Chapter 6.4

“Lyle.”

At the sound of Kadis calling her, Lyla instinctively turned her head.

Her tears blurred the light from the chandelier, making it hard to see Kadis’s expression.

“Lyle.”

But in the way Kadis called her name twice, she could sense the weight of his anguish and concern.

‘…When you cry, it feels like something heavy drops here.’  

‘Huh? Does your chest hurt? Should I call a physician? Oh, maybe it’s an illness.’ 

Back then, she hadn’t understood.

Why Kadis had said such things.

Now she knew. Because he cared for her too much. Because he loved her. 

Oh, Kadis. You truly have a warm soul. The thought of ruining someone as kind as you… it terrifies me.

“I’m sorry. I can’t… I can’t do this anymore.”

And so, Lyla ran away.

From a happiness she didn’t deserve. From the realization of her first love.

Yes. I’ve always been like this.

I’ve never done anything right, but when it comes to running away, I’m faster than anyone else.

A cowardly coward.

“Lyle!”

Lyla didn’t look back as she ran out, leaving Kadis’s voice calling her behind.

* * *

‘What a mess.’

Professor Charlier sighed inwardly.

This was a true tightrope walk. No, it was more like being trapped in a cage with a starving beast.

“Damn it.”

At Kadis’s menacing tone, Charlier straightened his back.

“Damn it!”

Bang!

Kadis slammed his hand on the table.

The force was so great that the heavy silver trays bounced into the air. With such strength, Kadis could probably kill a man with his bare hands.

‘I guess we should stop going to the capital together.’

Charlier weighed his life against Lyla’s freedom and chose the former.

“You.”

Still gripping the table as if he might crush it, Kadis glared at Charlier.

“Y-yes…!”

Charlier flinched and raised his head.

“If you want to live, stay out of my sight.”

“I-I’ll leave for the capital at dawn!”

Charlier responded eagerly, as though he had been waiting for the chance.

“Phew. That was close~”

Fleeing the banquet hall as fast as he could, Charlier pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

The entire way back to his quarters, he kept glancing over his shoulder, worried that Kadis might come after him to kill him.

He still couldn’t believe what had just happened.

‘Was he jealous of me and Lyle—no, Lyla?’

Thinking back, Kadis had always been excessively possessive of Lyle, even as a child.

It was more than just gratitude toward the person who had saved his life.

Now it all made sense.

“I never thought the Duke… was into men?”

Wait. Lyle—no, Lyla—was actually a woman.

So… not into men after all?

But what if Kadis thought Lyla was a man?  

‘Oh dear, my head hurts. There’s no need for me to step in and clear up this misunderstanding.’

Considering the terrifying possessiveness Kadis had shown toward Lyla during their childhood, gender probably didn’t matter to him. Yes, just as he had said, no barrier would hold against Kadis’s obsession.  

If anything, it might even be more dangerous.  

Either way, it wasn’t a favorable situation for him. No matter what, he wanted to avoid the foolishness of becoming Kadis’s rival. This wasn’t something that could be compared to the reckless games of the capital.  

“Wait.”  

As Charlier hurried his steps, he suddenly halted. His face turned pale.  

‘If the Duke finds out that the Earl has been sending me living expenses all this time…!’

Charlier had exchanged letters with Lyla for quite some time during the war.  

Whenever he subtly hinted at his financial struggles, Lyla quickly sent him money. He hadn’t outright demanded it; Lyla had offered it first, so there was no reason for him to feel guilty.  

But in the North, Kadis’s word was law.  

Judging by the situation earlier, if Kadis found out about this, he would undoubtedly seize upon it as an excuse to punish him harshly.  

Ignoring it and heading to the capital would be even worse. Charlier’s reputation in the capital had been deteriorating steadily. If it weren’t for the war, rumors would have already spread to the North.  

‘I just need to make sure Lyla keeps quiet.’ 

The rest could be dealt with later.  

As he resumed walking, he found Lyla waiting for him, much to his surprise.  

Damn it. 

Charlier cursed inwardly.  

From a distance, Lyla noticed him and approached.  

“Professor! Oh.”  

Lyla, who had been walking toward Charlier, suddenly stopped and glanced around nervously. Charlier also instinctively turned to look behind him. Forcing a smile, he spoke.  

“It seems no one is following us.”  

“I’m sorry. Because of me, you’ve been dragged into such a misunderstanding.”  

“Haha, it’s nothing. Still, I never imagined that His Grace the Duke would harbor feelings for you, Miss Lyla.”  

Charlier waved his hand dismissively, laughing.  

“Or should I start addressing you as the Duchess now?”  

He asked lightly, trying to change the mood, but Lyla’s face turned as pale as if she had committed a grave crime.  

“Someone like me… a Duchess?”  

“Why not reveal the truth—that you’re a woman? His Grace Kadis would surely accept you as his wife.”  

“Please don’t say such things! I’ve lived my life as a man until now. I don’t even know how to live as a noblewoman, let alone take on a role that’s far beyond my station.”  

So, she knows her place. 

Charlier sneered inwardly.  

For the first time, she had given an answer that he found agreeable. But from his perspective, it was still a problem.  

Lyla was like a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment. Who in their right mind would walk around carrying such a dangerous thing?  

“Are you still determined to leave the North?”  

“Yes.”  

Lyla nodded firmly.  

Charlier suppressed a deep sigh that threatened to escape him. It was time to find the right words to refuse her.  

“I plan to leave alone. I don’t want to burden you, Professor. I can’t risk provoking His Grace’s anger unnecessarily…”  

“Ah, hahaha.”  

Her unexpected response made Charlier laugh in relief. Clearing his throat, he quickly replied.  

“Ahem. Speaking of which, about the living expenses you sent me… If His Grace finds out, it could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings…”  

Charlier glanced at Lyla. She seemed to understand immediately, nodding in agreement.  

“I used my personal funds to send that money, so it has nothing to do with the Duke’s household. It doesn’t violate any laws. But as you said, His Grace Kadis is the problem. Don’t worry—I’ll burn the letters, so there won’t be any evidence left on my side.”  

“Thank you for saying that. Now I can return to the capital with peace of mind.”  

Professor Charlier sighed in relief.  

One of his top priorities upon returning to the capital would be to burn the letters he had exchanged with Lyla.  

“Oh, by the way, what time are you leaving tomorrow?”  

“Pardon? Why do you ask…?”  

“I thought I should see you off. I can’t let a guest leave on their own.”  

“Haha, no need. Your sentiment alone is appreciated.”  

Professor Charlier waved his hands in protest.  

“Well then, I’ll take my leave for now. I need to prepare for an early departure tomorrow.”  

He walked away from Lyla as if she were carrying the plague.  

Even from behind, his hurried steps exuded a sense of relief.  

But Lyla, already drained of energy, didn’t notice.  

It felt as if a gaping hole had been carved into her chest. Through that hole, all the emotions she had suppressed began pouring out uncontrollably.  

Once I was left as an empty shell, would I finally be free of this pain?  

‘The stars are so bright tonight.’ 

Lyla glanced up at the sky, lost in thought.  

After Charlier left, she was alone.  

Kadis didn’t show himself all night, even as she wandered outside until late.  

She had a feeling she knew why.  

It was the first time she had yelled and cried like that in front of Kadis.  

It must have been a shock.  

But Lyla was planning to hurt Kadis even more.  

She was going to leave him forever.  

But he would be fine. Time heals all wounds. He had to be fine.  

“Earl!”  

Just then, a servant came running toward her in a panic.  

“What is it?”  

“His Grace the Duke!”  

“What? Lord Kadis? What about him?”  

〈To Be Continued in Volume 2〉