Chapter 42: The Eyes That Weren’t Green Anymore

At the word manifestation, Kebel felt his heart sink heavily in his chest.

He was sure he had heard before that manifestation didn’t grant any special abilities or symptoms like that. Even as shock spread clearly across Kebel’s face, the Duke quietly wiped the sweat gathered on his forehead with a handkerchief.

Tap, tap.

The soft cloth brushing against his skin felt as gentle as feathers.

The Duke’s careful touch, kind enough to wipe away even the sweat on his brow, softened Kebel’s expression into a faint smile. Having someone beside him when he was this sick truly felt comforting.

“Even after manifestation, nothing much will change. So don’t be too afraid.”

If it didn’t even grant abilities, why the hell did it hurt this much?

Annoyed for no reason, Kebel wrinkled his nose.

The Duke called for a servant to bring water. After lying sick in bed for days, Kebel wet his cracked lips and eased his thirst with the cool drink. He thought he could easily finish the entire glass, but it went down harder than expected.

Setting down the half-finished cup, Kebel slowly pushed himself upright.

A groan escaped his lips automatically.

Just as the Duke turned to leave the room, Kebel quietly called out.

“F-Father…”

“Yes?”

The Duke stopped in his tracks and turned back toward him. Kebel smiled brightly at him.

“Thank you… for staying by my side all night.”

At the shy words, the Duke’s eyes reddened instantly.

But he quickly hid it behind a smile before leaving the room in haste.

For some reason, Kebel felt like today might become one of those days he would later praise himself for.

****

Several days had passed since Kebel woke up.

Despite Kebel being bedridden, Osh had apparently never once visited the duchy. Even after Kebel regained consciousness, Osh remained completely unreachable.

At this point, the only things left from the original story should have been Kebel’s death and the Duke’s.

But things had already changed far too much.

No one knew how Count Sulleban would move from here on.

First of all, the Duke had strengthened his political power by siding with the Crown Prince. Which meant that even if Count Sulleban still had the Empress at his side, he couldn’t move recklessly anymore.

‘So why?’

What exactly had Sulleban been thinking in the original story?

Why had they needed both the Duke’s life and Kebel’s alongside those confidential documents?

Thinking about it now, this clearly wasn’t something simple.

Kebel just hadn’t wanted to dig deeper before.

But now he had no intention of obediently following the original plot toward ruin.

He needed answers.

Because it felt like there was something important he was overlooking.

What was it?

Why did this all feel so unsettling?

Unable to grasp the elusive thread of truth, Kebel let out a frustrated groan.

After pacing the room repeatedly, he called for Bill, who had been waiting outside.

The urgency in Kebel’s voice made Bill rush inside immediately.

“You called for me, Young Master?”

“Bill, still no reply from the Sulleban household today?”

“No…”

“I see. I was just wondering. You can go now.”

“I’m sorry, Young Master.”

Bill looked miserable, probably upset that he couldn’t be of help.

But Kebel didn’t have the energy to comfort him right now, so he simply gestured for him to leave.

Only after Bill exited did Kebel sit heavily on the edge of the desk.

His mind felt so hazy he couldn’t even remember how he had spent the day.

The anxiety gnawing at him and the unusual irritability made time feel unbearably hollow, as though he had lost something precious.

“Haah…”

Kebel roughly swept a hand through his hair as suffocating frustration tightened around his chest.

After they parted that night, had something happened to Osh?

And while Kebel had been so sick, why hadn’t Osh come even once?

There were so many things he wanted to ask.

He had even considered visiting Osh himself.

But he worried it might somehow cause trouble for him.

The more he thought about it, the more suffocating it became. Kebel repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists.

If just a few days apart already tormented him this badly like withdrawal symptoms, could he really endure never seeing Osh again?

The thought itself was ridiculous.

But even more ridiculous were the strange emotions constantly rising inside him.

A sharp, aching sensation pricked at him relentlessly, making him want desperately to vent this restless desire somewhere.

After several sleepless nights, his eyelids throbbed painfully.

Kebel pressed his fingers against his forehead and slowly opened his tired eyes again before leaning his head back to stare blankly at the ceiling.

Then came a knock.

A servant entered carrying food, likely because it was already dinner time.

But Kebel immediately sent it back.

In his current state, he felt like he would throw up if he ate anything, so he decided to simply go to bed hungry.

As darkness deepened outside, the gloom inside him only worsened.

Unable to endure it anymore, Kebel rose from his seat and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling out the dagger hidden beneath his pillow.

“You’re still here…”

He muttered quietly, almost wishing he had lost it instead.

Drawing the blade from its sheath, he watched the sharp edge gleam coldly in the dim light.

He had prepared this dagger hoping he would never need to use it.

But tonight, he couldn’t shake the ominous feeling creeping over him.

Osh’s prolonged absence.

The time steadily slipping away.

Both felt like warnings counting down the remainder of his life.

With a hollow laugh, Kebel traced the blade with his eyes.

If the day came when he had to stab Osh…

Could he really do it?

No.

He knew he couldn’t.

Kebel wasn’t cold-hearted enough to hurt Osh.

But if Osh ever tried to harm the people around him, then Kebel would have to strike without hesitation.

Because just as Osh was precious to him, the people of House Ilya were precious too.

And he was the sole heir destined to lead the duchy.

He couldn’t allow himself to falter because of affection.

Repeating those thoughts like brainwashing, Kebel finally slid the dagger back into its sheath and hid it beneath the pillow again.

With determined eyes, he loosened his neatly tied necktie and removed his vest, folding it carefully.

“Where the hell are you, anyway?”

The resentful mutter escaped before he could stop it.

Was it really so hard to send even a single message?

The thought irritated him enough to make anger well up in his chest.

Haah…

A heavy sigh escaped him.

Feeling frustrated, Kebel threw himself backward onto the bed.

He hadn’t been able to focus on anything all day.

Part of him was genuinely afraid something might have happened to Osh.

That was why he had ordered Ida to report any rumors involving Osh immediately.

But apparently Osh hadn’t even left the house, because no information surfaced at all.

Kebel pulled the blanket tightly around himself.

Thoughts of Osh refused to leave his mind, making him restless.

Forcing himself to push those thoughts away, he shut his eyes tightly.

“I must really be going insane. There’s no other explanation…”

Because otherwise, his heart couldn’t possibly hurt this much.

As if denying it, Kebel rubbed his face roughly with both hands.

Even then, Osh still occupied far too much space in his world.

Then Kebel stared at the back of his hand.

The lingering warmth Osh had left there still felt hot, like a burn.

The dull ache made Kebel quietly close his eyes again, placing a hand over his chest.

Flap.

The curtains rustled violently as cold night air swept through the room.

‘Did I leave the window open?’

The chill was so intense that Kebel tried to move, but suddenly realized he couldn’t.

Something heavy pinned his body down.

At the rough breathing near his ear, goosebumps spread across his skin.

Fear rooted him in place.

Unable to open his eyes, his throat bobbed nervously.

Then, a familiar voice reached him.

“You’re awake?”

Kebel slowly opened his eyes.

And there he was.

Osh smiled softly down at him.

Had he appeared because Kebel thought about him every single day?

Was that why Osh was straddling him now?

‘Was this a dream or reality?’

As those thoughts crossed his mind, Kebel lifted a hand to touch him, but his body wouldn’t move.

It felt as though he had already been tied down.

Cold sweat slid down his spine, filling him with a terrifying chill, as though he were staring at a ghost.

“It’s been a while, Kebel. Have you been well?”

‘How could I have been?’

The words died in his throat.

Tears welled up instead, and Kebel bit down hard on his lower lip.

Osh’s voice sounded as gentle as ever.

But his eyes, his eyes felt terrifying, like staring directly at death itself.

It was definitely Osh.

And yet… why were his eyes glowing black?

Where had the warm green eyes Kebel loved gone?

Why was Osh looking down at him now with such emotionless eyes?

Slowly releasing his bitten lip, Kebel spoke carefully.

“Osh… your eyes…”

“I always thought House Ilya’s security was far too careless.”

“…What?”

“Look carefully. Even now, nobody realizes you’re in danger.”

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