Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 2.16

I’m crying…? That can’t be, I’m not crying.

Still hazy, I barely opened my heavy eyelids. Callisto, with a pale face, was looking at me. His worried expression made me reach out toward him.

“Baby…”

I tried to say I was okay, but only a groan slipped out through my cracked lips. I realized my entire body felt like it was on fire. I wanted to reassure Callisto, but I couldn’t do anything.

I lost consciousness again, my body trembling from the cold that seemed to penetrate my very bones. I shook uncontrollably for a long time. But even as time passed, the fever and chills didn’t subside. It felt like thick needles were stabbing into my head, and my eyes were too hot to open. A strange smell wafted into the air, making my stomach churn.

The pain and discomfort were bearable, but what was unbearable was the strange, burning sensation coming from my lower abdomen. I couldn’t handle the feeling, something I had never experienced before, and I struggled endlessly. The sticky liquid running down my thighs felt unfamiliar and terrifying. I cried until my eyes were swollen and my throat was hoarse, but no one came. I realized then that I had to endure it alone.

And as time passed, I lost track of how long it had been.

“Etienne, are you awake?”

“Father…”

A hoarse, cracked voice escaped my lips. Father held a warm honey tea to my lips. The sweet liquid flowed down my dry throat, soothing it with its warmth. Only after tasting it did I feel a slight hunger in my stomach. My blurry vision gradually began to clear.

“What about Callisto? Is he in his room?”

I couldn’t be sure, but it felt like nearly ten days had passed. Since I had been sick and unconscious for so long, I imagined Callisto would have been in a state of turmoil, so I asked about him first.

“Callisto…”

Father seemed somewhat troubled. Instead of him, Doctor Woodson stepped forward to explain.

“It would be best to keep some distance from Master Callisto for a few days. Until the young master stabilizes.”

“What do you mean, Doctor?”

“The young master has manifested.”

“Manifested?”

I repeated the doctor’s words without thinking, then realized the situation wasn’t good. Father’s face had hardened.

‘No way…’

I wet my lower lip with the tip of my tongue. The honey tea had barely calmed me, but now my stomach churned again.

“…Is it omega?”

“Etienne.”

A hollow laugh escaped me without meaning to. I hadn’t expected this turn of events. I murmured in a dazed voice.

“This is awkward.”

It wasn’t just awkward. I thought of Loengrin, smiling and saying I’d look great with a platinum crown. My chest tightened.

In fact, I had been a bit complacent, trusting only the original story’s progression. The original hinted that Etienne wasn’t a dominant alpha, but I believed he’d at least be a recessive alpha or beta. He was, after all, supposed to be the “villainous side character.” I never imagined he could be an omega. But I had forgotten H writer’s penchant for minor character tropes…

Back in my past life as an editor, H had once confidently shown me a synopsis, eagerly introducing the “omega Callisto” concept.

“Hey, PD, what do you think of an omega protagonist? Doesn’t it sound fun?”

“Omega x Beta? But you said you wanted to go mainstream this time, writer.”

Of course, I rejected it right away.

“But so many people want an omega protagonist! I’ve never seen a post asking for an alpha protagonist! Maybe omega is more mainstream, after all?”

“The voices of minor character fans are just louder. Alphas are already mainstream without needing a mention.”

“Are you being serious?”

“Well, it’s the truth.”

That’s how Callisto almost became an omega protagonist, but after I convinced H, he turned into an alpha. But now, without my knowledge, that setting was secretly transferred to Etienne, the side character. I had underestimated H’s persistence.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. But the bad news didn’t end there.

“And Etienne, there’s something else I need to tell you.”

I stared at Father with a startled face. Since I was on the verge of being dragged into becoming the First Princess because of my omega manifestation, if there was something more to know, there was only one thing I could guess.

“Your trait is recessive.”

Of course. I groaned inwardly.

Recessive omegas are frail, weak, and extremely susceptible to alpha pheromones because their traits are faint. But a recessive omega side character? It was clear H was angry that I wouldn’t allow omega Callisto, so he completely set up Etienne according to his own preferences. This was my punishment…

A heavy silence filled the room for a while. I reluctantly opened my mouth first.

“Is there no way to deceive Loengrin?”

Doctor Woodson hesitated for a moment, then quietly shook his head. Father’s expression grew even grimmer.

I wanted to cry myself. I thought I had barely avoided the death flag by carefully raising Callisto, but now I had an entirely different flag on me. Was I going to end up being dragged away by Loengrin and become the abused omega consort of a depraved prince, only to be executed when Callisto’s rebellion succeeded? I didn’t think Callisto would kill me… not now at least…

Doctor Woodson urgently tried to comfort me.

“The First Prince won’t be able to act recklessly with you, Etienne. Don’t worry too much…”

“Stop saying that. Don’t you know how the Empress behaves, Doctor!”

Father raised his voice, recalling the Empress, who had once murdered the quiet Marie Louise and sought to wipe out the newborn Callisto. But Father didn’t realize that Loengrin was one step ahead of her.

If I had known this would happen, I should have just taken the alpha manifestation stimulant earlier. It’s hard on the body, but whether I’m sick like this or that, it seems like the same problem.

‘…Alpha manifestation stimulant?’

That’s right. I had forgotten about the stimulant. I asked urgently.

“Father, can I try the alpha manifestation stimulant? Can you get it for me?”

“Etienne, that’s a dangerous drug. Plus, it won’t work since you’ve already manifested.”

That’s the common knowledge. But in a few years, Lawrence would use a new stimulant that could change traits. It was a modified version of the existing stimulant, with some extra ingredients added.

‘If I knew the ingredients, maybe Doctor Woodson could make it… What was it again? Evening primrose and… was it elderberry?’

As I struggled to recall the ingredients for the modified stimulant, Doctor Woodson hesitated for a long while before finally speaking, as if he had made a decision.

“Actually, I’ve been experimenting with a modified stimulant. It’s not a finished product yet, so its effectiveness isn’t great… but it should provide a temporary illusion, even if it can’t completely change your traits.”

I widened my eyes in surprise. The details from the original story suddenly came back to me.

Lawrence had obtained that stimulant from the Winnyates family. An employee who had been close to Lawrence and had visited the house for years secretly gave him the drug.

‘Was it the drug Doctor Woodson made?’

Since Doctor Woodson was the family’s personal physician, it made sense. I swallowed nervously and asked him.

“Do you happen to know the ingredients… what were the added ingredients in the drug?”

“Eh? The added ingredients are crushed evening primrose and elderberry juice… why do you ask, Master?”

That was the drug.

I finally felt a sense of relief, and my body relaxed. As I collapsed onto the bed, Father quickly supported me with a shocked expression.

“I’ll take it. Prepare it for me.”

“But, Master. We haven’t tested it in clinical trials yet…”

“Etienne, that’s too dangerous, injecting a drug that isn’t even complete.”

Father’s face turned pale. I laughed weakly.

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