The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 94

Meanwhile, at the imperial palace of Traiha, Enoch’s bloodshot eyes scanned the letter once more. His grip tightened as he struggled to suppress his fury, his teeth grinding audibly. Leocis II, watching his son’s barely contained rage, spoke in a calm yet firm tone.

“Enoch, do not let your anger consume you. Losing your temper will not improve the situation.”

“But, Father, you know better than anyone who in this palace would dare to shelter Marabas Rydell.”

“The Duke’s demand is clear—he wants Marabas and the old woman found and handed over to the Principality. Stay composed.”

“But…!”

Enoch clenched the edge of his desk so tightly it seemed as if he might shatter it. The letter that now troubled both the emperor and crown prince had arrived from Chaield.

It was an official report stating that the beasts that appeared on the day of the Heil Empire’s Royal Lily Medal Ceremony had been controlled by Marabas Rydell through alchemy.

That, in itself, wasn’t a significant issue. Marabas was no longer a Royal Alchemist of Traiha.

However, the report also presented undeniable evidence that Marabas was currently hiding somewhere within the imperial palace. That was the real problem.

If they failed to refute this claim, it would be equivalent to admitting that the imperial palace had indeed harbored a fugitive and interfered with the fiancée of one of their key trade partners, Chaield.

As a result, from the moment the letter arrived last night, the palace had been in utter chaos, overturning every corner in search of a single rat.

“Father, you should rest. I must visit Ithar once more.”

“Do not push him too hard.”

Enoch ignored the emperor’s warning and strode toward Ithar’s quarters. The scene that greeted him was a mess—drawers left open, wardrobes ransacked. It looked as if a thief had broken in.

“What brings Your Highness to my residence?” Ithar asked, his tone cool and unwavering.

“Ithar, confess where Marabas is hiding, and I will spare you from punishment.”

“I have already told you multiple times—I severed ties with him after Iana’s death.”

Enoch clenched his jaw so hard it was audible, but Ithar remained unshaken. Chaield’s intelligence division had used magical artifacts to confirm that Marabas was somewhere in the palace.

But they hadn’t determined where exactly he was staying or whom he had been in contact with. Without reading Ithar’s mind, any collaboration between him and Marabas would remain a secret.

“Ithar, if you refuse to speak, this country will be thrown into turmoil. You are well aware of Chaield’s strength. Have you lost your mind now that your sister’s memorial is approaching?”

“You have no right to speak of her death. If you’ve finished your threats, Your Highness should return to playing the dignified crown prince.”

“Ithar, enough. Do you think you’re the only one who has suffered?”

“At the very least, I, who lost my sibling, am more unfortunate than you.”

Their gazes clashed, the air between them turning frigid. Just then, a knight from Traiha rushed in and bowed before Enoch.

“Your Highness, we have found Marabas Rydell. His body was discovered in the palace garden, hidden among the shrubs.”

“…His body?”

Enoch instinctively turned to look at Ithar. If Ithar was truly uninvolved, he would have shown some reaction. But his expression remained utterly unreadable.

“And the old woman? Did you find the one the duke mentioned?”

“No, Your Highness. We could not find any elderly woman matching the portrait.”

“…I understand. I will go there shortly.”

Once the knight departed, a cold tension settled between the two brothers. Ithar lightly patted Enoch’s shoulder—a gesture he rarely made.

The unusual act made Enoch frown.

“Stop entertaining baseless suspicions and focus on your diplomatic visit to the Heil Empire. It seems to be a crucial time for foreign relations.”

“…That sounded as if you plan to do something in my absence.”

Enoch shot him a final glare before turning away. Only then did Ithar allow himself to lean back into his chair.

‘Chaield’s intelligence division moved faster than I expected. I had a bad feeling ever since they began acquiring numerous estates in the outskirts.’

He had heard rumors that they were recruiting alchemists en masse, but he hadn’t anticipated such an aggressive approach. It seemed the ‘Monstrous Duke’ was truly trying to protect something.

‘And he doesn’t even realize that what she truly desires is the wealth I’m sitting on.’

Ithar mused that those bound by the chains of inheritance were all equally pitiful.

＊＊＊

At the Heil Times building, Kyle suddenly appeared out of nowhere and pulled me into an embrace. I sucked in a sharp breath.

What on earth was going on?

‘How is Kyle here? Wait, how did he even recognize me when I’m wearing a cloak? Did he hear everything?’

The second question had an easy answer. I had sensed someone watching from the entrance—and there was Vanessa, peeking in with only her head visible.

Her pockets were bulging. Judging by their rectangular shape, they were either stuffed with wads of cash or gold bars.

Seriously, what did Kyle carry around on a daily basis?

Meanwhile, the cafeteria staff, who had been engaging me in casual conversation moments ago, whispered in admiration.

“So she wasn’t exaggerating about her husband…”

“Miss, you should head inside.”

“Would you like your coffee to go? Four cups, perhaps?”

Of course, Kyle had removed his hood, revealing his face. Though he had made a half-hearted attempt to mess up his hair to disguise himself, it was laughable. No one recognized the Duke of Chaield.

Instead, all they saw was a man with a straight, aristocratic nose and a smile that could melt ice. The only thought running through their minds was: Forget everything else—young men are the best.

“H-How did you get here?” I asked.

“I missed you, so I walked… and somehow ended up here,” Kyle replied shamelessly.

The audacity of this man.

After discreetly instructing Vanessa to handle my order, Kyle scooped me up effortlessly, slinging me over his shoulder.

I thrashed wildly, demanding to be put down, but he ignored me completely. His expression had stiffened ever so slightly, and instinctively, my tail drooped.

Like a fish flailing on land, I squirmed until I locked eyes with Mr. Pringles—the owner of the Heil Times.

His jaw had practically hit the floor. He looked as if he had just witnessed the parting of the Red Sea.

I reached out to get a read on his thoughts.

“T-Then… Miss Ann Smith… is actually… Countess Diane?”

“Good heavens… I always thought she was unusual, but…”

Mr. Pringles stood frozen, staring blankly as Kyle carried me to the carriage. He must have been in complete shock.

Throughout the ride back to the duke’s estate, Kyle held me tightly without saying a word. If I could read his mind, I might have felt a little less uneasy, but the moment we got into the carriage, he took away my engagement ring.

Feeling like an inconvenient piece of luggage, I remained in his arms all the way to the estate. It wasn’t until we reached the corridor leading to his room that I was finally allowed to stand on my own two feet.

“K-Kyle, can we talk this out? I’m sorry for keeping things from you,” I blurted out.

“We can talk… slowly, starting tomorrow morning.”

“No, wait, that sounded way too romantic—! No, I mean it. I’m really sorry.”

“Why did you say those things earlier?”

Damn. He must have heard everything I said. From his perspective, that conversation would have been enough to make anyone upset.

I clasped my hands together and bowed my head in an earnest apology. Kyle, however, set me down and leaned me against the wall.

He was much taller than me, and as he looked down, I instinctively averted my gaze and hesitantly spoke.

“Kyle, I’m really sorry. If it would make you feel better, I’ll do whatev—”

“Why do you only call me ‘husband’ when you’re bragging to others?”

“…Huh?”

“You’ve never once called me that in front of me.”

I quickly lifted my head, only to see his flushed cheeks and reddened ears. His face was so genuinely overjoyed that even my heart tingled at the sight.

“When you talked about your ‘young husband,’ you were referring to me, right?”

“Who else would I be talking about? You didn’t get some weird idea from a book title or something, did you?”

“……”

“I swear, stop doubting my love—wait, no, I guess I did do something to deserve your doubt. I’m sorry. But, Kyle, when you’re in front of me, I don’t see anyone else. If anything, I’m the one who’s afraid.”

His gaze grew more intense. In the blink of an eye, Kyle pulled off the cloak I had tightly wrapped around me and tossed it to the floor before kissing me.

If there was one thing my fiancé excelled at, it was executing things precisely as he learned them. Kyle kissed me gently, as if savoring each breath, his lips brushing mine in a way that left me clinging to his cloak’s collar.

What drove me insane was how he’d kiss me breathless and then grin like he was the happiest man alive.

Seating me on his lap, Kyle hugged me tightly and whispered against my ear.

“No one can read your thoughts right now, so I’d rather you say it out loud.”

“…You’re not going to ask why I went to Heil Times?”

“I’m not obsessive enough to doubt my wife’s every move. I’m not some paranoid maniac.”

“Says the guy who followed me to Heil Times. Who would believe that?”

“Ann Smith might.”

My heart nearly stopped. Was this what spies felt like when their cover was blown? I blinked, completely at a loss for words, while Kyle chuckled and intertwined our fingers.

“I only knew that she was favorable to Chaield. I didn’t realize she was my fiancée.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I hope you know exactly what you’re apologizing for.”

His crimson eyes locked onto mine, burning with intensity.

“Tell me that you feel guilty because you kept a secret from the man you’re about to marry. That you regret hiding something from your husband.”

“……”

“I want to hear you say that I’m the only one you’ll spend the rest of your life with.”

I cupped his face with both hands. He was so utterly devoted to being loved that even this side of him was endearing. At this point, I had no choice.

If this man was destined for ruin, then I would go down with him. I couldn’t live a single day without him. Even in the moments I spent alone, I needed Kyle.

“I love you. Truly. No matter what sinister, ominous things you do, I don’t want to let you go.”

“……”

“…You weren’t expecting me to say that? Why do you look so surprised?”

For someone who had whispered I love you to me like breathing, he seemed strangely flustered now that he was hearing it himself. Or maybe he simply couldn’t believe it.

Kyle lifted me off his lap and gently laid me down beside him. We had lain together countless times before, but something about this moment felt different.

As he slowly leaned over me, his movements were smooth, natural—sending my heart racing.

“Stop smiling like that. If you keep smiling, my chest is going to ache until I go crazy.”

“If this were before, your legs would have been scrambling to run away. But now, you’re wrapping them around my waist instead.”

Kyle pressed a brief kiss to my lips before adding in a voice dripping with mischief:

“I really want to test if you’d still love me no matter what ‘sinister’ things I do.”

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