The Male Lead Knelt Before Me

He lowered his head down and got closer to Elena’s beautiful face.

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The tip of his nose soon came into contact with Elena’s tip of nose.

Just at the moment before his lips touched Elena’s, a soft breath poured out.

Caleb realized it wasn’t his breath he was hearing, but Elena’s.

Caleb raised his upper body at the same moment.

He then took a step back, startled.

His heartbeats were erratic.

His head, on the other hand, was chilled, as if it had just been doused with cold water.

‘What have I done?’

He was filled with anger.

He was angered by his own self.

He couldn’t believe he’d done anything unpleasant without her permission.

To someone who was sleeping, it was even worse.

Caleb then turned around and took a few steps away, his fist clenched.

Caleb opened the door to come out, but Elena still didn’t awake.

The door then closed, leaving Elena’s soft breathing sound filled the quiet room.

* * * * * *

I could feel the sunlight poured over my eyelids.

I then opened my eyes and stretched my body

My entire body felt light and lively, as if I had gotten a decent night’s sleep.

As my energy returned, I realized there was something missing.

How did I fall asleep, by the way?

I don’t think I slept at the appropriate time.

“Huh?”

The scenery in the room, which I had just recently noticed, astounded me.
Because that was the first time I had seen it.

I then anxiously attempted to recall what had transpired the day before.

I moved into the duke’s mansion, then ate the sherbet the maid brought me, and then tried to stay awake while waiting for Caleb……

I fell asleep.

Don’t tell me…… have I slept all night?

Without even waking up in the middle of the night?

Then a wave of disbelief washed over me.

Of course, this was better than waking up at the crack of dawn.

Even so, I couldn’t believe I didn’t wake up till the next morning.

I was even moved from the parlor to the bedroom!

How could I keep sleeping like that!?

‘Hold on.’

Is… is this Caleb’s bedroom?

My heart began to beat rapidly.

Just in case, I looked to my side, but there was no evidence that someone had slept in the bed area next to me.

Should I be relieved?

Let’s get out of here first.

I opened the bedroom door after rushing out of bed.

Then I found the parlor room which I was in yesterday.

Then it meant the room I was sleeping in was really Caleb’s bedroom.

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So, where did Caleb go to sleep?

Is it possible that he slept in the other room?

As I turned to look around, the door on the left swung open, revealing Caleb dressed in a navy uniform.

“Are you up already?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Did you get a good night’s sleep last night?”

Argh, the topic I was hoping to avoid the most came.

I nodded, avoiding Caleb’s gaze.

“Yes, I had a good night’s sleep.”

It’s more of a concern because I slept so peacefully.

“It’s reassuring to know that.
I was concerned that sleeping on an unfamiliar bed might make you feel uncomfortable.”

“It wasn’t at all uncomfortable.
Rather, Duke, I believe I actually slept in your room.
Is that true?”

“Yesterday, you fell asleep on the sofa, so I carried you to the closest bedroom.
Did I offend you in some way?”

“No, not at all.
I wasn’t offended.
Rather Duke, I am sorry.
You must have been sleeping somewhere else because of me……”

“That’s all right.
Since you slept comfortably, then that’s enough.”

Caleb then smiled, as if telling me not to worry about it.

My heart began to pound loudly again as I stared at his soft smile.

Ugh, he’s doing a lot of damage to my heart.

“I think I need to go to work shortly.
Are you able to be alone?”

“Of course, Duke.”

I’m not even a kid.

Caleb smiled again as I answered him confidently.

Did I say anything funny?

No, I don’t believe so.

Caleb’s smile vanished before my eyes as I bent my head in surprise.
Then he stretched out his hand to me, which he quickly stopped.

Maybe it was just me, but Caleb appeared hesitant to take my hand in his.

I looked at Caleb’s hand, which was wandering around my hand for a moment.

Then I grabbed his hand first.

“Elena?”

“I held your hand because I assumed you wanted to hold mine.
Did I make a mistake?”

“It was kind of like that… I mean, I’d like to……”

Caleb averted his gaze slightly.

What exactly did he intend to do?

Caleb’s lips flinched as I gazed at him with a perplexed expression.

“There’s something I’d like to do instead of merely holding your hand.
Could you please grant me permission?”

“Uhm…… yes.”

After a brief thought, I nodded gladly.

Caleb was still hesitant after I gave him my consent.

And after a little moment of hesitation, Caleb put his other hand around my cheek, which I didn’t hold.

As the warmth of his fingers went through the gloves to my cheek, something soft brushed my forehead in a second.

“Then, I will be right back.”

Caleb turned with a hushed murmur.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

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My heart was pounding furiously.

I touched my forehead, where Caleb’s lips touched.
I mumbled with a heated face.

“It’s definitely cheating……”

* * * * * *

As soon as he sat down in the carriage, Caleb covered his face with his hands.

He stroked his face repeatedly, attempting to calm himself down but failed.

Elena’s shocked expression, looking at him just now, kept flashing across his head.

Not only that, Caleb felt as if he could still smell Elena’s scent, which had caught his nose when he kissed Elena’s forehead.

Caleb clenched his fist.

The outburst of excitement, on the other hand, showed no signs of abating.

‘This is insane.’

Every time Caleb saw Elena, he marveled how his body could move without him recognizing it.

Caleb, in fact, already understood the cause.

Because he finds Elena lovely, he keeps wanting to touch her.
He wants to have her.
For his own.

Caleb used to wish he could spend the entire day with Elena, basking in her warmth.
And the desire was still there.

Even just now, Caleb had been trying hard holding himself not to kiss Elena’s lips but forehead only.

Caleb continuously clenched and unclenched his fists.

Obviously, he was the one who brought Elena to his residence out of concern for her safety.

For the sake of keeping her safe.

However, at this point, he began to wonder if bringing Elena to his residence was the wisest decision.

With these dirty feelings and thoughts, how could he protect Elena?

Caleb stepped out of the carriage with a guilty expression on his face.

Edmund welcomed Caleb as he walked into the office.

“Salute, Commander.”

“You’ve arrived early.”

“Yes.
After the emperor’s birthday banquet, I got a good night’s sleep and awoke earlier than usual.”

“I see.”

Caleb responded to Edmund with a nod.

And when he attempted to sit down.

“Excuse me, Commander.”

Edmund had called him.

“Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

“You’re welcome to.”

“That’s… uhm…”

Edmund paused for a moment.
He wasn’t able to ask his question right away.

Despite the fact that Caleb was aware of Edmund’s reluctance, he didn’t press the issue and instead waited patiently for Edmund to voice his question on his own.

Then, after a moment of hesitation, Edmund finally spoke.

“This is about Lady Oreu.
Perhaps… Commander, have you heard about it?”

“What are you talking about?”

Caleb’s eyes immediately widened.

Edmund flinched without even realizing it.

Because he remembered being reprimanded about a situation like this before.

He waved his hand restlessly.

“It’s not like that! J-just a question.
It’s about you and Lady Oreu, Commander.
I heard that you carried Lady Oreu in your arms at the banquet.

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Edmund asked, his eyes scrutinizing Caleb’s expression.

“I just wonder if what I heard is true.”

“That is true.”

“Th-then, is it also true that you kissed Lady Oreu?”

Caleb was the one who flinched this time.

Edmund may have meant artificial respiration when he stated it, but Caleb had a different idea.

“Where did you hear that?”

Caleb’s voice was piercing as he said.

Edmund hastily explained as the mood became tense.

“I heard it from my sister, but she also heard it at the tea party she attended the day before.
I heard you saved Lady Oreu from drowning and administered artificial respiration to her.”

“Is that so?”

Only then Caleb’s face loosened.

Because he realized he had misunderstood for nothing.

“And I heard there was a rumor going around that you and Lady Oreu were lovers.
I’m telling you this because I believe you, Commander, should be aware of this issue.”

Edmund returned his gaze to Caleb’s face when he stated this.

‘I’m not gossiping, so this should be fine, right?’

Edmund was anxious because he recalled Caleb reprimanding him for trusting others’ words.

Even yet, he was merely recounting what he’d heard and confirming the facts, so everything should be fine

…….
At least, that’s what he hoped for.

Edmund gave Caleb an anxious look.

Caleb’s demeanor, fortunately, did not appear offended.

Caleb, on the other hand, seemed unconcerned with the rumor about him and Lady Oreu, Edmund thought.

And it was making Edmund embarrassed.

“Commander? Are you all right with it?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m referring to the rumor that you and Lady Oreu are lovers.
Will you just leave it alone? I’m concerned that the rumor may affect you and Lady Oreu in some way, therefore……”

“You don’t have to worry about that rumor.”

Caleb added.

“Because it’s true.”

“Ah, I see.
So, the rumor is true……huh?”

Edmund, who had been nodding nonchalantly, was startled.

“The rumor is true!?”

“Is it really that surprising?”

“No, not at all.
It’s not surprising at all.
Yes, it’s not.”

Edmund’s cheeks were flushed with surprise when he spoke those words.

Indeed, Edmund thought the atmosphere between Elena and Caleb was peculiar at times.

However, he never expected it to have such a meaning.

‘Still, I was glad to learn that the Commander is Lady Oreu’s lover.’

Caleb was both objectively and subjectively a wonderful person.

Caleb is, first and foremost, handsome.

Caleb not only has outstanding skills, but he also has a pleasant personality.

‘Accepted!’

Edmund sat down with a satisfied nod.

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After a long day of work, it was time for lunch.

Caleb and Edmund were ready to get out of their chairs for lunch when they noticed an unknown man approaching the office door.

Caleb identified the man as a servant of the crown prince’s palace based on the attire and insignia he was wearing.

The servant then hurriedly bent his head.

“Greetings, Duke.”

“What is the crown prince’s servant doing here?”

“You’ve been asked to lunch with the Crown Prince.”

Caleb’s face stiffened instantly at the unexpected invitation.

* * * * * *

“Thank you for coming, Duke.”

“Sincerely, Crown Prince, please accept my regards.
I appreciate you inviting me to lunch.
It’s an honor.”

“It is I who should be grateful that my invitation was accepted.
Let’s take a seat at ease.”

Once Enosh had taken his seat, Caleb didn’t hesitate to take his.

“While the meal is being served, let’s talk over a glass of wine.”

“Thank you for offering, but I believe I will decline the drink because I am still on duty.”

“The alcohol level of the wine is not that high.
Don’t you think it is fine to have just one glass?”

“…… then, thank you.”

Enosh made a move as Caleb reluctantly accepted it.

The servant then poured wine into their glass and exited the room.

Caleb, who had removed his gloves, grabbed the wine glass with his bare hands in the meantime.

“By the way.”

Enosh leaned his chin against the back of his palm and began speaking.

“You appear to be in decent shape, Duke.
Given that you risked your life to save Lady Oreu during the Emperor’s birthday celebration.
I thought you would at least catch a cold because of that.”

“Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience.”

“You’re not required to apologize for it.
But there’s something else that’s been bothering me.”

“Something else……”

“I’m not sure whether you’ve already heard, but there’s a rumor going around that you and Lady Oreu are lovers.”

“Is that so?”

Caleb simply responded.
Enosh was taken aback by this.

“……doesn’t it matter? Isn’t it going to be a problem if such a rumor spreads?”

“Is there any reason that it could be a problem?”

“Didn’t you hear about it already, Duke?  Lady Oreu was an actress, and the rumors about her are not good.”

“Please accept my apologies, but I don’t understand why it would be a problem for me.”

“You don’t understand? Duke, are you serious?”

“I apologize if you don’t believe me, but I really don’t understand the reason.
And even if it will do me any harm, that rumor doesn’t matter to me.”

“The way you say it… are you implying that you and Lady Oreu are really dating?”

“You’re right.”

Enosh was embarrassed by Caleb’s answer, which returned calmly, but he pretended not to.

He had expected this would happen from the moment he saw Caleb rent a room in the palace with Elena in his arms.

“Well, I guess so.
Lady Oreu is rather attractive, so dating her for a while isn’t a terrible idea……”

“It won’t be for a while.
I’m thinking of proposing to her in the near future.”

Enosh couldn’t say anything.

Is Caleb going to propose? To Elena Oreu?