Protagonist! Please Stay Away from Me!
Chapter 45: The Real Leader of Nightinshade

Chapter 45: The Real Leader of Nightinshade

Sharon’s POV—

I glared at Maria right across from me at the table. She was looking at me with an innocent look. Did she really think I would fall for this look of hers? Recalling the last night events, I blushed in anger.

"You! You took advantage of me! Not just that, you span— hurt me. You did all kinds of things with me by applying force," I accused her.

Maria frowned at my words. "Didn’t you ask me to help you? Besides, we pleasured each other. You liked when I ate your pussy, right?"

My face reddened with shame. I stammered, "I-I b-b-believed you were K-Kaerin. You took a-advantage of me." Argh, it doesn’t sound convincing at all.

Maria shrugged and said, "I thought you knew it was me. Your Majesty, I have marked you... let me tell you. I am a very responsible woman. I will take the responsibility of you. In case you became pregnant, I will take good care of you and our baby."

My eyes widened at her words. How the fuck is she planning? I immediately shook my head in denial. I sneered, "No need to take care of me. I have taken a contraceptive pill. I am not gonna get pregnant. Fuck! Enough of that... tell me one thing? What changed? Why the fuck are you back? No, scratch that. What were you doing at the count’s secret mansion?"

Maria’s face turned serious. She replied, "It’s a long story."

"Then tell us. We are completely free. In fact, I am dying to hear about your story," commented Kaerin, making her way into the room.

Kaerin sat beside me and pulled me to her lap. I tried to squirm out of her lap but she held me firmly. Defeated, I sat in her lap and looked at Maria.

Maria’s face reddened with anger. Jealousy shone in her eyes as she glared at Kaerin. "How dare you do this to Your Majesty?" she gritted out

Kaerin looked at Maria with the same innocent look, which she had given me earlier. She said, "I am her lover. So, I have the right to do that."

This time, Maria looked at me with a questioning look that said, ’Is that true?’

I faked a cough and replied, "Yes, she can... but that’s not what we are here to discuss for. Tell me the reason."

While I was happy that my plan succeeded, I needed to know the reason. To be honest, I haven’t yet deployed the second phase of my plan... yet, she came back on her own.

Maria sighed in frustration. After controlling her emotions, she opened her mouth. "The count... he worked for someone. He was not the real leader of Nightinshade," her face suddenly contorted in anger, "Kelshin Dimortyil is the one who controlled the entire organisation. Heriedieck was just following his orders. It’s just not that... it’s his family’s organisation. Your Majesty, you know about my past. How can I work for a person who... who’s responsible for my suffering?"

Kelshin? The real leader? For some time, I couldn’t comprehend her words. This is a lie, right? If that’s the case then... this world is completely different from my novel. The protagonist became the leader after he destroyed it. But according to Maria, not only him but also, the one who saved her had been the one who was running the organisation. Nightinshade belonged to them.

"You are lying, aren’t you?" I asked.

"I am not lying. Give me a day and I will prove it you," she replied with conviction.

"How will you prove it?" asked Kaerin.

Maria looked at us with a serious gaze. She answered, "I have located the count’s location. I will bring him to you. I promise that I will deliver him at your feet, Your Majesty. As for the bombs, I have retrieved it. Currently, the commander of Imperial knights is the one with their possession."

I nodded my head in affirmation. "Fine. Do that and I will believe you."

"Now that is over... we should talk about another topic. Maria, you marked Darling. What do you have to say about? Do you know what you done?" asked Kaerin.

"I know what I have and I am very eager to take responsibility," replied Maria.

"Is that all you have to say?"

"I am not going to answer anything to you."

"Ok. Keep quiet both of you," I interjected their argument. Taking a deep breath, I continued, "I am glad Kaerin that you care about me very much. But it’s my decision and let me decide it," I looked directly in Maria’s eyes, "I am not going to blame you. It’s my mistake as well. I thought you were Kaerin but I was apparently wrong."

Maria has marked me. It’s obvious now that she can’t hurt me anymore but... I still some feeling of resentment for her. On one hand, I have reduced the protagonist’s harem. Yet, in the other hand I can’t just accept her like that.

"Your Majesty, you are really benevolent," said Maria, with a smile bloomed on her face. A wave of anger washed over me when I saw her smile.

I scoffed, "Maria... don’t celebrate very early. I have yet to make a decision, it’s not going to be easy. Argh! One thing is certain... I can’t throw you out. So, unless you prove your loyalty to me... you are going to be rejected by me."

Maria’s smile widened. I clutched my hand in anger. She said, "I will prove my loyalty to you, Your Majesty. I will do whatever you want. If you want... I will give up my life for you." A shiver ran down my spine when I heard those last words.

I immediately shook my head in denial. "I don’t need your life. Keep it to yourself. Now go... wait! Before that, how did you know about marking and all?" I asked, scrutinizing her reaction.

"I found some documents about you in the count’s mention," my face turned pale from her words, "I destroyed it. So, need to be worried." Hearing her words, I sighed in relief.

Turning towards Kaerin, I said, "You told me that the book’s copy didn’t exist. How did Heriedieck got a hold of it?"

Kaerin’s face darkened. She replied, "It seems that the bastard has some copies with him." Her tone was dangerously narrowed.

My heart sank at those words. I don’t know what would happen if someone gets even a sniff of my condition.

"No need to be worried, Your Majesty. I believe it was the last copy of that book of yours," said Maria.

Glaring at her, I said, "How are you so sure?"

"I have a feeling, Your Majesty. Although, we can verify this. Tomorrow when I deliver the count at your feet, you can ask him personally."

"Do that, will you? I need him by tomorrow morning. Think this as a loyalty test." With saying these words, I left the room, leaving both of them. Right now, I need a moment to think about all this.