Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 4.11

Callisto smiled gently, as if tickled. His crescent-shaped eyes and curved lips looked like something out of a painting. I mumbled without realizing it.

“You’re pretty too, sweetheart.”

“Haha…” Callisto let out a soft, airy laugh. Though he didn’t seem to appreciate being called that anymore, I couldn’t help feeling disappointed. My feelings only grew heavier.

But as if sensing my emotions, Callisto gave me a sly smile and whispered, “Am I still pretty?”

“…Yeah,” I murmured. “Of course.”

“Still?” he repeated, his tone teasing.

It was absurd. Callisto would always be beautiful. I smiled faintly, imagining a baby that would one day look just like him. But before I could picture Lawrence holding such a baby in his arms, the blanket lifted slightly.

I heard the sound of Callisto slipping into bed. Cliff’s firm warning—that one should never sleep with their fiancé before marriage—echoed in my ears. But the moment Callisto’s strong arms wrapped around my waist, those words vanished without a trace.

A low voice asked, almost pleading, “Can I kiss you?”

I smiled faintly, still half-asleep. The warmth around my waist was comforting, and the weight of his chest pressed against mine felt grounding. Though Callisto had grown into an Alpha well past adulthood, his tone was as whiny as a seven-year-old child’s.

“Uh?” I murmured drowsily.

I didn’t answer properly, but by then, I was too weak to resist. Callisto seemed to take my silence as consent.

His lips brushed lightly against my cheek. The spot where his lips had touched felt as though a fiery flower had bloomed, leaving a lingering heat.

“Mmm…” I hummed faintly.

But Callisto’s kiss didn’t end there.

A large hand gently cupped my cheek. His thumb brushed across my lips. Even with my eyes closed, everything seemed brighter—Callisto’s face, pale and serene, appeared vividly in my mind.

I wanted to see him properly.

But before I could flutter open my eyelids, soft lips settled on mine.

Callisto’s lips were hot. Every time he exhaled, my breath faltered. The tip of his tongue brushed gently against mine, caressing it. Our breaths mingled, and the kiss lingered.

It was soft as a feather and sweet as cotton candy.

“Young master!” a voice shrieked, startling me awake. My eyes flew open.

For a moment, I froze in shock.

The sensation on my lips was vivid. But my mind was hazy, as though shrouded in fog. Had last night… been a dream?

It must have been a dream. Right?

Of course, it was a dream.

But why did I dream of something like that?!

Still dazed and bewildered, I looked toward the source of the commotion. Elsie, who had rushed to my bedside, grabbed Callisto’s shoulder in a panic.

“What are you doing here? Hurry up and get up!” she cried, her tone frantic.

“Umm…”

Next to me, Callisto’s large body stirred and rose. Startled, I opened my eyes wide, fumbling in confusion. I hadn’t expected Callisto to still be here.

“You… you, when did you get here? Did you sleep here?”

Could it be that it wasn’t a dream? My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst.

“Ugh, I had a nightmare…”

Callisto mumbled in a carefree voice.

Perhaps because he had just woken up, his once sharp, defined cheeks were now soft and puffy. His swollen eyelids barely opened, and his face looked like that of a sleepy 7-year-old. It was hard to imagine that he could have done such a thing last night.

My startled heart melted in an instant. Gently, I stroked his round cheek with a somewhat sympathetic expression.

“Really? What kind of nightmare did you have…?”

“Young master!”

Elsie’s sharp voice cut in, stern and urgent. “What kind of nightmare are you talking about? If the house manager finds out, it’ll be a big problem. Hurry back to your room!”

“But it’s true…” Callisto muttered, his voice low.

Elsie, who had been taking care of us since we were children, was no pushover. Callisto’s whining didn’t work on her. He pouted his lower lip and made a sulky face, but Elsie’s expression didn’t waver for long.

Her mouth tightened, and she glared at him. “I’ll let it slide this time, but don’t do this again. You’re not a baby anymore!”

“Am I not a baby?” Callisto asked, feigning innocence.

“Of course not!” Elsie retorted firmly.

Defeated, Callisto rubbed his eyes and shuffled off the bed, heading toward the door. His broad shoulders drooped, and I almost called out to him, but the sharp glare from Elsie stopped me. If I said one more word, I knew I’d get scolded too.

Is it really something to scold him for? I thought to myself. He’s the same kid I used to sleep beside every night. Why is everyone making such a fuss just because he’s called my fiancé now?

Feeling a bit sulky myself, I watched Elsie’s back as she left the room.

At that moment, Callisto stopped in the doorway, hesitating as though lost in thought. When he turned back to look at me, his expression seemed pure and childlike, as though nothing had changed.

“What’s wrong, baby?” I asked softly.

“No, it’s nothing,” Callisto replied with a shrug, shaking his head.

But then, as if unconsciously, he traced his lips with his fingers. My complexion changed immediately.

His lips were noticeably swollen.

“My lips hurt a little,” Callisto said casually.

“…What?”

“That’s strange,” he mused, his tone gentle. “Maybe the room was too dry?”

Our gazes met. I had no idea what kind of expression I was making, but it felt like my heart might burst. My pulse thundered in my ears as I stared blankly into space, my face pale.

Callisto tilted his head slightly, watching me intently.

“What’s wrong, hyung?” he asked, his voice full of concern. “Did you have a bad dream or something?”

Then, as if to lighten the mood, he chuckled softly, his eyes squinting in amusement.

When I remained speechless, Elsie returned, impatient at Callisto’s delay. She ushered him firmly out of the room. Left alone, I began pacing back and forth in a flustered state.

“So… was it a dream or not?”

Not just anyone, but Callisto. I’d dreamed about kissing Callisto. If it had been a dream, it was a big deal.

But if it wasn’t a dream… that was an even bigger deal.

As time passed, I gradually calmed down. After all, when I saw Callisto again in the dining hall, he showed no particular signs of anything unusual. His bright smile as he greeted me reassured me somewhat.

Callisto, already seated at the table, gently took my wrist and asked, “Why are you up so early? You should have slept a bit longer.”

“No,” I replied naturally. “You should eat together when there’s a meal.”

It was a bit earlier than usual for me, but since Father had been away since yesterday, I didn’t want Callisto—who was visiting the mansion after so long—to eat breakfast alone.

Though my answer was straightforward, Callisto’s eyes widened slightly as he looked up at me. The irises, touched by the early morning sunlight, glowed a pale gold. Soon, he squinted and grinned broadly.

“Really?” Callisto said, smiling brightly. “I’m really happy about it. Still, next time, you can wake up slowly. You always struggle in the mornings, you know.”

“Okay, got it,” I replied. Then, hesitating as I lowered myself into the chair, I added, “Since it’s been a while today…”

Next time, he says. Was he seriously planning on staying at the mansion again?

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