For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 112

I carefully tucked Ariel’s letter under my pillow and stood up. The temple’s staged spectacle was about to begin soon.

I’d better get there early and claim a good spot before it starts. Might as well bring some nurungji too.

It’s a shame there’s no popcorn.

As I brushed past Feyden without a second thought, he suddenly grabbed my forearm.

With a sullen expression that said, ‘What? Why are you grabbing me?’ I looked up at him, but Feyden averted his gaze to the other side.

His palm, gripping my arm, was extremely hot.

“What is it? If you have nothing to say, let go. I have to go to the lake with Ariel.”

“Potato, ha… no, never mind.”

“Huh?”

Unable to stand it, I leaned in and brought my face right up in front of Feyden’s. He turned his head away even more, but I saw it.

Both of his cheeks—and even his ears—were flushed bright red.

‘What’s this? Why is his face suddenly so red?’

When I tilted my head at him, Feyden abruptly shoved my arm away and shouted,

“Ah, damn it! I’m sorry!”

“Huh? For grabbing my arm?”

“No! Ugh, for what I did behind your back! I’m fvcking sorry!”

“Ah.”

So this was what he’d been working up to say?

I pouted my lips and leaned in even closer.

“Are you really sorry?”

“Would I be fake-sorry?”

“You’re not going to leak my information anymore?”

“Of course not!”

“Why not? You said before you’d do anything for money, even kill someone. But now you won’t?”

“…That’s—”

Apparently, he hadn’t expected that question. Feyden pressed his lips together tightly. I could have just accepted his apology, but I wanted to know why he’d changed his mind.

We were close enough that I could feel Feyden’s rough breaths.

His face grew even redder, to the point where it looked like it might explode, and then he shouted again in a high-pitched voice.

“B-Because you’re more important than money!”

“Important? More than money? I am?”

“Ah! Forget it! I’m done with all this!”

Feyden stomped out through the front gate in a single bound.

“What’s with him. He’s kind of cute in his own way.”

I slipped on my perfectly fitting beoseon and floral shoes and stepped into the yard, where Jin approached me.

“The priest said he was sorry and went ahead. He asked me to accompany you. I’ll lead the way.”

Carrying a lantern, Jin went on ahead. Thanks to him, I made it safely to Seonui Lake without stumbling.

The sun had completely set. The last hint of blue in the sky had faded, and the moon hung bright and full. The priests of the temple were all dressed in white tunics for the ceremony, each holding a lantern.

A ring of priests half-encircled the lake; at a glance, it looked almost like some ritual to summon ghosts or monsters.

The atmosphere was so solemn and oppressive that, even with a crowd of spectators, not a single small noise could be heard.

Thinking it was all an impressively staged performance, I looked around for Ariel, since I had something to tell him.

‘Somehow, I just knew Ariel would want to watch this holy ceremony from as close as possible.’

Sure enough, he was as close as permitted, watching the ritual. Since he was still a novice priest, he wouldn’t have been allowed to join the procession itself—how nervous must he feel?

I approached behind him and whispered quietly.

“Ariel, watch closely. And keep doubting.”

Ariel’s shoulders stiffened.

Blink. He slowly closed his eyes and then turned to face me.

“Do you still believe this phenomenon is someone’s scheme…?”

“Relentless doubt is a basic rule for survival. There’s no such thing as kindness without motive, just as there’s no coin without a price.”

“…Don’t worry. His Holiness the Pope will personally purify whatever’s at the center of the lake with divine power.”

“See it for yourself, Ariel—with your own two eyes.”

This should be enough to plant a seed of suspicion.

I took a few steps back to watch the Pope address the people.

He was an elderly man, but he seemed in good health, able to walk the pilgrimage and preach with a booming voice.

Still, spring lake water is probably a bit cold for someone his age.

Watching the Pope take off his shoes with the help of the priests standing beside him, I felt a twinge of concern.

Well, since Rozemian the healing saintess is right beside him, I suppose even if his heart stops for a moment, it’ll be fine.

That’s when it happened.

A loud commotion came from the mountain path.

Everyone’s eyes turned not to the Pope, but to the source of the noise behind him. I did the same.

Turning around, I saw something bright—white hair that seemed to illuminate the dim lakeside.

‘Kyte…?’

Why is the temple’s next Pope, who should be back at the temple, here?

Flustered, I looked at the current Pope. Even from a distance, I could see his gentle face had stiffened with tension.

‘Looks like this wasn’t part of their agreement.’

Kyte walked straight down the path. Like Moses parting the sea, people stepped aside until he stood directly before the Pope. The Pope nodded and stepped down from the platform.

It looked like Kyte would be performing the purification of the lake, unlike in the original story.

Before Kyte could climb to a high point and look down over the crowd, I hurriedly hid myself among the trees and bushes.

From the shadows, I watched as Kyte kept scanning the surroundings, as if searching for someone.