When I Let Go of Obsession, I Got Obsessed (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
Liz, who had come up to the room, had to recount every detail of what happened at the ball to Mirabel, suppressing yawns until Mirabel grew tired of hearing it. She almost lamented the absence of recording devices in this world.
“So? Who was that gentleman?”
“I just told you a moment ago—he’s Father’s disciple.”
“But you didn’t tell me his name.”
“His name is…”
What was it again? Ka… something. Oh no. That man said he’d ask again next time.
But wait a moment—what if they never met again? Wouldn’t that solve everything?
Liz decided not to bother recalling his name. Then she turned to Mirabel, who kept grinning, and asked,
“Are you really that happy I danced with a handsome man?”
“It’s not that.”
“…?”
“It’s Lady Lilia. Just imagining her being pushed into the background makes me feel so satisfied.”
“You really…”
Ever since I became self-aware and changed for the better, has she turned into the villain now?
“She wasn’t pushed aside that much. She received so many after-party invitations from men by the end of the ball.”
“And you, Miss? Didn’t you get one from him too?”
“…No.”
The smile vanished from Mirabel’s face.
“What do you mean, no? He lifted you up like that and didn’t even promise to meet again?”
“I should be grateful just for being noticed. You shouldn’t expect too much.”
Besides, truthfully, that man seemed far too exceptional to hope for anything more. Considering all the ladies who flocked after him the moment he left Liz, merely dancing with her once was already a rare favor.
Mirabel pouted disappointedly. Then, while tidying up Liz’s discarded clothes and accessories, she noticed something missing and asked,
“Miss, where’s one of your topaz earrings?”
‘He took it as a token of our meeting.’
Liz couldn’t tell her the truth—she feared Mirabel would start fantasizing again.
“I… lost it. Must’ve dropped it while dancing.”
“I’ll go look for it right away.”
“No, don’t!”
Liz’s urgent reaction seemed unnatural, and Mirabel eyed her suspiciously. Liz forced an awkward smile and made an excuse.
“I… I mean… don’t go looking for it on purpose. It’ll probably turn up somewhere while someone’s cleaning.”
Mirabel was about to insist on searching anyway, but then she remembered that piece of jewelry was from a discounted set, so she decided it wasn’t worth the trouble and returned to Liz’s side.
Seizing the moment, Liz expressed her gratitude to Mirabel.
“You knew, didn’t you? That Mother bought Lilia the finest jewelry set.”
“Ah… yes. I happened to… find out.”
“Why hide something like that? It’s not as if Mother hasn’t favored her like this for just a day or two.”
“Still… alright, I won’t anymore.”
Mirabel almost scolded her a bit more but held back.
“Then please rest, Miss.”
“You too.”
After seeing to Liz’s bedding, Mirabel left the room.
As she walked back to her quarters, Mirabel’s lips kept twitching upward.
‘Although it’s a bit disappointing there was no after-party invitation, one thing remains unchanged—my lady truly shone brightest at tonight’s ball.’
Mirabel felt so proud, as if it were her own accomplishment, that she could hardly contain herself.
A few days later, during mealtime, Marchioness Berium shared some news.
“The Duke Bert household sent an invitation for a tea party. Your name is on it too, Lilia. It seems the Viscount took quite a liking to you—he even persuaded his mother to send the invitation.”
“…”
“So I’d like to take you instead of Liz today. What do you think?”
“I’ll follow Mother’s wishes.”
Lilia obediently agreed.
But Liz instantly caught the flicker of hesitation on Lilia’s face. She also noticed how Lilia’s gaze briefly shifted toward Cain, who stood waiting at one side of the dining hall.
‘Well, it’s understandable she’s conflicted—caught between becoming the daughter her mother desires and the man she secretly cares for.’
Lilia had always tried hard to please the Marchioness, partly out of fear of Liz. Being cast out of the household by the Marchioness would mean utter ruin for her. Thus, even in the original story, she suppressed her feelings for the male lead Cain and nearly married someone else just to win her mother’s approval.
According to the original plot, this was precisely when Cain should step forward, confess his feelings to Lilia, and give her courage. Yet why was there absolutely no sign of him doing so?
Even though Viscount Bert had been visiting the Marquis’s residence so frequently these past few days that the front gate was practically worn down, Cain showed no sign of concern whatsoever. Could he possibly be bottling up his jealousy inside?
While Liz puzzled over the strangely indifferent behavior of these two main characters, Marchioness Berium spoke up.
“By the way, some high-quality local specialties arrived from the estate. I should bring some along when we go. But the load is heavy—who should I take with me?”
In that instant, Liz’s mind raced.
Before her mother could choose Monica, Liz quickly interjected,
“Of course you should take Cain. He’s Lilia’s personal attendant.”
“…?”
Everyone at the table immediately turned their eyes toward Liz.
It was a generosity still unaccustomed, even after half a season had passed.
After all, half a season was far too short a time for Liz to shed her decade-long image of obsessive possessiveness—like the time she dismissed an attendant just for exchanging a few greetings with Cain.
“You’re visiting none other than the Duke Bert household—you absolutely must bring someone like Cain.”
“Now that you mention it, that makes sense.”
The Marchioness glanced briefly at Cain and nodded in agreement.
It was widely known in society that Duchess Bert favored handsome men and beautiful women, even hiring former stage actors as her household staff.
The Marchioness wouldn’t miss a chance to make a good impression on her prospective in-laws.
Lilia also seemed inwardly pleased.
Liz clenched her fist under the table, satisfied that things had gone her way.
She’d brought the two leads together. If Cain finally recognized his feelings this time, it would be the perfect development—but even if not, she wouldn’t lose anything.
Because now she’d have free time for herself.
Free time to roam the house as she pleased, without the discomfort of those three awkward people around.
‘Ah, am I seriously this brilliant?’
Liz shook her head slightly, silently praising herself—so absorbed that she didn’t notice the sharp gaze boring into her back.
“What has you in such a good mood?”
Monica asked Lilia, noticing her lips had been curving upward the entire time she was brushing her hair.
Lilia flinched. She’d tried not to show it, but it was obvious.
“It feels like Mother is finally acknowledging me.”
That was all she told Monica—there was no point bringing up Cain.
“Oh dear, Madam has always acknowledged you. She favors you far more than Miss Liz—anyone might think you’re her real daughter.”
“Don’t say things like that, Monica. Sister would be sad to hear it.”
“Sigh…”
Monica let out a deep sigh.
“You’re far too kind, Miss. How do you expect to handle someone as difficult as Miss Liz with such kindness?”
“…”
Lilia said nothing. Because it was true.
But lately, that truth seemed to be fading.
Her sister was changing. She didn’t know what had shifted in her heart, but she was definitely changing—and she shouldn’t be. It made Lilia’s own sense of identity feel weaker.
Lilia even wished her sister would torment her as she used to. She had the strength to endure it—so why had her sister suddenly stopped?
And who was that man who danced with her sister at the ball? He vanished as soon as his apparent mission—to make her sister shine—was complete.
Lilia had been so preoccupied with that man that she barely paid attention to Viscount Bert’s courtship.
She couldn’t understand why her eyes kept drifting toward him.
After all, the only man in her heart right now was Cain.
Could she have inherited her father’s temperament? Did that mean she had a flirtatious streak too?
“Miss, Madam asks if you’re ready yet.”
Cain had just delivered the Marchioness’s message.
Lilia turned to look at him. Her heart was clearly pounding. But it had pounded just as fiercely when she saw that man at the ball. Could she possibly be falling for two men at once?
Confused, Lilia decided to focus on Cain right in front of her for now.
“I’m nearly ready. Please tell her to wait just ten more minutes?”
“Yes, I will. Take your time coming out.”
Watching Cain walk away, thoughts of that other man faded once more. Of course—it had just been a fleeting flutter. He’d simply been too handsome that night.
Lilia felt relieved.
The three of them left the house.
Feeling light-hearted, Liz decided to give Mirabel a rare day off as well.
“What? You want me to go out?”
“Yes, isn’t today the Tulip Festival at Sephar Square? Go enjoy it.”
“But Miss, your meals…”
“There are plenty of attendants in this house.”
“Still…”
“And…”
Liz lowered her voice to a sly whisper.
“There’s a new inn for travelers in the marketplace—the facilities are supposed to be quite good.”
“So?”
Mirabel, failing to grasp Liz’s intention, asked innocently—forcing Liz to spell it out completely.
“Go relax comfortably with Jonathan and come back slowly. You can… catch up properly.”
“What?!”
Mirabel’s voice rang out loudly, despite Liz having spoken quietly.
Immediately, her face turned bright red as she waved her hands and stammered,
“W-what are you…! Oh my, I… Miss, you really… such strange things to say…”
Liz didn’t wait to hear Mirabel’s flustered, incoherent reply. She pulled a pouch from the drawer and pressed it into Mirabel’s hand—it looked generously filled at first glance.
“You’d better hurry before it gets too late. Time keeps passing even while you argue like this.”
“But I still can’t possibly…”
Despite her words, Mirabel glanced at the clock, torn between duty and desire. Liz pushed her firmly out the door and locked it.
“T-thank… you, Miss.”
Mirabel’s voice came from the other side of the door.
Hearing that shy voice and the sound of her footsteps fading away, Liz murmured softly,
“Now’s your chance.”
A sudden bitterness washed over her.
All she’d ever wanted was something like that—nothing grand at all.
So why couldn’t even that simple dream come true for her? No marriage prospects materialized, and after the ball, all the suitors’ attention had shifted entirely to Lilia—now not a single proposal came her way.
It had become so ordinary that she didn’t even feel disappointed anymore.
But!
Today, she’d forget everything and enjoy herself with a peaceful heart.
“What should I do?”
She sat in a chair, resting her chin on the side table, thinking for a moment.
Suddenly, something she’d only ever imagined popped into Liz’s mind.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
Gosh, I hate this mother of female lead. What the heck she think she is. How artificial. I wish to see her fall badly.