The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 106

Cordelia cursed her own body over and over again.

Despite her will, her legs carried her toward the highest point, following the commands ingrained deep into her mind.

‘Marabas Rydell.’

Years of being under his control had left her body moving as if on its own, even when his voice no longer rang in her ears.

She was programmed to take her own life in an emergency.

And in doing so, she would trigger the explosion spell, obliterating everything in her vicinity.

Her feet mindlessly carried her toward the palace’s central spire. Soon, she would ascend to the top and throw herself off.

Just imagining the fall made her vision go white.

She struggled—desperately—to break free from the mental grip, but her efforts were futile.

‘…Maybe it’s better this way.’

Even if she regained control, what future was there for her?

She had already harmed too many people.

Even if she had mustered her last strength to aid Chaeild’s fiancée, it wouldn’t erase the unforgivable sins she had committed.

As she inhaled the lingering smoke from the palace fires, Cordelia traced back the moments when her life had gone astray.

Was it when she chose the path of a knight, despite being a woman?

Was it when she suffered an unexpected injury and accepted an offer from the late Duke Chaeild?

Or was it when she abandoned knighthood altogether, entranced by the immense rewards and equal treatment she received while guarding the Areté crystals?

‘Marabas once said that my body changed because of prolonged exposure to Areté’s energy.’

If she had just allowed herself a day of rest every now and then, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.

The thought was so absurd that she didn’t even have the strength to scoff.

But not all of her memories in Chaeild’s household were tainted.

‘…I just want to see him once more.’

At Haile’s engagement ceremony, she had caught a glimpse of Haile Weill.

He had grown thinner, older—unable to escape the grasp of time.

But he had still remembered her name.

That alone had been enough for her.

Cordelia steeled herself and forced her unwilling body to take another step.

Just as she reached for the entrance to the spire, a voice called out behind her.

“Cordelia.”

“…!”

“Cordelia Weill.”

The voice, aged beyond its years, was weak and unsteady.

Cordelia fought against her body’s compulsion to ascend.

She twisted her torso, forcing herself to look back.

And there he was—Haile Weill, clutching his abdomen, struggling to walk toward her.

“I’ve missed you, my wife.”

“…Ah…”

“Please… just wait a moment. The wounds you left me were deeper than I thought.”

Cordelia winced as the memory surfaced.

She had done this to him.

How many sins had these hands committed?

Seeing the instability in her expression, Haile forced a smile.

He was grateful—grateful that, even under mind control, she had hesitated when she saw him.

“My wife… let’s go home.”

“A… Ah…”

Cordelia shook her head frantically, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Without hesitation, Haile pulled her into his embrace.

He gently ran his hand over her back, patting her shoulders as if to comfort a trembling child.

Long ago, when he had first learned of her disappearance, he had regretted not chasing after her sooner.

“I should have held you back then. I should have embraced you before you left.”

“Ah…”

“Let’s go back together. If you refuse to return, then I’ll leave with you.”

“….”

“No matter what choice you make, I will always stay by your side.”

His words were full of sincerity.

Cordelia didn’t even realize she was crying.

She held onto his voice, his presence, the warmth of his arms.

Clear, glistening tears traced paths down her cheeks.

And as Haile gently brushed them away, the haze in her mind lifted.

“Haile…”

She whispered his name, her voice trembling—but clearer than ever before.

Her eyes, once clouded with despair, now shone with renewed clarity.

And in that moment, the sun rose over the horizon, golden light washing over them like a cleansing tide.

A Distance Away

“Kyle… do you have a handkerchief? I—oh no….”

Watching Cordelia and Haile from afar, Amel sniffled as tears streamed down her face.

She was so overwhelmed with emotion that she couldn’t stop crying.

Kyle silently handed her a handkerchief—one that he always carried with him.

As soon as she unfolded it, her teary eyes widened.

“…Who embroidered this chicken so terribly—oh, wait. This is mine.
You… you’ve been carrying it around all this time?”

“Of course.”

“…If you keep being sweet like this, I won’t be able to stop crying.”

Amel buried her face into Kyle’s chest, still hiccupping.

Unlike her, Kyle was still reeling from the near-disaster.

When he had heard the explosion, he had thought Cordelia had succeeded in taking her life—turning her own body into a bomb.

But more than the destruction, his first thought had been of Amel.

Would she cry? Would she be in pain?

The moment the explosion rang out, he had instinctively pulled her into his arms to protect her.

But when nothing had happened—when he realized the explosion had been a mere signal from his soldiers—he felt an overwhelming urge to strangle whoever had done it.

Who in their right mind announces something like that by destroying a building?!

‘Whoever did that… just wait until I get my hands on you.’

Kyle clenched his jaw.

Then he glanced at Amel, who was still sniffling in his arms.

His shirt was damp with her tears.

“…Vanessa. Get some water.”

“Yes, sir! I’ll go scrape together morning dew and bring it back! Please, take your time and continue whatever you were doing.”

“……”

Kyle hadn’t intended to be left alone with Amel, but now they were.

Without hesitation, he leaned down—his lips grazing the swollen, tear-stained skin beneath her eyes.

“…It’s salty.”

“Kyle… hic aren’t you sad? Seeing them reunite like that?”

“Rather than sadness…”

Kyle trailed off.

It was certainly a moving sight, but sadness wasn’t what he felt.

He only felt true sorrow when he thought about losing his fiancée forever.

Instead, he felt joy. His heart swelled in his chest.

The moment he saw that the delicate thread connecting the two lovers had never broken, Kyle was overcome with an indescribable sense of warmth.

If Haile hadn’t truly loved Cordelia, he wouldn’t have risked his life to come to a place of rebellion.

If Cordelia hadn’t still loved Haile, his words wouldn’t have awakened her deepest desires.

It wasn’t Haile who had saved Cordelia.

It was the love that had bound them all this time that had stopped the explosion.

‘…Love and peace.’

Kyle ignored the peacekeeping soldiers still flapping their jackets to put out lingering embers and instead gazed at the woman before him.

At this moment of peace brought by love, there was something he desperately wanted to say to Amel.

“I love you.”

“……”

“So, let’s stop delaying and set a wedding date. You already know I love you, don’t you? You’ve probably read my thoughts a thousand times over.”

Kyle cupped Amel’s cheeks.

She let out a breathy laugh as his thumb gently brushed against her soft skin.

Every time he called her noona, her dimples deepened.

Her eyes, gleaming under the golden morning sun, were like ripened fields at harvest. Her gently tousled latte-colored hair swayed in the breeze.

Everything about her was so unbearably beautiful that it drove him mad.

“I’d marry you this very moment if I could, but I’ll give you time to prepare. We’ll set the date for next month.”

The urgency in his heart only grew stronger.

“Choose your wedding dress by the end of this week. Since it’s a Chaeild commission, there won’t be any delays. Just tell me the design or designer you want.”

It didn’t matter what dress she wore.

As long as she came to him, as his bride, that was enough.

“Prepare the guest list by next week. I’ll assign people to assist, so it won’t be difficult. If you wish, I can send invitations to every noble in Haile.”

He wanted the world to know she was his.

“For our honeymoon, we can go anywhere. If you don’t have a place in mind, I’ll show you a list of Chaeild’s private islands and estates.”

Preferably somewhere secluded—just the two of us.

“As I’ve said before, you don’t need to bring a dowry or wedding gifts. I don’t need anything but you.”

Though, there was one thing he did hope she’d bring.

“Amelia Diane. Be the mistress of Chaeild.

That position has belonged to you for a long time now—there can be no one else.”

Kyle took her left hand, where her engagement ring—bearing the Chaeild crest—rested snugly on her ring finger.

He was happy it was already there.

But a small part of him wished he could have placed it there himself at this very moment.

Instead, he lowered his lips to the spot just beneath the ring.

As he softly sucked against the skin, a faint reddish mark bloomed.

“It’s a shame that I’ve already given you everything I have.”

“Kyle…”

Amel felt the tears welling again.

She had nothing left to ask for.

This man had already given her everything.

Now, she only wanted to give him everything in return.

“I love you, Kyle.”

Rising onto her tiptoes, she pressed a brief kiss to his lips.

“I’ll choose the dress by next week. I’ll have the guest list ready soon. And… what else was urgent again?”

Her shoulders relaxed, her tension melting away. She smiled sweetly.

Kyle wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close.

“Do you mean what’s the most urgent thing right now?”

“Yes.”

“Your answer.”

“…?”

“Your answer to my proposal. That’s what matters most to me.”

His earnestness was so endearing that Amel couldn’t help but laugh.

She thought about teasing him, dragging it out just a little longer.

But she had no patience left for that.

“Kyleian Chaeild.”

She looked into his eyes, speaking clearly.

“Let’s get married next month. Of course, I accept your proposal. I want this, too.”

“……”

“I want to hear you call me your wife as soon as possible.”

Without hesitation, Kyle lifted her off the ground.

The rising sun bathed her face in golden light, making her look even more radiant.

‘…Why did I say next month?’

‘Mid-month would work just fine…’

Hearing his thoughts spiral into regret, Amel leaned in, chuckling.

The frustration in his eyes softened the moment her lips brushed against his cheek.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, Kyle.”

As they sealed their love with a long, lingering kiss,

the dark night of tragedy finally faded away.

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