I Tried to Avoid The Male Lead, But I Made Harem - chapter 7

Episode 7

* * *

Squeak— The man’s head turned slightly toward me as I opened the quarantine room door.

It surprised me that I was so concerned about a seriously injured patient who couldn’t even open his eyes.

Thud— As I placed the bottle next to him, the man’s fingers flinched.

“Because the dose is one shot…”

The man’s dark brows creased slightly as my voice rang out in the quiet space.

“You’ll need to take three shots of these.”

This was the poppy juice I obtained through a deal with Franz.

Even though he couldn’t afford to lift a finger right away, he was quick to respond to my every move.

And the situation of being watched by him with signs and sounds made me nervous.

And the fact that he was observing my movements and sounds made me nervous.

Because, despite his critical condition, he is the runner-up in the martial arts championship.

When the priests discovered that I was going in and out of the quarantine room, they became shocked and surprised and tried to stop me.

‘By saying that he’s a dangerous individual.’

Despite my nervousness, I pretended nothing was wrong and opened the bottle, observing his movements in the same way he did.

He didn’t have a knife in his hand, but he was still wary of intruders.

‘How could I make him drink this poppy juice?’

This man can’t even get himself up, so he can’t do it on his own.

‘The Berserker……’

I’ve never referred to him as The Berserker like others have, but I was aware of his moniker.

He was given that moniker because he looked to be dead before suddenly waking up and slaughtering his opponent.

‘Perhaps he wants to reach for that knife right now?’

Looking back at the knife on the corner, I put the glass bottle to his lips blindly.

It was an impulsive move, but he only frowned and opened his lips.

Rather, I was the one who was embarrassed.

‘How could he have drunk so obediently without knowing what kind of medicine this was?’

Gulp, gulp, gulp— His thick neck shook violently every time his lips opened.

The man remained silent the entire time he drank three shots in a row.

His closed eyelids shook slightly, indicating that he was still wary of me.

Fortunately, thanks to the effect, the man’s condition after drinking the poppy juice is much better than before.

His breathing, which had been erratic due to pain, had become more stable, and his body, which had been wary of me, had relaxed.

“I won’t hurt you.”

I took the magical stone from my pocket. I’m not sure if I can use it, but it was worth a shot.

It was the moment when I held the magical stone and closed my eyes like the High Priest.

“……!”

The man suddenly grabbed my wrist.

Thud— Surprisingly, I dropped the magical stone to the floor.

His hands were huge, hot, and hard. I tried to shake it off, but it wouldn’t come off.

I looked down at his strong palm, which was clasped around my wrist.

‘How do you know what I’m doing when you have your eyes closed?’

In other words, he was paying close attention to me.

He was the runner-up in the martial arts championship, but he didn’t become one for no reason.

‘Whether he’s a nobleman or a priest, I’m sure he despises everyone here.’

Why did I only notice this now?

Thump, thump, thump—

My heart beat a little faster. My face became pale because I was afraid I was going to die because of this man here.

His lips moved slowly after that.

“Kill me……”

But, contrary to my fears, what he desired was not my life.

The man begged me in hushed tones.

“Please… kill me……”

I assume he’s out of his mind as a result of the drugs, but it feels more sincere.

Is this what this man truly desires?

My hands were trembling. I was in agony.

‘After all I had done to obtain the magical stone.’

But I couldn’t think any further when he took my hand to his throat and grabbed my hands to strangle him.

As soon as I touched his hard neck, jaw, and bones, my head became cold, as if ice water had been poured on them.

“Would you please let go?”

I was just saying, but isn’t it natural that I couldn’t strangle someone?

I don’t know about other people, but it’s impossible for me to kill this strong man, even if he’s badly injured. And even if I could do it without drawing attention to myself, I couldn’t.

“Please release my grip on your hand. I’ve never killed anyone. I couldn’t……”

When I begged in a troubled voice, he quickly let go of his hand.

To calm down, the man slowly opened his eyes while barely catching his breath.

His murky blue eyes were unfocused. He appeared to be distracted by the poppy juice effect.

‘This man couldn’t even run away.’

Since he has a tattoo on his left forearm that indicates he was Toono, whose fate is either kill or be killed.

And he had to play in the following match.

‘He might be wiser if he knew what I was holding was the magical stones.’

That just proved how difficult his life is for him.

How can a man wish to die?

“You can’t die this way.”

I decided to do what I could with the reality he was trying to escape.

“Just keep going for a second time. In any case, the winner has already been determined, so do your best to survive.”

He only needs to survive twice more. It’s certainly possible with this tenacious life.

“If you come in second and survive, you can make a wish.”

“……”

“Then wish for your freedom. Then you’ll be able to live again. Freely.”

He remained silent. Well, it wouldn’t have been weird if he had died of excessive bleeding.

As the High Priest did, I held the magical stone and prayed impulsively.

I’m praying for this man’s healing.

My clumsy prayer was answered by the stone, most likely because the level of the stolen Magical Stone was high.

The man’s body started to heal.

It was a huge improvement once the blood stopped flowing.

When the sound of a man’s breathing seemed to be calming down, I was dizzy.

‘What is going on?’

I was on the verge of collapsing and barely leaned on my side. My mouth was parched, as if I’d worked out in the hot sun.

I needed to drink some water. I could drink a liter at this point.

“Miss Selina?”

Someone found me just in time. Franz’s voice was heard.

“Are you here?”

I dashed into the corner, jumped out of my seat, and hid the poppy juice there.

“Do not leave.”

A gentle hand grasped the hem of my clothes. It’s not as strong as it used to be, but he begged.

“Please…don’t leave.”

“I’ll be right back.”

I managed to get out of the quarantine room with my dizzy head after shaking him off.

* * *

“What the hell are you thinking, Countess?”

“Listen carefully, Cedric. I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding…”

“Misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding is this? It’s not acceptable for you to be gone for 15 days just to go hunting!”

Cedric, who was shouting loudly, frustratedly pointed to the map.

“As I previously stated, Crawford is located on the border of the enemy state. We’re the Empire’s front-line emergency guards!”

“I understand. But the war is way overdue…”

“The war can be revived at any time.”

There we go again with that dreadful war story!

Camilla shook her head gently, as if she was bored.

“If you defend the Countdom with such arrogance, Crawford will be the first to vanish from the Empire.”

“Don’t be too concerned, Cedric; my family will never allow that to happen.”

Camilla’s father held the title of Duke of Maple. He belonged to the current empress’s family and had the second-highest authority in the capital after the Grand Duke.

Crawford was able to withstand the war against the border Dukedom due to the wealth of the Duke of Maple.

This was the reason Count Crawford remarried Camilla.

Cedric’s prestige plummeted even further when Camilla mentioned her parents’ family.

Camilla crept up to Cedric, her hair fluttering as if to soothe his rage.

“By the way, Cedric, this beautiful face is badly impacted.”

Cedric winced and took a step back when she put her hand to his face.

Camilla, on the other hand, reached out with confidence.

“You must have had a difficult time dealing with those bandits. I’m sorry for what happened to you.”

Cedric shifted uncomfortably and avoided her touch.

“…Please address me as Lord Crawford.”

“Then wouldn’t it be misinterpreted? Since everyone refers to me as Madam Crawford.”

Camilla whispered with a seductive smile.

“If their husband dies in the war, the women of the capital vow to marry their husband’s brother.”

Cedric’s brow furrowed slightly.

“It is disgraceful and shameful.”

“Is that the reason you don’t want to marry me?”

Cedric looked at Camilla this time, unable to conceal his disdain.

She had become a very consistent woman from his first impression until now.

‘Perhaps that’s why she married someone like my brother.’

He felt sorry since his brother had already passed to heaven, but the dead Count Crawford was an opportunist.

‘Joanna.’

She was the most beautiful lady in the empire. And Cedric, who grew up in the capital, was friends with Joanna.

Joanna, who had traveled to the West to support her father’s campaign, happened to run into the Count by chance. And the Count married her before he did.

The Duke of Chester, who came to the west instead of the Emperor, had no reason to oppose his youngest daughter’s marriage to the Count.

However, after the Count returned from the war, he remarried to Camilla, Duke of Maple’s daughter.

While Joanna, who had a daughter who looked exactly like her, had died in a carriage accident.

That’s why, whenever Cedric saw Selina, who resembled her mother, he was heartbroken to remember Joanna, who had died in vain.

‘If only I could turn back the time.’

Cedric returned to the countdom on behalf of his brother, regretting not being able to get Camilla out of the countdom.

He wished he could go back 20 years and propose to Joanna so he won’t be afraid of her being a widow..

‘If I had, Selina would have been my child…’