The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 73

The political climate surrounding Heil and Keltman was rapidly changing, with all eyes naturally drawn to Chaield at its center.

Rookie reporters, eager to uncover why Keltman’s hunting festival had fallen apart, couldn’t even get close to the Duke of Chaield’s estate.

Veteran journalists had long since given up, waiting instead for an official statement from Chaield. Today, with the delegation returning, they hoped to glean something—anything—useful.

However, the Chaield estate, at the heart of the storm, was utterly tranquil. The staff busied themselves with preparations for their master’s return: cleaning the estate, preparing a grand feast, and hanging fresh linens in the sun.

One of the staff members, shaking out a blanket, called out loudly, “A carriage is coming!”

The cheerful announcement sent the estate into a flurry of activity. Even Claire, who had been working in the study, put down her pen at the sound.

“Amel’s back?”

She had already heard through her informants about what had transpired and had been preoccupied lately with schemes to retaliate against Keltman.

Her mood hadn’t been great, particularly with the frustratingly slow pursuit of Marabas. But this was good news.

Claire descended the stairs quickly—a pace uncharacteristic for her. From a distance, she could hear Amel’s lively voice.

“Oh, Lady Claire!”

“….”

“It’s been a while, so I just wanted to call you that. How have you been, Sister?”

Claire felt a twinge of disappointment at the unfamiliar title, but she quickly masked it with a smile and greeted Amel warmly.

The staff hurried forward to take Amel’s coat and gloves, and she quickly acclimated to the peaceful atmosphere of Chaield, so different from Keltman.

“I’ve instructed the kitchen to prepare a special banquet. You’re going to love it,” Claire said.

“Wow, really?”

“Of course. I told them to make your favorite dishes. You must be tired from the journey—would you like to rest?”

Amel, who was feeling a bit worn out, nodded. Kyle, ever attentive, joined in encouraging her to take a break.

“You’ve been tossing and turning the entire way. Please rest for a while,” he said.

“What about you, Kyle? Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m fine. Hild, have someone prepare a bath immediately.”

This was the warmth and abundance of the Chaield estate—a place of comfort and care. A soft smile spread across Amel’s face as a wave of happiness washed over her.

Claire, Kyle, and even the nearby staff couldn’t help but smile along with her.

Moments later, a servant approached. “Milady, the bath is ready.”

“Kyle, I’m so sorry, but I’ll head upstairs first,” Amel said, disappearing toward the rose-petal-strewn bath.

As soon as she vanished from sight, the smiles dropped from Kyle and Claire’s faces.

“Lady Claire, have you secured the documents I requested?”

“They’re ready in the study. As for Marabas, the pursuit continues.”

“I have a lead on his whereabouts.”

With their expressions now cold and businesslike, the two made their way to the study.

The cheerful atmosphere vanished the moment Amel was out of sight, leaving Vanessa, who had been packing away luggage, to observe the abrupt shift.

“Seriously, the people of Chaield are absolutely obsessed with her…”

With the two Chaields absent for a business discussion, the staff began moving even more energetically.

The extended trip, coupled with Keltman’s colder climate compared to Heil, had left them with an enormous pile of clothes to sort and clean.

As Hild supervised the bustling workers, someone called out to him. It was Bruno, an operative from Chaield’s intelligence division.

“Hild, I could use your assistance with something the Duke ordered.”

If Bruno was bypassing the other staff to ask him directly, it had to be an important and sensitive matter. Hild followed him.

“What is the task?”

“It’s about the Gargoyle Earl. The emergency treatment is complete, and the Duke has ordered him to be confined in the basement.”

“The basement, huh…”

Hild’s expression grew grim, but Bruno seemed oblivious to the reason for his discomfort.

“Do you have an issue with the basement, Hild? Perhaps… don’t tell me you think it’s haunted?”

“Bruno, how long have you been working for Chaield?”

“This is my fifteenth year under the Duke’s service. Why do you ask…? Wait, is there some ghost story I don’t know about?”

Hild simply stroked his beard. A ghost story, he mused. In a way, it was. Many staff members had been so frightened by the events in that basement that they had left Chaield despite the estate offering salaries several times higher than other households.

The fact that anyone would leave such well-paying work showed just how traumatic the incident must have been.

“Does Bruno really not know about that? I suppose time does heal all wounds.”

Among those remaining in the Duke of Chaield’s estate, the only person who truly knew the details of the past incident was Lady Claire, who sat like a spider in the corner, collecting all the information within the estate.

“What could be more terrifying than a fugitive criminal, half-dead, confined to that place?”

With a genial smile, Hild moved the Gargoyle Earl to the basement with Bruno’s assistance.

The Earl, whom the Duke had spared no expense to save with medicine and resources, was barely clinging to life. Hild couldn’t help but think he might not last a few days.

“The fact that he’s still breathing is a miracle in itself.”

The Earl had completely lost his ability to speak, rendering him useless to Chaield’s interests. It was unfortunate but not a significant loss.

“Bruno, do you have the key? Open the door,” Hild said.

“Be careful, Hild. There’s so much moss here… I heard this used to be a storeroom for rare Areté crystals,” Bruno said as he fiddled with the key.

“This place has always been damp. If it isn’t maintained regularly, water drips from the ceiling,” Hild replied.

“You really know everything about the estate, Hild,” Bruno remarked with genuine admiration as he laid the Gargoyle Earl down in the shabby room. The thought of the Earl dying here was oddly relieving, like a toothache finally gone.

“Let’s get out of here now… Hild? Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Let’s go.”

Bruno glanced at the door Hild had been staring at. Its ornate handle was impressive, but there was nothing particularly remarkable about it.

“Don’t tease me. You know ghosts terrify me,” Bruno muttered.

“How can a special operative in the intelligence division be afraid of ghosts?”

“Well, unlike you, the former knight captain who could capture even ghosts, I’m just a humble agent,” Bruno replied with a nervous chuckle.

Hild let out a dry laugh, his eyes briefly flicking toward the door. The face of the woman who once guarded that door—his wife—had long since faded from his memory.

The imperial palace in Heil was abuzz with a slightly elevated sense of excitement as it prepared to welcome back the delegation.

Had the envoys returned as scheduled, it would have been proper to hold a celebratory banquet. But the early, unproductive return called for no such festivities.

Today, the palace awaited only Princess Nadia and the attendants who had accompanied her to Keltman.

Verdo was eagerly awaiting Nadia—not just because she was his most cherished younger sister, but because he was keen to hear what she had experienced in Keltman.

“I greet Your Majesty. I apologize for failing to see the mission through to the end,” Nadia said as she entered.

“This wasn’t your fault. Come in and have tea with me,” Verdo replied.

It didn’t take long for the siblings to exchange pleasantries and updates. Both understood what mattered most at this moment.

Nadia, in a calm and measured tone, recounted what had transpired in Keltman. Verdo’s expression shifted constantly as he listened.

“The Gargoyle Earl is in the Duke of Chaield’s estate?”

“Lower your voice, Brother. It’s not yet official, but it is confirmed.”

Verdo’s mind raced. If the Earl truly had been in Keltman, then Heil’s internal affairs would already have been exposed.

Keltman would undoubtedly have learned sensitive military information and details of the royal family’s financial troubles.

The thought that war might be inevitable left Verdo’s mouth dry.

“The Earl did harm Lady Diane, so the Duke of Chaield will handle it, no doubt.”

For now, it seemed prudent to wait for the Duke’s report.

“The Duke wouldn’t have brought him back without a plan. What’s the relationship between Chaield and Keltman like?”

“There was some kind of incident during the hunting tournament, but the details are unclear. However, it’s certain that the seeds of discord have been sown.”

“An incident during the tournament, you say…”

Kyle was known for his patience. For him to leave so abruptly meant it wasn’t a trivial issue.

“If the Duke of Chaield has severed ties with Keltman, it means the royal family is relatively safe.”

Even on a national level, Heil might stand a chance against Keltman. But Kyle would undoubtedly need Heil’s name and resources for support.

As Verdo considered when he might meet with Kyle, Nadia suddenly recalled a conversation she’d had with Amel late at night in Keltman.

When she had complained about how Lady Diane seemed to handle all the responsibilities of the delegation, Amel had offered a response that carried a wisdom beyond her years.

“Princess Nadia, I believe everyone has things they can and cannot do. Just as I have tasks only I can accomplish, you, as a princess, can use your position to do what I cannot.”

“…Do you really think so?”

“If you try to become me, you’ll only end up unhappy. You need to find what only you can do to truly be fulfilled.”

Now, recalling that forgotten conversation, Nadia could clearly see what her role as a member of the royal family needed to be.

“Brother, have you noticed how many times you’ve mentioned the Duke of Chaield during this short conversation?”

“…What?”

“When I was in Keltman, I realized something very clearly. The royal family of Heil relies far too heavily on Chaield.”

“Well…”

Verdo averted his gaze. Being confronted with such an obvious truth left him at a loss for words. After all, Chaield had been the financial backbone of the royal family for generations.

“Is that what you learned while fulfilling your role as an envoy?”

“That, and I learned just how much the Duke respects his fiancée. She’s someone worthy of care and caution.”

“And?”

Nadia took a sip of tea instead of answering. The final thing she’d realized in Keltman was, of course…

“Younger men are the way to go.”