The Male Lead Knelt Before Me

It was difficult for me to bring it up.
My body shook and I felt suffocated as I tried to reveal everything.

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Is it necessary for me to say it? Is it alright if I just pretend as if nothing happened, do not even tell anything, and leave?

I shook my head as the notion went through my mind.
I felt obligated to tell Caleb the truth now that he had professed his feelings to me.

“Actually, Duke, it was all planned.
I’m talking about when I just joined the Royal Knights.”

I bit my bottom lip tightly.

“I received a request by the Crown Prince to seduce you.
So that if there are rumors about you and me circulating, or even if you marry me, who was nobody, your position would be weakened.”

This was bound to happen.
Because it was for this reason that I ignored my feelings for Caleb and left him.

Whatever the actual tale was like, and regardless of whether I accepted it to save my life, the fact that I agreed to the Crown Prince’s request will remain unchanged.

So, despite how painful it was, I was able to bear the thought that Caleb didn’t like me.
Even if he likes me, once he discovers the truth, he will despise me.

“Duke, I’ve deceived you.
It was all arranged from the start, right from our first meeting.”

I couldn’t bring myself to glance up at Caleb’s expression.
Because it was so obvious what kind of expression he’d make.
I’m sure he felt deceived and despised me.

I didn’t want to tell him this, though.

“Do you mean since the first time we met, when bullies were bothering you?”

I shook my head.

“Then since when have you been under the Crown Prince’s requests?”

“A few days after that.
He appeared out of nowhere and……”

I couldn’t continue my sentence because I couldn’t bear it.
I thought this was really the end.

Before leaving, all I wanted to do was thank him for saving me, but things turned out badly.

‘I’m sure he can’t stand seeing me, right?’

It’s just too blatant.
Even if it was me, I wouldn’t want to see myself again.

I could feel my tears welling up.

I put all of my strength into my eyes.

I really never wanted to cry in this situation because I didn’t deserve to.

However, once the tears welled up in my eyes, the tears didn’t subsided easily.

In addition, because I was lowering my head, the tears welled up more and more.

Just as I could feel tears falling, Caleb’s hand wrapped around my cheek.

I could feel a desire to raise my head, but it was gentle and weak enough that if I made up my mind, I could resist it.

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However, I couldn’t resist him.
Maybe it’s best if I just give up and surrender to him.

“Why do you look like that, Elena?”

I couldn’t tell what my expression was like since I couldn’t see it.
At the very least, I was able to see Caleb’s expression.

Because I’m looking at him now.
Because I was able to see his face.

“It’s alright, Elena.
So don’t make that expression.”

A face that isn’t what I expected, but is concerned about me.
I barely spoke as he peered at me with his usual warm gazes.

“Don’t you… don’t you despise me, Duke?”

“I think this is my turn to say this to you.
There’s no way I could hate you, Elena.”

“How come? Duke, I’m deceiving you.
And it’s at the request of the Crown Prince in order to harm you.
But why……”

“How did you think you could harm me?”

“Because if you fall for someone like me, Duke, you’ll get nothing.
You’re only going to be at a disadvantage.”

“I don’t consider anything I haven’t earned to be an advantage.” Even if I met you, nothing would change what I have presently.
So I don’t think there’s a reason for me to avoid meeting you.”

“There is.
You’ll ruin your reputation if you become engaged with me.”

“Isn’t it meaningless to maintain a reputation that will shatter if I meet certain people?”

Caleb added firmly.

“And, for me, there’s no one but you.”

His remarks were so sweet that I wondered if I felt the same way the last time God blessed me.

“However, I am an actress.
Duke, don’t you believe everything I’ve shown you is a lie?”

“I don’t think everything you’ve done to me is an act.
And even if it’s an act, it doesn’t matter.”

Caleb smiled as he stroked my disheveled hair over my earlobe.

“They are, after all, a part of you.”

It was truly a warm and gentle smile.

Just by looking at him, I can feel the feelings he has for me.

My eyelashes were shaking so badly that I burst out crying.

I couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down my cheeks.

“Then, please answer me now.”

Caleb muttered, his hands wiping tears from my eyes.

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“Do you dislike me, Elena?”

Ah, I’ve reached my limit.

The secret box I had hidden in my heart.

Despite the fact that I was thinking about it every time I looked at Caleb, I had to fight the impulse to tell him how I felt.

“……No.”

My own secret box, which I sealed with a promise to never reveal.

“Duke, I like you.”

The emotions burst forth from the open box.

Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about Vivian.

Because she was the original story’s female protagonist.

But, for the time being, I didn’t want to be concerned about those problems.

I simply wanted to be honest with myself and focus on the fact that Caleb confessed to me.

“I love you, Duke.”

Caleb’s facial expressions changed a lot, and I was able to capture them all.

From his surprised expression when he heard me say it to his genuinely happy smile.

For a moment, my legs became weak.

As I slumped to the floor, Caleb sat with a bewildered face and asked.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine.
It’s just that I feel a little weak……”

I put strength on my legs to get up.

But, strangely enough, I was unable to strengthen my legs.

It was a time when I felt ashamed and could only make an awkward smile.

“Please pardon my rudeness.”

Caleb carefully raised me by placing his hands under my thighs and lower back.

I felt like I was floating in mid-air, so I grabbed his muscular shoulder with both hands.

Caleb grinned and whispered to me as I glanced up puzzled.

“I’m going to take you to your room.”

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I merely nodded like an idiot as the whispers tickled my ear.

However, there was a problem.
The problem is that I can feel his solid body over his thin shirt!

It’s not like he had never hugged me before, but I really can’t help but feel embarrassed once I was conscious of the position.

Although this may appear to be an excuse, I could never feel Caleb’s body clearly when he embraced me previously since he was always dressed appropriately.

‘As a result, I didn’t have time to be aware of his body shape, but……’

This time, both Caleb and I were wearing thin clothes.
As a result, I could vividly feel the movement of his muscle body with each step he took.

My cheeks became hot to the touch, as if we were touching one other’s bare skin.

While I was worried my position would be discovered, Caleb dropped me on the bed before I knew it.

The smooth bed brushing across my bottom made me stiffen up.

Because based on our recent conversation, I was able to foresee what would happen next.

“Elena.”

“Yes, Duke.”

My body stiffened as a result of the intense tension and excitement, but I feigned to be as calm as possible since I felt it would be strange if I showed it.

My heart, though, was hammering even faster.

I thought it was a little scary as I had never experienced it before, but I was also full of excitement.

Because my feelings for Caleb outweighed my fear of the first experience.

So, if he asks me if he can hug me again, I’ll tell him to do anything he desires.

“May I ring the bell?”

“As you desire……”

H-huh? What did he say?

“The bell?”

“Yes.
Your face is flushed.
I think you have a fever.
I believe it is preferable to call a therapist.
I want to be there for you, but I don’t want the maids to see me in your room since it will cause you harm, so please forgive me for returning first.”

No, that’s not it!

“Wait! There’s no need to call the maid!”

“Still, Elena, it is preferable to cure the cold and fever beforehand.”

“Th-this isn’t a fever…”

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I was just completely taken aback.
It’s simply that I’m nervous and excited!

But I couldn’t speak the truth when I saw Caleb’s face, which looked seriously worried about me.

What happened to the man who had been approaching me so passionately before?

“I believe it’s because I’ve been outside for a long time and then come into a warm place and have adapted to it.
So the fever will go away soon.”

It was something I said, but it sounded like a dog barking.

Ugh, why can’t I just be honest?

But I couldn’t express my true intentions because I was ashamed, and I’m not ready yet because I’ve never thought about this situation before.

“Moreover, it’s already late.
I don’t want to bother the maids or the therapist right now because they’re probably resting.”

“You’re correct, but are you truly alright?”

“I am alright.”

I enthusiastically nodded.

If he brings in a therapist like this, I’ll pretend to be sick…… no, I mean not that.
Anyway, it would have been revealed that I wasn’t sick anyway.

Also, I don’t want to make people come and go for nothing.

“I will call the therapist, if it gets worse.”

“Then I won’t insist.
However, don’t just hold it in until the morning, and make sure to ring the bell in the middle of the night to call a therapist.”

“I will.”

At my words, Caleb with a gentler expression on his face grabbed the back of my hand and kissed it.

My fingertips shrank slightly as his dry lips touched the back of my hand.

“Then go to sleep.
I will see you tomorrow.”

Caleb then exited.

As soon as the door shut, I shrieked over my blanket and shouted ‘Argh!’.

‘Why did I answer before even hearing it properly……’

My thoughts were concerned with what I had said before, specifically, what I expected Caleb to ask to do again.

Fortunately.
Caleb went over without much doubt.
If he bites down on those words and holds on to them, it will be problematic.
(T/N: 물고 늘어지다 ‘bite and hold on to’ means to find fault with what someone said and nitpick at every single thing.)

Because those words were so embarrassing that they deserved to be referred to as a dark past.

But, wait, I’m not dreaming, am I?