Becoming the Terminally-Ill Villain Who Torments His Disciples - Chapter 83.1
At Damon’s words, Ryan tried to step in front of Cielo. His intention to protect was obvious, but Cielo grabbed Ryan’s arm and shook his head.
As if to say he wanted to speak for himself.
As if to say what he needed now was not protection, but trust.
His blue eyes reflected only Ryan, and as if persuaded by that gaze, Ryan hesitantly took a step back.
As Ryan stepped aside, Damon looked at Cielo and continued speaking.
“Do you know why Ryan, who had joined the Imperial Palace Knights, suddenly gave up the sword and ended up doing something like genotype research?”
“…No. I never asked, so I don’t know.”
“He cried when he told me. Said he didn’t want to hurt anyone else because of his genotype.”
…No way.
Cielo held his breath, his eyes widening.
“At that time, the person Ryan hurt—was you.”
“…”
“That’s why he created a suppressant, so he’d never make the same mistake again.”
But even after that, Ryan never picked up the sword again. Though the research on suppressants was nearly finished, he now said he had to heal people with heart disease.
“That reason, too—was you.”
At Damon’s words, Cielo slightly parted his lips.
He had known Ryan was only a substitute knight, but he never understood why the word “substitute” was used. Why the heir of the Doberman family, known as the Empire’s sword, was working in a clinic.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t been curious.
He had just assumed that someday, Ryan would tell him everything…
But to think that he was the reason behind all of it.
“That’s why I can’t look upon you kindly.”
Every word out of Damon’s mouth pierced Cielo’s chest like a blade.
From a parent’s perspective, Cielo was an obstacle in Ryan’s path.
Had he never met Cielo, Ryan might have become the man Damon wanted.
Perhaps he would have become the commander of a knight order.
Perhaps he would have lived up to the Doberman name and become a protector of the Empire.
‘But because of me…’
After a moment of thought, Cielo clenched his fists.
Then he raised his head, which had started to lower, and looked Damon straight in the eye as he spoke.
“Even so, I still want him.”
“You want him?”
“Yes. I want Ryan.”
He knew he wasn’t a reliable person.
The rumors about him were terrible, and not only was he trying to stay close to Ryan—he wanted to keep Oscar near as well.
He had natural talent, which gave him some fame, but when it came to being human, he fell far short compared to Ryan.
Still.
Even so—
“I… I will make your son smile every day.”
At Cielo’s words, Damon’s eyes widened slightly.
“I understand what you’re trying to say, Duke. But… no matter what we do, the past can never return.”
Unless a miracle dropped him into the past, it would never be possible.
“So I’ll try to build a future without regrets.”
“…”
Cielo continued, with certainty in his voice.
“I can’t promise that I’ll become someone who lives up to your expectations. And saying I’ll become someone worthy of Ryan—that’s also subjective, so I can’t guarantee it.”
“…”
“But I will always do my best for him, so that the words ‘I’m happy’ can come from his lips.”
At Cielo’s bold declaration, Damon let out a dry chuckle.
It was as if he had expected Cielo to respond like this all along. Damon crossed his arms as he looked at Cielo, who had spoken so smoothly.
“No matter what you say to persuade me, I won’t be swayed.”
“…”
“Even if it goes against your will, Duke.”
It was fine if people called him naive. It didn’t matter if they criticized him for being selfish.
Even if, because of his decision, Ryan ended up being cast out from the Doberman family…
If Ryan said he didn’t care, then Cielo would gladly take his hand and leave the palace and the capital behind.
He no longer wanted to live hiding what he truly desired.
“You say all this easily while holding another man’s hand too.”
“These are not words I say lightly.”
“…”
“Both of them are people I could never leave out of my life.”
He knew it was selfish.
Even in a society where polyandry was permitted, he understood that people with genotypes generally had one lifelong partner.
But still, Cielo could not choose just one of them.
Oscar had been his compass when he first arrived in this world and was struggling in confusion.
He was the one who taught him that his words and actions were not discarded by the world.
The one who had shown that even “Lee Eun-woo,” who had grown up abused, could still be someone who saved others.
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