Chapter 108.1

“Oh, hello, Young Master Kyle.” Isabella greeted Kyle.

The child was still wary of her as he lowered his head and flashed her an awkward smile.

“Well, it wasn’t like I followed you here. I was on my way to the forest, you know? I had something important to do.” Isabella said.

Kyle didn’t react.

“What brought you to the forest, Young Master Kyle?” Isabella asked with nonchalance despite knowing the reason why Kyle was there.

If Kyle told her the truth, the following conversation leading to the medicine she was about to give him should run smoothly.

“I wanted to take a walk for a bit,” Kyle replied.

Isabella glanced at the sword in his hand and nodded.

Kyle didn’t want to admit that he was training the swordsmanship skills he inherited from Kyar’s ancestral lineage when he couldn’t even use the power of ice.

Aware of his biggest insecurity, Isabella chose not to press him for more information and changed the subject immediately.

“Did you prepare a present for His Highness?” She asked.

Kyle scratched his cheek awkwardly and replied, “Yes. But I’m  not sure if  my uncle will like it.”

Isabella glanced down at him. “I’m sure he will like it if it comes from you.”

“I hope so,” Kyle muttered, and his tone didn’t sound confident.

Suppressing the urge to comfort him by reaching out and patting his head gently, Isabella clutched the sling of her shoulder bag instead.

“Young Master Kyle.”

“Just call me Kyle, My Lady. You can address me as such if it makes you comfortable. But, you don’t have to force yourself if you don’t—-”

“Kyle.” Isabella interrupted him with a smile.”Are you alright with me calling you by your name?”

Cheeks turning red, Kyle nodded in agreement.

Then, Isabella leaned close to Kyle’s ear and whispered,  “As I told you yesterday, I’d be glad to be a part of the Kyar family. And it made me even happier that the Archduke and I have you with us.”

“Are you sure about that, My Lady? A lot of people don’t like to be around me. Sometimes, my presence makes my uncle and some of my friends at school uncomfortable because I’m… I’m a cursed kid.”

Isabella had heard it from Kyle before, but it still hurt to listen to it again.

This thirteen-year-old child living with such thoughts broke her heart.

Lowering herself to match Kyle’s height, Isabella enveloped him in a tight embrace.

“You are not a cursed child, Kyle.”

“If you get involved with me, bad things might happen to you. You’ve already heard of my parents, right? They died after they brought me into this world. I am cursed, My Lady. Believe me.”

She patted Kyle’s back as unshed tears blurred her vision.  “Kyle.”

Isabella’s heart ached at the sight of the child’s lonely, dark gaze as if he never expected that someone in this world would love him without conditions.

“I would understand if you hate me as well, My Lady. I don’t deserve to be loved if I only brought misfortune in other people’s lives.”

“That’s not true, Kyle. The Archduke loves you more than anyone else. He looked kind of cold on the outside, but he’s just not good at expressing himself. And Kyle–”

Isabella’s hand trembled as she caressed Kyle’s pale cheek.

“You are a blessed child, Kyle. Not cursed. Don’t ever say that again. You don’t know how special you are.” Isabella said.

Kyle’s quivering pupils widened in surprise.

“Your mother considered you the most precious person in this world, and she chose to save your life by not giving you up until the last minute. It isn’t your fault that your parents are dead, Kyle.”

Kyle’s dark eyes were now filled with tears as he listened to her comforting words.

“You are so lucky and special to be alive from your mother’s sincere wish,”  Isabella told him fondly as she wiped the tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Do you think so, My Lady?”

“Of course.”

But that answer didn’t come out of Isabella’s mouth.

The familiar voice sounded eerily close to Duke Kyar, and it broke the loving atmosphere between her and Kyle.

As they turned to look behind them, they were dismayed when they saw the Archduke standing there.

It was him.

Duke Kyar approached the two until he was close enough to pat Kyle’s head.

“What do you mean, a cursed child? That is nonsense, Kyle.”

Thinking that his uncle had scolded him again, Kyle assumed a remorseful countenance and lowered his head.

“I’ll freeze all the people who uttered such bullsh*t behind your back. Now, write down every one of their names and submit the list to me.”

Kyle glanced up at Duke Kyar in amazement.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Kyle?”

“I thought you were scolding me.”

“I would scold you if you have done something wrong. Your only flaw is that you think like a child. “Duke Kyar suppressed his laughter as he stroked Kyle’s head with his large hand. “Did you hear what Isabella just said? Believing that you’re a cursed child is just plain stupid and wrong. Your mother was glad to see you born without complications before she closed her eyes and left this world.  Always choose to remember that. To do otherwise is an insult to the woman who gave birth to you. She wanted you to grow up happy and healthy until Kyle’s last moment.”

Duke Kyar’s words about Kyle’s mother brought tears again.

“Is that true, uncle?”

“Yes. And if there’s anyone who tells you that you’re cursed, you must go straight to me. I’ll show them exactly what happens to the people who look down on our family.”

Kyle wiped his tears away and nodded while his disheveled hair looked like a bird’s nest from Duke Kyar’s affectionate caresses.

Isabella was pleased as she examined the two males.

Duke Kyar’s sudden appearance surprised her, but she was also relieved that the Archduke’s comfort was more effective on his nephew than hers.

“Take this, as well.”

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