How to Run Away from Obsessed Men

Episode 64

Lindsey walked through the garden of the Riken estate, her thoughts heavy with the emotions of the day. Kalia had wept with joy, Heis and Gerard had been overwhelmed, and even Heis, who had tried to remain composed, now looked at her with a softer gaze.

After telling her family that she needed a moment to collect herself, Lindsey had excused herself.

‘It’s strange how uncomfortable it all feels.’

Kalia’s tears, Gerard’s warmth, even Heis, who had been critical at first, now held back any harsh words. All of it felt foreign to Lindsey.

Then, she stopped in her tracks.

There, perched on a tree branch, was a face she had hoped never to see again.

Kenyan Radian.

He was watching her intently.

From the beginning, she had never thought she could deceive him. But she didn’t want to have a confrontation in front of Heis and Gerard. She didn’t want to appear weak.

Kenyan was just a painful memory for her—nothing more.

She had expected him to come looking for her at some point. However, she hadn’t anticipated him boldly intruding into the Riken estate.

‘I’d rather not reveal myself like this…’

Kenyan appeared as if he had lost his mind.

His unwavering gaze was almost comical to her.

Lindsey remembered the look on his face when she had fallen from the cliff—the despair that had twisted his expression as if his world had collapsed. She had found it repulsive.

“Lindsey Kesion?” he called out, his voice unsure.

Lindsey tilted her head as if she didn’t understand, and Kenyan’s face contorted with emotion.

His sadness was pathetic to her.

“It’s you, isn’t it?” he asked again.

Lindsey didn’t respond, watching as he cautiously approached her, much like he had when they had been at the edge of the cliff.

The weight of his emotions made her frown.

She could see the flicker of emotions on Kenyan’s face—joy, sorrow, torment.

“You didn’t die…”

His hands trembled violently.

‘Should I pretend again?’ she thought, briefly considering denying her identity just to see his reaction. But she dismissed the idea—it was too much trouble.

She no longer cared enough to hurt him. She felt nothing for him anymore. Even his desperate demeanor didn’t stir anything within her.

She smirked at his pathetic appearance.

“Yes, I’m alive,” she said coldly.

“Why…?” Kenyan’s voice broke.

“Are you really asking me why?” she snapped.

His face froze. Of course, he knew why she had wanted to escape.

Lindsey seemed happier now, as if she had found a new life. Somehow, she was even under the protection of the Riken family.

“What are you going to do now that I know your secret?” he asked.

“Are you going to tell everyone that Lindsey Kesion is alive?” Lindsey taunted.

“…”

“Go ahead, say it.”

She knew he wouldn’t say anything.

That’s why she dared him.

Lindsey moved closer, locking eyes with him.

“If you do, I’ll be dragged back to the Kesion Marquisate. Crain will use me for whatever purpose he has in mind, won’t he?”

“…”

“And if that happens, I’ll spend the rest of my life hating you. Not that I like you much now, but it’ll be worse.”

Kenyan remained silent, simply staring at her. She was throwing cruel words at him, looking at him as if he were the most detestable person in the world.

He could feel it—her hatred was palpable.

But none of it mattered to him because Lindsey was alive.

She was standing before him, breathing, looking at him. Since her death, his life had been a bleak, colorless existence.

Nothing had mattered to him since then.

Kenyan realized something once again—he loved this cold, heartless woman standing in front of him.

As much as he wanted to deny it, Lindsey was right. He wouldn’t do anything. He couldn’t.

“What will it take for you to forgive me?” he asked.

“…”

“Will you ever forgive me?”

Lindsey shook her head.

“Probably not.”

“…”

“Maybe if I never see you again, I can forget you exist.”

Kenyan smiled faintly at that.

If that were the case, then she would never forgive him. He had no intention of leaving her side.

He could even abandon his noble title, accept being treated as the “dirty blood” he had once despised.

“Fine, don’t forgive me.”

He gave up on any hope. Even though her words were cold, the mere fact that she was alive filled him with joy.

He just wanted to be near her.

Even if it meant listening to her insults.

But Lindsey wouldn’t even allow that, and Kenyan knew it.

Still, he wasn’t sad. He knew he couldn’t stop himself. Even if she scorned him, even if her eyes remained cold.

Now, he understood.

Kenyan knelt before her, ready to beg for her forgiveness—the thing he hadn’t been able to do before she disappeared.

“Lindsey, I…”

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps interrupted them.

“An intruder!” someone shouted.

Heis appeared with several knights, pulling Lindsey behind him and pointing his sword at Kenyan.

“Are you hurt?” Heis asked Lindsey urgently.

“No, I’m fine,” she replied calmly.

Once Heis confirmed her safety, he turned his hostile gaze toward Kenyan.

“How did you get in here?” he demanded, his eyes full of suspicion. Lindsey had spoken of Kenyan before, and Heis remembered her words well.

When Kenyan remained silent, Heis ordered the knights to restrain him.

Lindsey watched quietly as they dragged him away.

Kenyan’s gaze never left her, not even for a second. Heis roughly led him away, barking orders.

“Take him to the dungeon.”

⋆★⋆

Lindsey continued walking, leaving Heis to deal with interrogating Kenyan.

‘I need to focus on finding traces of Baek Ji-hyuk.’

When Lindsey returned to her room, Felia was already waiting for her.

“Felia, did you find out what I asked?”

“Yes, indeed. Unlike our empire, there are many dark and sinister arts here,” Felia responded.

“…”

“The duchy’s knights were cooperative, so the investigation went smoothly.”

As Felia said this, she handed over a portrait.

“There’s a transcendent who knows about dimensional travel. They’re located not far from the Riken estate.”

Felia continued, her expression troubled.

“I originally planned to bring them here to the estate, but they refused to move. They said they have no intention of leaving their place.”

Many transcendents were known for their eccentric personalities.

Lindsey nodded.

If she went with Felia, it shouldn’t be too dangerous.

‘It’s easier if I go to them.’

Lindsey still hadn’t fully opened up to her family. Bringing a transcendent into the estate in this state felt uncomfortable.

She closed her eyes in exhaustion.

Was it because of her confrontation with Kenyan?

She missed Baek Ji-hyuk.

⋆★⋆

Mikhail dreamed.

He found himself surrounded by people wearing clothes he had never seen before.

Confused, he glanced around. This dream was different from the ones he usually had.

Unlike the black-and-white world of his previous dreams, this one was filled with vibrant colors.

It was strange.

Even though this was an unfamiliar place, it felt oddly familiar to him.

In fact, it was almost comforting, like he had returned home.

‘What was I doing?’

Mikhail tried to trace his memories. He had just completed an assignment from Princess Rebecca and returned to the Kesion Marquisate.

He was enduring pain to control the goddess’s power.

Had he fallen asleep without realizing it?

Mikhail tilted his head in confusion. It was the first time he had experienced falling asleep so suddenly.

He had always been too tense to fall into a deep sleep.

His brow furrowed. Even in his dreams, the goddess’s power was tormenting him.

“I need to… start guiding…”

His body stiffened.

Guiding?

What was guiding?

It was a foreign word to him.

At that moment, someone grabbed his arm.