The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 100

Itar swung his tightly gripped sword, slicing through the air. Droplets of blood splattered from the blade, forming a crimson trail on the floor.

A trembling hand, pressed against the ground, crawled past that line, reaching toward his feet. Without hesitation, Itar crushed the back of the hand beneath his boot and spoke.

“Move only those still breathing to the underground chamber where His Majesty resides. Deal with the rest as you see fit.”

At his command, his subordinates scanned the bodies sprawled across the imperial palace. It was no exaggeration to say that nearly every supporter of the emperor and crown prince was here.

Unarmed and defenseless, they had been slaughtered by the Third Prince’s faction in a ruthless assault. This was not a coup aimed at political negotiation or future alliances—it was a massacre.

Since Itar had no intention of ascending the throne, he had no need for restraint. Many had chosen the wrong side, and their lives had been snuffed out as a result.

Among the carnage, he briefly glimpsed his younger sister’s tear-streaked face. But that was all—just a fleeting moment before he looked away.

As the storm of blood momentarily settled, Venom finally took in his surroundings. The sheer brutality of the scene left him breathless, and a voice he had once heard long ago echoed in his mind.

“We can’t let him die too, can we? One sacrifice should be enough.”

Marabas Rydell had said those words without so much as a change in expression.

Stepping over the bodies, Venom trailed after his lord, momentarily lost in thought.

Why had he once believed that following Marabas’ words was the right course of action for Itar? Was the blood beneath his feet now the consequence of that decision?

If so, did he even deserve to walk away from this unscathed?

Before he could find an answer, he felt Itar’s sharp gaze on him. There was no anger or greed in his eyes—only unshakable resolve.

“By now, news of the rebellion should have reached Hail. It’s time to put Amelia Diane to use. Venom, is the item I mentioned ready?”

“If you mean the truth serum, I prepared extra doses in advance. Just a small sip will compel her to answer Your Highness’ questions truthfully.”

The truth serum was a newly developed alchemical formula, the result of countless trials. If the user attempted to lie, their heart would immediately suffer immense strain.

When Itar first heard of its existence, the first person who came to mind was Amelia Diane.

The serum wouldn’t force words from her mouth, but if he wanted to uncover the truth behind Iana’s death, she was essential.

Unconsciously, Itar envisioned Amelia kneeling before him, compelled to confess only the truth. Just the thought of her looking up at him with those green-hazel eyes sent a strange thrill through his body.

First, he would extract every detail about Iana’s death. And if the serum’s effects lingered afterward, he could afford to ask a few personal questions.

“Venom. Go to Marabas and tell him to bring Countess Diane to the underground chamber. I’ll be waiting there.”

“As you command.”

Venom left without hesitation. Itar, too, was about to move when he suddenly halted. The air around him shifted violently—something was approaching.

‘They arrived faster than expected.’

It was clear that something—or someone—had reached Tryha’s imperial palace in an attempt to reclaim Amelia Diane.

Itar quickened his pace.

＊＊＊

Marabas Rydell was clearly displeased that he had failed to manipulate my mind.

The slight anticipation in his gaze had vanished, but he did not glare at me with murderous intent.

His eyes burned hot, then turned cold, repeating the cycle. Whenever he looked down at me, embers flickered in his pupils, only to fade whenever his gaze drifted, like a guard receiving a sudden transmission.

‘He really might be seeing something. Should I test him a little?’

I watched him carefully, waiting for the right moment to speak. My composed demeanor, far from trembling in fear, seemed to pique his interest.

“Lady Diane. The more I observe you, the more intriguing you become.”

“You should call me Countess Diane now. You were watching when I received my title, weren’t you?”

“So, you’ve noticed that as well?”

“You peering through Cordelia’s sight isn’t exactly a secret. Everyone in Chaield and Diane has already suspected as much.”

One might have been annoyed at having their schemes exposed, but instead, Marabas chuckled, as if he found it amusing.

Did he take pleasure in summoning Cordelia?

As if summoned by the mere mention of her name, the old woman I had met briefly appeared before me—Cordelia Whale, the wife of Lord Hild, the steward of Hail.

Once a knight, she was now nothing more than skin and bones, a frail shadow of her former self.

Her eyes were clouded, her movements out of sync with her mind. Marabas placed his hand on her head as she let out a faint groan.

“Amelia Diane. Have you figured out Cordelia’s purpose yet?”

Of course, I had long known how he was exploiting her.

But hearing him refer to her with the word “purpose,” as though she were nothing more than an object, disgusted me.

I did not answer. Marabas showed no reaction and simply activated his Areté.

A deep navy glow shimmered around the Harmonia necklace wrapped around Marabas Rydell’s mechanical arm like an armband. At the same time, a mist-like, translucent light rose from Cordelia’s body.

The moment the two lights intertwined—

“Ugh…!”

A searing pain spread through my head, forcing me to clutch it tightly. It felt as though someone had cracked open my skull and was violently stirring my brain with their hands. In the midst of it, Marabas’ voice echoed.

「A shame that my Areté does not work like yours, Lady Diane—it doesn’t read minds.」

「I wonder what thoughts you’re hiding.」

「Shall I make do by controlling your mind instead? There happens to be a task you can assist with.」

His voice was grating. Marabas was using Cordelia to amplify his Areté in an attempt to dominate my mind.

If Areté was fire, Cordelia’s power was oil. The amplification made his Areté several times stronger, and at this rate, I wouldn’t last more than a few minutes before completely losing myself.

“No… Stop…!”

Even as I forced my voice out, the pain didn’t subside. If there had been anything nearby to grab and swing, I would have attacked Marabas without hesitation, but I could barely make out my surroundings.

‘Was Kyle in this much agony back in Celtman?’

No—he must have endured worse. How could he have kept his sanity while watching the very people who pretended to be his loyal followers reveal their true colors before his eyes?

Remembering the scene I had read from Count Gargoyle, I became even more determined not to submit to Marabas. Clenching my fists over my skirt, I braced myself.

“You’re quite tenacious, Lady Diane. I like that about you.”

“I don’t need your perverted admiration… Ugh!”

Just as I thought I couldn’t hold out any longer, a knock sounded at the door. Marabas flinched, momentarily withdrawing his Areté.

Whoever was outside wasn’t my rescuers from Hail—otherwise, they wouldn’t have been waiting patiently for the door to be opened. Regaining my breath, I focused on Marabas, watching how he would react.

When he opened the door, a man stepped inside. I recognized him immediately—Venom, one of Itar’s closest aides, who had accompanied him during the Lily Insignia ceremony.

‘His name came up quite a few times in the reports that Mr. Pringles gathered for me.’

To Itar, Venom was like a governess to a noblewoman—constantly by his side, a longstanding figure among the Third Prince’s closest confidants.

I assumed Marabas occupied a similar position, but their interaction suggested otherwise. There was an undeniable undercurrent of hostility from Venom.

“Marabas. Lord Itar is ready to proceed. Gather what you need and move to the underground chamber.”

“…Understood.”

Venom had merely stopped by to deliver the order, leaving as quickly as he had arrived. He deliberately avoided even glancing in my direction.

Even after Venom disappeared from view, Marabas continued staring at the door for a long time. It was… odd.

‘Why is he so wary of Venom, another of Itar’s confidants?’

His behavior just now was strange as well. Marabas had been using Cordelia to amplify his Areté, relentlessly attacking my mind. If he had kept going a little longer, he might have succeeded in completely controlling me.

But the moment Venom arrived, he stopped and hid what he was doing.

If controlling me was part of Itar’s orders, there would be no reason to conceal it from Venom. If anything, he might have even asked for assistance.

Which meant only one thing—

‘The attempt to dominate my mind was Marabas’ own doing.’

But why? What was he planning to do by controlling me?

Even among Itar’s trusted circle, Marabas was hiding something. Whatever it was, if he was keeping it secret even now, during a rebellion, it had to be of considerable significance.

If I could uncover what he was hiding, I might be able to disrupt the unity of Traiha’s rebel faction. But under these circumstances, I had no way of gathering that information.

As I bit my lip in frustration, Marabas pulled Cordelia toward me. Her body slumped lifelessly, clearly drained from the energy he had siphoned from her.

“You heard the orders. I won’t waste time explaining. We’re heading to the underground chamber now—hold onto Cordelia.”

Marabas spoke indifferently, then retrieved a teleportation scroll imbued with Areté. I supported Cordelia’s frail, trembling body.

And then—something miraculous happened, something I hadn’t even dared to hope for.

「Poor child…」

「I am fine, but…」

「So, you’ve finally decided to see this through to the end…」

The fractured remnants of Cordelia’s thoughts, accumulated over years of being a living ghost in Traiha, began to echo faintly in my mind.

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