The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 48

Marabas moved with hushed steps, closing the distance, and stood before Amel. A dagger, about the length of a forearm, slid from its sheath and cut through the air in a diagonal slash.
Clang!

Amel blocked his blade. The clash of metal echoed, and for a brief moment, she glimpsed the thoughts racing through his startled mind. Taking advantage of the opening, she struck.

“Marabas Lydel.”

“…!”

Unlike Marabas, who was unsettled by the revelation that she knew his identity, Amel remained composed, even finding a measure of ease in their confrontation.

He had harbored some expectations since Vanessa had chosen her over Aretiste. But Chiayeld’s fiancée exceeded them.
The once-dazed green eyes of the intruder sharpened with lethal intent the moment they met her gaze, as if she had predicted this encounter.

“Marabas Lydel. I had thought you might come to me someday, but I didn’t expect it to be in such a rude manner.”
“…How do you know who I am?”
Amel smirked at his bewildered tone. As if he’d believe me if I said I read about him in a book.

“Do I need to explain that? What business does the royal alchemist of the Tryha Empire have with me?”

“…”

“Oh, right. You’re just a mercenary for Aretiste now. Judging by your current state, I take it you’ve already met Vanessa.”
To Amel, Marabas’s thoughts were as clear as glass.

“Damn it. Who is this woman? How does she know all this?”
The fact that an ordinary noblewoman knew his identity greatly unsettled him, prompting him to draw his sword.
Clatter!

Feigning clumsiness, Amel intentionally knocked a glass bottle from the side table to the floor, shattering it. Her focus remained fixed on his blade.

Though she lacked the strength to match a trained man, her ability to read his mind meant she could avoid fatal blows. As she gripped her sword more firmly, hoping someone would respond to the sound of breaking glass, Marabas’s gaze flickered to her left hand.

His eyes widened as he instantly recognized the gem embedded in her engagement ring. An Aretite crystal.
A shiver ran down his spine. An unexpected find. Marabas’s gaze swept over the woman before him anew.

Her grip on her sword was unnervingly steady. She knew much and wielded that knowledge to sow chaos in his mind. Her delicate lips, as if adorned with rose petals, her smooth skin, and the faintly sweet scent emanating from her left him strangely captivated. For the second time in his life, hunger stirred within him.

“What’s your name, my lady?”
“There’s no need to share my name with an intruder.”
Amel knew that falling into his rhythm or losing the psychological battle would be tantamount to granting him victory in this confrontation.

Refusing to yield, she stared him down with the confidence of a knight. Marabas found himself unconsciously tracing the soft waves of her hair with his gaze.
“…Your name. If you tell me, I’ll leave for today.”
His eyes never left her. Amel, her expression calm yet tinged with annoyance, replied, “Why should I tell my name to an intruder?”

For a moment, it was as if Marabas forgot she had refused him. His gaze lingered on her softly moving lips, his heartbeat quickening as an odd headache crept in. Just as he frowned and prepared to swing his sword—
Bang!

“My lady! I’m coming in!”
“Are you alright, my lady?!”

With loud shouts, Chiayeld’s guards and knights burst into the room. Just as Amel had planned, they had been drawn by the sound of shattering glass.

“Amel!”

Leading the group was Kyle, who rushed to her side, anxiously assessing her condition. He waved his hand, surrounding her with Aretite’s protective energy. Marabas sensed the flow of the magic.
“Chiayeld’s Aretite… a shield.”
It meant killing her with a physical attack was now impossible. The situation was growing troublesome.

“Step away from my fiancée, intruder,” Kyle commanded.
“Chiayeld Duke. Come any closer, and I’ll jump out the window with your fiancée. Shield or not, abduction is still possible.”
“…”

Normally, Kyle would have ordered the man torn apart without hesitation. But with Amel standing so close to the intruder, he couldn’t act recklessly.
As Kyle glared at Marabas with murderous intent—
Thunk! Thunk!

Several small metal darts flew through the window, embedding themselves in Marabas’s shoulder. They were thick, poison-tipped needles.

“Bastard…! You think I chose to be a bodyguard to die? You dare strike me?”

The voice that followed was filled with rage. Vanessa, bl00d streaming from her side, had climbed through the window, her weapon still in hand.
Amel, startled, looked back and forth between Marabas and Vanessa, unable to decide what to do.
“Vanessa!”
“Lady Diane, quickly—go to the Duke of Chiayeld.”
“All right.”
Vanessa had thrown darts laced with a potent paralytic poison. The poison was strong enough to leave the target completely immobilized for several seconds but had a very short duration.
Marabas, struck by the poison, convulsed briefly before using his last bit of strength to shove Vanessa aside and leap out of the window.

Despite her injuries, Vanessa was one of the finest mercenaries in Aretiste. Moreover, the arrival of the Duke’s guards had placed Marabas at a disadvantage.

Unable to win, he chose to flee and escape through the window for now.
“That bastard!”

Swish!
Vanessa cursed as she hurled a dagger at Marabas, aiming for his shoulder.

With a shhk, the blade sank deep into his body, but Marabas used an alchemical potion he had prepared and disappeared from sight.
Vanessa was livid, practically shaking with rage. The situation was complicated, but more than anything, she couldn’t believe that Marabas, whom she had once considered a comrade, had betrayed her.

That he had deliberately diverted her attention and then used the opportunity to infiltrate the heart of the Duke’s manor… It was a near catastrophe.
“I worked so hard to earn this guard position, and now I’m probably getting fired because of that bastard. Damn it!”
Vanessa resolved to do her job for now. A ripped side was nothing for a top-tier mercenary like her.

As she examined Amel’s body, she let out a deep sigh of dismay.
“Good heavens… What did that intruder do to Lady Diane to leave her in such a state? She’s completely covered in marks!”
If she showed enough outrage over Amel’s injuries, she might win Kyle’s sympathy and at least secure severance pay. Of course, part of her exclamation was genuine—Amel’s body was indeed covered in red marks.

Vanessa picked up the sword Amel had dropped and spoke in a threatening tone.
“That intruder who left our lady in this state… I’ll hunt him down and—”
Amel, startled, quickly wrapped herself in a blanket and interjected.
“Vanessa! Don’t you think you should get treated and rest first? You’re injured!”

“How can I rest when that bastard left you in such a mess, my lady?!”
After a pause, Kyle cleared his throat awkwardly.
“…Vanessa. That was my doing.”
The atmosphere froze.

The Duke’s staff, as if receiving an unspoken order, collectively avoided looking at Amel and stared at the floor instead. Vanessa, equally embarrassed, coughed into her hand.
Kyle, now officially the culprit of Amel’s “injuries,” walked straight to her and checked her condition. Other than her face being flushed bright red, she appeared fine. With that settled, it was time to deal with the intruder.

“Haeld, assemble a pursuit team immediately. I want a full report on that man by tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Vanessa, it seems you’re familiar with the intruder. I need to speak with you privately.”

Kyle’s gaze was icy. Vanessa could sense her cushy position at Chiayeld coming to an end. Not that she could argue—she had nothing to defend herself with.
“Marabas came looking for me here… What can I even say?”
Half resigned, Vanessa trudged forward, but Amel, who had been lost in thought, suddenly spoke up while holding her forehead.
“Kyle… I’m sorry, but can we leave that for later? Could you stay with me for now?”

Her soft, slightly weak voice made everyone present swallow their anger. That cursed intruder had left their lady so shaken!
“I’d feel a bit scared resting alone… Will you stay with me? Please?”
There was no need for further discussion. Kyle, looking as though he had just lost something precious, hurried to Amel’s side.

What could possibly matter more than his sister needing him now? Of course, he wanted nothing more than to hunt down Marabas, but there were plenty of capable staff who could take care of that.
“Haeld, I leave this matter in your hands.”
With a meaningful look, Kyle issued his orders and then wrapped a blanket around Amel.

“Vanessa, please get treated and take a good rest,” Amel said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. It seemed as though she didn’t realize that the entire Duke’s household would obey her every command without question.
With the emergency resolved, the staff quickly left the room. Security was tightened severalfold, leaving Amel and Kyle alone again, lying side by side on the bed.

Without a word, Kyle pulled Amel into his arms, stroking the back of her head. Though it had been Amel who was attacked by Marabas, Kyle felt as if he had been the one most shaken.
The intruder’s minions scattered throughout the first floor and the lobby had prevented him from reaching the bedroom quickly. The minutes spent fearing for his fiancée’s safety had been more harrowing than any emotion he’d ever experienced.

Contrary to his reputation as the “emotionless monster Duke,” Kyle was grateful to discover that he could feel something so profound. But he didn’t want to experience the fear of losing Amel ever again. Just the thought sent chills down his spine, and his heart raced.

He hated himself for even imagining losing her.
“…I’m sorry, sister.”

“Kyle, what do you have to apologize for? I’m just grateful you came running.”

“…”

“Let’s sleep for now and think about it tomorrow. You must be tired.”

Amel whispered softly, closing her eyes. Contrary to Kyle’s worries, she wasn’t panicking. In fact, her mind was busy analyzing Marabas’s next moves.