The Sub Male Lead is Burning with Jealousy - Chapter 11 Part 3 - Memory

Kirthalros’s knight and his two attendants were stopped at the entrance of the ballroom. It was only natural—this was an imperial event, and even a duke wasn’t allowed to bring attendants inside unless they had their own invitations.

At that, Kirthalros simply ordered them to wait, his expression unreadable. For some reason, it created the impression that he was leading the way while the duke followed behind, and the imperial attendants couldn’t help but glance at Duke Noer with puzzled looks.

Duke Noer himself—who had ended up coming to the ball alongside Kirthalros almost against his will—was just as displeased. He couldn’t shake the unease that being seen with this man might bring trouble upon him.

While Kirthalros stood there, scanning the ballroom as if searching for someone, Duke Noer seized the chance and slipped away through a passage reserved for palace staff. Jeremy, who had been watching him from behind a pillar, finally let out a quiet breath of relief.

‘Father came all the way here… Is there really something about that man?’

At a glance, Kirthalros looked like a handsome young noble with a somewhat bland air, like someone who had grown up pampered in a wealthy household. Judging by his eyes, he seemed older than he looked, but since he had taken part as a candidate knight of autumn, his actual age couldn’t be that high.

‘Maybe he’s had a harder life than he looks.’

To begin with, Jeremy had never even heard of a barony named Kirthalros. And so, he imagined the worst—that the man was like Damian, an illegitimate child. But unlike Damian, who was of mixed commoner blood, what if this one’s mother was a noble? And if, by any chance, his blood wasn’t just noble—but royal… then his father wouldn’t hesitate to cast Jeremy aside and choose that young man instead.

‘I need to find out.’

Jeremy downed the champagne in his hand in one go and passed the empty glass to a nearby attendant. Even then, Kirthalros continued to look around, as though searching for someone.

A few young ladies, drawn by his striking appearance and his connection to Duke Noer, approached him and tried to speak—but whatever he said to them made them turn pale and hurry away. It wasn’t the ladies who took interest in that reaction, but the other young nobles. Among them seemed to be the brother of one of the girls who had run off in tears, his face twisted with anger as he started toward Kirthalros.

Jeremy hesitated. Should he leave it alone, or step in? If he let things escalate and Kirthalros caused a scene, the one who would suffer the consequences would be Duke Noer, the man backing him.

But Kirthalros only watched them quietly for a moment before turning away and heading down a corridor leading off from one side of the ballroom. Seeing that, Jeremy quickly stepped in to calm the angry young nobles, telling them he would bring Kirthalros back to apologize before chasing after him.

‘This much should be enough—even if it’s found out later, Father won’t scold me.’

Kirthalros hadn’t gone far. He stood at the entrance to a colonnade leading toward the garden, as if waiting for someone. For a moment, Jeremy felt something strange—it almost seemed like Kirthalros had known they would come after him and had deliberately come out here to wait.

‘No… that can’t be.’

If he was acting this way because he trusted in Duke Noer’s authority, then he was mistaken. Even if it were his own flesh and blood, Jeremy’s father would never forgive someone who caused a disturbance in the imperial palace.

Jeremy walked down the corridor toward him. Perhaps because the ball had only just begun, the hallway was empty—just the two of them.

“Hey.”

Jeremy felt a flicker of irritation at Kirthalros’s lack of response even as he approached. As someone under the duke’s patronage, it was only natural that he should recognize Jeremy’s face.

“…Are you speaking to me?”

Kirthalros replied after a brief pause. Jeremy scoffed, certain the man was only pretending not to recognize him. Whether as someone under the duke’s patronage or as his father’s hidden son, there was no way he shouldn’t know Jeremy.

“Yeah. For someone from a mere baron’s family, you’ve got quite the attitude—especially toward me, the son of Duke Noer.”

Kirthalros, who had been listening quietly, seemed to grow slightly interested and turned toward him. Then he leaned in close. Startled, Jeremy instinctively flinched.

For a split second, those brown eyes seemed to shift—as if something within them split open sideways, revealing a slit of yellow. No… it wasn’t his imagination. Those were unmistakably reptilian eyes, yellow and inhuman, staring at him like a spider watching a trapped fly.

“…So. You’re his son.”

Jeremy tried to step back in alarm, but he couldn’t move. He couldn’t move his feet, couldn’t even turn his head—only his eyes shifted wildly.

‘What the—?!’

All he had meant to do was figure out what kind of connection this arrogant brat had with his father. Only now did he understand why his father had told him not to come home. His father hadn’t wanted him to meet this… monster.

As fear began to rise, Kirthalros pushed his magic into Jeremy’s head to peer into the thoughts of this foolish insect that had dared approach him.

Jeremy panicked as memories were forcibly dragged to the surface. He tried to struggle, but now even his pupils refused to obey him. His childhood, his youth—everything flashed by rapidly, until it stopped at Anais.

‘Why… why Anais…?! Has he taken an interest in her? No—don’t! Don’t look any further—!’

But even his thoughts were no longer his own. His memories continued, reaching the moment Anais had broken off their engagement.

After that, more memories passed, and slowly a mocking smile formed at Kirthalros’s lips.

“How dare you desire something that doesn’t suit your place.”

“…Yes. I have just the right gift for you.”

Still gripping Jeremy’s head, Kirthalros raised his other hand. Within his palm, a pitch-black magic began to swirl.