and had left to find her own life.

“You’re an abandoned child, Lindsey. I raised you, so you owe me. Awaken your divine powers and live for the family!”

Lindsey had understood her mother’s choice. A powerless commoner couldn’t survive in the Kesion Marquisate.

‘I used to think it was enough for me to endure the suffering here alone.’

But now that she thought about it, something seemed off.

Would Crain really have such a deep inferiority complex toward a commoner woman?

Mikhail must know something.

That’s why he had told her to go to the Riken Duchy.

And his expression had been different when he had told her to go there.

Despite her doubts, Lindsey realized that she had no choice but to follow Mikhail’s suggestion.

‘I shouldn’t get my hopes up.’

Still, a strange feeling gnawed at her, making her think that going to the Riken Duchy might reveal some clues about her mother.

“So, are you really going to the Riken Duchy?” Felia asked.

Lindsey nodded.

⋆★⋆

Azhet had been sighing a lot lately. He kept thinking about the words Lindsey had once told him—that he would regret it.

At the time, he had found the idea laughable.

He had been so sure he would never regret anything. But now, he found himself regretting it, just as Lindsey had predicted.

‘I never should have gotten involved with her.’

He and Kenyan hadn’t always been at odds. In fact, a strong bond between siblings was rare in noble families.

It had worked out because they had each played their roles well.

But now, Kenyan had completely changed.

Azhet frowned.

“Kenyan, you’re utterly pathetic.”

Kenyan scoffed at Azhet’s words.

Despite being drunk and disheveled, there was a fire burning in Kenyan’s eyes.

“Pathetic, huh… That’s a word you’ve always liked, isn’t it, brother? You always called her pathetic.”

Kenyan tried to recall Lindsey’s face—how she had trembled with despair whenever Azhet called her pathetic.

Lindsey would look around with a wounded expression, lowering her head whenever Azhet hurled insults at her.

“I’m so pathetic… I’m really sorry.”

“If only I had tried harder…”

How foolish she had been. Begging like that would never have made Azhet care about her. His brother was cruel.

‘And I was just a pathetic, envious fool.’

The words she had once spoken to him now rattled around in Kenyan’s head. Azhet scoffed.

“How far are you going to fall for that woman?!”

“We were wrong.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“We were wrong, brother. We shouldn’t have treated her like that. What have I done…?”

“Get a grip, Kenyan!”

“What have I done?”

Kenyan felt like he was dying.

Every time he slept, he dreamed of Lindsey. Sometimes it was the recent version of her, looking at him with disgust, and sometimes it was the Lindsey of the past, with a desperate gaze. He wanted to reach out, to speak to her.

But whenever he tried, Lindsey would run away from him, her face filled with horror.

The guilt was eating him alive.

In his dreams, Lindsey would always accuse him, reminding him of all the cruel things he had said to her.

“You killed me.”

“You’re a monster. Disgusting.”

“After tormenting me for so long, now you say you love me?”

“Are you sad that I’m dead? Don’t forget me. Suffer for the rest of your life.”

“You’ll never see me again, and that’s a relief.”

Everything dream-Lindsey said was true. His arrogance had killed her. His contempt had tormented her. Even if Lindsey wasn’t there to say it, he knew he would suffer.

“She didn’t die because of you,” Azhet said coldly. “People with tainted blood always meet tragic ends.”

As soon as the words left Azhet’s mouth, Kenyan grabbed him by the collar. In that moment, Azhet realized something with absolute clarity.

‘You were right, Lindsey Kesion.’

Azhet finally acknowledged Lindsey’s words.

A deep sense of regret washed over him.

The younger brother who had once stood with him, supporting the Radian Duchy, was no longer there.

With Lindsey Kesion’s death, Kenyan had completely collapsed.

His brother had changed utterly. Now, Kenyan was ready to forsake their family for Lindsey’s sake.

‘Even in death, you continue to ruin my brother.’

Azhet had believed that everything would be resolved once Lindsey was gone, but he had been gravely mistaken.

⋆★⋆

Thanks to Felia’s help, Lindsey had finally arrived at the Riken Duchy.

“With your status as a cleric, you can move freely through any village. It makes things much less troublesome.”

Clerics were often given little scrutiny, even during identity checks.

Their divine power was often considered proof enough of who they were.

Lindsey scanned the faces of the people around her.

Despite the duchy’s isolation from other territories, the people here seemed oddly cheerful.

“I’ve heard that Duke Riken is an exceptional leader in many ways.”

“A leader similar to my father is considered exceptional…?”

Lindsey couldn’t imagine what that could mean. What makes a good leader, anyway?

At Lindsey’s bitter remark, Felia gave her a curious look. People from the Kesion Marquisate were usually careful not to speak ill of Crain.

Lindsey smiled warmly at her.

When she had lived at the Kesion Marquisate, Lindsey had to hide her emotions and speak only positively about Crain.

But now that she had escaped that life, she could finally speak about him freely.

With a somber expression, Lindsey gazed at the peaceful Riken Duchy.

Mikhail had told her that she would learn something about her mother here.

‘Is my mother really here?’

Her mother—the very word stirred a deep-seated ache in Lindsey. Yet, she felt nothing toward her. No hatred, no resentment, not even affection.

When she was very young, she had resented her mother. After all, she had been told that her mother had abandoned her to escape a life in hell.

But as Lindsey grew older, she had come to understand. So, she chose to forget. She wouldn’t hate, nor would she yearn.

Lindsey looked around.

The Riken lands seemed so peaceful.

‘I don’t see how I’ll learn anything about my mother just by coming here.’

She didn’t even know what her mother looked like. She didn’t know her name, her age, or what kind of person she was.

Yet, Mikhail had said she would find answers if she came to this place.

Though she didn’t know why, Lindsey had come, almost as if drawn to the place. At least she had an excuse—she needed a place to stay while in the Asen Empire.

‘How foolish.’

What exactly was she expecting?

Lindsey laughed at her own weakness, mocking herself for even hoping.