Chapter 55: If I Let You Go, Will You Come Back to Me?

“Father.”

“If I said no, then you should understand that I mean no.”

The Duke had always worn a gentle, benevolent expression.

Yet now his brows were drawn sharply together, his gaze cold and severe.

Even then, Kebel could see him trying to suppress his anger.

“Why do you think I’ve been working myself to exhaustion every night Isn’t it all because of you Do you have any idea how hard your father has been trying to make sure nothing happens to you?”

“I’ll only go and come back. I can’t promise nothing will happen, but… I want to save him.”

At Kebel’s unwavering words, the Duke’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Fatigue reddened the whites of his eyes, and his gaze trembled faintly.

Perhaps he already knew he would never be able to break Kebel’s stubborn resolve.

He knew destiny demanded that Kebel go.

Yet as a father, with only one son, he desperately wanted to refuse.

Knowing that, Kebel continued pressing forward.

“I know. I know how you feel, Father. But you know what kind of family ours is. I promise I’ll return safely. I won’t come back hurt… Please, Father.”

The Duke released a long, heavy sigh.

The depth of his worry seemed tangible enough to reach Kebel.

After a long silence, he finally looked at him again.

His expression was so pained that even an onlooker would have felt sorry for him.

Slowly, the Duke spoke.

“Hah… I understand that you’ve been troubled since Osh left. I know I haven’t been able to pay attention to you lately. But even if I were to permit this, it would mean nothing if His Highness the Crown Prince refuses. You know that as well.”

“I’ll convince him. So please, Father. Give me your permission.”

Please.

Though Kebel never spoke the word aloud, the plea reached the Duke all the same.

The Duke’s lips remained firmly sealed.

Unlike Kebel’s resolute gaze, the Duke’s eyes shook with uncertainty.

His face was filled with worry.

Kebel knew better than anyone how much the Duke loved him.

His only son.

The son he had never pressured, choosing instead to wait patiently all this time.

Though Kebel couldn’t fully understand the depth of a parent’s heart, he understood enough to know how painful this must be for him.

Slowly, Kebel stood.

He moved to the seat beside the Duke and carefully took his hand.

It was the first time Kebel had ever held it.

Throughout all the years they had spent together, he had never once reached for that hand.

Summoning his courage, he finally did.

At the unexpected touch, the Duke’s eyes trembled.

The deep wrinkles carved by time.

The dark circles beneath his eyes from countless sleepless nights.

They hurt to look at.

“I’m sorry. I’ll make sure there won’t be a next time where I ask for something like this…”

Kebel smiled brightly, hoping to reassure him.

At that, the Duke finally smiled as well.

A weak smile of surrender.

****

Less than a day after that conversation, the ducal estate erupted into commotion.

Kebel had expected that he would come once he heard the news.

Still, he hadn’t expected it to happen this early.

Having spent the entire night tossing and turning, Kebel barely slept.

After hastily washing up and throwing on a coat, he headed downstairs to meet him.

Even after Kebel arrived, the man didn’t spare him a glance.

Instead, he sat staring at the table with a face so cold it felt frozen.

The reaction was far colder than Kebel had anticipated.

Caught off guard, he froze briefly before bowing politely.

Even after the greeting, the man’s lips remained tightly shut.

Kebel had expected anger.

But seeing it this plainly still made him nervous.

The man’s temper was like fire.

No one ever knew when it might suddenly erupt.

Carefully, Kebel spoke.

The response he received was brief.

“What brings you here so early in the morning?”

“Sit.”

Beryl gestured toward a chair with his chin.

The muscles in his clenched jaw twitched visibly.

How hard was he grinding his teeth?

Was this really something worth being so angry about?

Unable to hide his dissatisfaction, Kebel sat down.

Even then, Beryl continued staring at the table.

He refused to meet Kebel’s eyes.

The silence filling the room became suffocating.

Amid the tense atmosphere, Kebel glanced at him cautiously.

Perhaps sensing that gaze, Beryl finally forced his lips apart.

“The Duke sent me a letter this morning. He said he’s decided to send you to the Kingdom of Beal. Explain.”

“What is there to explain? It’s exactly what it sounds like.”

“Then that means this is what you want as well. Why? Why would you make such a dangerous decision?”

A grinding sound escaped between Beryl’s teeth as he fought to contain his anger.

The armrest beneath his hand creaked ominously.

The chair looked sturdy, yet cracks were already forming beneath his grip.

Kebel’s eyes widened.

“I won’t allow it. So understand that clearly.”

“Please let me go.”

“I’ve said all I need to say. This conversation is over.”

“I have no intention of changing my mind either. Please let me go.”

The instant Kebel refused to back down, Beryl slammed his hand against the armrest.

Thud.

The heavy impact echoed through the room.

In an instant, the atmosphere became as brittle as thin ice.

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“Your Highness. Do you remember saying that you would respect my wishes?”

“And why are you bringing that up now?”

“Please let me go. This is something I volunteered for of my own accord.”

At Kebel’s rebuttal, Beryl clenched his jaw hard enough to crush stone.

He drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled before speaking again.

“What am I to you, exactly? I know I’ve told you that I’m trying.”

“Your Highness…”

“I truly don’t understand. How can you do this to me?”

Like the veins bulging across the back of his hand, his breathing had become rough and strained.

He looked like a bomb ready to explode at any moment.

Carefully, Kebel called his name.

“Beryl…”

The name slipped out before he realized it.

Startled, Kebel covered his mouth.

Yet rather than reacting badly, Beryl’s eyes visibly trembled.

It had been unconscious.

But hearing Kebel call him by name for the first time softened his expression.

“I’ve always been grateful.”

“…”

“For your patience with my unreasonable behavior. For all the consideration you’ve shown me. I know you’ve never treated me merely as the Crown Prince. You’ve treated me as a man.”

“…”

“And I know how hard you’ve been trying. That’s why I’ve always been grateful.”

The words poured out like a confession.

Kebel lowered his gaze.

Sunlight filtered through the window, casting shadows beneath his lashes.

Every flutter of those lashes deepened the sorrow in his expression.

Faced with that look, Beryl found himself unable to say anything.

Instead, he simply bit down hard on his teeth.

“I know I’m asking something unreasonable. And I know I’m being unfair to you.”

Those words only darkened Beryl’s expression further.

His face twisted as though his world were collapsing.

Unable to speak, he simply stared at Kebel.

As though trying to engrave his image into his eyes.

The look he gave him resembled that of a wounded, abandoned beast.

Kebel carefully continued.

“I promise I’ll come back safely. So…”

Please don’t look at me like that.

The words never made it out.

A sudden lump rose in his throat and swallowed them whole.

Pain stabbed at his chest.

Kebel clenched his fist tightly.

Forcing a smile, he looked at Beryl.

Immediately, Beryl’s brows twisted deeply.

As though the emotions inside him were becoming unbearable, he covered his forehead with one large hand and shook his head.

His broad shoulders slumped.

His back curved inward.

And somehow, they seemed to tremble.

Like a beast letting out a silent scream.

Watching him, Kebel felt tears sting his eyes.

At first, Beryl’s feelings had burdened him.

He thought it was only because of his status.

Then because the original story had been twisted by his own actions.

He had convinced himself it was temporary.

That it would pass.

That once Enok appeared, Beryl would stop looking at him entirely.

The truth was, he had taken Beryl’s feelings lightly.

But the man before him now looked utterly devastated.

‘He really liked me this much…’

Guilt and remorse flooded Kebel.

If only he had pushed Beryl away before his feelings grew this deep.

If only he had maintained some distance.

Maybe it never would have reached this point.

But regretting it now changed nothing.

He knew he needed to reject him firmly.

Even now.

Kebel nervously bit his lip.

Judging by the atmosphere, Beryl needed time to process this as well.

Silence filled the drawing room.

Kebel fidgeted with his hands.

The sun disappeared behind the clouds and emerged again several times.

Finally, Beryl spoke.

“You truly are cruel until the very end…”

His voice was saturated with bitterness.

His eyes were cold enough to chill the air.

Yet his expression was filled only with emptiness and resignation.

The sight made Kebel’s chest ache.

Unable to bear it, Kebel looked away.

A crooked smile spread across Beryl’s lips as he spoke.

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