The Male Leads Are Trapped in My House-Chapter 171

Happy House's Salon

At the entrance of the salon, Captain Nikolai stood watch as the royal guards began waking up one by one.

He was aware of Theodore, Cherry, Ethan, and Nox moving about the mansion the previous night, but he refrained from stepping outside.

It was because he hadn’t received orders from Theodore.

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"Since His Highness has seemed more at ease since coming here, it’s probably better for me to remain unseen for now."

The sight of Nikolai, Captain of the Graydon Kingdom's Royal Guard might only serve to remind Theodore of the harsh reality he faced.

"Are you all right, sir? You should get some rest," Deputy Captain Hamel said, pausing in his task of tidying up the bedding.

"I’m fine," Nikolai replied, his calm gaze sweeping over the knights as they organized their bedding in the salon.

The bedding laid out on the floor and sofas was of remarkably high quality, allowing everyone to sleep comfortably.

"This might have been the best sleep I’ve had in months. It’s amazing to see so much bedding here, and it’s all luxurious," Hamel remarked.

Nikolai had also found this peculiar. Sensing his superior’s agreement, Hamel continued, glancing cautiously at Nikolai.

"They say Cherry Sinclair owns this mansion. Isn’t that surprising? That the Sinclair heiress bought a place like this?"

"That’s not the only odd thing. This mansion just happens to have an underground passage connecting it to the capital."

Hamel nodded vigorously, clearly sharing Nikolai’s suspicions.

"It’s very suspicious. I can’t help but wonder if all of this is some kind of trap."

"But the Lancaster heir and Ludfisher are both here, aren’t they? Both of them are deeply trusted by His Highness."

"True, but..."

Hamel trailed off, his unease apparent. There was much to be done, and the uncertainty weighed heavily on his mind.

More than anything, the prolonged absence from the palace raised concerns about what Prince Lloyd’s faction might attempt in their absence.

"...And I’m worried about whether this mansion is truly safe from the monsters. Their cries outside haven’t stopped," Hamel added.

Ignoring Hamel’s concerns, Nikolai slowly approached the terrace entrance of the salon.

Roar!

A monstrous cry pierced through the rain, echoing from the distance.

Through the terrace window, Nikolai could see the well-maintained garden, beyond which lay a sturdy wall and a firmly shut stone gate.

The mansion’s walls and gate were unusual, as if they had been reinforced in anticipation of the monster crisis.

The sky was equally foreboding, with relentless thunder and lightning filling the stormy night.

"There’s no way we can leave the mansion right now. And holding a funeral, even a fake one, in this weather—is that really a good idea?" Hamel muttered.

"We’ll clear the blocked passage and return as soon as Kellyan Bangor’s fate is decided," Nikolai stated firmly.

No alternative routes to the capital existed. Their only option was to reopen the path they had used to arrive here.

Until then, they were effectively trapped in this mansion.

*****

I stood in front of Kellyan’s room with Harrison.

To effectively stage Ethan’s funeral for Kellyan, we first needed to release him from his restraints.

Click. As I opened the door and stepped inside, I found Charlie and Kellyan chatting quietly, seated across from each other.

“They seem to have gotten along.”

Charlie paled and quickly averted his gaze when he saw me.

"You’re not planning to throw me out, are you? Can’t I just stay here?" Charlie pleaded as I approached Kellyan.

It seemed he was quite content being confined here, which left me incredulous.

Apparently, being sheltered, fed, and housed—even under guard—was preferable to whatever treatment he had endured with Elliot.

Though I had originally planned to send Charlie away, his knowledge of Jeremy’s herb shop made him worth keeping for now.

Ignoring Charlie, I turned to my true target and began my interrogation with a hint of performance.

"Sir Ethan is dead."

Kellyan, who had been sitting with a bored expression, finally looked up. His face remained composed.

"Don’t lie to me."

Of course. I hadn’t expected him to believe it so easily.

"How could someone with so many monster-inflicted wounds possibly survive? He seemed to endure through sheer willpower for days, but..."

I trailed off, letting my voice falter. Biting my lower lip as if in distress, I added, "Before he could turn into a monster, we sent him to the gods."

"..."

Kellyan’s gaze remained skeptical. Perhaps my acting was unconvincing.

I needed something truly upsetting to evoke tears.

How many days had it been since I last drank milk? Would I ever taste it again before I died? Would a world without milk even be worth living in?

Drip.

A single tear rolled down my cheek, quickly followed by more.

Satisfied with my impromptu inspiration, I buried my face in my hands, feigning sobs.

"Not bad for an on-the-spot performance."

Immersed in the act, I kept my face hidden in my palms, unsure when to raise my head.

Finally, as my fake sobbing subsided, I cautiously glanced up.

Kellyan was watching me with an expression that screamed, "Nice try."

And with that, I knew.

"He’s aware of the antibodies."

There was no other explanation for his refusal to believe Ethan’s death, despite my tearful display.

"You and Sir Ethan are extraordinary. Don’t you want to save the world? The work we’re doing is special, and it would be an honor to have you both join us."

Kellyan had initially called Ethan special. Now, he added:

"I was ordered to bring Ethan Duncan Lancaster back when we return."

"Why?"

"As I mentioned, I haven’t been fully briefed due to my unofficial status. When in the field, I must follow orders without question."

His Attitude Changed

Kellyan suddenly shifted, feigning ignorance, insisting he knew nothing about the situation.

I had been unsure whether he genuinely knew something or not, but now it was certain—Kellyan knew. At the very least, he was aware of Ethan’s antibodies and why Westmore wanted them.

Wiping away my tears, I changed my tone and addressed Kellyan.

"Sir Kellyan, you’ll have to come with me."

"Pardon?" Kellyan asked, visibly puzzled.

"We’re holding Sir Ethan’s funeral. His will mentions you specifically. You should see it for yourself and let him go."

Kellyan looked a little startled, but I ended the conversation without giving him room to argue.

"So, it’s best if you come along."

*****

The Funeral

The rain had thinned, despite the earlier signs of an approaching typhoon.

Kellyan stood in Happy House’s garden, his hands still bound.

Before him lay a freshly dug grave. However, there was not one coffin but two.

One of the coffins was draped with a pristine white cloth, beneath which the outline of a body was visible.

"Why are there two coffins?"

The members of Happy House surrounded the burial site.

Cherry stepped forward and was the first to toss flowers into the coffin. One by one, the others followed, adding handfuls of soil after the flowers—a tradition in Graydon’s funeral rites.

When it was Kellyan’s turn, an older woman handed him a basket filled with soil.

Kellyan raised his bound hands, grasped the soil, and scattered it over the coffin.

"Is he really dead? That’s impossible."

Kellyan couldn’t understand it. Ethan couldn’t have died from # Nоvеlight # a monster bite. This had to be a deception—a performance meant to trick him.

But would they really go this far just for a charade?

The rain suddenly intensified, and the wind whipped violently. Trees swayed furiously, with branches snapping under the pressure.

"Lady Sinclair, are you sure this is wise? Perhaps we should postpone the funeral until the weather clears..."

Kellyan trailed off as the wind tore the cloth from the coffin.

Beneath it, golden hair and a pale face were revealed—Ethan Duncan Lancaster lay inside.

"What? No. This can’t be."

But there he was, lifeless, with the unmistakable appearance of a corpse.

Fallen leaves blown by the wind scattered across his face, obstructing Kellyan’s view.

"Where are all these leaves coming from? Wasn’t this garden well-maintained?"

The garden, previously pristine, was now covered in a thick layer of leaves, swirling chaotically in the wind.

Despite the chaos, Kellyan focused on Ethan’s body, scrutinizing it closely for any signs of life. Yet no warmth or vitality seemed present.

He began to panic. If Ethan were truly dead, what would that mean?

"If you fail to bring Lancaster, you won’t be allowed into Westmore."

The note he had received via carrier pigeon had been clear.

Westmore, the safest place in Graydon—even safer than the capital or the royal palace—would be inaccessible to him. Without entry, Kellyan would be left to wander this hellish world until his death.

If that were to happen, only one path remained.

"Perhaps, if you share your knowledge, we can help you."

To save his life, he might have to submit to Cherry Sinclair, becoming her subordinate.

After all, Cherry was far more capable than an ineffectual crown prince trapped outside the capital due to Westmore’s scheming.

Kellyan’s thoughts drifted to Westmore. His younger brother, Arthur, was there.

"If I can’t bring Lancaster, what will happen to Arthur?"

Grinding his teeth, Kellyan made a decision.

"Would it be better to reveal the truth to Cherry Sinclair and infiltrate Westmore to rescue Arthur?"

If he reported Ethan’s death, they would surely kill Arthur in retaliation.

"Perhaps if they think I’ve gone missing, they’ll send another team to retrieve Ethan instead of killing Arthur outright."

As Kellyan wrestled with these thoughts, Cherry began to speak.

"I will now read Sir Ethan’s will."

Kellyan snapped out of his daze as Cherry opened the will. Nox held an umbrella over her head to shield the document from the rain.

"This is curious."

Cherry began to read aloud:

*"I’ve never thought much about death before, but this one doesn’t seem so bad.

I’ve entrusted Aurora to His Highness, so there’s no need to worry about her. And as for Ludfisher, he’ll stay by Lady Cherry’s side, which I’ll admit makes me a little jealous, so I’ll leave that part out.

And so, my final words are for Lady Cherry alone."*

Cherry paused, taking a deep breath as her expression turned complicated.

Kellyan, watching her intently, shifted his gaze back to Ethan in the coffin.

"Huh?"

He thought he saw Ethan’s fingers twitch.

Kellyan squinted, trying to focus, but a gust of wind sent leaves flying into his eyes, blurring his vision.

Shaking his head to clear the leaves, he looked again—but the movement was gone.

"Did I imagine it?"

Harrison noticed Kellyan’s gaze and quickly replaced the cloth over Ethan’s face, concealing him once more.