Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 4.8

“Sweetheart, why are you leaving the Second Prince’s Palace empty like this?”

“…Eddie.”

Callisto hesitated for a moment, rubbing his forehead with a large hand. His awkward smile, coupled with his drooping brows, made him look as beautiful as a porcelain doll. Shaking his head slightly, he responded,

“When am I going to stop being a baby?”

“What’s with the sudden outburst?” I replied, folding my arms. “You should be careful. You never know what schemes the empress and Roen might be plotting. Be vigilant, okay?”

“It’s not an outburst…” Callisto’s serene brow furrowed slightly before smoothing again. He draped an arm over my shoulder and asked, his voice kind, “Enough about that… Are you feeling better?”

“Much better now,” I said with a nod. “The fever is completely gone.”

As the effects of the alpha manifestation drug had worn off, the illness I had endured felt like a distant memory. With Callisto safely returned and recognized as a prince, the weight on my shoulders seemed to have lifted, leaving me healthier than ever.

A broad smile spread across Callisto’s face, his joy evident.

“That’s a relief,” he said warmly. “Once things settle down, I’ll send the court physician. Dr. Woodson is fine, but the Winyates family deserves its own dedicated doctor.”

“What?” I blinked. “Why should the palace physician handle that?”

“Of course, it should be this way,” Callisto said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

He reached out and gently cupped my cheek with his large hand. His touch was warm, but my gaze was drawn to the small scars on the back of his hand.

A pang of sadness tightened my chest. I placed my hand over his knuckles, holding his hand in place.

Callisto flinched, a gesture that reminded me of his younger self. Memories of the timid boy who used to shy away from my touch flashed through my mind. I couldn’t help but smile softly.

At that moment, Cliff entered the parlor again, clearing his throat nervously.

“Young Master, another guest has arrived.”

Callisto raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased, and asked, “Who? I told you not to let anyone in, Cliff.”

“Sweetheart, why are you acting up again?” I sighed, shaking my head.

Since our reunion, Callisto had been attempting to monopolize my time. Perhaps the years of separation had left their mark on him. Unfortunately, Cliff often bore the brunt of it.

I gestured to Cliff to continue. “Who is it? I thought we didn’t have any plans for today.”

“It’s Young Master Armagnac, sir.”

“Lawrence?” I asked, a smile tugging at my lips. “Let him in.”

As I turned to greet Lawrence warmly, I failed to notice Callisto’s expression darkening behind me.

“Étienne!” Lawrence entered the room in a hurry, his face flushed. “I heard the news. I couldn’t attend the ceremony because I was unwell, but—”

He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes going wide. His gaze locked on Callisto, standing behind me.

“You… you…” Lawrence stammered, his trembling hand pointing at Callisto.

Callisto raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “What kind of attitude is this toward the Second Prince of the Empire? Show some respect.”

I flinched at Callisto’s harsh tone, but Lawrence seemed unfazed. He took a step forward, positioning himself directly in front of Callisto.

Callisto’s golden eyes narrowed, and a sly grin curled at the corner of his lips.

“Are you saying I should be polite?” Callisto retorted with a raised brow.

“You were really alive!” Lawrence exclaimed, rushing forward to hug Callisto tightly. The height difference, however, made it look more like Callisto was the one being embraced.

“Hey,” Callisto muttered, “Get off me. Back away.”

“Wow, it’s been so long!” Lawrence ignored him, rattling on. “Why didn’t you contact me for two whole years? Kevin and Anessa stopped contacting me too—I really thought something had happened! Did they come back as well? Wait, is it true that you’re the Second Prince? And when did you grow so much? How tall are you now, you little brat—”

“Shut up,” Callisto interrupted, exasperation clear on his face. “You’re giving me a headache.”

Despite his words, Callisto’s hands gently pushed Lawrence away. Their banter, filled with a familiar rhythm, was like an echo of their childhood. Though they’d bickered endlessly as kids, they had always been inseparable.

The scene warmed and pained me simultaneously. In the original story, they would have already become lovers by this point, but my interference had disrupted the timeline. Watching them now, I felt a pang of guilt.

Lawrence, who hadn’t been well enough to attend the coronation ceremony, seemed ecstatic to finally reunite with Callisto. His questions poured out non-stop, and Callisto, surprisingly patient, answered them one by one.

“So, are you really the Second Prince?” Lawrence asked, his tone incredulous. “How did you manage to keep it a secret from us all this time?”

“I told you,” Callisto replied, his voice flat. “I’m not blood-related to Eti.”

“Watch your manners,” Lawrence snapped. “Why are you calling him by his name so casually?”

“Didn’t you hear me? We’re not biological brothers,” Callisto retorted coolly.

“So, you still haven’t given up?” Lawrence shot back, his eyes narrowing. “Even after seven years?”

“Why haven’t you married yet?” Callisto countered, his tone biting. “Is it really okay for the heir of the Duke of Armagnac to be so leisurely—chasing after someone else’s fiancé?”

“Someone else’s fiancé?” Lawrence repeated, his voice rising.

Their conversation grew more heated, their words like daggers. I stood between them, blinking in confusion, unsure how to intervene.

Suddenly, Callisto turned toward me and draped an arm over my shoulder, pulling me closer. His golden eyes sparkled with mischief as Lawrence’s face twisted in anger.

“Did you miss the most important news while you were lying sick?” Callisto asked Lawrence, his voice light but taunting. “Maybe you should head back to the duke’s residence and rest a bit more, Count Armagnac.”

“What news?” Lawrence’s voice faltered. “You don’t mean—”

Callisto looked down at me, and I glanced up at him in surprise. A broad, radiant smile spread across his face, the same smile that had charmed everyone in his youth.

“I’ve decided to get engaged to Étienne,” Callisto declared. “We’re going to have the engagement ceremony at the prince’s coronation.”

“…What?”

Lawrence’s jaw dropped. His usually calm brown eyes wavered, darting between Callisto and me, clearly shaken. Guilt surged within me, and I lowered my gaze.

Once a prince’s betrothal is decided, it’s almost impossible to undo. I had unwittingly taken Lawrence’s place. I had no idea how to fix this or give the role back to him. I had already resigned myself to being a secondary character, but now, I feared becoming the story’s villain as well.

The weight of it left me speechless, and Lawrence stayed silent for a long time too. Callisto, on the other hand, seemed perfectly content, grinning as if lost in his own thoughts.

After what felt like an eternity, Lawrence finally spoke, his voice low and sharp.

“This tick of a bastard.”

“Should I go easy on you?” Callisto replied with a shrug. “Don’t you understand what giving up means?”

“You come back from hell, and this is the first thing you do?” Lawrence’s voice rose with frustration.

“Do you think I came back from hell just for this?” Callisto’s grin widened, his tone mockingly sweet.

The two of them—grown adults now—were baring their teeth and growling at each other like children. My head started to throb.

“Guys, stop fighting,” I said, trying to intervene.

The situation was spiraling, and I couldn’t make sense of it. Furrowing my brow, I asked, “Why are you even fighting in the first place? It’s been so long since you last saw each other.”

Lawrence suddenly turned toward me, his chestnut-colored eyes piercing and intense.

“Étienne,” he snapped, “if you’re this oblivious, it’s practically a crime.”

I opened my mouth to respond but couldn’t find the words.

Callisto, however, seemed completely unbothered. Shrugging lazily, he replied, “Maybe give it a day or two. If you can’t handle this, then just give up, Armagnac.”

Considering the tense atmosphere, Lawrence lingered at the mansion for quite a while before finally leaving. Despite his sharp words earlier, it was clear he was simply relieved that Callisto had returned safely.

Callisto’s aides, the Gilos siblings, remained stationed on the North Sea coast, guarding the fleet and awaiting orders. Now that the coronation ceremony had concluded without incident, they were planning to return in time for the Second Prince’s enthronement and betrothal ceremony. Once Kevin and Anessa arrived, we planned to invite Brine for a tea party with the joint class members—something we hadn’t done in years.

I never imagined a day like this would come, where we could all reunite in good health. Memories of the past surfaced—those anxious days when I’d prayed endlessly for Callisto’s safety.

The image of Callisto taking off his uniform to reveal the prince’s insignia flashed before my eyes. Alongside it were the scars etched into his body, a testament to the trials he had endured.

Though I had read about Callisto’s experiences in the navy in the original story, no words could truly capture the pain he must have suffered.

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