Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 5.18

“That’s not it, Calli. I just…”

Standing on tiptoes, I pressed my lips firmly against his smooth forehead before pulling away.

“I just wanted to do things like this with you.”

Next, I kissed the bridge of his straight nose, then his damp cheek, and finally, his lips.

“And I want to keep doing things like this with you, from now on.”

I gently nipped at his glistening lower lip before parting them and slipping inside. His lips, warm and flushed, felt soft, and the mingling scents of fresh flowers and salty tears filled my senses. It was addictive. Without pulling away, I murmured between kisses.

“How is this pity? I’m not that heartless.”

I might not be the most perceptive person… but even with my obliviousness, I didn’t miss the lightning-like flicker in Callisto’s golden eyes.

“…What kind of ‘things’ are you talking about?”

“Oh, those things?”

I grinned playfully, pecking at his lips repeatedly, like a bird tapping at seeds.

“The ones you wanted as an engagement gift. But since the diamond mine is your engagement gift, you’ll have to accept those as wedding gifts instead. Don’t you think?”

The development of Callisto Mine progressed smoothly. By the time we were ready to set sail, we had already received reports of a significant quantity of gemstones being mined. While the mine primarily produced diamonds, the yield of other gemstones was also substantial. As a result, I could fulfill my wish of filling the cargo hold of the Winyates fleet with specialties from the northern continent.

Between the spices I had secured through direct trade, the saffron and nutmeg harvested from my farm, and the gemstones from Callisto Mine, an entire galleon was packed to the brim. Other ships carried bulkier goods.

There was a bit of a hiccup during the process—my insistence on bringing back some toxic plants I had seen in a field of red flowers. Despite their danger, I stubbornly insisted on digging them up.

In the end, I transplanted the roots and soil of the red flowers into pots and brought them aboard the Etienne. Since the plants were poisonous, I couldn’t keep them in my cabin. Instead, I placed them in a sunny, unused section of the deck, where they added a unique charm.

Callisto frowned, clearly displeased, but didn’t stop me. However, he tried to temper my expectations with a quiet warning.

“Those flowers will probably wither before we even reach the Empire, Hyung. Don’t get your hopes up.”

I nodded and replied.

“Still, if Dr. Woodson sees even a withered flower, he might find it worth studying. I think he’d be interested.”

I doubted the flowers would prove necessary for the Empire, but they intrigued me. Unlike other events I’d seen and experienced in the northern continent, these flowers hadn’t appeared in the original story, making them all the more fascinating.

“By the way, what’s the name of this flower? Did you hear what it’s called, Calli?”

“Ah, what was it again…”

Callisto thought for a moment before answering.

“Echinacea. That’s what they called it. The other colors are harmless, but the red Echinacea is both toxic and medicinal, apparently.”

“Interesting.”

The next day was finally the day of our departure. The Gilos I and Gilos II set sail for the Empire ahead of us, escorted by several warships. Meanwhile, Callisto’s flagship and the remaining ships stayed behind to guard the Winyates fleet.

On a clear morning, with the sky high and bright, Callisto busied himself preparing for departure, while I busied myself watching him. The golden diamond from my underground proposal sparkled around his neck, set into a necklace.

To be honest, I’d worried it might turn out to be a lesser gemstone rather than a diamond. Fortunately, the appraisal confirmed it was a high-grade diamond. Of course, Callisto would have cherished it even if it were just a shard of glass, but it was still a relief.

And so, we set sail for the Empire. It had been exactly four months since we had left.

Our return journey was blessed with good fortune. We sailed with a steady tailwind the entire way and avoided the windless zones that had nearly trapped us on our way to the northern continent. As a result, we arrived at the Empire’s coastal waters in less than two months—much earlier than expected. Callisto remarked that such luck was rare.

Finally, one night, the lighthouse at Blast Harbor came into view, its light flickering faintly over the dark ocean. Beyond the shore, the Empire’s skies were covered with thick storm clouds, unleashing torrents of rain.

Standing beside me, Callisto said nothing, his lips pressed into a thin line. He seemed lost in thought, perhaps recalling a dream or mourning the nanny he had lost on a stormy night like this.

“Admiral! Admiral!”

As the flagship slowly docked at the harbor, lightning illuminated the sky, followed by a deafening crash of thunder. For a brief moment, the pier was bathed in light, and two figures came running toward us from the other side. Even through the pouring rain and the roar of thunder, I could hear their familiar voices.

“Admiral, get over here! We missed you!”

“Yeah! What took you so long?!”

Though they were still far away, the unmistakable voices of the Gilos siblings reached us, and my lips curled into a smile. Turning half a circle, I looked up at Callisto and grinned.

“We’re finally home.”

Callisto, who had been silently gazing at the stormy sky, turned to look at me. His sharp eyes softened, and a crooked smile appeared on his lips. Slowly, he nodded.

At last, we had returned to the stormy Empire.

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