Chapter 6.1

As Kadis disappeared ahead of her, Lyla returned to her bedroom.  

While she was fretting over what to do next, the head maid came to deliver a message from Kadis.  

“Lord Kadis has instructed us to prepare a banquet for Professor Charlier?”  

Lyla was startled and asked again.  

The head maid responded with a polite nod. She also mentioned that the best room had been prepared for Charlier, along with five assigned servants.  

‘Thank goodness.’  

Lyla sighed in relief. The head maid tilted her head in curiosity as she observed Lyla’s reaction.  

“Earl? Is there a problem?”  

“Oh, ahaha, no, not at all!”  

Lyla shook her head and forced an awkward smile.  

“By the way, where is Lord Kadis now? Is he with the professor?”  

“He said he is working and should not be disturbed until the banquet preparations are complete.”  

Lyla cheered inwardly.  

This gave her time to consult Charlier about the situation. More importantly, with the professor’s arrival, it seemed she might finally get a break from Kadis’s constant attention.  

“If it’s alright, could I leave the banquet preparations to you, Head Maid?”  

“Of course. You’ve been busy preparing for the ball; you should get some rest.”  

“Thank you.”  

“Very well, then. I’ll take my leave.”  

The head maid bowed politely and exited the room. From outside, she let out a startled gasp, but Lyla, too preoccupied with her thoughts, didn’t pay attention.  

‘I should hurry and meet the professor.’  

Just as Lyla turned around—  

“Ah!”  

“What startled you so much?”  

Kadis had approached her without a sound and now stood blocking her path.  

More precisely, his broad chest was in her way.  

She had stopped herself just in time, or she might have collided headfirst into that intimidating chest. The shirt Kadis wore strained against his muscular torso, unable to fully contain his chest. His perfectly sculpted V-shaped physique was on full display.  

“I heard you were working…”  

Lyla quickly averted her eyes and spoke.  

“So? Is it a problem if I’m here?”  

“What?”  

“What were you planning to do while I was working?”  

“W-what do you mean?”  

Flustered, Lyla stammered, as if caught red-handed. A mocking laugh came from above her head.  

“Hey, Lyle. Did you think I wouldn’t find out why you went to the Magni Marquisate?”  

Lyla swallowed hard.  

“You were planning to set me up with that family’s daughter, weren’t you? Your intentions are obvious.”  

“T-that’s a misunderstanding! And calling her ‘that daughter’… such a rude thing to say!”  

“Misunderstanding, huh?”  

Kadis scoffed without a hint of remorse. Lyla, unable to hold back, retorted angrily.  

“For your information, I was the one who was confessed to!”  

“Oh? Are you bragging now?”  

Kadis placed his hands on his hips and leaned in closer.  

Through the gap in his loosely tied front, the contours of his chest were blatantly visible. Lyla stared blankly for a moment before quickly turning her gaze away.  

“Must’ve been nice, huh?”  

Kadis gritted his teeth as he spoke.  

He already knew about Didian confessing to ‘Lyle’ through a prior report. However, he hadn’t expected Lyla to be so brazen about it, which left him both slightly taken aback and, more than anything, irritated.  

“What? I asked if you enjoyed it.”  

“I, um, no, I plan to reject her.”  

Lyla stuttered, her words faltering.  

“Why? Marrying the young lady of the Marquisate would elevate your status.”  

“Because it wouldn’t be right to take advantage of Miss Didian’s feelings!”  

Lyla looked at Kadis with resolute eyes.  

“And me?”  

“!”  

Lyla, who had been confidently responding, froze.  

“I can overlook all your antics as mere quirks. But don’t treat me like a breeding horse.”  

“A breeding horse? That’s not…”  

Lyla trailed off, her voice weak.  

Feeling victorious, Kadis smirked and straightened his posture. Crossing his arms, he continued.  

“Am I wrong? You seem desperate to pair me off with someone.”  

“Please don’t say things like that! Do you have any idea how much I care about you, Lord Kadis?”  

Lyla shouted, her voice trembling with emotion.  

“No. To you, I’m just a breeding horse.”  

Kadis’s voice was low and firm.  

The more emotional Lyla became, the colder Kadis grew. His calm gaze left Lyla speechless.  

Was this really the Lord Kadis I knew? Or had I ever truly known him at all?  

The man standing before her was no longer the boy she remembered.  

Having returned from the blood-soaked battlefield, bearing scars as badges of honor, he was now a complete adult.  

An adult who bore his responsibilities, unlike her, who still felt incomplete.  

Kadis’s radiant silver hair seemed particularly cold today. Just looking at it made her eyes sting. Lyla clenched her hands tightly, trying to suppress the tears that threatened to fall.  

“You want me to marry someone I don’t love, have children, and raise heirs. If that’s not treating me like a breeding horse, then what is it?”  

“No, that’s happiness. Do you know how many people dream of such a life?”  

“And you?”  

“What?”  

“What about you? Don’t you want that kind of life?”  

“No, I… I’d be content just seeing you live that way, Lord Kadis. That’s my only dream, my only goal. And I’m not asking you to marry just anyone…”  

Lyla lowered her head, her voice trembling pathetically.  

Kadis abruptly lifted her chin.  

“Look me in the eyes and say it.”  

“Ah…”  

Lyla’s lips quivered, but no words came out.  

“Don’t force others to do what you wouldn’t do yourself.”  

“What do you mean by that?”  

Lyla bit her lip and fell silent.  

No.  

I want it too.  

She wanted to create a warm family with the person she loved.  

Like her father and mother.  

But for someone like her, that dream was out of reach.  

The happiness she had to give up.  

Perhaps that’s why she wanted it so desperately—for Kadis to live that life in her place.  

Was that so wrong? Was it wrong to wish for the happiness of the person she loved, to hope they would walk the right path?  

If such feelings were wrong, what was she supposed to do?  

She wished someone could solve this unsolvable problem for her.  

How presumptuous.  

“Let go of me.”  

At Lyla’s words, Kadis obediently released her chin.  

As soon as his hand left her, Lyla’s head drooped weakly. Like a broken branch, she couldn’t muster the strength to lift it again.  

“Happiness is relative.”  

“!”  

Kadis’s voice echoed above her.  

“With a life that was doomed from the start, happiness? Do you think that’s even possible?”  

Having said his piece, Kadis turned away sharply.  

Doomed from the start. 

Why did he always say such sorrowful things?  

Lyla couldn’t bring herself to stop him. She simply raised her hand halfway toward his retreating back before letting it fall again.  

She didn’t know what to say, so she chose silence. Once again, she ran away.  

And as always, guilt followed.  

Could someone as cowardly as her really deserve to stay by Kadis’s side?  

***

“Professor Charlier.”  

Lyla peeked her head through the slightly open door.  

“Lyle?”  

“Well, the door was open, so…”  

“Oh, don’t worry about it. Come in. After all, this is the ducal residence’s library, isn’t it? It’s a space for everyone.”  

Charlier closed the book he had been reading and smiled.  

His smile was as fresh as ever. Feeling comforted by it, Lyla pushed the half-open door wide and entered.  

“Come to think of it, didn’t we once pick out a book here for the Young Master’s studies?”  

“Yes, we did. I remember choosing a book that was hard for me to understand, thinking it might help Lord Kadis.”  

When Professor Charlier murmured, glancing around the room, Lyla nodded her head.  

“No, it was very helpful.”  

“Pardon?”  

“When I told Lord Kadis that you had chosen the book, he memorized it from cover to cover.”  

“Did he… really?”  

For some reason, Lyla felt a lump in her throat.  

“Lyle? Are you crying?”  

“…Ah, I’m sorry.”  

When Charlier tilted his head to examine her, Lyla hastily wiped away her tears.  

She had only known Charlier for about a year. Back then, Lyla, who had been responsible for Kadis, was still a child herself, not yet an adult. She had always felt inadequate compared to Kadis.  

So, she had relied on Charlier like a father figure, and those brief memories had now become idealized in her mind. Memories, like fine wine, became richer with time.  

And because those memories were so vivid, Lyla found herself wanting to lean on Charlier once more.  

“Professor, could I… possibly go with you when you return to the capital?”  

“You want to come with me, Lyle?”  

Professor Charlier looked momentarily flustered by Lyla’s request. However, he quickly masked his surprise and asked,  

“May I ask why?”  

“I don’t think I’m suited for the role of an aide. I also want to leave the North…”  

“Hmm. But, Lyle, life in the capital isn’t easy either. Even as a professor at the academy, my circumstances are far from comfortable.”  

“Of course, I’m not asking to impose on you, Professor. I plan to find my own lodging and a new job. I just… want to accompany you on the journey to the capital. Would that be alright?”  

Lyla added hastily.