I Unintentionally Cured the Grand Duke’s Insomnia - Chapter 143

72. — Realization (1)

〈 I like you. I still do. 〉

The teasing glint in his eyes was gone, replaced by a seriousness that made him seem like a completely different person as he looked at Adelia.

Adelia’s face turned bright red at his confession.

Her hands flew to cover her mouth, and her eyes widened as though she couldn’t believe what she had just heard. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled as they locked onto his. Meanwhile, that ba*tard simply stood there, meeting her stunned gaze, before bursting into laughter.

He bent over, his amusement evident at her flustered reaction.

When someone asked about their relationship, Adelia fiercely denied it, almost desperately as though trying to erase any notion that there were feelings between them.

〈 To be honest, I figured it wouldn’t matter even if you did hear. 〉

〈 It’s true that a kind, gentle man makes a better husband than someone who’s prickly and overbearing, isn’t it? 〉

His mocking tone was so light and calm that it sliced through the storm of anger raging in his mind. And the words she spat back at him were sincere, without a trace of falsehood.

It didn’t matter anymore.

Even if he was the younger brother he had longed for over the past five years.

A bird flew in behind him as he strode through the arcade corridor, his expression hardened. The bird, which had been naturally trailing behind him, suddenly transformed.

Without looking back, Cain parted his lips and addressed Lyle, who was silently walking a few steps behind.

“Didn’t I tell you there was no need to follow me, Lyle?”

“…I apologize.”

At the straightforward apology, he said nothing more.

Lyle cautiously observed the man in front of him, studying his expression before speaking carefully.

“I didn’t come here because I was suspicious of Count Blaise and his wife. I just thought I’d feel more at ease if I saw the place where Your Highness is staying with my own eyes.”

Cain remained silent despite Lyle’s swift clarification. Taking that silence as permission, Lyle immediately continued.

“After inspecting the area, I found no suspicious individuals or any malicious presence within the castle. The security seems tight, and I didn’t notice anything unusual in the central courtyard where Lady Adelia had been.”

As he finished his brief report, he glanced at his master’s back. Although he could only see him from behind, he felt a subtle sense of reassurance from his posture.

Still uneasy about leaving Cain behind, Lyle seized the opportunity to ask.

“Shall I serve as Lady Adelia’s escort?”

Cain, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped at his question.

Startled by the abrupt halt, Lyle’s breath caught as he wondered if he had made a mistake. He quickly lowered his gaze, then raised it again as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

“Do you think being gentle is better?”

“Pardon?” Lyle blurted out in surprise.

Even as he asked back in surprise, Cain remained silent. Lyle blinked at his master, who was silently waiting for his response, and stammered as he tried to respond.

“Do… do you really need to be affectionate?”

“Are you saying there’s no need to be gentle?”

“…I’m not sure if gentleness would be helpful. When disciplining tough men, wouldn’t it be better to display dignity and authority rather than being gentle…?”

Lyle’s stammered words faltered and trailed off. The longer he spoke, the more his master’s face visibly darkened, his expression tightening into a scowl.

Cain looked at his subordinate, whose eyes darted nervously before letting out a shallow sigh and turning away.

Lyle, quietly observing, couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. He stared at the man’s retreating figure for a moment before a sudden thought struck him. Then, rushing to follow Cain, he began speaking rapidly, his words spilling out like a downpour.

“B-Being gentle is definitely better! I mean, isn’t it easier to lean on someone kind rather than someone harsh when things get difficult?”

“….”

“And lately, the trend in Aren seems to be that capable and handsome younger men are especially popular with young ladies!”

“…That’s enough.”

“O-Of course, everyone has their own tastes, so I can’t say for sure, but if you’re concerned, shouldn’t Your Highness cater more to her preferences rather than other women’s…?”

Cain, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped in his tracks. Lyle, rushing to catch up, immediately clamped his mouth shut.

Cain’s expression sharpened as he turned to face him.

“Did you say Adelia was alone in the central courtyard?”

“Y-Yes! That’s right. Until a little while ago, she was with a man named Michael, but after that…?”

Lyle’s anxiety spiked as he watched his master spin on his heel and sprint toward the central courtyard before he could even finish his sentence.

He was a man who had endured over five years on a battlefield reeking of blood.

The reason he was able to survive that battlefield wasn’t merely due to his exceptional swordsmanship.

It was his sharp instincts, like those of a predator sensing danger.

Lyle ran after him, his thoughts racing. As he followed Cain toward the courtyard, he prayed silently that the worst-case scenario forming in his mind wouldn’t come to pass.

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