The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 112

The humid bathroom echoed with the sound of their breathing.

Even after reaching their peak, the lingering heat refused to fade.

Amelia leaned her head against the edge of the bathtub, tilting it back.

Kyle’s lips brushed against her exposed neck.

He trailed soft, teasing kisses along her skin, coaxing her once more.

“Kyle, that’s enough…”

Hearing the quiet plea, he finally relented, pressing a light kiss to her cheek before pulling away.

He realized he had been holding onto her for quite some time.

“Your arms.”

Kyle’s voice was short, direct.

Amelia stretched out her trembling arms, still weak from holding onto him, and clung to his shoulders.

“Kyle, don’t let my hair get wet… I’m so sleepy right now…”

“You say that every day.”

Kyle chuckled, lifting her effortlessly.

Her damp body emerged from the water, revealing the traces his lips had left behind—evidence of their time together.

By now, the servants had surely changed the sheets.

The thought of laying her soft, damp body onto fresh linens made his blood run faster.

Sensing something, Amelia tensed and pleaded as he strode toward the bed.

“Kyle… You have work tomorrow. You need to sleep.”

“I decide when I start my day.”

Her wide, rabbit-like eyes only made him smile.

Placing her onto a bed covered in crisp, white towels, Kyle carefully dried every inch of her.

Following the advice from the book A Husband’s Duty: Relieving Your Wife’s Fatigue, he warmed scented oil in his palms and massaged it into her skin.

As he worked, Amelia began to nod off, struggling to keep her eyes open.

The way she fought against sleep was so endearing that he had to suppress his laughter.

Once he had finished, Kyle tossed the damp towels aside and gently wrapped her in a blanket.

“Sleep well,” he murmured. “After all, the night will come again tomorrow.”

“At least wait until after the wedding. If this keeps up, I’ll collapse from exhaustion before the ceremony.”

“….”

Kyle swallowed back his protest.

That could never happen.

Reaching out, he pulled her into his arms.

Amelia instinctively wiggled closer, as if this was her rightful place.

He smoothed her hair, knowing it would be a mess by morning.

Wrapped in nothing but a white sheet, she looked just like she had when trying on wedding dresses.

…My wife is beautiful.

The gown she had chosen was breathtaking—but nothing compared to this moment.

Kyle imagined a secret wedding, just the two of them, with only a blanket between them.

“Stop thinking dirty thoughts and go to sleep, Kyle.”

“….”

The problem was—he had been caught too easily.

Amelia laced her fingers with his, her grip weak but affectionate.

Thinking about the dress from his thoughts, she suddenly felt the reality of their upcoming wedding sink in.

Elsewhere in the World…

The news of Itar’s death—a tragic carriage accident during his transfer to Chaeild—was splashed across the newspapers.

And yet, within a day, the entire story disappeared.

“How did Chaeild manage to completely erase the death of a prince from the news?”

She didn’t believe a single word about the accident.

Not after seeing Claire’s bloodstained gloves and Bruno’s ruined clothes.

But she felt no guilt over his brutal end.

After all, he had kidnapped her.

And from the look in his eyes before the end, it was almost as if…

He had been asking to be put out of his misery.

“Maybe now he’s finally reunited with the brother he missed so much.”

Shaking away the thought, Amelia chose to focus on her wedding.

The ceremony was to be held in Diane’s estate, which had been granted to her.

As the announcement spread, gifts poured in.

Lately, she spent her days unwrapping presents and attending bridal lessons.

But Amelia wasn’t just receiving gifts—she had been preparing special ones for a few important people in return.

A Gift for Kyle

“Kyle, I want to discuss something about Vanessa.”

“…Do we have to talk about her right now?”

“After that, I’ll tell you about your present.”

“….”

Kyle, who had been sulking, immediately perked up.

With surprising efficiency, he resolved the matter concerning Vanessa—then sat eagerly, waiting for his reward.

Amelia leaned in and whispered, her voice filled with anticipation.

“The gift I’ve been preparing for you is almost ready. We should go see it together.”

“What is it?”

“That’s a secret.”

She smiled.

“Compared to everything you’ve given me, it’s embarrassingly small. But I put my heart into it.”

Kyle stilled.

She was grateful for all the love and treasures he had given her.

But she seemed to think there was no possible way to repay it.

That bothered him.

“…Why does she think that?”

Kyle brushed his fingers through her hair as she drifted into sleep.

Her every thought about him filled him with warmth.

But the idea that there was no gift worthy of him?

That left him slightly disappointed.

There absolutely is.

Lately, Kyle had been longing for one particular gift.

In fact, deep down, he had been hoping she would include it in her dowry.

A child who resembled her—a small life carrying the Chaeild name, calling out for their mother, Amelia Chaeild.

A pair of warm eyes waiting for him.

The thought of holding hands on a walk or simply embracing each other in silence was enough to make his heart swell.

Of course, it was impossible.

She never forgot to take her contraceptive sweets.

Yet, despite knowing this, he had already thought of over a hundred names for their future child.

“They would be adorable.”

Even if they broke plates every day, it would be endearing—just like her.

Even if they scribbled on the ancient walls of the Chaeild estate, he wouldn’t mind in the slightest.

Kyle held Amelia tightly, lost in the warmth of his thoughts.

It was a night far too sweet for sleep.

A Gift for Kyle

After receiving her Chaeild Duchess training from Claire, Amelia sat down for lunch and organized her thoughts.

“I need to check on Kyle’s gift… Should I talk to Vanessa first?”

Truthfully, even she hadn’t seen the final product of Kyle’s gift yet.

For the first time, she had indulged in an extravagant, no-expense-spared purchase.

She hoped the result would be just as she imagined.

Deciding to visit Vanessa first, Amelia quickened her pace.

To deliver the gift, she needed to find her in her room.

“If I tell her I dumped all this work on her just to set this up, she’ll probably feel betrayed.”

Vanessa was completely buried in the overwhelming workload Amelia had assigned her.

Dismissing the attendants for a moment, Amelia watched as Vanessa moved frantically.

Around her neck, the necklace Claire had purchased and Amelia had gifted her sparkled faintly.

But what stood out even more was the bracelet—far too luxurious for a servant to wear.

“I suppose it’s time to call it Harmonia’s Bracelet now.”

There was a reason Vanessa had ended up wearing the modified version of the necklace.

During the Maravas incident in Traiha, it was Vanessa who had delivered the fatal blow.

The necklace had contained Arete’s crystal, so she had taken possession of it and returned to Hail.

However, keeping it in its original form was far too dangerous, as it held major political significance for both Hail and Kelton.

Returning it to its rightful owner, Emperor Verdrevan, would have undoubtedly placed it around Princess Rien’s neck.

Kyle had pondered the matter for a while before deciding to remove the crystal from the necklace and craft it into a bracelet—then entrust it to Vanessa.

If anyone else wore the bracelet, it would raise ownership disputes.

And, of course, Vanessa was more than capable of keeping it safe.

“Madam… I haven’t finished yet. Could you wait a little longer?”

“You can do that later. Can we talk for a moment?”

“Of course.”

Vanessa set her documents aside and sat across from Amelia.

She could already sense that this wasn’t just any conversation.

Amelia studied Vanessa over a simple tea set between them.

She realized something—

“Her sharp personality has softened a lot since we first met.”

“Look at this, Vanessa. The hair you cut that day—it’s grown back quite a bit.”

“Ahem. Why bring that up all of a sudden…?”

“It just made me realize how much time has passed. When I returned from Traiha and looked in the mirror, I suddenly thought about it.”

Vanessa’s heart sank at Amelia’s calm voice.

A memory surfaced—the conversation they had when Vanessa was first hired as her bodyguard.

“I’ll be staying at the duchy, then?”

“Yes, for the time being.”

At the time, Amelia had only hired her temporarily, expecting it to last only until the end of a dangerous ordeal.

But after the Harmonia Necklace incident, the Kelton affair, and then Traiha—it had all seemed fine.

But now, with the wedding marking the beginning of peace, Amelia no longer seemed like someone who planned on walking a dangerous path.

Vanessa stared grimly at her teacup.

Her heart pounded, but her hands and feet felt ice-cold.

At some point, she had simply assumed she would serve Amelia forever.

Laughing together.

Carrying out secret orders.

It had all become so natural that she had convinced herself it was permanent.

“Vanessa… Are you crying?”

“…Am I no longer needed?”

“Of course not. I’m sending you away because your strength is far too valuable to waste on protecting just one person.”

Amelia gently placed her hand over Vanessa’s trembling fingers.

“This wasn’t your original goal, was it?”

“…”

“You wanted Arete’s power. You wanted to rule over the strong. And you wanted to make a fortune.”

Amelia added the last part with a teasing grin.

Vanessa frowned—but a single teardrop hit the table.

“…But you said this was my home.”

“And it always will be.”

“Whether you’re running away, taking a break— you’re always welcome back.**

But don’t give up before you’ve even started.”

“Madam…”

“I’ll rely on you until I return from my honeymoon.

Your salary has been deposited as usual.”

“And this—” Amelia tapped the Harmonia Bracelet.

Vanessa’s eyes widened.

“T-This?”

“You’ve always wanted it, haven’t you?”

“Kyle already agreed.

A dangerous artifact like this should belong to someone strong—someone like you.”

“But…”

“Come on, just take it.

You can’t sell it, but you know how valuable it is.”

“If you really hate it, I can give you the money instead.”

Vanessa slowly shook her head.

If she had to leave, she would rather take something Amelia had touched than a pile of meaningless gold.

Since childhood, she had dreamed of becoming the strongest warrior in the legendary mercenary group, Aretist.

With that strength, she had thought she would gain wealth and glory.

But now, leaving the only person she had ever truly served, she realized—

Money meant nothing.

Her greatest honor had become protecting Amelia.

“It was a blessing that I never managed to steal that necklace.”

Vanessa wiped away her tears and met Amelia’s gaze.

For the first time, she had a new dream.

“I may leave the duchy—but I will always protect you.”

“Good. Make sure to visit often.”

Amelia pulled her into one last embrace.

At the time, she had only thought of it as a heartfelt farewell.

She had no idea that, just a few years later, Vanessa would rise to become the leader of Aretist—and establish the Amelia Knights in Diane’s territory.