Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 5.13

Even after our lips parted, I didn’t pull back. I looked up at Callisto, his deep golden eyes wavering as though caught in a storm of their own.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

“Hyung… what does this mean?”

The uncertainty in his gaze tugged at my heart. His trembling voice brushed against my lips, but I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I moved closer to him, closing the gap even more.

The boy who once couldn’t even reach my chest had grown so tall that I now had to look up at him. So much had changed over the years—our relationship included.

Callisto had always reached out for me. Now, it was my turn to move toward him.

“It means this,” I murmured before leaning in to kiss his lower lip. His cheek twitched under my hands, his surprise palpable. The scent of calendula grew stronger, his breath carrying its sweetness until it filled the space around us.

The overwhelming fragrance made my mind hazy. And then, in a voice cracked with vulnerability, he asked again.

“Hyung… are you sure? Won’t you regret this?”

“Why would I regret it?”

“If it’s just an impulse… you can take your time to think it through.”

“I’ve thought about it long enough,” I replied firmly. “No more thinking. And you don’t need to think about it or feel regret either. But if you ever do…”

I playfully patted his flushed cheek and teased, “You’ll be in big trouble with me.”

He chuckled softly at my words, his golden eyes finally softening. A smile spread across his lips, bringing warmth back into his features. His long lashes trembled slightly, his expression a mix of relief and joy.

Then, our lips met again.

This time, the kiss deepened. His tongue gently brushed against my lips, parting them with a tender persistence. The warm, wet sensation as our lips moved together sent shivers through me. Small, intimate sounds filled the air as our breaths mingled. I found myself at a loss, gasping softly, my body trembling with the unfamiliarity of it all.

Callisto briefly pulled away, his thumb lightly grazing over my swollen lips as he murmured, “Breathe, Eti.”

His gentle words carried a stark contrast to the intensity in his gaze. His eyes burned with a deep, fiery emotion, as though he wanted to consume me whole. Even his lips, now flushed and glistening, seemed more enticing than ever.

My chest tightened with nerves, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

“I could never regret this,” he murmured, taking my hand and placing it over his chest. Beneath my palm, I felt the rapid beat of his heart, racing even faster than my own. His voice softened, carrying a tender weight.

“I’ve waited my whole life for this. Since I was seven.”

“Ha…” I couldn’t help but laugh. The memory of seven-year-old Callisto proposing to me with a violet ring flashed vividly in my mind. Shaking my head, I teased, “Since you were seven? Back then, you just liked me because I was your hyung.”

“That’s not true,” he insisted, his tone unwavering. “You don’t believe me?”

“Kids that age like anyone they see as family…”

“Eti,” he interrupted, his voice firm.

“No matter how young, we’re still capable of love.”

“Calli…”

“It’s always been the same—for me, at least. My feelings have never changed. So…”

He hesitated, taking a deep breath before continuing in a whisper, “Stay with me. Not just now, but forever.”

I looked up at him, his gaze steady and filled with emotion. Though his lips carried a faint smile, his eyes bore a depth that reminded me of the child he once was and yet revealed how much he had grown.

“Okay, Calli,” I replied, nodding slowly. A smile tugged at my lips as I added, “Let’s make our happy ending together.”

His lips pressed against mine again, warm and firm. When he finally pulled away, leaving me breathless, he whispered, “That’s two…”

I glanced up at him and corrected, “Three.”

Callisto’s eyes widened, startled. Then he blinked, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face.

“Wait… you knew it wasn’t a dream back then?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice?” I clicked my tongue, giving him an exasperated look.

Callisto’s shoulders sagged dramatically, his expression one of mock sorrow. “Your intuition is way too sharp, Hyung…”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Leaning up, I cupped his face and kissed him softly once more.

“Thanks for waiting so long,” I murmured against his lips.

The next morning, I woke up cradled in Callisto’s arms. He had made a pillow of his left arm for me while his right was wrapped securely around my back. At some point during the night, the roles had reversed.

“Looks like the rain stopped…”

I glanced toward the partially open tent flap, mumbling to myself. The storm had passed, leaving behind clear skies and a refreshing breeze that tickled the nape of my neck.

As I surveyed the serene morning, a group of naval officers caught my eye. They were standing a few steps away, awkwardly peeking in our direction. Confused, I tilted my head and called out to them.

“You’re here already? Calli’s still asleep.”

“Ah, yes! Your Grace! We, uh… please don’t mind us! You didn’t see anything!”

“Please don’t tell the admiral we’re here! We’re just rocks! Just rocks!”

“We’ll just stand guard here and—uh—let you both enjoy your morning!”

“….”

I was baffled by their odd behavior, but before I could respond, Callisto’s deep voice rumbled above me.

“Go get your breakfast,” he commanded.

Startled, the soldiers snapped to attention and scrambled to line up outside the tent. One of the lower-ranked officers hesitated before nervously speaking up.

“Admiral, we didn’t mean to… uh… disturb you. We thought you were on watch, so we came to relieve you, but…”

“Are you saying I didn’t keep watch?”

“What? No, sir! Not at all!”

The soldier jumped in place, flustered. Callisto chuckled, and the officers stared at him in astonishment.

I looked up at him, the early sunlight highlighting his dark hair and giving his skin a warm glow. The normally stern set of his features softened into a gentle smile. I was momentarily struck speechless.

Callisto turned his gaze to me, leaning in close until we were at eye level. In a quiet voice, he asked, “What’s wrong, Eti?”

“Nothing, just…” Without thinking, I let my thoughts slip.

“You’re beautiful.”

His golden eyes softened, and he leaned in to kiss me once more. By the time he pulled back, the officers had vanished completely.

The journey to find our mystery crop resumed later that day. While I tried to act casual around his crew, Callisto made no effort to hide his happiness, his smile lingering even as we traveled.

Eventually, we arrived at a farm growing a crop called batate. It resembled sweet potatoes rather than the regular potatoes we’d hoped for. While batate could serve as a famine crop, its need for a warm climate made it unsuitable for immediate use in the empire’s rainy conditions.

“This doesn’t look like the crop I saw,” Callisto said, his brow furrowing.

“We’ll find it,” I replied, smiling softly. “We’ll figure it out, Calli. Together.”

Callisto narrowed his eyes as he examined the batate before shaking his head again. Meanwhile, I was happily munching on the roasted batate the farmer had prepared for us. Feeling a little proud for no reason, I cut off a piece and popped it into Callisto’s mouth.

“It tastes good, doesn’t it?”

Though I hadn’t cooked it myself, I couldn’t help but beam as I asked. With his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, Callisto nodded eagerly.

From behind us, the muffled sound of coughs and whispers drew my attention. The officers who had been escorting us had retreated about ten steps back and were conspicuously murmuring among themselves.

“Ahem… don’t you think something’s changed? Last night, something definitely…”

“Mm-hmm, looks like His Grace finally accepted the Admiral. That fast?”

“Captain Gillos will be thrilled when we tell them—they had quite the wager going on this.”

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