Why Do You Obsess Even After Death (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
I didn’t know why, but Laches had been kind to me from the very first time we met.
Just by observing how the other servants treated him with fear, I could tell his lazy affection was reserved solely for me.
But it wasn’t love. All that care and attention was nothing more than fleeting curiosity.
He was simply intrigued by the new winds blowing in from the capital to the north.
I always reminded myself never to forget that.
“…Seriously, making me clean the entire garden alone?”
When I finally returned to my room at dawn after everyone had fallen asleep, I felt an oddly strong sense of betrayal.
While grumbling to myself as I changed clothes, I suddenly realized the room felt as warm as the Niriel mansion.
“When was the fire lit?”
A warmly burning fireplace came into view.
I hadn’t lit the fireplace myself—certainly not enough to make the room this hot.
The maids were only allowed a limited amount of firewood, barely enough to ward off the cold.
There was no way they could have built a fire this intense.
Had someone entered my room? Glancing around the small space, I spotted a glass of wine and a small note on the side table.
[Good job.]The note bore a brief message in neat, balanced handwriting.
Though no name was signed, the sender was unmistakable. I ran my thumb over the tidy script, then looked at the wine.
Immediately, an unpleasant memory surfaced.
The memory of drinking poisoned wine and dying.
“…Laches did obtain Demaloxin, after all.”
Could this wine also contain poison, plainly and deliberately?
I uncorked the bottle, wrapped it in a cloth, and poured some into a glass.
A vivid, intense red filled the glass. Unlike the wine I’d drunk before, this one carried a sweet fragrance that instantly pierced my nose.
After deeply inhaling its rich aroma, I slowly swirled the wine in my glass.
“What should I do with this…?”
Knock knock.
Just as I was pondering, someone knocked on my bedroom door. I didn’t know why, but I could guess who stood on the other side.
Holding my glass, I walked over and opened the door.
“Hello.”
As expected, Laches stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe.
Seeing the wine glass in my hand, Laches burst into an easy laugh.
“I sent it so we could drink together—have you already started without me?”
In Laches’s hand was another wine glass, just like mine.
“…I haven’t drunk any yet.”
“Really?”
Laches abruptly lowered his head, bringing his face close to mine. Startled, I tried to step back, but he caught my wrist holding the glass.
“You’ll spill the precious wine.”
He gently closed his eyes and leaned closer to my lips.
His long, fluttering black eyelashes were strikingly beautiful. His face, seen up close, was unexpectedly lovely—so much so that the title “guardian who protects the north from demons” felt utterly unfitting.
His eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and his calm eyes shimmered faintly as I looked into them.
“Ugh.”
My face felt like it would burst into flames, and I instinctively averted my gaze.
This dangerous thrill was something I’d never experienced as Referentia Niriel.
“You really haven’t drunk any? I don’t even smell the scent yet.”
“…I already told you I haven’t.”
“Given how well you lie, how can I possibly trust you?”
I turned my head away, unwilling to let him see my flushed face—the same man who’d once contemplated killing me.
Laches chuckled softly, straightened up, and brushed past me into the small bedroom.
“You didn’t invite me in.”
“I know.”
Without waiting for permission, Laches strode confidently into the room. He walked toward the wine and, right before my eyes, poured himself another glass from the bottle.
As if deliberately trying to break down my guard.
I had no way to chase out Laches, who’d barged in so boldly. Worried someone might see us, I quickly closed the door and approached him.
Though only one person had entered this tiny room once used as storage, the air suddenly felt strangely warm.
“You have guests, don’t you? Is it really alright for you to stay here like this? You must have so much to prepare for their sudden visit.”
“Yeah. I prepared everything in advance, so it’s fine. Nothing left to do.”
Weren’t Detor and Delia supposed to be here only because their carriage broke down—not part of the original plan?
Now that I thought about it, the cook had clearly mentioned this morning that he’d be busy all day. And yet, a lavish banquet had been perfectly prepared for the two of them.
“Did you know they were coming?”
There was no other explanation besides him having known in advance.
Instead of answering, Laches lightly clinked his swirling glass against mine.
A crisp, pleasant sound rang out.
“Cheers.”
He clinked his glass against mine as if to silence my doubts, then took a sip of wine while watching me.
Only after I saw his Adam’s apple bob did I finally follow suit and take a sip myself.
An intensely sweet flavor danced on my tongue.
The wine I’d drunk before had been bitter and overpowering—undrinkable—but this was completely different.
“Delicious, isn’t it?”
Reading the subtle change in my expression, Laches gave a faint smile.
“It’s this year’s first batch.”
“Wine made here in the north?”
“Yes. From the very winery you were supposed to work at. The first batch of each year isn’t sold—it’s all offered to me.”
“Then shouldn’t you drink it alone?”
To enjoy something this delicious all by himself?
As I took another small sip, Laches refilled my glass and drank alongside me.
“No. I usually just store it without drinking.”
“…Then shouldn’t this one be stored too? Isn’t it this year’s first batch?”
Startled, I set down my glass. As Lady Niriel, I might have been entitled to it—but as a maid now, it felt wrong to drink it.
“This year, it’s a gift.”
Yet Laches placed the glass back into my hand.
“It’ll warm your body and help you sleep well. Consider it fair reward for cleaning the garden so thoroughly.”
“Isn’t it expensive?”
“Very.”
Laches leaned slowly toward my ear. I was gradually growing accustomed to this closeness.
It was almost funny—I no longer flinched at his boldness.
Perhaps because of the wine, his sweet scent drifted strongly toward me as he drew near.
“You’re not surprised anymore.”
Laches, his head bent close, chuckled softly with a quiet breath.
His warm breath tickled my ear and sent shivers through my whole body.
“I’ve gotten used to it too.”
“Is that so?”
Pretending nonchalance.
After all, since returning, I’d practiced staying perfectly composed countless times while facing Detor and Delia.
So why was this so difficult now?
Was it because of his openly sweet gaze beside me? Or the alcohol heating my body? Or perhaps the confined space making his body heat overwhelmingly present?
“Then… let’s see just how unshaken you really are.”
His damp lips accidentally brushed my earlobe. In that fleeting instant, as I reached to clutch my burning ear—feeling as though I’d been scalded—he whispered.
“…W-what did you just say?”
Startled by his whisper, my eyes widened. Seeing my expression, Laches stepped back and stifled a laugh.
“You said you wouldn’t be surprised.”
“How can I not be?! Do you even know how much this bottle of wine costs?!”
What Laches had whispered into my ear was precisely the price of this wine.
Unbelievably expensive. Truly extravagant. Ridiculously costly.
I’d wondered why they went through such trouble to make this wine—but hearing the price, it suddenly made perfect sense.
“But you’re really giving something this precious to me as a gift?”
“Do you dislike it?”
“…Do you give this to the other maids too?”
“You’d bankrupt me if I did.”
“Then I feel burdened too.”
“You should be happy to receive it.”
“Please let me refuse.”
“Even if I call this my consideration for you?”
Laches brushed his fingers along my neck. There would be no second attempt to persuade me. He simply gave a light nod.
“Fine. If it’s a burden, don’t accept it. Then I’ll charge you for the vase you broke this morning, plus the cost of this bottle of wine you’ve already drunk, and even the firewood used to heat this little room.”
There was more to repay than I’d realized—too much to let pride get in the way.
“How will you pay?”
“Deduct the vase from my monthly wages.”
It didn’t matter anyway—I wasn’t working here to earn wages or save money.
“As for the rest, since it wasn’t my choice, I won’t repay it.”
“How decisive. Can’t you just let me win once?”
Laches grinned mischievously as he admitted defeat, then clinked his glass against mine—which I was still holding.
“We can’t waste the wine now that it’s opened, right? Think of it as keeping poor me company. I won’t burden you with such ‘considerate’ gestures again.”
Laches took another sip. After all that, I couldn’t possibly refuse. In the end, instead of rejecting his kindness, I swallowed it down along with the wine.
The small room felt so warm I almost forgot I was in the north. Outside the window, thick darkness had gathered, yet the fire lighting this room refused to fade.
“You’ll probably suffer from a hangover tomorrow, so stay in your room and rest.”
Normally, I’d have said that wasn’t possible—but tomorrow, I might accidentally run into Detor and Delia if I stepped outside.
“…Yes.”
“You’re so obedient—it feels strange.”
“You said I should enjoy your grace as Duke.”
“Look at you—so well-spoken.”
No matter how much I changed my eye color, there was no way those two wouldn’t recognize my face…
“…Ah! The medicine!”
I suddenly looked toward the window in alarm. It was a dark night, impossible to judge the hour.
What time was it? Had I missed my dose? What color were my eyes right now?
I always took the medicine before sleeping—maybe I was already late.
No matter how chaotic things had been, no matter how tipsy I felt—
I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten my medicine.
Keeping my gaze lowered, I checked the drawer where I kept the medicine. It wasn’t far, but if I suddenly got up to take it now, he’d surely find it suspicious.
“What’s wrong?”
Laches quickly noticed my distraction. His calm, casual question made it seem as though he already knew what I was thinking.
“I’m… I’m sleepy now.”
I set down my wine glass and stared at my feet instead. If my eye color had changed, I couldn’t risk meeting his gaze.
“Is that so?”
Laches placed his own glass on the table.
If only he’d leave safely now.
Once I took the medicine, my eye color would return to normal.
But Laches didn’t head for the door—he walked straight toward me.
“Perfect. I was just getting sleepy too.”
He reached out and gently swept back the strands of hair that had fallen over my face as I looked down.
“Shall we sleep together, then?”
His hand, having brushed back my hair, gently cupped my chin.
And without giving me a moment to hesitate, he tilted my face upward.
As if refusing to let me hide anything at all.
His rough demeanor was that of a rogue, yet his courteous touch and arrogant gaze were pure nobility.
“…!”
Our eyes met directly at point-blank range.
The fierce flames roaring in the fireplace seeped into his dark eyes.
Laches, facing me squarely, gave a faint, knowing smile.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
So are her natural irises lilac or what color? I’m a little lost on that
I think here the pronouns should be she/her… right?
Oh she’s gross