I Decided to Kidnap the Male Lead

Chapter 63: And Then There Were None (VII)

The three things floated before Ophelias eyes, but! She couldnt recall it.

Even though she had a feeling of dj vu, as if shed had this thought before, she couldnt quite figure out what it was.

For now, we will send effective methods to combat locusts to nearby farmhouses and affected areas.

Thats a good idea. It would be nice if this matter could be resolved with that, but

At the end of his sentence, Lawrence gave the silent Ophelia a glance and was about to continue speaking, but Richard very casually stood in front of her and blocked his gaze.

Its not a problem that can be solved so easily.

Lawrence paused for a moment at Richards unexpected movement, then asked again.

I expected that since Your Highness is moving personally, but is the damage to the place where the locusts passed this time serious?

Its much worse than last year. And Sir Sheffield.

Yes.

Do you remember the heavy rain?

By heavy rain, are you referring to that strange rain?

Yes.

Of course I remember. It was unusual.

This is the second time we have had such an abnormal phenomenon. This locust swarm.

Lawrence shut his mouth. Apparently, the locust swarm was not the same as in previous years, like he had thought.

Are we leaving right now?

Yes.

Locusts wont rush towards people, so lets go like this.

Ophelia looked down at her swaying clothes and shrugged her shoulders.

She was about to take her first step, but Lawrences words caught her feet.

With all due respect.

Lawrence continued with his gaze fixed on Ophelia.

Although youre an aide, I dont think its a good idea to accompany him to a place that could be dangerous. The locusts dont spare anything. They have enough destructive power to drive you to death even without eating.

At his words, Ophelia blinked rapidly.

No, wait, it has that much destructive power to people? Theyre not wheat or barley.

It does not discriminate between people and animals.

Ophelia looked up at Richard in spite of Lawrences very certain answer.

Really?

She asked with her eyes, and he slowly nodded his head, saying,

Even ants, when formed in a colony, exert a different kind of power than individuals. However, its not for Sir Sheffield to discuss the danger.

No matter how many thousands of locusts swarmed, there was no way Richard would allow even one strand of Ophelias hair to be hurt.

He and Ophelia knew that, but Lawrence had no way of knowing.

Thats why Lawrence had no intention of watching Ophelia step into danger on her own out of fear of the crown princes orders.

He liked Ophelia quite a bit, but his precious sister Catherine saw her as her person of destiny.

If she got seriously injured or died, not being able to catch her now would become his lifelong regret.

Isnt it true that its dangerous? Id rather accompany you.

Whats the use of having you accompany me?

Even if Lawrence used the strange things as a justification, he didnt have any worthwhile knowledge about it.

And it would go without saying if it was based on the fact that Richard wanted to meet Ophelia, the real reason he had come all the way here

Indeed, to Richard, Lawrences story was not even worth listening to.

But Lawrence, who was truly Catherines older brother, did not give up easily.

The Marquisate of Sheffields extremely upright teaching, which said that a true servant should be able to speak frankly even if they were afraid of their master, was shining unnecessarily.

With all due respect, if its a swarm of locusts, at least Ill be more helpful than your aide.

No. That cant be.

Lawrence was extremely polite while Richard responded sternly and starkly, not allowing a chance to slip in.

Naturally, Ophelia stood in the middle of the two men, sensing the subtle currents flowing between them.

But unlike when she was trapped between Catherine and Iris, she didnt even think that the tight atmosphere was because of her.

Let alone Lawrence, even when she looked at Richard, things like romance and love that had been erased from her head continued to not have a presence.

She looked back and forth between Lawrence and Richard and then dug her mind furiously.

Did anything bad happen in the past?

But even if it was the past, Lawrences past and Richards past would be completely different.

And to Richard, that past must have already lost any meaning.

What? I dont know about Lawrence, but Richard isnt answering. Why?

Of course, the only thing that came out of such deduction was false reasoning.

If I dont go with her, its meaningless.

Your Highness!

Sir Sheffield, dont test my generosity anymore.

Ophelia, lost in her thoughts for a moment, hurriedly returned to reality at Richards calm voice.

Not because it was directed at her, but because the air around them was freezing cold to the point of cracking.

Oh, wow. What. What is really going on?

At Richards blatant warning, Lawrence involuntarily took a step back.

Its fine. As an aide, thats what I have to do. Ill get going for today. Thank you for the invitation.

However, he advanced forward at Ophelias words that came soon after.

No. Its dangerous.

She says that she will do her part even though she is afraid of His Highness the Crown Prince.

The more I see her Isnt she a good person?

Of course, Lawrences overall thoughts were a huge misunderstanding, but alas, Ophelia, who didnt even know that he was misunderstanding, couldnt solve it.

As Lawrence went forward, Richards golden eyes sank down into the abyss.

I dont like it.

Today must have been the first meeting. But to go that far for Ophelia?

Richard was no fool. And he wasnt blind.

He knew.

That Lawrence Sheffield really simply had a crush Ophelia.

Well, it was fully understandable for him to say that Ophelia, who seemingly couldnt kill a fly, couldnt be sent to that dangerous place.

But Richard didnt like it.

Even the fact that Ophelia was now in Lawerences sight was starting to make him sick.

It wasnt the kind of cute jealousy he felt when Cooper spoke about Ophelia.

It was a terrible thing to feel for himself

Richard!

He lowered his gaze to the familiar, soft hand that pulled his.

Ophelia whispered in a voice that Lawrence couldnt hear.

Hes going to pass out standing here.

She couldnt detect Richards violent killing intent pouring only on Lawrence, but she could sense what was going on just by looking at Lawrences pale, dying complexion in real time.

Richard and Lawrence. Why are you doing this?

Fortunately or unfortunately, Ophelias bewilderment did not last long.

Uh heo-euk!

As soon as the killing intent that had been tightening around his neck disappeared, Lawrence instinctively touched his neck and let out a deep exhale.

And, indeed, as Catherines older brother, he did not seem to know the word giving up.

I cant just let you walk into danger

Lawrence couldnt even finish his sentence. As Richard raised a hand, signaling him to stop speaking.

Someone is coming.

And not long after, there was the sound of urgent running.

The servant who rushed in almost as if rolling over shouted.

Its a swarm of locusts!

What?

When Lawrence asked, the servant waved his arms and frantically shouted.

A swarm of locusts! A huge number! We We cant stop it!

.

Just one day after Lawrences brewery was devastated by a swarm of locusts.

The bizarrely huge swarm of locusts moved nonstop toward the Imperial Palace, leaving extreme damage in their wake.

Tok tok.

Come in.

With Richards permission, Ophelia appeared behind the silently opened door.

Your Highness, its a damage report.

Ophelia, who put down the stack of papers she was carrying in her arms, had something to say, but she kept opening and closing her mouth, as if it didnt come out well.

A swarm of locusts, following an earthquake and flood.

This is already the third anomaly.

Can I just let it flow like this?

In fact, she was reluctant to say, Lets go back first!

Who said that everything was hard the first time and it would be easy after that?

This arbitrary infinite regression was much easier the first time.

Its like I was strangling myself, but when he turned away

Ophelia shook her head and brushed away her memories of that time.

Of course, it wasnt a memory that could be completely shaken off, but anyway, if she mulled over it now, she wouldnt be able to do anything.

The damage report caught her eye.

The contents contained in it were so gruesome that even the dry sentences seemed to scream.

I guess we have to go back. At this rate, the locust swarm will not calm down.

If a major famine comes, things would get out of control.

Richard.

I wont.

Before she could say anything, Richard shook his head.

But if we leave it like this, then again!

Its not like an earthquake or a flood.

Yes, but

Ophelia did not give up and spoke again.

Credits goes to Jassie for raw providing, Ame for translating, and Dea for proofreading.