I Decided to Kidnap the Male Lead

Chapter 36: The Eye of the Storm (II)

Richard consciously cut off his thoughts there.

He had to cut them.

Because it was over.

Despair? Despair?

Despair was nothing short of the only thing left over from all that bloody time that had passed.

ness, Your Highness!

Ophelia called urgently when his golden eyes, which seemed to see something other than her, rapidly dried up and lost their luster.

At that moment, Richards gaze seemed to be directed towards her.

But his eyes still didnt come back, as if they were going somewhere far away, no, somewhere endlessly deep and dark.

Almost instinctively, Ophelia grabbed his cheeks and shouted.

Richard!

Right then, a red light shot through the abyss like the deep sea and pulled Richard out of it.

The golden eyes that had sunk deeply rose and soared to the blue sky at once.

He was facing Ophelias blue eyes.

Ri chard? Richard.

At the end of the thinly trembling voice, a low, subdued voice followed.

Ophelia.

He gripped her cold, intermittently trembling hands, which were wrapped around his cheek, and squeezed it hard.

Ophelia. Ophelia. Ophelia.

Ophelia answered him as he called her name.

Hey Im here.

At the words that she was by his side, Richards dry face collapsed.

Going on her tiptoes, Ophelia hugged him, and he rested his forehead on her rounded shoulder and exhaled slowly.

How long has it been?

Richard slowly raised his head, and Ophelia naturally took a step back from him.

Facing each other, the two opened their mouths almost at the same time, and spoke immediately regardless of who was first.

Im sorry for using Your Highnesss name on my own.

Call me by name.

And the silence that followed.

Ophelias eyelashes flapped like a hummingbirds wings.

Your Highness? Youre still not okay, are you?

Name.

How dare I.

As Ophelia, who took one more step back, looked at him like he was speaking nonsense, Richard went forward as much as she backed away.

Ophelia.

Yes.

Call me by name.

The pupils in Ophelias eyes shook like an earthquake, but Richard didnt give her a break.

Its an order.

Yes, Im not Richard?

Was she really allowed to call him by name? Her eyes shifted left and right, revealing her thoughts on her face.

Richard brushed the hair that fell over her forehead and smiled, folding the corners of his eyes.

Yes. Like that.

Yes. Richard.

It was just calling him by name.

Of course, no one, including the emperor, called the name of the crown prince, Richard.

Perhaps a long time ago there was someone who called him by name.

But as the crown prince

After a long time, maybe

Perhaps even when he became emperor, he would be called His Majesty, not Richard.

Still, he didnt care.

It doesnt matter how Im called.

But only you are different.

Ophelia.

When he was about to melt and disappear without a shape in the endless darkness.

She called.

He was back because she called him.

No, it should be he could come back.

Lets live together!

Only she said that.

Even in this terrible loop, only she did not forget him.

I didnt forget you either.

So if you call my name, I

The next second, the warmth Richard felt at his fingertips disappeared.

Quietly pulling her neck back and then clearing her throat very awkwardly, she asked,

Yes. Right. So, Y-Your No, um So what are you going to do with that rain?

Ill have to see for myself.

You want to see it in person. Then, what? In person? Directly?

Ophelia brought her face closer, in front of Richards nose, as if she had never avoided him or felt awkward.

Can I go too?

The answer is fixed, youre just telling me to say it.

You know well. I will go with you.

Good. As long as you can run faster than a horse, theres no problem.

I can ride a horse what?

Im not going to ride a horse. Its cumbersome and conspicuous.

No, thats not it. You just said to run faster than horses.

Yes, it is faster to just run than to ride.

Ophelia tilted her head, her mouth twitching.

So, what nonsense is that? Nothing changes even if you look at me like that.

No, when did I say its nonsense?

Its written on your forehead.

Reflexively covering her forehead with both hands, Ophelia raised her chin with a hum.

It doesnt make sense. How can a person be faster than a horse?

One could run.

No matter how much you dont want to take me, that reason is just

Its possible to do it with the record thats in Bolsheik.

Ophelias jaw dropped.

Richard added, kindly lifting a finger and helping to close her chin.

Its a record from someone from another world. I cant explain it exactly, but I tried it because I had to, and I found it to be real.

(TL/N: oh my god, this is really related to the authors previous work!! More on that below.)

Is there a situation where you have to?

Yes. I had to. To make the impossible possible.

The memories of the past that were buried in the dry voice had already turned to dust and disappeared, but the experiences that were in the body did not disappear and piled up.

Even though Ophelia hadnt seen or experienced that far-fetched time, she felt clear somehow, and held his hand that was holding her chin with both hands.

She did it as if she was going to catch and prevent him from falling somewhere.

Richard smiled as he looked at the soft hand wrapped around his own that was much smaller than his.

Why do you look like that?

He ran his thumb across her chin and withdrew his hand, but Ophelia did not let go of his.

She couldnt put comfort into her mouth for the pain that piled up in the golden eyes that met hers, so she had no choice but to hold his hand.

Dont be in pain anymore.

Ill be there.

Ill survive with you.

So, no more

No, no matter what she said, she couldnt undo the wounds he had already received.

Even though limitless time was turned back, the wounds he suffered could not be undone, and he was bleeding without ever healing.

Ophelia put all her strength into the hand holding him, straining it.

About to respond, Richards lips parted as Ophelia added strength to the point that the back of her hand turned white, but she was quicker.

Ill go with you.

She didnt say where she was going, and he didnt ask either.

He just put his hand over hers, which was holding his desperately.

Then Ophelia took a deep breath and withdrew her hand from his.

She clenched her fist and pounded her chest.

I cant run faster than a horse, but Ill go with you!

Ophelia.

Being faster than a horse means that you have to move very fast because you dont know when or where the rain will come from.

Exactly.

Then if we can find out where the rain will fall, we wont have to be fast?

Ophelia stepped towards the map.

See this? From here to there.

A clean fingertip swept across the red dots on the map.

If you want to say that its heading to the Imperial Palace

I know, but theres not enough grounds yet. But if it rains like this one or two more times, theres enough evidence!

You mean to wait for you.

Yes! Thats right!

Although she gave a quick answer, Ophelia soon tilted her head.

Oh, it doesnt sound right.

Wait for you? Huh?

Definitely, she said that she would wait until it rained one or two more times.

Did that mean to wait for me?

What?

Richard, staring down at Ophelias head which tilted intently because she couldnt figure out exactly what was going on, said,

All right. Ill wait and see. For you.

.

The next morning.

Ophelia, who had to make sure that the strange rain was heading towards the Imperial Palace, was smiling blankly with a face that seemed like it was about to depart the world.

She was not in front of the map in Richards office in the Imperial Palace, but in the drawing room of the Sheffield familys mansion.

Ha.

She let out a short sigh, picked up a gorgeous teacup, and inhaled her favorite scent of chamomile, looking out the window at the sun pouring in.

Only one thought was spinning in Ophelias head.

The weather is wonderful today.

But somewhere, that strange rain must be coming.

So, she wanted to escape.

No, I want to escape even if a storm is brewing right in front of my eyes and the trees are being uprooted.

Escape no matter what! I want to escape!

What did I do in the past?

Im not accustomed to running faster than a horse!

No, it must have been possible because its Richard, right?

And what the hell was up with Bolsheik.

After hearing Richards explanation about how he could be faster than a horse, Ophelia spent most of last night looking through all the books in her mansion.

And she discovered a more incomprehensible history.

A guest from Murim.

Murim? Isnt that a place I only saw in dramas and movies? I mean, theres really the real thing?

Even as Ophelia was raging in delusion, lightning was striking from her left and right.

Ame: YES ITS CONFIRMED! This world is the same as <the stereotypical life of a reincarnated lady>!! Valerie (and her siblings) are Ophelias ancestors!! Id assume Marshall became the next family head though I wonder how many generations after is Ophelia, how did Bolsheik go from a county to a viscounty in name, how did they fall on hard times TT_TT and those records is certainly Jias secret murim arts lmao

Dea: The author is going the extra mile and i appreciate it, i love it when stories connect (also this is my cue to finish <the stereotypical life of a reincarnated lady>)

ps: HOW CUTE ARE OPHELIA AND RICHARD?? PLS THEYRE SO SOFT TOGETHER! theyre melting my cold heart quicker than the sun melts an ice cream on a hot summer day