Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 5.7

Before I could finish, his lips brushed against mine, featherlight and warm. The faint scent of calendula filled the air, sweet and calming.

His lips trembled slightly, and a strange, heavy ache filled my chest. My eyes closed involuntarily as his hand slid to my shoulder, gently pressing me down.

The soft sand cushioned my back, and my hair spilled across the ground.

“Brother, look at me,” Callisto whispered.

I opened my eyes hesitantly, meeting his gaze.

Despite the steadiness in his voice, his face was pale, his ears flushed crimson. The small smile that had lingered earlier was gone. His lips moved, and his voice was barely audible.

“Don’t turn away.”

“Callisto…”

His trembling eyes tugged at my heart, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer him.

From the moment I first met the frail, scrawny boy who became like a younger brother to me, I had cared for Callisto deeply. And now, the boy I once knew was gone, replaced by a stunning young man who gazed at me with unwavering devotion.

“Etienne,” he murmured, his voice soft yet firm. “You know how I feel.”

His words carried a weight I wasn’t ready to bear.

Callisto deserved happiness, a life untouched by loneliness or sorrow. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to give him what he wanted.

“Callisto, I…”

Before I could finish, he suddenly sat up, cutting me off. Grabbing my wrist, he pulled me upright and gestured toward the shoreline.

“Look over there, brother.”

“Huh?”

He tugged gently, guiding me to sit beside him. The sight before us left me speechless.

“Wow…”

The beach was aglow with countless fireflies. Their soft, golden lights flickered like stars scattered across the ground, some tinged with a faint bluish hue. The gentle glow illuminated the dark shoreline, creating an almost magical atmosphere.

Callisto reached out, cupping a few fireflies in his hands. The tiny lights flitted gently inside, their golden hue mirroring his amber eyes.

Turning to me, he extended his hands. His lips curled into a familiar, teasing smile.

“This is for you,” he said.

I stared at him, the corners of my mouth twitching into a reluctant smile. His intentions were transparent—he knew how much I struggled to resist his playful charm.

“Come on, Etienne,” he coaxed, drawing out my name with a playful lilt.

Just as I was about to protest and tell him to let the poor fireflies go, he leaned closer. His warm breath brushed my skin, carrying the faint scent of calendula.

In his glowing amber eyes, I saw only warmth and laughter. His lips moved, forming words I recognized instantly.

“If I give you this, will you marry me?”

It was the same question he had asked me long ago, when he slipped a violet ring onto my finger.

This time, I couldn’t help but laugh.

By the time our clothes had dried, dawn was breaking.

We had spent the night by the fire, talking about everything and nothing. Callisto shared stories from his time with the navy, carefully omitting any hardships. I knew better, and my heart ached for him.

The rising sun painted the beach in hues of red and gold, its light glancing off Callisto’s bare skin. My eyes fell to his waist, where a large scar in the shape of two crossed swords became visible in the growing light.

Gently, I reached out and traced the scar with my fingers.

“You used to hide this with flesh-colored tattoos, didn’t you?” I asked softly.

“Yeah,” he replied.

“When did you remove them?”

“About two years ago.”

Two years ago—around the time his letters had stopped. That was when he’d left for the northern seas, veering off the path set by the original story. He must have decided then to reclaim his rightful status.

“Getting rid of those tattoos… it must’ve hurt a lot,” I murmured.

“It didn’t hurt at all,” Callisto said with a calm smile, shaking his head.

The ease with which he dismissed it made my chest tighten.

“It must’ve,” I insisted. “They say you have to scrape the skin to get rid of tattoos like that.”

My fingers lingered on his scar, tracing its edges absentmindedly. Callisto shifted uncomfortably before catching my wrist.

“Brother… please stop touching me,” he muttered.

“Huh?”

“Just… stop.”

“Ah… Sorry,” I stammered, realizing my mistake.

His flushed cheeks and averted gaze reminded me that he was still shirtless. At least he still had his pants on… thank goodness for that.

While Callisto hurriedly dressed, I threw on my jacket in a rush as well. Nothing had happened, yet the sight of Callisto blushing made the back of my neck heat up for no reason. The sudden atmosphere left me puzzled. Behind me, Callisto cleared his throat.

“Let’s head back now. Can you walk? Actually, no—just hop on my back.”

“What? Why? I can walk just fine!”

I hadn’t injured my ankle, nor were my limbs in any way impaired, so there was absolutely no reason to be carried. He had insisted on giving me a piggyback ride last night, and now it seemed the tantrum was far from over. Callisto frowned stubbornly as he pressed his argument.

“Hyung, you fell into the sea. You must be exhausted.”

“What does falling into the sea have to do with anything when I’m not even hurt…?”

“You’re frail! After all that trouble and not even sleeping a wink, you’re planning to walk?”

“I’m not frail. Ever since the suppressant wore off, I’ve been perfectly fine.”

How long was he planning to treat me like a sickly invalid? Callisto, however, was undeterred.

“You’ll get sick if you overdo it. It’s too far to walk to the fleet from here.”

“No, it’s too far, so I shouldn’t be carried—you’ll get tired.”

I instantly regretted my words the moment they left my mouth. Callisto raised a brow at me.

“Tired? Me? You think I’d get tired carrying you?”

“Well… no…”

As the memory of him fighting a massive bear with his bare hands—choking it with one arm—flashed across my mind, I shuddered. He had bested it with a dagger, but honestly, even without it, he probably could’ve won.

When I clamped my mouth shut, Callisto grinned slyly and pounced on the opportunity.

“So, just get on already. Hmm?”

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