When I Let Go of Obsession, I Got Obsessed (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 15
The tipsiness had long since vanished.
Not even a sprained ankle remained.
In other words, there was absolutely no reason she couldn’t dance. Yet, why couldn’t she readily take this man’s hand?
What was this inner voice whispering, “You mustn’t take his hand…”?
There’s no reason not to.
If it were Cain, maybe—but this man was merely her father’s disciple.
Liz rationalized this strange sense of unease with her own logic.
‘It must be because he’s too handsome. When someone’s too good-looking, it actually triggers resistance.’
Liz decided to take this chance to overcome that resistance.
“Alright.”
As she placed her hand in his, he gently led her toward the center of the ballroom.
Just as Viscount Bert had done with Lilia.
People parted like the Red Sea, clearing a path for them.
He rested one hand beneath Liz’s shoulder blades while his other hand softly interlaced with hers in midair, leading the dance with movements as natural as flowing water.
It felt so seamless and perfectly synchronized that she nearly believed they’d danced together before—though that was impossible.
Coincidentally, the music playing was Waltz No. 3—the very piece she’d practiced underwater with Cain.
“You’re quite skilled.”
The man smiled as he spoke. His eyes grew deeper each time he smiled, exuding a captivating charm. The curve of his lips was striking, and the glimpse of his neat, white teeth between them was beautiful.
His handsomeness was indescribable. If she had to put it into words, it would be “unrealistically handsome”—so ethereally beautiful that no selfish thoughts dared arise.
When the dance had settled into a comfortable rhythm, the man spoke again.
“But tell me.”
“…?”
“Won’t you ask my name?”
Ah, right. She hadn’t asked. But she wasn’t particularly curious—after all, they wouldn’t meet again… though she couldn’t say that outright, so she asked politely.
“What’s your name?”
“Castrion.”
“Oh… I see.”
“What did I say my name was?”
“…Huh?”
Suddenly, he tested her. Damn it. She’d let it slip by.
What was it again?
“Ka… Jis?”
He chuckled softly.
“Castrion. Try saying it.”
“Cas… trion… nim.”
For some reason, she felt compelled to add “nim.” Though, strictly speaking, it wasn’t necessary—he wasn’t royalty or a prince.
Anyway, why did she have to do this? They wouldn’t meet again.
“I’ll ask you next time we meet. Don’t forget.”
“…?”
Next time? There’d be a next time?
Could he possibly mean he’d keep visiting out of respect for her father?
Before she could ponder further, the piece ended.
Liz tried to withdraw her hand and curtsy, but the man showed no intention of letting her go.
“We must dance one more.”
“Again? Shouldn’t you dance with someone else now…?”
“But I can’t.”
“…?”
“I tend to stick to one well.”
What a strange man. Weren’t balls precisely the place to exchange subtle glances and dances with many partners? Dancing only with one person would be dull.
Disappointed sighs escaped from the young ladies who’d been waiting for his dance to end.
Regardless, a new piece began.
The moment Liz heard the fast, intense opening, her violet eyes sparkled.
‘I know this piece.’
It was a new composition by Luzencia’s dance composer, Perez Ablier—so recently released that even within the Empire, few knew it. How could this man, newly arrived from another kingdom, possibly know it?
Moreover, this piece was hailed as a “musical revolution,” with rhythms and melodies so fast and unfamiliar—yet his steps never faltered once as he led the dance with effortless grace.
‘How on earth…?’
Liz was both amazed and bewildered.
She, who had an unusual obsession with the latest music, had immediately sent Cain to secure the sheet music upon its release. The two of them had secretly hummed the tune and practiced dancing together.
Even with Cain’s excellent coordination, they’d struggled to synchronize properly.
So how could she match so perfectly with a complete stranger?
Now everyone else had stepped back, leaving only Liz and this… what-was-his-title man dancing alone. They seemed the undisputed stars of the stage, moving in perfect harmony like longtime partners.
As the music reached its climax, the man grasped Liz’s hand, flung her outward, then pulled her back with a firm tug at her fingertips. Liz spun gracefully into his arms, leaning back against his iron-strong arm, arching her waist—
The music ended.
For an instant, Liz saw his eyes shimmering like molten gold fixed upon her. An absurd thought suddenly struck her:
That this man desired her desperately…
But unless he was a notorious flirt, how could he harbor such feelings for a woman he’d just met?
Liz concluded it must be one of two things:
Either she was drunk, or she’d gone mad.
With barely any effort, the man lifted Liz upright. Immediately, applause erupted throughout the banquet hall. Liz was bewildered.
She’d forgotten—they weren’t alone in this hall.
The man elegantly acknowledged the crowd’s cheers, and Liz, somewhat dazed, instinctively gathered her skirts and curtsied. For some reason, her heart swelled with emotion.
She’d never received such enthusiastic applause before.
Because the guests encircled them, they had to bow in all four directions—east, west, south, and north. As she spread her skirts and dipped into a final curtsy toward the north before rising—
Liz froze in surprise.
Directly before her stood Lilia, the true star of this stage. But her expression was peculiar.
‘Why?’
Her lips smiled, yet her eyes were chillingly cold.
Her encounter with the man ended there—a clean farewell, save for one detail.
“In Lorein, men often request a token from a lady to commemorate a meaningful meeting.”
By the time he’d said this, one of Liz’s topaz earrings was already in his hand.
Since it was no longer precious to her, she readily told him to keep it.
Not long after the man left, the banquet concluded.
Madame Berium, seeing off the noblewomen, received lavish praise from them—but not the kind she’d hoped for.
“Your eldest daughter dances so beautifully. I was utterly impressed. I must invite her to my next ball.”
It meant Liz had left a deep impression, so she couldn’t complain.
But when she saw Liz about to return to her room, Madame Berium simply couldn’t let it pass without a word.
“Wait a moment.”
She called Liz back.
“Why must you outshine your sister on her own stage? Those gossipy noblewomen will surely whisper behind your back—that I used my adopted daughter as a mere foil to make my biological daughter stand out.”
“So what if they do? Why worry so much?”
Liz wasn’t the type to meekly say, “Yes, I’m sorry,” in such moments.
“You really have flowers growing in your head, don’t you?”
“…”
“The social world isn’t a fairy tale where people recognize your true heart. Haven’t you heard? Men fight with swords on battlefields, but women fight with tongues and glances in high society. This is a battlefield for women—a cunning one, at that. Here, you must pretend not to be hurt even when you are, and act even more unaffected when you’re not. How many times must I explain this to you?”
“Mother, I’m fine.”
Lilia, who’d been quietly listening nearby, stepped forward.
“Honestly, I’m grateful Sister drew so much attention today. My knowledge is rather shallow, so I was running low on conversation topics and common sense. I was terribly worried I’d expose my ignorance and embarrass you—but thanks to Sister, I avoided that crisis. I truly appreciate her. Thank you, Sister.”
Lilia bowed deeply to Liz.
“How can you always say such lovely things?”
Madame Berium gazed at Lilia with adoration and continued.
“Don’t worry. Today I saw you speak quite well within your limits. As for knowledge, you can diligently build it up starting now. It’s fine not to speak because you don’t know—but it’s a problem if you know yet can’t speak. I’ll ask the steward to hire the most renowned tutor for you. With your talent, three months of study will be enough to hold your own against any young lady.”
“Thank you, Mother. I’ll study hard.”
In that moment, Liz realized: a mother’s daughter wasn’t defined by blood.
It was decided by who performed graceful acts and who didn’t. By that measure, Liz was no longer her mother’s daughter.
“…I’ll go upstairs.”
Liz turned away from the heartwarming scene between mother and daughter and left the banquet hall.
Just as she stepped into the drawing room, she spotted Cain entering through the mansion’s front door. Puzzled by his outdoor attire, Liz asked,
“Where have you been?”
“Just wandering around. It’s my holiday.”
“I see.”
She hadn’t even known he had one.
It would’ve been perfect—he could’ve witnessed Viscount Bert and Lilia’s nauseating display.
“Then go rest inside.”
Liz turned away without hesitation. Cain followed her like a large dog, asking,
“How was the banquet today?”
“Eh, passable.”
“Who did you dance with?”
“Some man.”
“Oh? How was he? Did you like him?”
“He wasn’t bad… but why ask that?”
It was unlike Cain to pry so insistently. Suspicious, Liz spun around.
“…No reason. I was just curious how things went while I was away.”
Cain paused briefly, then grinned. His smile oddly resembled someone’s—but she couldn’t place who.
“Worry about your own master.”
Liz snapped, turning sharply and stomping up the stairs.
‘She’s climbing well, huh?’
Only after confirming Liz had safely reached the hallway and disappeared did Cain finally relax and head to his own quarters.
Inside his room, Cain removed his coat and began unbuttoning his shirt to change into loungewear.
As the fifth button came undone and his firm chest muscles were about to emerge into the air—
“Oh!”
He suddenly remembered something, rummaged through his pocket, and pulled out an object.
It was one topaz earring.
Cain placed it on his palm and stared at it intently.
As if it held some joyful memory, a gentle smile spread across his face.
But soon, his eyes gleamed with the relentless focus of a predator…
And abruptly, he clenched the earring tightly—so it couldn’t escape.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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Gosh, I hate this mother of female lead. What the heck she think she is. How artificial. I wish to see her fall badly.