The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 26

Berdo stared at me with a stunned expression, as if the thought had never crossed his mind. After a long, silent pause, he finally spoke.

“Then Lady Diane, are you saying… you love that monster, I mean, Kylian Chailled?”

He looked as though he couldn’t fathom such an idea being possible.

Already fed up with the crown prince standing before me, I felt an irrepressible urge to rattle him. I replied with a voice dripping with intensity.

“Yes, I do.”

“R-really…?”

“Yes. He is precious to me.”

In the daylight or the night, a truly breathtaking man was rare, and Kyle, scarred as he was, made me want to soothe him.
Kyle seemed to rule over everyone under his command, but in truth, there wasn’t a single person he could truly call his ally.

Even the second brother he had trusted, and that insufferable crown prince before me, saw him only as a tool.
So, at least for now, I decided I would be on his side. Tending to the wounded in any way possible was the responsibility of an adult.

If I worked hard enough to instill in him that peace was supreme, maybe he wouldn’t start a war.

“If you’re done with your questions, may I take my leave now?”
I asked with clear precision, and Berdo nodded dumbly.

“Don’t bother paying. I’ll be staying for more cake.”

＊＊＊

That night, Kylian Chailled lay on the plush bed in the Chailled Duke’s estate, unable to sleep.

His heart was racing abnormally fast. He felt feverish. There was no Amel here to touch his forehead and check for heat.
“Amelia Diane.”

Kyle whispered the name of his fiancée softly, then poured himself a glass of whiskey and sat on the window ledge. Even that didn’t settle the turmoil in his mind or the fire in his chest.

It was no wonder. He’d seen and heard that scene.
Earlier today, Kyle had gone to the palace under the guise of checking on the crown prince’s dubious suffering and pain.
He’d verified beforehand that Berdo had no prior engagements. The prince was not in the palace.

Kyle, upon inquiry with the palace guards, had learned of the prince’s whereabouts and recalled a café Berdo had casually mentioned once.

“To the café, then.”

Upon hearing his master’s command, the Chailled coachman adeptly maneuvered the horses. With the rhythmic clatter of hooves and the gentle sway of the carriage, Kyle’s thoughts naturally drifted to his fiancée.

‘I wonder what she’s doing right now.’

With his chin propped up, he imagined Amelia, serene and lively at the Diane estate.

The thought gnawed at him that he was far from his fiancée, while Amelia seemed to be living unfazed and robust as always.
He desperately wanted to show up at the Diane estate unannounced under the flimsiest pretext, like a day of nice weather. But he couldn’t.

‘The Diane Count…’

Kyle vividly remembered. It was just a moment, but the count’s eyes had looked at him as if he were a thief.

One thing both How to Build a Happy Home and 19 Pieces of Advice for Husbands Who Love Their Wives strongly advocated was:
If you truly love your wife, maintaining a good relationship with her family, especially your father-in-law, is essential. This will make your wife naturally feel your love.

Following this wisdom, Kyle had been sending gifts to the Diane estate daily, but the effect seemed minimal.

He sighed, but the memory of Amelia brought a soft smile to his lips.

‘I need to finish the Amelia Lake soon so I have an excuse to visit.’

Taking Lady Clare’s advice, he had even purchased a hundred white ducks and picnic supplies in all colors.

All he needed was Amelia at the serene lake in the duchy’s garden to complete the scene.

‘In three weeks, the formal investigation will be over, and we can have our engagement ceremony.’

Kyle was savoring the delightful thought, allowing a moment’s relief when it happened.

―Clatter!

“What in the—?”

The carriage rocked sharply, and the coachman’s flustered voice rang out. The horses whinnied, agitated by something they’d spotted.

Moments later, the coachman’s face appeared, stunned as if he’d seen a unicorn.

“Your Grace…!”

“What is it?”

“It’s… it’s the lady!”

“…!”

Kyle immediately opened the door and saw Amelia ascending the café steps. It was indeed her.

“…”

Just the sight of her made his heart tighten. It had only been a week apart, but it felt like an eternity.

Even the white horse of Chailled, the coachman, and Hild, who had been sharing the carriage, were glowing with pride at seeing their lady.

The whole of Chailled was undoubtedly enchanted by Amelia Diane.

“I’ll be just a moment.”

Kyle changed into a casual jacket more suited to a common gentleman and strode to the café.

As he climbed the steps, a thought struck him. This was a personal engagement, and if he intruded, she might feel uncomfortable.

However, a quick glance showed that the man she was with, hidden under a hood, was undoubtedly Berdo.

‘Why is she alone with Berdo…?’

Kyle was already so close that only a wall separated him from Amelia. He hesitated, caught between revealing himself or staying out of sight.

“Ah, I see now. I missed the most obvious answer. Lady Amelia Diane, you’re approaching that monster for Chailled’s wealth, aren’t you?”

Berdo’s voice questioned her, and Kyle heard every word.
Anger? Of course. Even the coldest duke could be incensed; he was still human.

But a different fear overshadowed that anger—the fear that she might agree with Berdo.

If she said she approached him for money, he wouldn’t mind. She’d already told him as much. But agreeing to the word “monster”…

“…”

Kyle took a step back, quietly rising so as not to be seen. He wasn’t ready to hear her answer.

But then.

“Your Highness, if I may speak. Kylian Chailled is not just wealth or property; he’s a person. He has emotions and feels pain. To think of him as a wealthy monster is wrong.”
It was undoubtedly Amelia’s voice. It was so clear and graceful that there was no mistaking it.

Kyle’s legs gave way, and he sank back into his seat. A strange warmth began to spread from his chest throughout his body.
Unaware, Berdo and Amelia continued their conversation.
“So, Lady Diane, are you saying… you love that monster, I mean, Kylian Chailled?”

“Yes.”

“R-really…?”

“Yes. He’s precious to me.”

And with that, Amelia rose from her seat and left the café.
As Kyle recounted the events at the café, he leaned his head against the window frame, trying to cool his flushed face.
‘…All this time, she never acknowledged my love.’
He knew Berdo saw him as a walking wallet. Hearing it directly stung more than he’d expected.

But Amelia’s words overshadowed all the pain.

Precious, she’d said. And she hadn’t denied the love.

‘She… she loves me.’

It felt as though he were wrapped in a cocoon of warmth, unable to stay still as his heart beat fiercely.

―Clink!

Setting his glass on the window sill, Kyle grabbed his coat and headed out. The head butler, Hild, watched him with a knowing look.

“Hild. Prepare the carriage to go to the Diane estate.”
“Understood, Your Grace.”

The Duke of Chailled who had returned from the café, blushing like a young boy, was ready to head out again.
Everyone in Chailled knew the usually cold-blooded master would be visiting the Diane estate tonight.

Preparations were swift. Kyle boarded the carriage with light steps.

The night was cold and the moon glowed a deep blue, but the chilly breeze and the moonlight did nothing to cool his ardent heart.

All the way to the Diane estate, Kyle kept repeating his silent vow: he wouldn’t be intrusive. He just wanted to see that Amelia was asleep safely. Just a glance at her window.

“…”

Yet, deep down, he hoped she would still be awake, even though he knew she was a sound sleeper.

Even the mere sight of her shadow in the window would be enough. At least, that’s what he told himself, knowing full well it wasn’t true.

If he saw her, he’d want to hold her. If he held her, he’d want to tell her he loved her.

Kylian Chailled had always trusted in his self-control. He believed he could resist any temptation.

But when it came to Amelia Diane, he could only restrain himself if she asked him to.

And he knew why. He wanted to be loved by her. He would do anything to have that love for himself.

He had never been this desperate for anything before.
He wanted her gaze on him. So desperately, and always.

“Your Grace. We’ve arrived.”

The carriage halted smoothly. Kyle found himself unable to move. It was unlike him to hesitate, but Hild offered a knowing smile.

“Your Grace, if Lady Diane offers you tea, do not refuse.”

“…Tea?”

“It was said that Sir Perch Diane captured the current Countess Diane’s heart with a simple question. Have you heard of it?”
‘Would you like to come in for tea?’ was a well-known, playful quip among knights of the Empire, but Kyle barely reacted.

“I haven’t.”

Tea? Amelia inviting him for tea? The scene seemed impossible, and yet he couldn’t help but smile.

Kyle stepped back from the carriage, careful not to be seen by any neighbors who might stir gossip, and walked cautiously to the entrance of the Diane estate.

He had visited before, so he knew where Amelia’s room was.
‘Is she still awake?’

The soft glow of orange light shone through the closed window, likely from a candle or a lamp. Kyle’s eyes drank in the peaceful sight of her room, narrowing slightly.

‘…Amelia?’

It was just for a moment, but his fiancée peeked at him. Kyle raised his hand eagerly to wave.

“…”

Amelia quickly retreated, and the warm glow of orange disappeared with her. The night settled into silence as a bitter thought entered his mind.

Perhaps she didn’t want to see him, pretending not to notice him at all.

The ecstasy in his heart sank to an ache. It felt like the time his second brother had come with a blade and stabbed him near the hip.

It hurt.

Kyle had learned that emotions didn’t just float between highs and lows. They could crash from the peak into a bottomless pit.

“…”

It wasn’t fair to call this learning, especially when it hurt this much.

Kyle resolved to act differently. It had been foolish to come uninvited. He could pretend he hadn’t seen her disappearing act.
If he ignored it, she would behave the same as always. She might never say she loved him outright, but she wouldn’t say she disliked him either.

That would be enough.

As he turned back to the carriage, a familiar voice whispered through the air.

“Kyle!”

The small voice was soft, like an affectionate murmur. He turned sharply.

There she was, in her indoor slippers and sleepwear, smiling brightly. A ring on her finger glimmered in the moonlight.

“…Amelia. You’re still awake?”

He moved to her quickly, verifying she was real before loosening his coat and wrapping her in it.

“I couldn’t sleep without you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you to come in earlier. My parents are asleep downstairs, so it took me a while to climb down the ladder from the other window.”

Amelia snuggled into his coat, feeling his strong arms around her as she looked up. But something was off.

His eyes and cheeks were flushed, and under the glimmer of his vivid, jewel-like red eyes, she saw them glisten as if wet. Too wistful for the cold night air.

“Kyle? Are you… crying?”

“…”

Without answering, Kyle held her tightly.

Just seeing her and meeting her eyes made him deliriously happy. The heat brimming at the corners of his eyes felt more like love than tears.

Amelia, watching Kyle, who smiled with tearful eyes, had another thought entirely.

‘Oh no, he must be freezing. But… wow, a handsome man crying is really something else.’

She cupped his cheek, sharing her warmth, noticing how cold his skin was. She couldn’t help but speak.

“Kyle, would you like to come in for some tea?”