I Unintentionally Cured the Grand Duke’s Insomnia - Chapter 155

78. — What Remains After the Choice (1)

Cain had no idea what had possessed him to sprint all the way to the castle. All he could think about was Lia’s face… Her bright, radiant smile directed at him.

He tugged on the reins after passing through the castle gates.

When the horse reared and came to a stop, Cain jumped down as if leaping off the horse.

Even though something felt off in the eerily quiet castle, his feet kept moving without stopping. As he ran through the arcade hallway toward Jackson’s office, he furrowed his brow at the sight of the guards lying on the floor. For a brief moment, he thought the castle had been attacked but quickly shook off the thought.

The guards lying on the floor had no visible injuries, nor was there any trace of blood on their clothes.

‘If anything, how should I describe it…’

It looked like they were all fast asleep.

Cain, filled with confusion and anxiety, rushed to Jackson’s office and swung the door open. The office was in complete disarray. A teacup lay shattered on the floor, tea spilled everywhere. It seemed someone had ransacked the room. The drawers were open, and the curtains were torn, fluttering in the breeze.

Andre, who had collapsed between the sofa and the table, was also fast asleep, just like the guards.

“…Lia.”

She wasn’t anywhere in the room.

Her absence only deepened Cain’s unease.

Cain noticed a feather lying on the windowsill and frowned.

Was Lyle keeping Lia safe?

Even though Cain wanted to believe it, unease gnawed at his chest. He scanned the room again, his expression tightening at the subtle yet distinct floral aroma lingering in the air.

Striding toward the desk, he grimaced at the dried leaves resting on a plate.

“Kaltix leaves.”

Just as he suspected. The herb Andre had was Kaltix.

For a brief moment, he wondered if the Kaltix leaves were responsible for the situation, but he quickly dismissed the thought. While it was a toxic plant that induced hallucinations when taken in excess, its primary function was as a pain reliever, not a sedative.

The remaining Kaltix leaves crumbled in Cain’s hand.

As he rushed to leave the room in search of Lia, something kicked against his foot and flew away.

The object spinning on the floor was a small dagger, its blade glinting sharply. His face then hardened as he saw the blood on the dagger.

〈 …I’m not going to die. I-I’m not completely sure, but maybe? 〉

Out of nowhere, a memory from the past and Lia’s face, smiling at him, flashed through his mind. The way her eyes darted nervously before locking onto his, the warmth in her expression.

Cain’s gaze lingered on the bloodied dagger for only a moment before he rushed out of the room.

‘…She wouldn’t be dead. She promised she wouldn’t die. She wouldn’t break that promise.

He held onto her words, trusting the promise she had given him.

Even though he didn’t believe in gods, the only words he believed were Lia’s promise.

̊ · : * ✧* : · ̊

My breath came in ragged, uneven gasps.

Every little noise made me flinch, my body tense and on edge. Supporting Irene’s limp form felt like dragging a dead weight, my legs growing heavier with every step.

“I-I think I’m going to die.”

I always thought only drunk people were heavy, but I was wrong. Someone in a deep sleep was just as bad, maybe even worse.

Eventually, my strength gave out.

My foot caught on the carpet, and before I could steady myself, I went tumbling forward.

“Aack!”

I hit the ground hard, pain jolting through my knee.

The pain was enough to bring tears to my eyes, so I rubbed at them fiercely and let out a shaky breath. I took a moment to catch my breath, propping Irene up against the wall and carefully set Lyle down on the carpet. He had been tucked at my waist the whole time, and the makeshift sling—fashioned from the office curtains—lay crumpled beside me.

I let out a soft sigh as I watched the two of them sleep soundly.

“…If Lyle were in human form, running away like this wouldn’t have even been an option.”

Honestly, I had just gotten lucky this time.

When Jackson pressed the knife to my throat, I really thought I was going to die like this…

“If I hadn’t thought of Cain in that moment, I probably would’ve been dead…”

As I thought that this might be my last moment, Cain’s face suddenly flashed in my mind. I was worried that if I died here, he would be burdened with guilt all over again. Even with my life hanging by a thread, I didn’t want to place that weight on his shoulders. At the same time, I didn’t want to become another scar in his memories.

If I were to leave anything behind in his heart, I wanted it to be a good memory.

Memories of my time with Cain flickered by, like scenes from a fading dream. I thought of him saying that my book was his salvation, and of the moment he told me that if I carried any guilt, he would bear it with me.

Then, I remembered how he always drifted off to sleep peacefully whenever I read to him.

Those memories brought me back to the day I wondered if my book was like a prophecy in this world, making people fall asleep. It was the suspicion that perhaps an invisible force, determined to keep the future hidden, had lulled everyone into slumber.

Clinging to the slimmest chance and a shred of hope, I recited the book’s words… and it worked perfectly.

Jackson collapsed into a deep sleep as if by magic, and the dagger, which had been pointed at my throat, clattered to the ground. The moment I realized I was still alive, the tension drained from me, and I dropped to the floor with a heavy thud.

“I didn’t think Irene and Lyle would fall asleep too… I was just as surprised.”