The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 105

Crown Prince Enoch of Traiha could hardly believe what he was seeing. A luminous streak of light, bright and powerful, cutting through the darkness just before dawn.

The beams of light moved like well-trained hunting hounds, sweeping through the underground chamber and striking down only Chaeild’s enemies, leaving the rest untouched. It all happened in an instant.

He had witnessed a similar phenomenon at the engagement ceremony, but this time, mere hours later, the power of the light-based attack had reached an entirely new level.

‘How in the world did Chaeild acquire such a formidable asset as a bodyguard?’

Enoch tensed, wary of whether the light would turn on him next—but it never did. Following Chaeild’s men, he safely ascended to the surface and let out a sigh of relief.

Moments later, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed, followed by a woman’s voice.

“My lady!”

Vanessa, the one who had unleashed the blinding light, spotted Amel and rushed over. She carefully examined her from head to toe before exhaling in relief.

“My lady… you have no idea how worried I was when you disappeared. Are you alright?”

“Yes, Vanessa. Thanks to you, I’m fine. Not a single scratch.”

“Did I… really help you, my lady?”

Enoch doubted his eyes. Just moments ago, Vanessa had obliterated Marabas’ soldiers with terrifying precision, yet now she looked at Amel with wide, eager eyes—like a puppy waiting for praise after retrieving a stick.

Unable to process the absurdity of it, he turned his head—only to realize Chaeild’s so-called ‘peacekeeping force’ all wore similar expressions.

Even Duke Chaeild himself subtly edged closer to Vanessa, as if waiting for his own turn to be praised.

‘What in the world…?’

Enoch had heard rumors that the Duke of Chaeild and his entire estate were infatuated with Amelia Diane.

He had assumed the tales were exaggerated. But now, witnessing it firsthand, he realized the rumors had actually downplayed the truth.

“Thank you, Vanessa. I was scared, but you saved me.”

Amel smiled warmly and hugged Vanessa, gently stroking her hair. Never had she been so relieved to see her.

Even the steady thump of Vanessa’s heartbeat against hers was comforting. Amel embraced her tightly before letting go.

Meanwhile, Kyle Chaeild, having lost his chance to be the first to receive affection, turned his gaze toward Itar. The Third Prince stared blankly at the sky, his mind shattered.

Kyle deliberated how best to punish him.

Sure, Marabas had played a major role in everything, but Itar was the one who had given the kidnapping order.

Not to mention, he was also responsible for changing the color of the Lust-Detecting Bracelet. That alone made him unforgivable.

“Prince Enoch, we should begin discussing the traitor’s fate.”

“Ah…”

Still lost in thought, Enoch only then regained his composure. He wanted to save Itar.

But reality was far too rigid for that.

If Itar had merely abducted a noblewoman from a foreign land, Traiha could have argued to handle his crimes under its own laws.

But Itar had kidnapped Chaeild’s fiancée and attempted a full-scale rebellion. The advisors who had just escaped from the underground chamber would not stand for his survival.

“…May I speak with him for a moment?”

“Go ahead.”

With heavy steps, Enoch approached his half-brother. The soldiers tightening their restraints on Itar stepped aside after bowing to him.

Itar’s gaze was lifeless.

Now that he had realized his sister’s death had been orchestrated solely to manipulate him, his spirit had completely crumbled.

For a long while, Enoch could not bring himself to speak. Why now?

Why did his mind conjure up memories of Itar, Iana, and himself walking together in the palace gardens?

“…Did Father know?”

Itar’s hollow voice shattered Enoch’s thoughts, pulling him back to the present.

After a brief hesitation, he answered.

“Yes. That’s why he stripped Marabas Rydell of his royal alchemist title. He was furious that the man who killed Iana still dared to stand by your side.”

“……”

“Itar… Father never wanted you to learn the truth. He hoped you would endure Iana’s death, join forces with me, and lead Traiha together.”

But now that the rebellion had been crushed, that hope had died with it.

Realizing this, Itar let out a beast-like wail—the kind of cry that came from deep, unrelenting despair.

His hands and feet were bound; he couldn’t even clutch at his own chest as he wept.

“What… what will happen to me?”

Enoch didn’t answer. There was no need.

Itar’s fate was sealed. Execution. The only question was where and by whom.

“More than the fact that you started a rebellion and nearly destroyed the imperial family…”

Enoch hesitated before continuing.

“What pains me most is that there is nothing I can do for you now.”

“That’s not what I’m asking. Can I ever be forgiven by Father?”

For the first time, Enoch could not reply.

The emperor had treasured the imperial family above all else.

Could he forgive the son who had trampled it into ruins?

No. No, he could not.

“…Someday.”

But instead of telling the truth, Enoch chose a lie.

A gentle, merciful lie—one he had told himself so many times before that he almost believed it.

A heavy stillness settled over the air.

Kyle draped his jacket over his fiancée’s shoulders, shielding her from the night’s chill.

At last, it seemed like it was over.

Or so they thought.

“You think it’s finished?”

As he was being dragged away by the peacekeeping forces, Marabas suddenly lifted his head, a twisted smile curving his lips.

“A dead man still running his mouth, I see.”

Kyle Chaeild spat back, his voice laced with irritation and disdain. Marabas made no attempt to retort, merely allowing himself to be taken away.

But only Amel sensed the ominous energy in his fleeting gaze.

“Wait—where’s Cordelia?”

Cordelia, who had been with them in the underground chamber, was suddenly nowhere to be seen.

Every key figure involved—Itar, Marabas, and their conspirators—had already been restrained. Yet Cordelia was missing.

Just moments ago, Amel had given her some lukewarm water and let her rest for a bit, but now, her whereabouts were unknown.

Then, a piece of Cordelia’s memory surfaced in Amel’s mind.

“Marabas. How powerful is this woman?”

“If Cordelia dies inside Haile’s imperial palace, a detonation spell will be triggered, reducing the entire palace to ashes. According to my research, the Areté crystals in the vicinity will also cause a chain reaction, meaning the entire capital could fall in a single night.”

That’s what Marabas and Itar had discussed regarding Cordelia.

Now that they were physically close, Marabas could very well manipulate her into taking her own life—triggering the explosion.

“Kyle! We need to find Cordelia—she has a spell on her that will cause a massive explosion the moment she dies!”

“…What?”

Amel hurriedly relayed the thoughts she had read.

Kyle didn’t waste time confirming the facts with Itar or Marabas—he trusted Amel’s words and immediately dispatched his forces.

There were no traces of Areté’s use, and Cordelia was in no condition to flee far. If she intended to cause the most damage, she would head straight for the palace’s central hall.

But something didn’t sit right.

‘The entire palace… reduced to ashes?’

For just a moment, Kyle imagined Amel’s death.

The mere thought filled him with such horror that he despised his own mind for conjuring it.

If he lost that smile forever, life itself would be meaningless.

He couldn’t leave her here.

Just then, he spotted Count Ferche Diane approaching, having finished overseeing the battlefield.

Relief flooded Kyle’s face.

“Count Diane. Please take your daughter and the others and leave this place immediately. At the very least, you must escape beyond the inner walls.”

Amel stiffened at his words.

“Wait, Kyle. What are you talking about? If I leave, what about you?”

“I released my forces, so as their commander, it’s my duty to stay. You need to leave—just in case.”

Her father moved to shield her, but Amel shook him off.

“I was the one who said we had to find Cordelia. Besides, I have an Areté crystal with me. If a chain reaction happens, the people escaping with me could get caught in the blast.”

“Then go with Vanessa alone—”

“Kyle.”

Amel grabbed his hand.

As her trembling fingers gradually steadied, his fears came rushing through.

「If she gets hurt, even a little…」

「No. Absolutely not.」

「I can’t leave her here. I have to get her somewhere safe—far from Cordelia’s explosion, far from the chain reaction…」

His face had gone pale.

Amel held his hand more firmly, as if to ground him, before turning to her father.

“Father, please evacuate the others first. You didn’t raise me to be an adult who can’t take care of herself.”

After a brief hesitation, Count Diane finally gave the order to begin the evacuation.

With Itar’s imprisoned ministers and aides still weak from captivity, leading them out was all he could manage.

He cast one last glance over his shoulder, but Amel’s resolve never wavered.

She ran her fingers over Kyle’s hand, soothingly.

“You’re not planning to evacuate either, are you?”

“My men are already searching the palace. I can’t leave.”

“I feel the same way.”

Her voice was calm, her expression unwavering.

“It’s not right for some people to live while others die. So…”

She smiled.

“Let me stay with you. If you have a responsibility to bear, then I’ll bear it with you.”

Kyle wanted to shake off her hand.

He wanted to yell at Vanessa to get her mistress out of here immediately.

But her warmth was undeniable.

Her voice was sweeter than when she spoke of peace.

He knew he should let her go.

But he couldn’t bring himself to separate from her.

And in that moment, he finally understood.

She wasn’t staying out of stubbornness—she was staying because she refused to let him bear this alone.

“…Thank you, for staying by my side, Amel.”

Kyle gave a soft smile.

Then, he reached into his coat and pulled out a teleportation scroll.

Just as he entered the coordinates for Chaeild’s estate—

BOOM!

A deafening explosion tore through the air.

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