The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 113

The grand wedding between Chaeild and Diane was now just a day away.

After a final check of the venue at Diane’s estate, Kyle and Amelia rode back to the Chaeild Duchy together in a carriage.

Amelia was giddy with excitement, but Kyle’s expression was far from cheerful.

It was all because of a certain Diane family tradition he had only recently learned about.

“Why… why does the Diane family have a tradition of the bride staying at her childhood home the night before the wedding?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t even know when it started.”

Amelia giggled, trying to soothe Kyle’s absolute devastation.

So this was why he had been in such a gloomy mood all day.

Apparently, according to Chaeild’s customs, the night before the wedding was meant to serve as “a rehearsal for the wedding night.”

A ridiculous claim, but one Kyle had been fervently pushing—only to be completely shut down by Count Diane.

“Why do men try to invent new family traditions overnight?”

Since the Count had been completely unwavering, Kyle had no choice but to concede.

Tonight, he would be separated from Amelia.

“Why is such a disaster happening the night before my wedding?”

“Does my father-in-law hate me?”

“How does he expect me to stay apart from her?”

“…I’ll just have to make up for it on our wedding night.”

Kyle, lost in thought, failed to realize that his entire internal monologue was being broadcast directly into Amelia’s mind.

Unaware of this, he firmed his resolve.

Once she’s officially Amelia Chaeild, I win this battle with my father-in-law.

Kyle’s optimistic thinking—reserved only for Amelia-related matters—kicked in.

Surely, he could endure one night apart.

“But why aren’t you heading straight to Diane’s estate?”

“I need to stop by Chaeild first—to pack my things and also…”

Amelia grinned.

“To give you your present.”

A gift ceremony, at last.

It wasn’t the gift he really wanted, but receiving anything from her always made him happy.

After arriving at the Chaeild estate, they strolled towards Amelia Lake, a scenic highlight of the duchy.

It was a beautiful day, the sky dotted with fluffy clouds.

As they neared the lake, Kyle immediately noticed something unusual.

The once mirror-like water now had an island.

A tiny island with a small wooden cottage, covered in bright yellow flowers—as if someone had transplanted a countryside home onto the lake.

The setting was peaceful yet oddly incomplete.

When the sky was blue, the island blended in beautifully.

But when the clouds reflected on the lake, turning the water milky white, the yellow island looked exactly like the yolk of a fried egg.

“Ta-da! This is your gift! I even named it Kylean Island! Cute, right?”

She beamed with excitement, but Kyle’s response was… silent.

Seeing his utter stillness, Amelia grew anxious and hurried to explain.

“You can commission artificial islands as part of landscape design, you know! I’m still a novice at this, so it turned out looking like an egg yolk…”

“…”

“A-And there’s a boat! You can actually go inside the cottage! I even furnished it… We can visit together sometime, okay?”

Kyle had never been the type to jump for joy, but his reaction was even more muted than expected.

“Does he think I ruined the lake?” Amelia worried.

Feeling self-conscious, she gently grabbed his hand—only to jerk away in shock.

His thoughts were pouring out like a torrential downpour.

“When did she plan such an adorable thing? Why did no one report this to me?”

“Have my servants been bribed?”

“I should give them a bonus for keeping such a delightful secret.”

“Wait… Kylean Island? That’s my name.”

“Why is the island yellow? Is it a reference to the chick embroidery on that handkerchief?”

“If that’s the case, then… the island’s purpose must be…”

Amelia wanted to clarify that there was nothing lewd about this gift—

That she had simply liked the sunflowers and golden reeds that day.

But before she could say anything—

Kyle was beaming.

A dazzling, deeply satisfied smile—one of the expressions Amelia feared most.

“Amelia, thank you for the gift. I’ll make sure to use it… exactly as intended.”

Amelia opened her mouth to protest—then closed it again.

Given all the times he had been shameless, there was no way he would believe her.

“At least he likes the island,” she consoled herself.

Even if the meaning of the gift had been completely misinterpreted, at least her feelings had been conveyed.

…And honestly, she didn’t really mind his interpretation either.

“Of course. That’s how it should be.”

She grinned and wrapped her arms around him.

The warm embrace lingered under the golden sunlight.

Later that evening, Kyle sat in his office, attempting to focus on work.

It was a losing battle.

“I wonder if Amelia’s doing okay…”

Was this separation anxiety?

It was just one night apart, yet it felt like a limb had been cut off.

Seeking some comfort, Kyle opened his desk drawer and reached behind his stash of “magical candies.”

His fingers found a small wooden figurine.

Pressing the button on its nose, a recorded message played:

“I am the betrothed of Duke Chaeild, a member of the Chaeild family. We are bound by love.”

Her voice was sickeningly sweet.

Kyle replayed it over ten times—each time making him miss her even more.

Seeing his master wilting, his faithful butler, Hild, spoke up.

“Your Grace, your fiancée must be suffering just as much right now.”

“Why does the Diane family even have such a ridiculous custom? Is there any historical record of it?”

“A… custom?”

Hild blinked in confusion.

It seemed like he had no idea what Kyle was talking about.

“I was told it’s tradition for the bride to spend the night before the wedding at her childhood home.”

“Your Grace… The Diane Count and Countess are famous for having spent the entire night before their wedding at a royal banquet together.”

“Then…?”

“This ‘tradition’ is completely fabricated.”

Boom.

Kyle felt like a bomb had just exploded in his mind.

The sinister smirk of his father-in-law flashed in his head like an inflating balloon—before popping spectacularly.

“If it’s not a real tradition, then surely… a short visit wouldn’t hurt.”

At this point, Kyle had given up trying to maintain any dignity in front of his father-in-law.

“Prepare the carriage. I’m leaving now.”

“It’s already ready. You may head down.”

Hild, having grown wise to Kyle’s ways, had anticipated this long before it happened.

Kyle raced down the stairs, two steps at a time.

Chaeild’s white horses galloped like racehorses.

The wind stung his eyes—or maybe, just maybe, he was about to cry.

“I just want to see her.”

The thought that after tonight, they would never have to be apart again made his chest ache.

As the Diane estate came into view, that feeling only intensified.

But just as he was about to jump from the carriage—

Kyle froze.

His gaze locked onto a hooded figure lurking outside the estate.

The man was peering through the windows.

Kyle’s expression turned ice cold.

His eyes scanned for a weapon.

There was only one thing within reach.

And he would make it count.

“Hand that over.”

Kyle took the whip from the coachman and silently stepped off the carriage.

His eyes gleamed with deadly intent.

Meanwhile, inside the estate, Amelia was wearing a rather awkward smile.

This was a time when she should have been embracing her father, sharing sentimental words, and savoring their last night together before her wedding.

Yet, Count Diane kept avoiding her.

Unable to watch any longer, the Countess walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Really, dear? Tomorrow, Amelia’s last name will change, and you’re just going to keep avoiding her? You should cherish these final moments together.”

“Ahem… ahem…”

“And what’s this? Where did you even find that newspaper—oh my! Are you crying?”

Amelia’s eyes widened, startled.

Her father sat hunched over a completely unreadable, tear-soaked newspaper.

She had thought she had already seen him at his weakest back when she was kidnapped in Traiha.

But now, his puffy, sausage-like eyes suggested otherwise.

“Oh my goodness… No wonder you wouldn’t look me in the eye! Father, how long have you been crying?”

Perhaps in an attempt to salvage his dignity, Count Diane began reading aloud from the completely upside-down newspaper.

Peering over his shoulder, Amelia noted the date.

It was a week-old edition of the Hail Times.

“Father… what article are you reading?”

“Hail’s trade companies have been performing well in Traiha. The nation’s instability has led to a surge in consumer hoarding.”

Amelia suppressed her laughter.

He was grasping at straws to avoid discussing his true feelings.

“And…?”

“The merchants are making substantial profits, and Ch-Ch-Chaeild is—”

Sniff!

Unable to continue, Persche Diane completely broke down, sobbing over the newspaper.

Amelia gently patted his back.

“You’re this sad, and yet you kept avoiding me?”

“My little Amelia… It feels like just yesterday I held you in my arms for the first time. But I made you suffer because of my reckless debts…”

“I’m not being sold off, Father. I’m marrying someone I love. Shouldn’t that make you happy?”

Even as she spoke, Amelia’s own eyes began to well up.

She thought of the people who had embraced her with love when she had first arrived in this strange world.

Their home hadn’t been wealthy, but their love had been abundant.

Without them, she wouldn’t be who she was today.

“Thank you… for everything.”

“My sweet Amelia…”

“Come here, dear. Your mother wants a hug too.”

Tears of happiness drenched the Diane estate.

Yet, the warm and sentimental atmosphere didn’t last long.

“M-Master! There’s a young man wielding a whip facing off against a hooded stranger at the front gate!”

“…What?”

The three of them rushed to the entrance.

And sure enough, the scene was exactly as described.

A whip-wielding young man stood opposite a cloaked figure.

And considering the young man was none other than her groom-to-be, it was all the more concerning.

Still trying to process the situation, Amelia spoke up first.

“K-Kyle?! What are you doing here?”

“This suspicious man was loitering near the windows. He kept glancing inside, so I detained him.”

The servants nodded in agreement.

The cloaked man had indeed been acting suspiciously.

Count Diane stepped forward and yanked off the man’s hood.

“I feel like I’ve seen this face before…”

His expression hardened.

“Regardless, you were peering into my home. I won’t let this slide so easily.”

“W-Wait! Persche! It’s me—Meriet!”

The restrained man struggled against Kyle’s whip, desperately trying to explain himself.

Persche Diane’s eyes widened in recognition.

“You… Why are you here? No—how are you here?”

“I was too late. I’m sorry.”

Amelia, confused, turned to her mother.

“Mother, do you know this Meriet person?”

“Of course, dear. He was one of your father’s friends… The one who ran off after his business failed—leaving your father with his debts.”

“Wait. This is that guy?!”

Amelia’s temper flared.

She had so much to say.

But then she glanced at Kyle’s expression.

It was… odd.

“Meriet Fields… He’s the president of the Merifield Trading Company.”

“I recall he made the largest profits from the Traiha trade expansion.”

“…I should pretend I didn’t recognize him at first.”

Kyle had just realized exactly who he had restrained.

Merifield Trading was a massively profitable business, even Amelia had heard about its success.

Which could only mean…

“I was too late. I’m sorry.”

“I’ll repay you—every coin. With interest.”

Everyone in the Diane estate froze.

They had dreamed of this moment for so long.

The end of the crushing debt.

Their relief was so overwhelming that they could only blink in shock for several moments.

The weight of the past years suddenly lifted.

Count and Countess Diane embraced Amelia.

Kyle watched them, his heart stirring.

The scene was eerily familiar—like the day he had seen them outside the Chaeild Bank.

A warm, sunlit shelter of love and family—something he himself had never known.

“…I’m glad it ended well.”

For a moment, Kyle merely stood back and watched.

But then—

Amelia grabbed him and pulled him close.

Before he could even react, she threw her arms around him.

“I love you. This wouldn’t have happened without you.”

“…”

“Kyle? What’s wrong?”

“…I don’t know if I should be celebrating.”

“Of course, you should! You’re my family too, aren’t you?”

Kyle stared at her.

Then, without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her tighter.

Years ago, outside the Chaeild Bank, he had longed for this moment.

And now, he was here.

“Kyle?”

“…Amelia, I love you.”

For the first time, Kyle stood inside the warm embrace he had always envied from a distance.

And he smiled—a truly content smile.