The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 69

“Lady Diane? Not your sister or Amel?”

Had Kyle ever addressed me so formally before? No, absolutely not. The fact that I wasn’t the only one shocked only confirmed my surprise.

The astonishment was evident on everyone’s faces, from Head Butler Hild to the Chaield household staff, who couldn’t hide their bewilderment at the unfamiliar title.

“Your Highness, you appear to be quite fatigued. Perhaps you should rest here in the barracks tonight and travel to Baekju Palace tomorrow,” Hild suggested.

“Let’s do that,” Kyle replied.

While Kyle’s response was as composed as usual, I couldn’t shake off a growing sense of unease.

＊＊＊

Before a massive, foreboding illusion, Kyle turned his head away and lowered his body. I noticed people covering their mouths when they spotted me.

Even without listening closely, I could discern the topics of their whispers. Such murmurs were as familiar to me as my own heartbeat.

“A filthy heir of Chaield.”
“The monstrous duke.”
“Dealing with a murderer is unsettling, but…”
“There’s money involved, so we have no choice.”

I wanted to confront them, to demand how they could speak with such certainty without ever witnessing me take my family’s lives.

Did they have any idea what it felt like to have your own brothers point their swords at you? In that situation, they too would have done what was necessary to survive.

The fear was overwhelming. There were moments when I knelt before a God I didn’t believe in, begging for death instead.

But once the storm passed, I found myself unable to say a word. That was the role of Chaield’s leader.

Anger quickly gave way to resignation and endurance.

Even if everyone who approached me in the future came with greed in their eyes, it didn’t matter. I could use my wealth to inch my way into their lives, feigning indifference.

If I could feel even the faintest warmth, however fleeting, I thought I could tell myself:

I’m not a monster.

The forced smiles of those who whispered behind my back were proof of that.

‘Was that just my own selfish desire?’

But their voices were too loud to ignore. Amid sidelong glances and increasingly cruel rumors, I felt myself wither away in solitude.

In that desolation, I thought there had been someone who once laughed freely and let me bask in their warmth.

“Ugh…”

Kyle let out a soft groan as a headache surged through him. In the fog clouding his mind, the voice of Count Gargoyle echoed:

“Duke of Chaield. To think you’re still resisting… Remember those who used you. The imperial family of Haile—how about them?”

In the darkness, Kyle failed to recognize that the voice belonged to Marabas.

＊＊＊

That night.

“My lady, do you really plan to stay with the Duke of Chaield tonight?”

“Do you think Kyle is in danger? What’s your opinion, Vanessa?”

“Well… if we’re being honest, the Duke of Chaield has always been a dangerous beast to you at night.”

I playfully jabbed Vanessa in the side for her untimely joke as she brushed my hair.

With only Haile’s envoys left in the barracks, the atmosphere should have felt more relaxed, yet the tension was thicker than ever.

A night where something felt bound to happen. As the soft drizzle of rain continued, I made my way to Kyle’s quarters.

At the entrance stood Head Butler Hild, who oversaw Kyle’s safety. His expression was grim, as expected.

“Butler Hild, has the medical report come back?”

“They say there are no physical issues. However, His Highness’s condition… is troubling.”

As Hild noted, there was something undeniably off about Kyle. It wasn’t surprising, given that he was under Marabas’s spell.

“Then why are you standing outside? Were you waiting for me?”

“Princess Nadia is inside. She personally prepared a calming tea for His Highness.”

“Princess Nadia is in there?”

For some reason, Vanessa’s earlier words echoed in my mind:

“They target a person’s most vulnerable and fragile parts to take complete control.”

Princess Nadia. A royal who had exploited Kyle relentlessly.

“…!”

I dropped everything I was holding and ran straight into Kyle’s quarters. Outside, Princess Nadia’s maids stood waiting near the tent.

From behind the curtains, I could hear the Princess’s screams.

“I’ll go in. The rest of you, leave,” I ordered.

“But—”

Ignoring their protests, I forcibly sent them out and entered. What I saw made my heart drop.

“L-L-Lady Diane…”

Princess Nadia was on the floor, crawling backward on her hands and knees until she reached my feet. The tea she had prepared was spilled everywhere, leaving a mess.

“Kyle, put that down,” I said.

Kyleian Chaield stood there, a dagger clutched in his hand, his eyes vacant and unfocused. As I moved to calm him, Vanessa stepped in front of me.

“Step back, my lady. The Duke is completely under the spell now.”

Earlier, he had retained some shred of reason, but now, having lost all control to Marabas’s magic, the cause was clear.

‘Seeing Princess Nadia must have reminded him of the imperial family, throwing his mind into disarray. That allowed Marabas’s spell to take full control.’

I didn’t know the full extent of Kyle’s scars, but I was certain of one thing: the imperial family had caused him the most pain.

“Move.”

Kyle spoke in a voice so fragile it seemed it might break at any moment. I didn’t need to read his mind to know what he was thinking.

If his rationality was entirely paralyzed, his inner thoughts would undoubtedly be screaming at him to stab and kill Princess Nadia, a member of the imperial family.

“Vanessa. I told you to step aside.”

“You offered me ten times the usual rate so casually… Did you anticipate something like this?”

“If you won’t move, I’ll deal with you first.”

Kyle lunged toward us. Vanessa immediately drew the dagger hidden in her clothing and parried his sword.

His face looked as though he was about to cry. It was eerily similar to how he had looked when we first met—a face begging someone, anyone, to stop him before he carried out an extreme act.

As I held the trembling Princess Nadia’s shoulders to calm her, I asked, “Vanessa, can you strike Kyle’s pressure point to knock him unconscious?”

“That’s too dangerous. If the Duke completely loses his mind, there’s no telling how Marabas’s spell might react.”

What should I do? I couldn’t think of a proper solution.

The best option would be for Vanessa to subdue Kyle, but with Arete unavailable, Vanessa’s swordsmanship was evenly matched with Kyle’s.

Both were exceptional, making it nearly impossible for Vanessa to overpower him.

‘If only I could pass my engagement ring to him temporarily…’

But since only Kyle could remove my ring, that option was also out of the question.

If I tried to assist Vanessa, we might gain an advantage, but that would leave Princess Nadia vulnerable without protection.

‘Sending the Princess away first is far too dangerous.’

The worst-case scenario would be Princess Nadia declaring, “The Duke of Chaield swung a dagger at me.”

That would not only fuel endless rumors but also give Kyle’s enemies the perfect pretext to strike.

‘The best solution would be to neutralize Marabas’s spell itself…’

Unfortunately, the original story offered no precedent for a situation like this.

In the later chapters, a potion was introduced that neutralized both Arete and dark magic, but it could only be brewed by Ithar de Traihan.

“Ugh…!”

While I was lost in thought, Vanessa took a hit on her arm from Kyle’s sword. Bl00d seeped through her outerwear.

“Vanessa!”

“I’m fine! Just figure out a solution, my lady. You’re good at turning situations like this to your advantage, aren’t you?”

“Turning situations to my advantage…” Vanessa’s words sparked an idea.

A spell is, after all, just a spell. Like a flawed computer program, it’s full of exploitable weaknesses. For instance…

“Vanessa, didn’t you say Marabas’s magic digs into the most vulnerable parts of a person’s memories?”

“Yes. When someone’s mental state deteriorates, they can’t distinguish their own desires. That’s how the magic works.”

“Desires?”

“Yes. Marabas isn’t a god; he can’t create thoughts that don’t exist. Instead, he ignites desires people try to suppress.”

That was it.

If Marabas’s spell or Arete responded to a person’s deepest desires, I just needed to redirect Kyle’s focus to another desire.

‘The most primal human desires are hunger, sleep, and…’

Feeding him a feast wouldn’t work in this situation, and appealing to his need for sleep might result in me being put into an eternal one.

That left only one option.

“Vanessa, can you buy me some time?”

“How long do you need?”

“Just a moment. Make sure Kyle doesn’t see me.”

“Understood.”

Vanessa changed her movements to shield me from Kyle’s view, her expression a mix of disbelief and horror as she seemed to realize my plan.

“My lady… this isn’t what I think it is, right? This isn’t some kind of risqué stage play…”

“We don’t have a choice! Doesn’t this seem like the best option to you?”

“It does… but what if it doesn’t work?”

If it didn’t work, the only consequence would be me dying of embarrassment. I crouched in front of Princess Nadia and lifted my hair.

“Princess, I need your help.”

“W-What should I do?”

“First, promise me you’ll keep everything that happens here to yourself.”

“I promise.”

Good. She’s cooperative.

“Second, turn your head away until I give the signal.”

“Understood.”

“And lastly… can you unfasten my dress buttons?”

“What?”

Princess Nadia’s eyes widened in shock. Swallowing my embarrassment, I urged her.

“Hurry. We don’t have time. Rip it if you have to.”

“…Alright.”

With surprisingly rough hands, the Princess half-removed my dress. Clad in only a thin chemise, I shivered from the cold, but there was no time to dwell on discomfort.

“Now, turn away.”

“O-Okay.”

Praying that this plan would work, I approached Kyle. Even my proximity seemed to unsettle him.

‘If this fails, I’ll die of mortification.’

Steeling my resolve, I brushed my hair aside and spoke in the most sultry voice I could muster.

“Kyle… It’s cold, big brother.”

“…!”

Thud.

The dagger in Kyleian Chaield’s hand fell to the floor.