I Unintentionally Cured the Grand Duke’s Insomnia - Chapter 145

73. — It Doesn’t Matter (1)

The door clicked shut behind me.

As I bit my lip and stared at the floor, Andre, who had been quietly watching me, broke the silence.

“Come in, Lia.”

I lifted my head slowly at the sound of his voice.

His warm smile came into view, along with his arm secured in a splint. Bandages wrapped tightly around his left arm, where the arrow had struck, were stained with traces of blood.

Not long ago, he had been teasing me with his usual playful grin. Now, seeing him unable to move after taking the arrow in my place, I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t offer hollow reassurances or even sincere gratitude, so I opened my mouth to speak but closed it again.

Seeing me like that, Andre chuckled softly.

“It’s safe here, Lia. You can come closer.”

“I, I wasn’t hesitating because it was dangerous!”

Afraid he might misunderstand, I hurried over to his side. I found a spot between the bed and the glass window that offered a clear view of the outside and finally spoke.

“I just thought if I stayed close, Lord Jackson might end up getting hurt again…”

“Lia.”

The apology I had been about to offer was cut off by his interruption. Andre, who had been quietly meeting my gaze, spoke with a playful smile.

“I would’ve stopped it, whether it was for you or not.”

“….”

“Of course, the fact that it was you definitely made my body react instinctively! But I don’t regret saving you.”

“….”

“So, there’s no need for you to feel sorry or apologize.”

He sat under the pouring sunlight, smiling as he looked at me. His expression, so genuine and unassuming, made me ask cautiously.

“…I thought I should ask at least once.”

“….?”

“Do you like me, Lord Jackson?”

My clenched fists, resting on my knees, tightened with all the strength I could muster. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was bracing for his answer or because I was terrified of it.

He watched me for a moment, his gaze softening. Then, with a faint, almost wistful smile, he responded.

“I do. If that’s your question, I’ll answer it as many times as you want.”

“….”

“But just because I feel this way doesn’t mean I expect you to return the same feelings, Lia.”

“….”

“So take your time and think about it. Think about who might be the right person for you.”

He smiled faintly, the corners of his lips curling upward, then groaned dramatically, complaining about the pain in his arm. Even though I knew he was exaggerating on purpose to ease my guilt, my expression wouldn’t soften. Surely, just as he said, Lord Jackson was the one who was best for me. He was the one who loved Adelia enough to take an arrow in her place.

But I couldn’t figure out why I kept feeling this way.

̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊

The door closed with a soft click, and Adelia disappeared inside.

Cain frowned, his gaze lingering on the now-empty spot where Adelia had stood just moments ago.

Why did she have that expression? He couldn’t erase the image of her face from his mind—the way she looked just before stepping into the room. She seemed as if she might crumble at any moment. It was a despair, unlike the fear of someone threatening her life.

How should he describe it?

Yes, that was it.

Her face looked just like it had that time when she said it wasn’t her place by his side.

All of a sudden, Michael’s face flashed through his mind. That sly, weasel-like man¹ with his infuriating smirks that always managed to get under his skin. The memory brought with it the image of Adelia frantically denying any connection between them in front of that man

〈 His Highness the Grand Duke and I aren’t like that! 〉

Recalling the sight of Adelia denying any connection to him was, how should he put it…

It truly left an indescribable bitterness in his chest.

The thought of Adelia’s sparkling emerald eyes being directed at someone else made his insides ache and twist painfully. He gritted his teeth, struggling to suppress the anger bubbling up inside.

His jaw clenched, hardening like stone.

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

〈 Be-being gentle is definitely better! I mean, isn’t it easier to lean on someone kind rather than someone harsh when things get difficult? 〉

Cain unconsciously clenched and unclenched his fist, trying to ease the tension building within him.

As he quietly looked down at his hand, a thought crossed his mind that perhaps Adelia found it easier to lean on that smug weasel or the reserved lord rather than someone as cold and overbearing as himself.

‘If that was the case…’

The expression on his face, as he gazed at his tightly clenched fist, gradually softened.

Perhaps it was a good thing.

If Adelia disliked him because he wasn’t kind enough, then he would simply become someone kind.

If she preferred someone sly, then he would become that as well.

〈 I want you to be happy enough to create a fairy tale like this with your words. 〉

Because the woman who created a fairytale just to wish for his happiness was her.

He realized that his happiness was staying by her side, so nothing else mattered. If it was what she wanted, he could be anything—whether a mad tyrant or a kind lover.

¹ [ Describing someone as ‘weasel-like’ often implies that the person is sly, sneaky, or untrustworthy, drawing on the characteristics stereotypically associated with the animal. ] ↩

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