The Obsessive Male Lead Is Actually Scary
Chapter 22: Whistles, Whimpers, and Wheezing

Chapter 22: Whistles, Whimpers, and Wheezing

"Ack! Hey, are you sure this is how the warm-up’s supposed to go? I’m pretty sure it wasn’t like this before!"

Alessio was pressing my legs wider apart in what he claimed was a warm-up before training. It was more like a torture ritual disguised in the name of fitness. He looked completely serious—merciless, even.

"One more time. Hold still for a bit," he said, face stern and expression unforgiving.

’Damn, the training hasn’t even properly started and my body’s already aching...’

My face contorted as I whimpered inwardly.

"Alright, now you’re all set."

"Ow, ow..."

I groaned, slumping slightly in place.

"You’ve done a bit of dagger and self-defense training before. But technique alone won’t get you far without the strength to back it up," Alessio said, eyeing me with a smirk.

’Don’t tell me...’

I forced a nervous smile, my face going pale—I already had a bad feeling about what was coming next.

"Start running. 15 laps."

"Wait—"

"Now. Go."

Before I could protest, Alessio blew his whistle with impeccable timing, cutting me off completely.

I stumbled into motion, dragging my feet across the yard.

It was only one lap in that I realized...

’WHAT KIND OF INN HAS A YARD THIS ENORMOUS?!’

The place was practically the size of a training field. No way this was public access. It had to be reserved.

’Honestly, I wouldn’t even be surprised if he told me he bought this inn just for training.’

I shot a glare at him mid-run—as if trying to hex him with my eyes alone.

Somehow, lap after painful lap, I actually made it to fifteen.

"Huff... huff..."

Eventually, I collapsed onto the ground like a dramatic, defeated slug.

"I..." I panted between breaths. "I... can’t... haa... do this anymore..."

"That’s fine," Alessio said with a maddeningly calm tone. "We’ll do it again tomorrow."

"What?! Tomorrow too?!"

My jaw dropped. My eyes practically bulged.

"Surely you’re not thinking one day of this is enough to build endurance."

"Well... I mean, you’ve got a point... but still! Are you telling me I have to run like this again tomorrow?!"

"And the day after that. And every day after until your stamina improves. Once that happens, we’ll begin your real training."

My face turned to stone in horror.

’I don’t wannaaaaa...!!’

I screamed internally, eyes trembling, soul crying, muscles dying.

* * *

The next day...

I was running again.

Still miserable.

Still wheezing.

But hey—maybe just a little less dead than yesterday.

"...She lives!" Khan called out teasingly as I jogged by, his tone full of exaggerated drama.

I groaned.

"Ugh..." My shoulders slumped and I gave him the flattest look I could muster, though I probably just looked pitiful.

"Did they arrive yet?"

"Not yet. Most likely, they’ll get here this evening."

Alessio went quiet for a second, gaze thoughtful.

"Alright. Once they arrive, tell them to come to my room. Make sure they don’t draw attention."

"Understood!" Khan replied with a playful salute.

I assumed they were talking about Alessio’s subordinates—the ones he said would catch up with us in a couple of days after we arrived in Kalvena.

Well, today marked that deadline.

I slowly sat up, brushing the dust from my training pants with a few firm pats.

"Alright then, I’m heading back insi—"

Just as I took my first step, my knees buckled beneath me.

Apparently, my legs hadn’t quite regained full strength yet.

"Eep—!"

I stumbled forward, seconds away from planting a kiss on the dirt.

I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for impact.

’Oh? That didn’t hurt.’

I cautiously opened one eye, blinking in surprise.

There, awkwardly holding me up—Alessio had caught me around the stomach, while Khan had one hand pressed to my forehead.

’What... what kind of rescue position is this...?’

We locked in place like statues.

"Um... w-we’re kind of in a weird rescue position here, don’t you think?"

The two men jolted as if waking from a daze, their expressions just as flustered as mine.

They quickly adjusted me upright and pulled their hands away like I was on fire.

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence hung in the air for a beat.

"Pfft."

A snort broke the stillness.

"Mfh... hahahaha!" Khan burst out laughing, doubling over as if he couldn’t take it anymore.

I couldn’t help it—I started laughing too, my shoulders shaking.

Even Alessio let out a faint, reluctant chuckle.

Khan wiped the corner of his eyes with a finger, clearly trying to get rid of the tears from laughing too hard.

"You’ve still got a long way to go, my lady."

"Shut up." I groaned, scowling half-heartedly. "I’m going back first. Later, then."

With a slightly embarrassed and offended pout—already dreading that I’d have to go through all of that again tomorrow—I turned on my heel and trudged back toward the inn.

Behind me, Alessio and Khan stood side by side, a soft smile tugging at both their lips.

’She never fails to amuse... or surprise,’ Alessio mused inwardly, not quite aware he’d thought it at all.

Just as he turned to head in the opposite direction, he flinched. Khan was already staring at him, that ever-mischievous grin plastered across his face.

"...What?"

"It’s nothing," Khan said smoothly, his grin deepening as if he were thoroughly enjoying some private little play.

* * *

The next morning, just as I steeled myself for another round of torturous training, I was greeted by several unfamiliar faces waiting in the yard.

"Good morning, Lady Sonia. I’m Caleb, Captain of the Imperial Informant Unit," the man introduced himself with a polite bow.

He had a strong, solid build and a sharp gaze that suggested he missed very little. The lines on his face and the subtle scars along his hands hinted at a life spent in the shadows of the empire—gathering secrets rather than glory. The Informant Unit was, from what Alessio had told me, the channel through which information across the empire flowed. They were the ones who collected intelligence, verified rumors, and, until now, had been tasked with tracking Marius’s political movements in secret.

Standing beside him was another man, leaner and a touch more fox-like in his presence.

"It’s an honor, my lady. I am Mateo, Vice-Captain of the Imperial Spy Division."

Mateo’s features were sharp and elegant—slender frame, quick eyes, the kind of man who could disappear into a crowd with ease. His division specialized in stealth and surveillance, dispatched to sniff out any threat to the empire’s stability. According to Alessio, they had been silently tailing Marius and watching the loyalist faction for years now, without ever being noticed.

"H-Hello. Nice to meet you," I said, offering a polite smile.