The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 79

The reporters, who had made a loud fuss about personally visiting the gold mine, desperately needed an exclusive story. As a result, they published articles claiming that the gold mine was merely a surprise gift from the romantic Duke Chaield.

This quickly buried Gidima’s rumors that Chaield was preparing for war. Instead, public attention shifted to the value of the so-called “Amelia Gold Mine,” soon to be owned by Amelia Diane.

For Chaield, it was a crisis narrowly averted, but the duke himself, Kyle, was deeply furious.

“The entire plan is ruined.”

The Amelia Gold Mine was a gift Kyle had meticulously planned after witnessing Lady Claire’s comment, “Chaield doesn’t just have gold, but plenty of gold mines,” which had startled Amelia.

He had envisioned presenting her with a well-developed gold mine, miners to extract gold for her, and a certificate bearing the name “Amelia Mine” on their engagement day. He had been so proud of the idea.

“Since my fiancée loves gold, I hope she’ll like this gift too.”

Just imagining her surprised and delighted reaction to the gift made Kyle smile even in his sleep. But Gidima had ruined such a sacred plan.

“That bastard.”

And it wasn’t just a simple ruin. Gidima had labeled the Amelia Gold Mine as a war fund.

“…She’s going to hate this.”

Half-brainwashed by Amelia’s constant cries for love and peace, Kyle gripped the armrest of his chair in bitter anger.

From the moment a drunk Amelia had dragged him to a hotel to now, six months into their engagement, Kyle had been nurturing his precious love. And now, such a vile word as “war” had been associated with it.

“Hylde. Are you there?”

Hylde, who returned promptly, flinched under his master’s oppressive aura. The murderous intensity alone could crush a man.

“Send a directive to the officers in Keltman. Tell them to withdraw as much as possible whenever they find the chance.”

Initially, Kyle had only planned a single withdrawal. But now that the Amelia Gold Mine had been exposed, the only thought consuming him was to punish Gidima.

“Also, inform Princess Lien to begin preparations. We must render Gidima a paper tiger as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Hylde quickly left the office to carry out the orders. Watching him go with a stern expression, Kyle flinched as he caught sight of his fiancée peeking through the door.

“Kyle, may I come in?”

“…”

She might already be disappointed. She’s the kind of person who turns pale at the mere mention of war. No, before that, she’d probably scold him for spending money recklessly.

He wasn’t exactly eager to hear any nagging. If it had been someone else, he might have dismissed them with a, “It’s my money; what’s it to you?” But thinking of his fiancée watching his actions so closely somehow pleased him.

A woman who wouldn’t overlook even a small extravagance? Now that’s a quality of an excellent duchess.

“Is she starting to be possessive of Chaield?”

Chaield, of course, meant him. If Amelia was upset over the Amelia Mine gift, it was akin to her being possessive of him.

The moment this thought crossed his mind, Kyle’s previously gloomy expression quickly softened into bliss.

“Kyle, I need to ask you something. Is what the newspapers said about the Amelia Mine true? Please tell me it’s not. I feel so burdened I could die. You can’t just spend the family’s money like that…”

Her concerns clearly reflected the awareness of her role as the mistress of Chaield. Feeling burdened over something like this? Kyle decided he needed to gradually increase the scale of his gifts to expand her tolerance for such gestures.

“I thought gold would be more practical than diamonds, so I planned to gift it to you. Unfortunately, the plan didn’t work out.”

Kyle’s face showed genuine regret. No, it was so gloomy it seemed like he’d lost an entire nation. Amelia momentarily forgot to breathe, stunned by his good looks.

“Kyle, I don’t need things like that. If you want to celebrate something, a small party would suffice. Please, no terrifying gifts like a gold mine.”

“…Do you dislike gold now?”

“Do you know how shocked I was when Gidima implied it was for war funds? Love and peace, remember? I don’t need gifts. I’m already living in luxury.”

Kyle, who had spent his life growing up according to Chaield’s immense scale, couldn’t quite understand her words. Luxury? She hadn’t even visited the islands Chaield owned yet.

“I don’t know what kind of gift would make you happy.”

“I don’t need gifts. I just need you, Kyle.”

“Still, I’d like to give you something…”

Kyle’s desperate need to be loved made Amelia’s lips curl into a mischievous smile.

“Oh, you don’t need to spend money on expensive gifts. A gold mine? I’d much rather have you wear the cologne I bought and lie gracefully on the bed. Last time, my heart nearly stopped. I’ll always welcome that kind of surprise with open arms.”

“…You liked that?”

“Of course. It’s not even a question. You wore nothing but the cologne I gave you and held me in your strong arms. How could I not like that? Gifts should come from the heart—or the chest, as they say.”

“I’m glad you liked that kind of gift. I’ll do it more often.”

“Yes, and don’t waste money on extravagant clothes. All of that is unnecessary. Someone as sculpted as you shines brightest in your natural state.”

Kyle listened attentively to every word she said. Hearing that she wanted him more than material gifts was as sweet as sugar.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Thank you. So, about the Amelia Mine… please let’s pretend it never happened.”

“The paperwork is already complete. I’ll think of something else for our first wedding anniversary.”

The Duke of Chaield’s resolute tone was enough to make anyone falter. Amelia, unable to argue further, gave him an awkward smile.

“Elder sister, please focus solely on preparing for the Imperial Lily Medal Ceremony next month. I’ll handle everything else.”

“Everything else?”

“Since you said you wanted to stay by my side, I thought it best to expedite our wedding preparations.”

Amel realized once again that there were no brakes on this younger man in front of her. Chaield was someone who charged headlong toward his goals without hesitation.

“I’ve read Empire’s Latest Weddings and The Wedding of Her Dreams ten times over. I’m fully prepared.”

Hearing his inner thoughts, it became clear that his plans weren’t something he’d come up with overnight. Amel felt an odd mix of embarrassment and unease.

“I’m also preparing the dowry you mentioned wanting, so please be patient just a little longer.”

“…Dowry?”

Had she ever asked Kyle to buy her anything? Amel thought hard but couldn’t recall a single instance. Besides, if it were something ordinary, there was no reason Chaield would need time to prepare it.

“It’ll be ready within the year.”

Kyle smiled brightly as he intertwined his fingers with hers.

Some time later, Gidima began deploying troops near Chaield’s mines to prevent Chaield’s officials from withdrawing deposits. This bold move sent public anxiety soaring to a fever pitch.

“Is the situation so dire that they have to resort to such extreme measures?”

“Are they really being swayed to this degree by the movements of a single duke?”

“I couldn’t even withdraw the money I entrusted to the bank…”

“What exactly is the White Palace doing in terms of diplomacy?”

As time passed, the anger initially directed at the Empire of Haile and Chaield gradually turned toward the White Palace. Whispers spread, suggesting that the princess had even moved into the mines to oversee the situation personally.

The most enraged, however, were the miners. They knew better than anyone that Chaield had always faithfully paid for the resources they produced.

“Where did the payments from Chaield go?”

“The White Palace claims Chaield is developing the mines to fund a war, but…”

“Where exactly has the White Palace been spending all that money?”

Seizing the moment, Chaield issued a politically charged statement.

It declared that the workers who produced Keltman’s timber and minerals were effectively Chaield employees. The statement also offered to lend the White Palace funds to pay the workers’ wages, should they so desire.

The banks of Keltman were already struggling to stave off bankruptcy and had no capacity to lend money to the royal family. For the laborers, Chaield’s offer was welcome news—it promised a way to finally receive their overdue wages.

However, Gidima valued Keltman’s royal dignity more than the wages owed to mere laborers. Still, withholding payment risked inciting a revolt among the miners.

“Median, find out what is currently selling best in Keltman. The more luxurious, the better.”

About a week later, the royal family of Keltman announced that, starting next month, special taxes would be imposed on several luxury goods. The key items included fireplaces, carriages, furs, and alcohol.

When news spread that all alcoholic beverages would be taxed, the miners were outraged.

“What? Now they’re trying to stop us from even drinking?”

“They call it curbing extravagance, but why are they taxing beer?”

“We can’t even have a drink after work anymore?”

Robbed of their only solace, the miners gathered in fury. Just a week after the announcement of the alcohol tax, they reached their breaking point.

“If we can’t drink freely, we’ll take the White Palace’s neck instead.”

Hearing their dangerous new slogan, Princess Lien decided it was best to stay quietly hidden in her chambers.

The following evening, Amel was enjoying a peaceful dinner with Kyle. Soft music played faintly in the background, and the gentle flicker of candlelight added to the serene atmosphere.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had such a peaceful evening.”

Kyle loved the expression Amel made when she said the word peace. The look on her face made him feel like he’d conquered the world, and he was determined to protect that happiness.

As they finished their meal and moved on to dessert, Hylde and Bruno entered abruptly, bowing deeply before Kyle. He immediately sensed that the news he’d been waiting for had arrived.

“Your Grace, we’ve received word that the White Palace has been surrounded by citizens, led primarily by the miners. Gidima is drafting a statement declaring she will abdicate in favor of her son and dedicate her remaining years to mending relations with Chaield.”

“Is that so?”

“It appears no bl00d has been shed. Thanks to Your Grace’s generosity, peace will soon be restored.”

Even Hylde’s choice of words was impeccable. Kyle glanced at Amel, clearly seeking her praise. Her face radiated with joy.

“Thank you, Kyle.”

“…”

Kyle had been about to calmly declare that he had delivered the peace she had wished for, but her dazzling smile left him momentarily speechless. For a brief moment, he felt as though his heart had plummeted to the floor.

“Kyle, should we have a drink to commemorate this? It’s such a wonderful occasion.”

“Shall we have it on the balcony of my room?”

The balcony offered the best view of Lake Amelia. It also happened to be conveniently close to the bed. Kyle’s eyes sparkled at the thought, and Amel nodded in agreement.

“Hylde, bring something for the duchess to wear.”

Kyle gave the order curtly before leading Amel out to the balcony. The setting sun cast a breathtaking glow over the lake, creating a magical view.

As Amel gazed at the crimson-streaked lake, overwhelmed by its beauty, Vanessa entered the room with a cardigan. Amel greeted her with a radiant smile.

“Vanessa, did you hear the news about Keltman?”

Vanessa instinctively frowned but answered her mistress with sincerity.

“Yes, I did. It’s unbelievable… I heard the miners half-destroyed the White Palace with their pickaxes. They even beat the palace guards to within an inch of their lives. A full swing from a miner can break bones, after all.”

“…Vanessa.”

Kyle tried urgently to stop her, but once Vanessa started talking, there was no stopping her.

“They say the miners dragged the White Duke by her hair and dunked her in a barrel of liquor. They told her, ‘If you’re going to tax us every time we breathe, let’s see you pay up first.’ Honestly, I get that they were upset about the tax, but still…”

“…”

“Why are you both looking at me like that?”

Kyle ground his teeth, glaring at Vanessa, who had single-handedly destroyed the peaceful atmosphere with her chatter.