The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 8

There was something I had briefly forgotten.

In the original novel, The Ruin of the Magnate and Beyond, Kyleian Chaield was a man who always got what he wanted.

Everything was within his grasp—the title of Duke Chaield, the honor of being the continent’s wealthiest man. Even his downfall was something he sought out willingly.

I knew from the start that there was nothing in this world he couldn’t possess. I just didn’t expect that one of those things would be… me.

Kyle held out a bouquet of roses, his soft smile never faltering as he waited, watching me as I hesitated to take them.

“I figured you might not like it,” he said with a small shrug. Then, with a flick of his hand, he signaled for treasures to be placed at my feet—treasures that could leave anyone in shock. The chests looked like they belonged on a pirate ship, each adorned with lavish details.

Inside, piles of gold gleamed as though he’d gathered all the riches on the continent.

More boxes followed, spilling over with bundles of cash and jewels larger than eggs, shining brightly.

Just one of these chests could help solve the Diane family’s financial crisis.

“I can give you everything you want, Amel,” he said.

And I knew he meant it.

“If you want more, I’ll bring you more.”

A grateful… no, wait.

Pulling myself away from the enchanting tone of his voice, I tried to refocus.

In two years, Kyle was supposed to meet Vanessa, his destined love in the story. I wouldn’t have any place between them.

With a frustrated tone, I countered, “Kyleian, do you think I’m here for the money?”

“…Didn’t you say that last time?”

Oh, right. I did say that. Completely slipped my mind.

Frowning, Kyle’s eyes suddenly sparkled with interest as he asked, “Wait, are you telling me it’s not about the money, and you just said that to brush me off?”

“No, it was absolutely, one hundred—no, a thousand percent about the money.”

“Then you have no reason to refuse.”

…This is impossible. I can’t keep up with this.

Seeing my struggle, my father, Count Diane, stepped in, his voice firm and dignified as he looked at me.

“Amelia. Just because of this debt, you don’t need to make a choice you don’t want to.”

My father’s face was heavy with guilt. Naturally, what father wouldn’t feel a pang if he thought his daughter felt pressured to accept a wealthy suitor to repay family debts?

While I was trying to think of a way to reassure him, Kyle, ever the fox, cut in.

“Don’t worry, Count Diane. That night, it was your daughter who first…”

“K-Kyle! Are you really going to tell him I was the one who dragged you to the hotel that night…?!”

I quickly slapped my hand over my mouth. One day, this reckless tongue of mine would get me into real trouble.

Kyle, having achieved his goal, let out a small laugh as he looked over at Count Diane.

My father only cleared his throat and avoided eye contact. After all, what could he object to? Kyleian Chaield was undoubtedly the continent’s most eligible bachelor. He was young, capable, came from an influential family, possessed vast wealth, and, to top it all off, was incredibly handsome.

Moreover, his daughter desired him, and he desired her in return. From here on, their path seemed to be paved with roses.

…If only he didn’t know that in two years, Kyle would plunge the continent into war.

The soon-to-be harbinger of ruin strolled over to me, his eyes crinkling in a smile so captivating it was almost devilish.

I wanted to scream internally, What is even happening here? But as I took in his sharp features and sculpted jawline, my irritation began to fade.

I wanted to suggest to Kyle that we continue this discussion after the doctors had left, so I carefully reached for his shirt and tie, intending to draw him closer. But then—

Rip—

“Oh, for… Are you serious? How does a shirt come apart with just a touch?”

What kind of buttons are these?!

I shot Kyle a look, glancing between his expression and his now-exposed abs. Meanwhile, Count and Countess Diane were already wiping away sentimental tears.

“We’ll get your things packed, Amel. Come down when you’re ready,” my mother said warmly.

“Congratulations on the relationship, dear,” my father added.
Wait, no! Mom! Dad! It’s not what you think!

Within moments, my parents had exited with the medical staff. Left alone with Kyle again, his smile faded, replaced by a serious look.

“Before I change my mind, go ahead and say you’ll officially date me.”

“…And why should I do that?”

“I overheard the doctor. You have acute viral nasopharyngitis, most likely caused by a rhinovirus. It’s classified under disease code J00.0 in the empire. Without proper care, this could—”

“What?!”

Wait, so it’s not just a cold?

No wonder it had been so painful. Turns out it was something acute!

Suddenly, my headache felt worse. If the doctor’s words were true, staying in the Diane estate would only make things worse instead of better.

…Forget ruin and everything. Dying of illness here would make all of this pointless.

Fine. I could play along, pretend to date him, and end it when he lost interest. Drooling in my sleep, eating messily—there were plenty of ways to make myself less appealing.

After some thought, I finally reached out and took the roses Kyle still held out to me.

“…Alright. Let’s date officially.”

Kyle’s smile was so dazzling that my heart skipped a beat. He leaned in, kissed my cheek, and whispered softly, “By the way, another name for this condition you have is a ‘cold.’”

“…Excuse me?”

“We should head out now. The carriage is waiting outside.”
With infuriating calm, Kyle scooped me up in his arms and carried me down the stairs.

My parents waved their handkerchiefs, calling out, “Take care, dear!”

Mom! Dad! Your daughter is being carried away, and all you’re doing is waving goodbye?!

I bit back my words, knowing that saying them would only add to their guilt, and put on a happy face as I waved back.

Once in the carriage, Kyle looked at me with a satisfied expression.

Feeling self-conscious, I turned my head away, only for him to gently cup my face and turn me back toward him.

“Where are you looking? Now that we’re officially dating, you should only look at me.”

…Ugh. One look at that face, and my irritation melts. This can’t keep happening.

Determined to voice my complaints, I finally spoke.

“About earlier—what’s with that shirt? I barely touched it, and it fell apart. Did you wear something designed to come off easily?”

“Of course. Didn’t I say I could give you anything you wanted?”
Ugh, thanks but no thanks…

“Ahem. Just don’t do that again, especially in front of other people.”

“Understood. But it’s alright when we’re alone?”

“No, not even when we’re alone!”

“I’d rather not follow an order like that.”

…Wait. Did the atmosphere just change?

I blinked in surprise, but Kyle quickly replaced his serious expression with a warm smile, speaking in a friendly tone. “It’s a long ride to the duchy. Feel free to sleep, or you can rest on my lap, like last time.”

What on earth happened to him over the past week? Did he eat something strange while we were apart?

Either way, my goal remained the same: make him lose interest. I crossed my arms and sat a little farther away, prepared to make myself as unappealing as possible.

“You’ll regret this, Kyle. You have no idea how clingy I can be.”

“…You’ll be clingy with me?”

“I’ll obsess over everything you do, all day long.”

“…”

“I’ll be desperate to know who you meet, what you do, even what you eat.”

“If you’re going to go that far, it’d be easier if you just stayed by my side all day. I’ll instruct the staff to make the arrangements.”

Even though this was hardly a pleasant conversation, Kyle was smiling—a little differently than his usual playful smile.
Narrowing my eyes in suspicion, I observed him closely, only to see a flicker of restrained desire on his face as he spoke in a low voice.

“A week ago, you told me to wait in your room while you went to bathe.”

“Oh…”

Right. I used that as an excuse to slip away. But why bring it up now? Could he…?

“I waited long enough, so a small reward won’t do anymore, dear.”

＊＊＊

A few days later, the usually quiet Chaield mansion was unusually lively.

Birds that usually avoided the mansion due to the duke’s formidable presence were singing sweetly, butterflies and small animals frolicked in the garden, and the staff—who usually kept silent—now wore smiles, their voices carrying softly through the halls.

Reviewing reports in his study, Kyle knew perfectly well what had caused this change.

“They say she’s recovering from her cold.”

The diagnosis had done its job; Amelia’s condition had improved, and now she used her “contagion” as an excuse to explore the mansion secretly while continuing to avoid him.

Unaware that Kyle’s gaze followed her every move.

Satisfied with her recovery, Kyle stood, eager to go find her and hear about what she’d been doing these past few days.

“Hild. I’ll be stepping out to the garden.”

Hild, the butler, hesitated briefly—an unusual reaction for someone so skilled at masking his expressions.

“What is it?”

“Nothing, Your Grace.”

“Hild. Do you have something to say?”

“If I may… offer a word of advice?”

“As you please.”

Kyle trusted Hild, a wise and skilled man who had managed the mansion’s affairs for years.

Under his master’s attentive gaze, Hild finally spoke.
“Your Grace, love requires a bit of give and take. If you keep focusing on her every moment of every day, it won’t work.”
Love.

The word felt so warm on Kyle’s tongue, like a candle melting by a fire.

But why would he need to “give space” when he could just “take”? A man used to getting what he wanted found this advice difficult to grasp.

Yet Hild’s expression was as serious as when he prepared the mansion’s annual budget.

“Hild. I really have to give her space?”

“Yes, Your Grace. You need to seem a bit indifferent, act like you’re not too invested. Like all precious things, love grows in value when it’s a little hard to come by.”

Kyle nodded, as if he understood.

“So if I go out and ask if she likes the mansion, but sound uninterested, that’ll do?”

“Ah… it’s not about the tone—”

“Thank you for the advice, Hild. I’ll go and tell her I love her, indifferently.”

Completely misunderstanding the advice, Kyle jumped to his feet, but Hild quickly shook his head firmly to stop him.

“Your Grace. Forgive me, but perhaps you could use a few more tips on ‘give and take.’”

And so, the “give and take” crash course began.