The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 119 (Side Story 3)

Upon hearing that Owen Zhang had agreed to work with Chaeild, Kyle eagerly awaited his arrival.

“Haild. Is he here yet?”

“The carriage just passed through the front gate. It should be about thirty more minutes.”

Kyle was about to grumble about how unnecessarily large the Chaeild estate was—but then he changed his mind. His wife loved the grand and sprawling Chaeild mansion.

Soon, Owen and the other physicians arrived at Kyle’s office. The doors were firmly shut, as if discussing matters of national security. Only those who had devoted their lives to Chaeild remained in the room.

“Owen Zhang. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I summoned you because there is something I need to confirm. Naturally, this matter must be kept absolutely confidential.”

The Duke of Chaeild’s voice carried both respect and undeniable authority. Owen swallowed hard and nodded.

Kyle glanced at Haild, Paul, and Owen in turn before carefully choosing his words. Now that he was actually saying them aloud, he felt an overwhelming rush of emotions.

“…I need you to determine if my wife is pregnant. Without her knowledge.”

“……!”

It was no surprise that the room fell into stunned silence.

Each of them immediately envisioned Lady Amel holding a baby in her arms and instinctively covered their mouths.

Haild mentally cursed the servants for failing to notice the signs sooner, while Paul immediately began planning how to analyze her nutritional needs and relay the information to the head chef.

“It’s not confirmed yet.”

Even as Kyle said this, his voice was laced with undeniable excitement.

Owen nodded solemnly.

With that, another secret operation had begun within Chaeild—following the Operation Love & Peace, now came Operation Secret Pregnancy Test.

＊＊＊

“Kyle. Sorry, but can I take a quick nap? I’ve been feeling so sleepy lately…”

“Of course, Sister.”

Kyle pressed a light kiss to her lips and tucked her in.

His wife, who had been sleeping more than usual, quickly drifted into a deep slumber.

‘Finally, she’s asleep.’

With determined hands, Kyle pulled a spool of thread from his pocket.

Tying the nearly invisible, gossamer-thin thread around her wrist was an easy task.

He still had his doubts—could something as simple as a thread really transmit a pulse accurately enough to determine pregnancy?

But there was nothing to lose.

Carefully loosening the thread, he slipped out of the room and into the adjacent chamber, where Haild, Paul, and Owen were waiting with bated breath.

Kyle handed the end of the thread to Owen.

“I need absolute concentration.”

Owen sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began gently tugging and releasing the thread.

Everyone’s throats went dry as they watched in silence.

Especially Kyle—his stomach was twisted in knots.

It felt as if Owen wasn’t just holding a thread but his very lifeline.

After what felt like an eternity, Owen let out a slow breath and met Kyle’s gaze.

“Your Grace. Congratulations.”

“……!”

“Lady Amel is in the early stages of pregnancy. I can feel the baby’s pulse quite clearly.”

“…A baby.”

Kyle was momentarily speechless, his mind blank.

A dizzying wave of happiness surged through him, making his eyes burn hot.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. And both mother and child appear to be in excellent health. However, you must be especially careful during the early stages.”

He had no time to hold back. His vision blurred as his chest swelled with emotion.

Desperate to avoid showing such an unsightly display in front of his subordinates, Kyle hurriedly stepped out of the room.

His footsteps were light, as if he could float into the air at any moment.

“……”

“……”

The only problem?

He just so happened to run into Lady Claire.

Claire was at a complete loss for words as she stared at Kyle—who, for once, looked completely unhinged.

The normally composed Duke of Chaeild stood before her, torn between grinning like a fool and bursting into tears.

“…Did something happen to Amel?”

“……”

Kyle caught sight of Claire’s usual cold, detached gaze and slowly regained his composure.

I feel like I’m going to lose my mind with joy.

I want to kneel by her bedside right this second and kiss her hands.

But what about Amel?

If she didn’t want this child… would she look at me with those same emotionless eyes?

A sudden heaviness settled over his limbs.

Meanwhile, Claire surveyed the scene, piecing together the situation.

A long thread trailing from Amel’s room.

The presence of Paul Remian and several medical professionals.

Haild, the steward of Chaeild, standing stiff as a board.

And most of all—the Duke of Chaeild, who had been bouncing off the walls just moments ago, now suddenly looking like a wilted flower.

The answer was clear.

“…Amel is pregnant?”

There was no fooling Claire Chaeild—she had survived thus far on her sharp wit and keen intuition alone.

Kyle, knowing this, nodded without resistance.

But Claire found his reaction a bit odd.

“Then why did you stop celebrating? Didn’t Your Grace always want Amel to have a child?”

“…If she doesn’t want this child, I don’t know what to do.”

His voice was raw with emotion, exposing the depth of his turmoil. The dark circles under his eyes told her he had agonized over this all night.

But Claire didn’t understand.

Why does he think Amel wouldn’t want the baby?

She recalled past conversations with Amel and quickly pieced together the likely cause of his worry.

How amusing.

She considered telling him to stop fretting and go deliver the good news to Amel already.

But then, a certain memory came to mind.

“Sister, I’m sorry. I went to bed late last night…”

“I apologize. Kyle came home early, and… I’ll definitely join the next tea time!”

“Claire, I feel terrible about this.”

Kylean Chaeild had completely monopolized Amel, keeping her away from Claire.

For weeks, Claire had sat alone at a tea table set for two.

I’d quite like to see the Duke of Chaeild suffer for once.

A perfectly pleasant yet utterly insincere smile graced her lips.

“Amel’s pregnancy? That is wonderful news for Chaeild.”

She spoke as if it weren’t necessarily good news for Amel herself.

Kyle, looking like a forlorn puppy on the verge of tears, could only watch as Claire sauntered past him.

Moments later, a strict order was issued to all the household staff:

No one was to breathe a word of the Duchess’s pregnancy until the Duke himself deemed the time appropriate.

＊＊＊

I felt oddly refreshed after my nap.

For the past few days, I’d been feeling sluggish—my stomach uneasy, though I wasn’t sick.

Stretching lightly, I opened my eyes to find Kyle staring at me.

His face looked haggard, as if he had been through something dreadful.

And his eyes—so unbearably tender.

Even when I used to constantly run away from him, he never looked at me like this.

It was almost as if he were pleading with me not to abandon him.

I couldn’t help but giggle.

“Kyle, why are you kneeling beside the bed like someone seeking absolution? Come up here.”

“……”

What was with that reaction?

His eyes glistened as if he had committed some great crime.

The way he looked—like a tragic prince who had just lost his kingdom—was ridiculously enticing.

“I can’t take it anymore. Come up here. Whatever you did, I’ll forgive you.”

I reached out to stroke his cheek, and as if entranced, he climbed onto the bed.

I kissed his jaw lightly and ran my hands over his smooth waist.

I assumed he wanted me just as much as I wanted him.

But instead of deepening the kiss, he pulled away and murmured something utterly unexpected.

“Sister, fresh ingredients have arrived today. It’s a bit early, but I think we should have a proper meal first. If you’d like, we can set up a table by Amelia Lake and dine there. Anywhere is fine—just, let’s eat first…”

His red eyes burned with determination—as if his sole mission in life now was to feed me.

Had he dreamt of me dying from malnutrition or something?

“I don’t feel like eating dinner. Maybe I overate yesterday? My stomach feels a little off.”

“…You don’t feel well?”

“I think it’s because I haven’t been active and have been sleeping too much lately… But honestly, I’m more interested in something else right now.”

Kyle stiffened.

His eyes—already red—darkened further, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed nervously.

So cute.

Reaching out, I traced my thumb over his lips, slowly dragging it along.

I teased his mouth, brushing his lower lip before moving to his cheek.

With every touch, he flinched, as if warning me that this should not be happening right now.

Before long, his back was pressed against the headboard.

“Oh no. Nowhere left to run. Why are you avoiding me today, hmm?”

“Sister, wait—mmmph.”

I silenced his words with my lips.

At first, he resisted, his mouth firmly shut.

But slowly, he yielded, responding tentatively.

Yet, despite kissing me back, his hands pushed against me as if to say we shouldn’t be doing this.

Oh?

This is unexpectedly thrilling.

I smirked.

Kyle tensed even more.

Deliberately, I kissed him harder, pushing past his lips.

As soon as my tongue brushed against his, he shoved me away entirely.

“…Not right now.”

Oh.

Oh my god.

Kylean Chaeild—eyes brimming with unshed tears—was begging me to let him go.

How…

Delightful.

“Then explain why, in a way I’ll understand.”

My voice dripped with mischief.

Kyle averted his gaze, clutching the blanket in his fists.

His reaction was so pure that it almost made me feel like I was committing some sort of sin.

“You like it, so why are you running away?”

“……”

“Kyle, do you know how bad you’re making me feel right now?”

“You should only be having pretty and happy thoughts right now…”

“I’m thinking about something else entirely.”

I leaned in close and whispered all the inappropriate things running through my mind.

Kyle turned beet red, his ears burning.

“Sister, please… Think more wholesomely…”

“When have we ever liked wholesome thoughts? What do you want, Kyle?”

I trailed my fingers over the veins in his forearm as I asked.

And his answer—

“A balanced, nutritious meal, followed by a pleasant evening stroll. Then, a warm bath separately, and finally, holding hands and getting a full night’s sleep.”

“……Huh?”

Was he serious?

Did he lose his libido the moment we hit our first wedding anniversary?

I suddenly felt like I was floating in space.

Support