A Dangerous Obsession
Chapter 91 - 90

Chapter 91: Chapter 90

I lay sprawled across the bed, the soft sheets crumpled beneath me as I attempted to focus on the book in my hands. Its leather-bound cover felt smooth against my fingers, but the words on the page blurred together, refusing to hold my attention. I had read this passage twice now, and yet, I couldn’t recall a single line.

The plot was simple enough—an innocent young heroine falling for a brooding hero, with layers of secrets waiting to be unraveled. Normally, I would be absorbed by such a story, letting myself escape into the heroine’s world. But today, it just wasn’t working. I sighed, turning another page with little interest. The heroine was busy pining over her beloved, wondering whether she meant anything to him.

"Honestly, you’re wasting too much time thinking about it," I muttered under my breath, shutting the book with a soft thud. It felt ridiculous giving advice to a fictional character, but I knew why the story annoyed me today. It hit too close to home.

Since that day, only the physician had visited. No sign of His Majesty. No word, no message—just a polite check-in on my health. I told myself he was probably busy. He was, after all, a ruler. But even with that perfectly reasonable excuse, a part of me—one I tried very hard to ignore—felt disappointed. I had been bracing myself for his presence, for whatever tension would inevitably follow. And instead... silence.

I stared at the ceiling, lost in thought, when a knock at the door jolted me upright. My heart stuttered, foolishly leaping with anticipation.

"Come in," I called, trying to keep my voice even.

The door opened, revealing a maid. Of course. I resisted the urge to sigh and instead managed a polite nod.

"My lady," the maid began with a small curtsy, "would you like me to bring your dinner to your chambers?"

I hesitated, glancing toward the untouched book on the bed. The idea of sitting alone for another evening didn’t appeal to me, especially not when my mind was already so restless. After a moment, I shook my head. "No, I’d prefer to have dinner with His Majesty."

The words left my mouth before I could second-guess myself. The maid blinked, clearly taken aback by my request.

"Shall I inform the steward, my lady?" she asked after a brief pause.

"Yes," I replied, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt.

"And... would you like me to help you dress for dinner?" she added carefully, her gaze flicking to my current attire.

I glanced down at my simple, comfortable night gown. "Yes, please."

As the maid moved to gather a more suitable dress, I sat up and rested my hands on my lap. I didn’t know what I was hoping to gain by dining with him. Perhaps it was just the need for company, or perhaps I wanted to see if the strange pull between us had changed. Either way, I knew one thing for certain—I was tired of waiting, tired of wondering.

I glanced back at the book lying on the bed. The heroine had spent Chapters agonizing over whether the man she loved truly cared for her. And as much as I wanted to scoff at her indecision, I couldn’t deny that I was in a similar position, doing everything I could to hide feelings I didn’t want to admit existed.

Shaking my head, I stood as the maid returned with a gown draped over her arm. It was a deep shade of blue, simple yet elegant, and much more appropriate for the occasion.

"Shall we begin, my lady?" she asked, offering a faint smile.

"Yes," I said quietly, allowing her to lead me toward the dressing table.

---

The soft sound of footsteps echoed in the hall as the maid led me through the winding corridors of the palace. The air was warm, scented faintly with the wax of freshly polished wood and a hint of lavender from the torches lining the walls. I followed her silently at first, half-lost in thought, until I noticed something odd—the path we were taking wasn’t leading toward the dining hall.

I frowned. "Wait a minute... Where are you taking me?"

The maid glanced over her shoulder, her expression unreadable. "To His Majesty’s study, my lady."

His study? I blinked in surprise, my steps faltering slightly. I had expected a formal dinner in one of the grand halls, not... this. Still, I didn’t question her further. Instead, I gathered my composure and quickened my pace, falling back into step behind her.

When we finally arrived, the maid knocked lightly before pushing the heavy doors open. The study was warm and inviting, though the vastness of the room gave it an intimidating air. Shelves filled with ancient tomes stretched from floor to ceiling, and a grand oak desk sat near the center, illuminated by the golden glow of a nearby lamp.

And there he was—His Majesty. Sitting behind the desk, quill in hand, he appeared completely engrossed in whatever work lay before him. For a moment, it was hard to reconcile this image with the person I knew. A tyrant, ruthless and commanding, didn’t seem like someone who did trivial things like paperwork.

But here he was, shoulders tense with concentration, the faint scratch of his quill filling the silence. It didn’t suit him. Not at all. And yet... there was something captivating about the scene, something I couldn’t quite put into words.

I barely had time to collect my thoughts before he noticed my presence. Slowly, he set down the quill, a lazy smirk tugging at his lips as he leaned back in his chair. "Well, well. Couldn’t stay away from me, could you?"

I bristled instantly, heat rising to my cheeks. "Excuse me?"

He chuckled, low and rich, the sound wrapping around me like silk. "You must have missed me terribly if you went through all the trouble of requesting to dine together." His crimson eyes gleamed with amusement, and I had the sudden, irrational urge to wipe that smug look off his face.

"I didn’t—" I began, but stopped myself. Arguing would only give him more reason to tease me. I forced myself to stand taller, determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flustered.

And that’s when I noticed them.

At first, it was just one cat, curled up on the corner of his desk, its tail lazily swishing back and forth. Then I spotted the another two, nestled comfortably on a stack of papers.

My eyes widened in disbelief. My cats.