I Became the Cure for the Cursed Prince - Chapter 43

Leon fanned himself lightly as he replied,

“It’s just a little warm. We should remove a few logs from the fire.”

“You find this weather warm? Must be because you’re still growing,” Sion remarked casually before exiting the tent.

At the center of the tent, the campfire crackled softly. Lucas walked over and removed a few logs, taking Leon’s words into account.

The flickering flames cast a warm glow on Lucas’s beautiful face. Leon stood frozen, unable to move, as if entranced. He carefully observed every movement—how Lucas effortlessly reached into the fire, removed the logs, and neatly rearranged the wood.

Then, Lucas turned his dark gaze toward him.

“Your face is red. Are you still hot?”

“N-No, not anymore. But wasn’t that fire hot?”

“This much is nothing.”

Lucas spoke nonchalantly before lying down on the makeshift bed covered with fur. Leon immediately scooted over and lay beside him. His body temperature kept rising, and the scent of wood in the air grew stronger.

I shouldn’t be letting this show…

Feeling anxious, he crossed his legs tightly, trying to control himself. But the more he tried, the more his breathing grew uneven, and the scent he was unconsciously releasing intensified.

Hearing Leon shift restlessly, Lucas lifted himself up slightly, looking down at him with wide eyes before pressing a hand to his forehead.

“You might be coming down with a fever…”

No, it’s not that—I just want to hold you, Lucas.

Leon bit his lip, swallowing down the words he wanted to say. Instead, he simply closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth of Lucas’s hand against his forehead.

The gentle touch slid down to his cheek.

Leon leaned into the touch, pressing his face closer, and without hesitation, he burrowed into Lucas’s arms. Ever since he had grown taller, Lucas had been avoiding close contact like this. But now, for the first time in a long while, he was able to get close again.

Basking in Lucas’s familiar scent, Leon trembled slightly—pretending to be cold.

“Lucas, just for tonight… hold me. It was hot earlier, but now I feel so cold.”

Lucas hesitated, his arms hovering in the air before they finally rested on Leon’s back. His warm hand patted him gently, just like he used to when Leon was younger.

“Fever chills… I should’ve known better than to bring you along,” Lucas muttered.

It was clear—Lucas still saw him as a child. Even when Sion insisted that the prince wasn’t a child anymore, Lucas refused to acknowledge it.

Sometimes, it frustrated Leon to be treated this way.

But moments like this… he didn’t mind.

With his lips brushing against Lucas’s neck, he whispered, “Once I wake up after sleeping like this, I’ll be fine.”

“There’s no helping it, then. Just sleep for now,” Lucas murmured.

Leon lay there for a long time, listening to the steady rhythm of Lucas’s heartbeat. Something swelled within him, rising and falling in waves.

Slowly, he lifted his head.

If Lucas had already fallen asleep, he planned to discreetly release pheromones, letting his scent envelop him completely.

But Lucas wasn’t asleep.

His dark eyes, sharp yet calm, were watching him closely.

Leon forced a smile, pretending nothing was wrong, and buried his face back against Lucas’s chest.

At that moment, Sion’s voice rang out from outside.

“Your Highness, it’s Sion.”

Lucas responded quickly.

“Come in— No, speak from there.”

“We found traces of monsters during our patrol, but they were old. Tonight should be safe.”

“Understood. Good work.”

The sound of Sion’s footsteps faded into the distance.

Leon knew the night would be peaceful. Still, he shivered slightly, pretending to be afraid, and wrapped his arms around Lucas’s waist.

Though Lucas’s chest was broad, his waist was surprisingly slim. Holding him this close sent another unfamiliar heat surging through Leon’s body.

This was different from pure affection.

It was something deeper, something hotter.

Is this… a rut?

But Lucas was supposed to be an Alpha.

If not that, was it simply an effect of his body maturing as a tiger shifter?

Whatever it was, one thing was certain—his feelings for Lucas were growing stronger, deeper, and far more intense than before.

“Lucas, look over here!”

For the fourth time that day, Leon excitedly held up a rock, a twig, or a flower, presenting it to Lucas like a precious treasure.

Despite all his worries the night before, Leon had woken up feeling perfectly fine and had eagerly set out with Lucas that morning. When his flushed face and ragged breathing had concerned Lucas enough to consider calling a physician, Leon had simply laughed it off.

Lucas reached out, expecting Leon to hand him the flower. But instead of giving it to him, Leon tucked it behind Lucas’s ear.

“This suits you much better!”

Lucas froze, staring at him in disbelief before his expression darkened.

“You’re giving flowers… to an Alpha?”

“But it looks so good on you. In my eyes, you’re more beautiful than anyone else.”

Lucas quickly scanned their surroundings, checking the reactions of the nearby knights. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to be paying attention.

Leon’s gifts were always appreciated—the flowers were lovely, and his sentiment was even more so. But lately, he had been saying things that made Lucas uneasy.

Beautiful. Lovely. Sometimes, even cute.

For an Alpha to be described that way by another Alpha—it was bound to raise eyebrows.

Lucas furrowed his brows, making a stern expression.

“Now, how about cutting back on the teasing and acting a bit more mature?”

“I wasn’t teasing. I just wanted to give you something….”

“Even so, it’s best to avoid this kind of behavior.”

“…Okay….”

Lucas pretended not to notice Leon’s sulking expression as he carefully placed the flower inside the pocket on his chest. The faint fragrance was just like Leon’s, making it even harder to ignore his dejected look.

“Lucas, are you mad? I’m sorry, I just…”

“No.”

“Then, are you upset?”

Lucas shook his head, pausing to glance around.

Leon was perceptive—he wouldn’t pull the same stunt again. That was enough.

Ruffling Leon’s hair, he watched as the sulking expression immediately brightened. Lowering his voice, he added,

“I have an image to maintain as the Grand Duke. It would be embarrassing for the knights to see.”

“Why? Lucas is beautiful no matter who sees him. Your black hair, your shining dark eyes, and—”

“Even so. It draws too much attention, and I find it uncomfortable.”

“Ahh.”

Leon seemed to contemplate something for a moment. Then, as if struck by a realization, he grinned.

“I get it now! Other people shouldn’t keep looking at you. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

It was such an innocent, straightforward response.

Meanwhile, the knights trailing behind them had slowed, their conversation bringing them to a halt. Even Sion, caught off guard, didn’t think to urge them forward.

One of the senior knights leaned toward Sion and muttered in a dissatisfied tone,

“Lord Leon is acting stranger by the day.”

“Watch your words!” Sion clicked his tongue in disapproval, but the knight continued unabashed.

“No, really. If any of us so much as make eye contact with him, he turns terrifying. His golden eyes practically glow like a wild beast’s!”

“He’s an extreme-dominant Alpha going through adolescence. It’s natural for him to be wary of other Alphas.”

“Come on. But isn’t His Grace an Alpha too? Why is it just us who—”

Sion snapped, his voice sharp.

“How dare you compare yourselves to His Grace? The Grand Duke is his guardian—his role is like that of a parent. Of course, Leon treats him differently!”

The knight frowned, tilting his head.

“That may be, but the difference is too extreme. He acts like a timid little child in front of His Grace, yet with us, he’s practically a tiger!”

At the mention of a tiger, Sion stiffened slightly.

The knight likely meant it figuratively—just a way to describe Leon’s sharp and intimidating demeanor. But the word itself struck a nerve.

“Enough nonsense! If you all serve His Grace properly, Lord Leon will change as well.”

Though he said this firmly, Sion was well aware that Leon’s behavior had become increasingly concerning.

It was understandable—Leon had been separated from his parents at a young age and raised in a foreign land. His deep attachment to his guardian wasn’t unusual.

But this level of attachment… was too much.

Sion knew they couldn’t allow Leon to continue expressing his affections toward Lucas so openly.

Raising his hand, he brought the knights to a sudden halt.

“I sense something amiss. Conduct a perimeter search immediately.”

The knights responded in unison, swiftly dispersing in all directions.

It was a search in name only.

In reality, it was a way to give Lucas and Leon some much-needed time alone.

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