The Male Lead Is Obsessed With Proposing to Me - Chapter 60
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- Fog of Pride
“Sally.”
Benelucia whispered, trying to keep his voice soft and comforting as he called out to Senelia.
He resisted the urge that tried to overpower him, refrained from nearly shouting Senelia’s name, fearing it might startle her, considering she had just woken up.
“Ben.”
Senelia responded in a weak voice, her entire body aching as if she’d been beaten.
Just the bare minimum such as breathing was difficult, it was as if her lungs were filled with water.
“Why were you so reckless? You could have been hurt.”
Benelucia muttered, as if on the verge of breaking down, tightly holding Senelia’s left hand encased in both of his own.
While Benelucia was relieved that Senelia had woken up safely, it was a profound shock for an ordinary noblewoman like Senelia to experience something like this.
Senelia blinked her eyes blankly, her entire body hurting too much to think clearly.
Amidst the pain, Senelia found herself wanting to ask a question.
Then why did you… You went there without saying a word to me?
She was resentful of Benelucia, who would go to any lengths when it came to Lucalina’s affairs.
However, she stopped herself before blurting out what she almost asked.
It would have been a wrong step in the worst direction.
“…Is Your Highness the Grand Duke and Lady Ellihan alright? Are the two of you severely injured?”
Senelia chose to change her line of question, unintentionally agitating Benelucia.
“Is now the time for you to worry about me and Luna?”
Benelucia growled savagely, tears welling up in the depths of his eyes.
Lucalina was a swordmaster who had seen years of battlefield experience, and bleeding and fractures were par for the course.
Despite injuries, a sword master’s body healed quickly, especially since Lucalina had received treatment from the priest, assuring a full recovery.
But Senelia was different, and Benelucia couldn’t stop worrying about her leg without the priest’s care.
Senelia felt Benelucia’s raised voice was unkind at that moment.
After all, though his childhood love was injured, she too, had been harmed.
She wondered to herself as she watched the emotions play out in his gaze.
Who am I to go to the Mana Cave and go through all this trouble?
Is that what you mean, Ben?
Why are you angry at me?
“…I’m sorry.”
Senelia finally whispered, realizing that once she let anger take hold, there would be no turning back.
“Sally.”
Benelucia gasped, nearly breathless.
The moment he saw Senelia, eyes cast down in apology as if it were the most natural thing, Benelucia fell silent.
She didn’t dare raise her voice, afraid of a possibility in which he’d coldly turn his back on her, and that sight filled Benelucia with regret.
He couldn’t help but wonder if it was safe for Senelia to hold back her anger.
At the same time, he was at a loss because it seemed that Senelia had no intention of getting angry at him even though it was clear that she was bottling up her emotions.
Sally, I want you to be honest with me.
At that moment, Benelucia realized how quickly he had jumped to conclusions.
Having a conversation where they promised to be honest didn’t mean Senelia could suddenly become honest.
Because Senelia… even when I tried to save Lucalina and ended up in this situation, she didn’t get angry.
He knew it was because she was used to bottling things up and hiding her true feelings.
It was only now that Benelucia could see a glimpse of the real Senelia.
The look in her eyes was different from her actions.
A normal person in this situation wouldn’t be apologizing.
Senelia Daphnen, who grew up in the loving embrace of ordinary and kind parents on the Daphnen estate, would not have been like this.
In his memories, Senelia was initially quite talkative, and it was only as she spent more time with Benelucia that she gradually became more reserved.
It was my fault.
He had become complacent, assuming that Senelia didn’t ask about Lucalina because she was comfortable with him.
It was his fault for thinking Senelia was content when she quietly stepped back while he was engrossed in his work, for thinking she was comfortable because she didn’t pester him like others did.
It was all Benelucia’s fault, and the traces of how he had let Senelia down were still present in her actions.
She hid it all, just so she would not be abandoned again.
“Why are you apologizing to me?”
Benelucia’s throat was dry.
He realized how easily he had made that assumption.
He was the one who had silenced Senelia, and now he was suddenly telling her to be honest.
How had she listened to my nonsense?
Perhaps he hadn’t even thought about it, always treating Senelia in this way.
The truth had never been hidden; he just hadn’t wanted to see it because Benelucia’s love had been arrogant, thinking that his love could bring about change.
He couldn’t afford to be so arrogant.
Not when he watched her lay there in pain. Not when he was useless, unable to heal her.
“…I-I’m sorry, Sally.”
Benelucia covered his face with one hand, unable to bear looking at Senelia any longer. “Rest. As soon as your body recovers enough to accept divine power, I will call a priest.” With that, Benelucia quickly left the room, as if avoiding Senelia.
“Take care of Sally.”
“Yes…? Yes, Your Highness.”
Accordingly, Benelucia, who had received instructions from the head maid brought from Daphnen’s townhouse, quickly retreated from the scene.
Ah, the moment when my arrogance was so brutally shattered has become glaringly apparent.
***
Fortunately, Senelia’s body made a full recovery, and with the help of the priest, her leg healed completely.
However, the real issue wasn’t her physical well-being.
It was the revelation that she was a sorcerer, a discovery made by Cliff and Benelucia.
Her actions would have also hinted at her collaboration with Cliff.
Benelucia just had to think it over once he calmed down.
How else could Senelia have known about the crisis involving Benelucia, as such information that no one had shared with Senelia?
Moreover, they were in the Imperial hunting grounds, a place inaccessible without the permission of the Imperial family.
“What do I do?”
Those facts weighed heavily on Senelia’s shoulders.
The thought of Benelucia dying because of her actions haunted her.
She now feared the consequences of her impulsive decisions.
She felt overwhelmed by everything.
The days of constant anxiety and uncertainty had taken a toll on her.
However, even as Senelia faced one setback after another, the world refused to leave her in peace.
No, it was Cliff de Helios who never gave me a moment’s peace!
The loud blare of a trumpet, a magical trumpet that could transmit sound over great distances, resounded outside the mansion.
There was only one person who could employ such a device.
Emperor Cliff de Helios.
The realization sent shivers down Senelia’s spine.
Cliff… had come to Afron Mansion.
***
“It’s not possible.”
“Each shaman is a great human resource to the empire. So get out of the way, Duke Afron.”
“I said no.”
“Are you going to break the emperor’s command?”
“Sally has just received healing from a priest. What her body needs right now is stability.”
“She has been healed by a priest, so there is no more pain.”
“—Your Majesty the Emperor!”
“Benelucia Afron! Get out of my way!”
Once the unannounced emperor had been seated in the Grand Duke’s drawing room, Benelucia and Cliff engaged in an unending dispute.
Cliff had come to visit, stating his need to confirm that Senelia was a shaman, while Benelucia resolutely blocked the emperor’s entrance.
“Sally is the Grand Duchess. No matter how important a shaman is to the empire, is it more important than the Grand Duchess?”
“Of course, being a Grand Duchess is more important than being a shaman. However, since she has not yet married you, Senelia Daphnen is not an archduchess. In other words, it is more important that she is a shaman.”
“His Majesty personally issued an edict. There is absolutely no way Sally and I won’t get married, so she deserves to be treated like a Grand Duchess.”
Benelucia and Cliff engaged in a sharp confrontation, each side unwilling to back down. There was a knock at the door.
“Her Highness the Grand Duchess has arrived.”
Alas, the debate ended with Senelia’s arrival.
“Tell her to come in.”
Cliff, seemingly aware of the impending encounter, allowed Senelia to enter the drawing room at his leisure.
“Sally… You should be lying down.”
Benelucia immediately stood and approached Senelia.
Though her leg had fully healed, Senelia appeared unsteady as she walked.
If she hadn’t pushed Benelucia away as he drew closer, he might have carried her to the couch, just as he had after her injury inside the caves.
He didn’t seem to be concerned under the hawk-like gaze of the emperor.
“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”
Senelia greeted Cliff with a curtsy.
Cliff gestured for Benelucia to correct her posture and help the toppling woman find her balance.
“Grand Duke, please leave for a moment. I have something to discuss with Lady Daphnen.”
“I don’t like it, you can say it with me here.”
Cliff had no reservations about using people and Benelucia didn’t know how he would treat Senelia if he discovered she was a shaman.
Benelucia couldn’t easily retreat.
“Does Lady Daphnen think the same?”
However, Cliff was convinced that Benelucia would have no choice but to leave.
Senelia was always perceived as the weaker party in front of Cliff, she was his target all along.
“…Your Highness, please allow me a moment.”
Succumbing to the emperor’s tyranny, Senelia took hold of Benelucia’s arm and softly spoke.
When Benelucia attempted to argue with her, Senelia clung to him once again.
“Ben, please.”
Benelucia found it increasingly difficult to remain stubborn as Senelia called him by his nickname and pleaded with him with her watery eyes.
Such strong demands were rare from Senelia, and he couldn’t ignore her opinion.
In the end, he rose from his seat.
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Eve
thank you for the new chapter 🤍🫶