The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 60
By the dawn of his execution day, the rumor that the Gargoyle Count had gone to Keltman was already widely known among the people of the Hail Empire. But who would have thought it was true?
“The man Princess Lien mentioned must be the Gargoyle Count. Hidden behind the screen…”
I never thought the ability to read others’ thoughts would prove so useful in this way. I had assumed it would only help me predict and prevent potential harm to myself.
“But if Princess Lien’s father is the White Duke, and he’s hiding the Gargoyle Count behind his screen…”
A scene from a historical drama crossed my mind: a young king hiding a beautiful woman behind a screen in a secret room, away from his officials, to engage in scandalous acts. But I quickly dismissed the thought.
“The Gargoyle Count and the White Duke… No, it can’t be that kind of relationship. Let’s think positively.”
The more likely scenario was that the Gargoyle Count was feeding information about the Hail Empire to the White Duke, who was using it to craft strategies to pressure the empire.
“The White Duke Zedima is quite the ambitious man.”
I’d heard from my father that he was a formidable warrior in his youth. To think he still harbored such ambition in his old age was astounding.
If it were true that the White Duke had hidden the Gargoyle Count in the heart of the White Palace, the fallout would be immense if this secret were exposed.
The Hail Empire would undoubtedly attempt to bring the Gargoyle Count back to their side and accuse Zedima of plotting against them. And such accusations might not be entirely baseless.
“Hiding the Gargoyle Count at such great risk must mean he’s critical to their plans.”
Words like war, destruction, and death began creeping into my mind. Mechanically, I alternated between reacting politely and picking at the desserts while sinking further into thought.
“But why is Kyle here as part of the delegation? Could Zedima think he can win Kyle over to his side…? No way.”
I glanced at Princess Lien, looking radiant and impeccably dressed like a blooming flower. Now that I thought about it, she was the first to greet our delegation.
“Does he see me as a mere screen?”
It was clear that Princess Lien had been tasked with winning over Kyle, despite his engagement. Her earlier thoughts about needing to claim my engagement ring made that evident.
“But why is she looking at me like that?”
Lien’s gaze was full of curiosity rather than the animosity you’d expect from a rival. It wasn’t the look of someone sizing up a competitor to eliminate.
“Could Princess Lien be unwilling to obey her father’s orders?”
I doubted someone who had wiped out entire villages just to study abroad had such a gentle heart. But for now, it was the most plausible explanation I could come up with.
The tea time, which felt more like a test of everyone’s decorum, dragged on. Contrary to my expectations that she might shrink into silence, Princess Nadia held her own. Perhaps the saying “a position shapes the person” had some truth to it.
The conversation began with Keltman’s traditions, briefly touched on its alliance history with the Hail Empire, and then shifted to the delegation’s schedule.
Naturally, the focus fell on the upcoming ball this weekend.
“The ball is being prepared with the utmost care as it will be the first event to welcome our distinguished guests. While it won’t be as grand as the hunting festival after the hunting competition, I hope you’ll look forward to it,” explained a Keltman noblewoman with a smile.
The White Duke Zedima had invited not only emissaries from the Hail Empire but also representatives from neighboring major powers and smaller states. This weekend’s ball would mark the first gathering of all the envoys.
“It’s like the opening ceremony of a retreat. Let’s just hope no villains make an appearance.”
It was exhausting enough to remain vigilant against whatever schemes Zedima and the Gargoyle Count might be plotting in secret. If more antagonists showed up, it would be the end of me.
I asked cautiously, “I’m curious about who is representing the other nations as envoys. Could you share any hints?”
“If there’s any delegation Lady Diane might find intriguing, it would have to be the one from Tryha. They’ve sent many distinguished individuals.”
“Distinguished individuals? Could you elaborate?”
“I hear merchants selling items crafted with alchemy and magic are among them. You should take a look if you have time.”
The magical goods from Tryha were famously rare and expensive, even in the Hail Empire.
“Mother’s bracelet was also said to be a Tryha specialty.”
But this wasn’t the information I wanted. Throughout the lengthy tea time, I tried to probe subtly for more about Tryha’s delegation.
However, the Keltman noblewoman remained tight-lipped about whether or not Tryha’s third prince was among them.
The thought that one of the main antagonists might suddenly appear made me so uneasy that I couldn’t even focus on the tea time.
I must not have hidden my concern as well as I thought. Princess Lien observed me and asked, “Lady Diane, is there someone you’re hoping to see among Tryha’s delegation? Perhaps a man?”
“No, it’s nothing like that. I’m just curious.”
“Ah… I suppose the fiancée of Duke Chaield wouldn’t have eyes for any other man.”
She spoke with a warm smile, almost as if inviting me to lower my guard. Yet, Lien still hadn’t shown any hostility toward me.
I didn’t know what motivated Princess Lien’s behavior, but I had no intention of showing any weakness.
“Oh, and please keep this conversation a secret. I fear His Grace might misunderstand if he hears about it.”
Feigning innocence, I smiled casually and lightly shifted my foot, just enough to glance at the inner thoughts of the Keltman noblewomen. The results were exactly what I had intended.
“Is Duke Chaield really that possessive? He didn’t seem like it.”
“Even when they got out of the carriage, it was clearly Duke Chaield clinging to her more.”
“Lady Diane… What on earth did she do to win him over?”
Perhaps it was because they had seen so much during the harvest festival and the journey, but the Hail Empire attendees were not particularly surprised to hear that Kyle was overly possessive.
I silently affirmed it by sipping my tea, pretending to know nothing. Glancing at Princess Lien’s face, I saw an expression filled with complexity.
That night.
“Princess Lien, the White Duke has summoned you.”
“…Very well.”
Sighing, Lien released the falcon perched on her arm. She had just finished a grueling day in uncomfortable clothes and heavy jewelry, and was finally about to get some fresh air, only to be called.
“I already know what he’s going to ask.”
Undoubtedly, he would inquire about Kyle’s fiancée, asking if Lien had managed to claim her place.
“As if that’s up to me. He might as well send me hunting instead.”
Lien believed she could achieve anything if she were free to live as she pleased, but this time was different. The Monster Duke had changed—drastically—and the cause of this transformation was a frustrating mystery.
On her way to her father’s office, she deliberately knocked over one of his prized bonsai pots as if by accident. As expected, Zedima greeted her with a face that was half-curious and half-concerned.
“Well? Any progress?”
“Respected White Duke, it has not even been a week.”
“Duke Chaield is at an age where passion burns brightly. A single night is enough for love to bloom.”
Lien, who was about to say that such a night was already out of the question, lowered her gaze.
When her father had first called her, she thought the Monster Duke might be difficult to handle but not impossible to conquer.
Thinking of the Duke’s tragic childhood often brought Lien back to memories of her own mother.
Her mother, a woman who faded into obscurity within the White Palace, received no funeral when she passed.
Her mother had been everything to Lien. Losing her overnight should have driven her to cling to others for love, but reality was different.
In the silence left by her mother’s absence, Lien realized something profound.
People who have lost someone precious fear becoming attached to something new. They avoid forging deep connections because they know losing such a bond would destroy them. Instead, they maintain only superficial relationships, bitterly aware of their limitations.
“The Monster Duke must be no different—if not worse.”
If he had fallen in love with Amelia Diane despite the risks, then competing with her was a futile effort. Giving up early was the wise choice.
“Do your best. If you fail to win over the Monster Duke, the plan will fall apart,” Zedima said, glancing toward the screen behind him.
Lien knew who was hidden there: the Gargoyle Count, who had miraculously escaped execution and fled to Keltman.
No one—not even Keltman’s intelligence network—knew how he had safely reached the White Palace. Even the Gargoyle Count claimed he didn’t know who had given him the teleportation scroll.
“Father must be planning to use him against the Hail Empire.”
She recalled hearing that the Gargoyle Count had been sentenced to death after being outmaneuvered by Chaield.
For a moment, Lien’s thoughts turned not to Kyle but to Amelia Diane.
“What could it be about her?” Apart from her shared surname with the legendary knight Perche Diane, there was nothing remarkable about her.
She was graceful and beautiful, but this was Duke Chaield, a man who had undoubtedly grown tired of seeing the world’s greatest beauties.
“It’s not her appearance, then. Could it be her abilities?”
No, that wasn’t it either. No one could surpass the capabilities of Duke Chaield.
“Could it be her skill in swordsmanship? Or maybe… it’s in her bl00d?”
As Lien pretended to sip her tea and furrowed her brow, a memory surfaced: she had seen Amelia’s left hand.
Having trained extensively in martial arts, Lien recognized that the gem set in Chaield’s engagement ring was an Arete Crystal.
“Lady Diane seems to be an Arete wielder… but that alone wouldn’t captivate Duke Chaield.”
The Chaield family had once monopolized the Arete trade, storing the crystals in special vaults within their castle. Though they no longer engaged in such trade, the Chaield patriarch himself undoubtedly wielded extraordinary powers.
“A man like that wouldn’t fall for someone just because she possessed an Arete… Unless—her Arete is that kind?”
Lien suddenly froze as if struck by a revelation.
“If that’s the case, then it explains the Monster Duke’s uncharacteristic behavior.”
Substances that seduced and ensnared the mind could be crafted through alchemy. It stood to reason that such effects could also be achieved through an Arete—a divine gift to humanity.
“I’ve heard of an Arete that manipulates the mind. If Lady Diane used such an Arete on the Duke, everything makes sense.”
Without it, there was no way Amelia Diane could have captivated Kyle Chaield—unless she had taken the direct approach.
“Given he was willing to have his men build a human ladder and climb through her window at night… he must be completely under its influence.”
No sane man would do such a thing. As her theory pieced together seamlessly, Lien felt an odd thrill.
Zedima’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
“Lien, I trust everything is going well? Always remember, if you catch Chaield’s attention, you can have everything you desire.”
“Yes, Father. I’ll do my best at the ball,” Lien replied with the answer Zedima wanted, suppressing a sly smile.
Things were becoming quite amusing. Seeing the great Duke Chaield utterly ensnared by an Arete was a spectacle in itself.
“Speaking of which, Tryha is rumored to have developed an elixir that temporarily neutralizes Aretes. Perhaps I should look into it.”
Determining the Duke’s true state was the wise move. If his feelings were genuine, challenging Lady Diane would be a death sentence.
“But if it’s just the influence of a seductive Arete…”
It would be delightful to see the Duke snap out of it at a public gathering, looking at his fiancée as though she were a stranger.
With gleaming eyes, Lien reassured her father that she would give her all, then left the White Duke’s office. Her steps led her toward the Tryha delegation.