The Male Lead Knelt Before Me - Chapter 87

My body, falling off from the wooden bridge, fell into the air.

I instinctively closed my eyes.

Splash!

Soon, the cold water soaked my whole body from the tip of my head.

The water, which entered my nose and my ears, made me shudder.

‘It’s okay, since the water is quite shallow, if I can just get out ……’

But the tip of my toes touched nothing. Even when I stretched my feet as much as possible, there was still nothing touching the tip of my feet.

‘The bottom, my feet couldn’t touch the bottom?’

As soon as I realized that, I felt my body turn white.

‘But I can’t swim……’

My breath, which had reached its limit due to my inability to fill my lungs, came out from my mouth.

The air blew out and the water rushed into the empty space.

Instinctively, I tried to stir my hands to the surface, but my body only sank.

I closed my eyes slowly, feeling a sense of distance.

* * * * *

“Duke Egon.”

At Enosh’s call, Caleb stopped.

Caleb was just coming down after offering his present to The Emperor.

“I greet The Crown Prince.”

Caleb raised his hand, put it on his chest, and bent down.

As he saw Caleb like that, Enosh shook his head.

“You are always like your usual self, Duke. You can just greet me briefly and simply. There’s no need to be that polite between us.”

“It is natural to set up etiquette whenever we greet others.”

“Well, that’s probably the case for you, Duke. Anyway, you paid a lot of attention to the Emperor’s present this time too. I have never seen such a big diamond. It must be hard for you to get it, Duke.”

“I was lucky enough to get it. Also, as his subject, it is natural for me to offer the best thing for His Majesty’s birthday.”

“That’s true but I think you’re too typical, Duke. Why don’t you come up with something different sometimes? Just like me. As you may have noticed, His Majesty seems to have quite liked my present this time.”

After a brief silence, Caleb opened his mouth.

“It is sure that your present was great. But I am curious about your actions, Your Highness.”

“You’re curious about my actions? I don’t understand what you meant by that, Duke.

“I remember your previous opinion about Lady Oreu was negative. Then why……”

“I think I’ve said this before. I decided to do so because I found out that Lady Oreu is Kitara.”

“Didn’t you know that the song she sang as Kitara was a song from a play? You almost put her in danger, Your Highness.”

Caleb said the words which he couldn’t bear to tell Elena.

“But it was Lady Oreu who agreed to do this. And, didn’t it turn out well in the end?”

“If it had not been……”

“It seems like you’re overreacting whenever we talk about Lady Oreu. I mean, she has nothing to do with you now, Duke.”

Caleb’s body flinched.

It happened really slightly, but Enosh, who was standing in front of him, noticed it and clicked his tongue inside.

He couldn’t believe that Caleb was still caring about Elena even though it’s been two week the two were separated.

‘It seems the aftermath of first love is stronger than I thought.’

Enosh thought that the affection between the two would wither at this point. But it was deeper and stronger than Enoush thought.

Enosh felt the need to disturb the relationship between Elena and Caleb.

“And, I don’t know if it’s anyone else, but I think you don’t have to worry about Lady Oreu’s safety, Duke.”

“I don’t understand what you are trying to say, Your Highness.”

“Do you remember what I said before, Duke, that the Lady may be behaving on purpose without you knowing?”

“I remember.”

Surely, Enosh had said something like that to Caleb before.

“I will tell you this because I feel sorry for you, Duke. Actually, Lady Oreu approached you on purpose……”

“Help me!”

An unfamiliar voice close to a scream cut off Enosh’s words.

At the scream of a woman who broke into the banquet hall, Enosh found the source of the voice.

At the entrance door to the terrace, there was a young lady standing.

“Out there! Someone fell into the water! Under the bridge!”

It was a truly rambling shout.

A wonder pervaded Enosh’s face when he heard the screams of that young lady.

It was not only Enosh who responded like that.

All the people who filled the banquet hall also wondered, hesitated, and didn’t care as there would be someone who would save her.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“Duke?”

Except for one person.

Caleb left the banquet hall immediately and ran to the place where the young lady said earlier.

Although what the young lady shouted was somewhat rambling, on the other hand, it was accurate information.

There was only one place where there was a bridge and water near the banquet hall.

Several people had already gathered by the pond around the bridge.

They were just babbling, no one came forward.

Caleb could roughly tell where the person had fallen from by looking at where their eyes were directed.

Without hesitation, he took off his suit jacket and jumped into the water.

Splash!

The surface of the water fluctuated greatly.

Meanwhile, people gathered around the bridge.

People flocked with curiosity to Caleb’s abnormal behavior and the word that a person fell into the water.

Among them was Enosh.

It was not long before Caleb, who entered the pond, appeared to the surface.

In one of his arms was Elena, who was unconscious.

“What are you doing? Help the Duke!”

Enosh gave orders to the knights who were around him.

Only then did the knights come to their senses and rescue Caleb and Elena.

“Welldone, Duke. You should go in and dry yourself. After that you can ask the other to……”

Enosh was unable to continue his words.

This is because Caleb passed Enosh, approached Elena who was taken by the knight, and checked her breath.

Of course there was no breath to be felt.

Caleb pressed Elena’s chest urgently, but she still didn’t even budge.

The results were the same even after he tried several times.

Enosh, who was watching it, felt ominous.

‘No way?’

But the ominous premonition always worked.

So, in that moment, Caleb bowed his head.

Gasp!

Some of Caleb’s wet silver hair covered Elena’s eyes and when their lips touched, people in their surroundings took a deep breath.

A few young ladies even stumbled.

Despite the reactions around him, Caleb repeated the same behavior over and over again.

Until Elena threw up the water and came to her senses.

Cough cough–

Elena, who threw up the water from her lung, looked at Caleb with hazy eyes.

“Du…ke……?”

Her voice was so faint that only Caleb could hear it.

Caleb, who confirmed that Elena’s consciousness had returned, breathed a sigh of relief.

His nerves that had been on edge became a little loose.

But still, his heart kept beating wildly, and all of his senses were concentrated on Elena’s safety.

It’s not because he simply knew Elena.

It was because of a lingering feeling of the fear of the fact that he might ‘lose’ Elena again.

And the reason Caleb feels this way is because he regards Elena to be precious to him.

Her presence had already filled his heart.

‘It was such a clear feeling.’

Caleb embraced Elena in his arms, as if she were something precious.

“Your majesty, I’ll borrow a room nearby.”

“Huh, huh?”

Caleb took a step forward before Enosh could respond.

The muttering became louder around them when Caleb carried Elena away.

“Did you just get a look at it? He carried her in his arms, I’m sure.”

“He could have asked other knights and servants to do it, but how could the duke himself……”

“On top of that, he went to the room before His Highness could give him permission.”

Among the nobles who said that, the quick-witted ones looked into each other’s eyes and were convinced.

‘There’s something between the two!’

He even saved her like that.

No one else went into the water except Caleb.

However, is there any reason for Caleb to take Elena with him in his arms when she has regained her consciousness?

Although Caleb was drenched and needed to dry himself.

Contrary to some beliefs about Caleb’s feelings, the majority of people were puzzled by what he had done.

While some of them deliberately selected a word that may have hinted to Caleb and Elena’s relationship.

At those words, Enosh had no doubt that what had just happened would reach into everyone’s ears at the banquet today.

In fact, some of them already ran into the banquet hall, saying that they had to tell the others since it was special news.

“Ha, Duke……”

In the midst of the commotion, Enosh burst out laughing.

* * * * *

It was hard for me to come to my senses.

I think I saw Caleb’s wet face, as if he was soaked, but I couldn’t tell if it was real or just my imagination.

I couldn’t think properly because my mind was just as heavy as wet cotton.

‘Wet cotton.’’

When I thought like that, I burst out laughing.

Maybe that term wasn’t wrong at all, since I really drank water.

‘Huh? Wait, did I drink water?’

As I was thinking blankly, I suddenly opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.

It was quite surprising since my last memory was underwater.

Ah, it was wrong of me to say that it was my last memory.

Because I remembered I threw up water when the air came into my mouth.

‘I remember getting artificial respiration, so I’m sure I survived, but…… Where am I?’

As I was guessing the place, an unfamiliar voice spoke to me.

“Have you regained your consciousness?”

When I turned my head, I saw women wearing the same clothes.

“Who are you?”

“Greetings, My Lady. Under the order of the Crown Prince, I will serve you for the day today.”

“The Crown Prince? So, is this the Imperial Palace?”

“Yes, this is the room inside the Imperial Palace.”

No wonder, the surroundings seemed to be unfamiliar.

“Your clothes were also damp, and the night was already dark, so His Highness advised you to sleep here before returning, My Lady. What you’re wearing right now is a house gown for guests. Please bear with me today, even if it’s uncomfortable.”

Later I checked my clothes.

Unlike the dress I wore to the birthday celebration, this sky blue light chiffon dress looked to have plenty of space inside yet still fit perfectly.

So this is the house gown for guests.

“Thank you for your explanation.”

“I just did what I had to do. More than that, are you hungry, My Lady? Should I prepare some soup?”

“It’s all right. More than that, can you tell me who saved me?”

Immediately after I said that, I added, as if giving an excuse.

“I remember falling into the water, but I don’t remember after that.”

“I see. It was Duke Egon who saved your life, My Lady.”

“The Euke……saved me?”

“Yes. That’s why the duke, like you, My Lady, was drenched and staying in the next room.”

I was surprised when I heard the answer.

So… does that mean that Caleb, who looked wet before, wasn’t my imagination but real?

‘Wait, then it really touched……?’

I touched my lips without realizing it then heard the maid’s voice.

“If you have any further questions or requirements, please feel free to tell me”

“Ah, no. I don’t.”

Surprised, I turned my hand back and shook my head.

Then the maids told me some precautions.

If I felt cold, I should put on a shawl or ring the bell to call them, who would then restock the firewood on the stove.

The maids said that if I needed anything other than that, I could always ring the bell to call them.

I nodded and the maids left the room.

When I was left alone, I stared at the wall, remembering that Caleb had saved me.

‘I should thank him, right? Since he saved my life.’

However it was questionable when I should thank him.

Since I thought it was rude to visit him now. But I wondered if I would have a chance to meet him tomorrow.

‘Maybe today is my last chance.’

Because, although Caleb said before that he would visit me at the theater if he had time, he might just say it out of courtesy.

Furthermore, he had already admitted that he liked Vivian, so I felt a surge of guilt in my heart.

I had to go back to the theater now, so if he didn’t come, we would never see each other again.

Since it’s the last… Let’s just do it now.

Because if I hesitated and did not thank him this time, I will regret this moment for the rest of my life.

I got up and put on a slipper on the floor once I made my decision.

I gripped the doorknob after putting on the shawl that the maid had pointed out before.