Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 5.8

If I followed through, Kevin, Anessa, and the navy crew would no doubt flock to us, mocking me relentlessly. Worried about tarnishing Callisto’s reputation, I argued with him for a while, but ultimately, I failed to break his stubborn resolve. After all, he was the admiral—not me. Resigned, I climbed onto his back and wrapped my arms around his neck.

The dawn air was crisp and refreshing. Resting my cold face against the warmth of Callisto’s neck, I felt his heat seep into my cheeks. A faint, fresh, and clean scent lingered on his skin.

It was early enough that the island remained asleep. Save for the occasional chirp of insects, the beach was quiet, the only sound being the soft crunch of Callisto’s footsteps in the sand as he headed toward the fleet.

After walking in silence for a while, Callisto spoke suddenly.

“Are you cold, hyung?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Do you want my jacket? I could cover you more.”

Before I could respond, he asked again without waiting for an answer—and his jacket was already draped over my shoulders. If he were to give me more layers, would he strip entirely by the time we reached the fleet? Why was he so naturally inclined to undress?

Suspicious that he might have spent his seafaring days perpetually half-naked, I hesitated before speaking.

“Why do you keep taking your clothes off? Stop. Just keep them on, okay?”

“Huh? I just thought you might be cold.”

“I’m not. So don’t just take things off wherever you please. Especially not on the ship…”

The realization that he had been half-dressed all night made my protest sound weak. Embarrassed, I added hastily, “You’re an admiral…”

“Uh, okay…” Callisto tilted his head, clearly confused about the connection between being an admiral and staying dressed, but he nodded obediently. His compliance softened my mood, and I reached out to ruffle his hair. As I did, I noticed one of his cheeks puff up slightly, his ears already tinged red.

We walked until we finally reached the fleet’s anchorage on the beach. From a distance, Kevin waved an arm, bouncing with energy.

“Hey! Admiral! Why are you alone? Where’s the consort?”

“Huh? Isn’t the consort behind the admiral?”

“Behind him? Where? Oh! Is that the consort on the admiral’s back?”

“What? Is the consort hurt? Where?”

Kevin and Anessa made a beeline for us, fussing noisily. I slapped Callisto’s shoulder, signaling him to let me down, but he acted as though he didn’t hear me and kept walking calmly. Their wide-eyed stares only made me feel more humiliated.

“I’m not… I’m not hurt.”

“Then why are you hanging onto the admiral?”

“Hanging on? Show some respect to the consort, Captain Gilloss.”

“Yes, consort, but why are you on the admiral’s back?”

“That’s respectful, Captain?”

“Just answer me, Admiral!”

If they were going to babble uselessly like this, I wished Callisto would just let me down. But he showed no intention of doing so, and by the time we stopped, the officers and sailors had gathered around us, chattering among themselves.

“Admiral! Is the consort injured?”

“No! Not at all!”

“Then why is the consort on your back?”

“That’s what I’ve been asking!”

“Admiral! Where were you all night? Weren’t you supposed to bring fish?”

“Yeah! Where’s the fish? We’ve been waiting!”

“Did you hide it? No? Then what were you doing all night with the consort?”

The crew’s banter grew increasingly ridiculous, making my face heat up in embarrassment, while Callisto, for some reason, appeared to grow more and more smug. Or was that just my imagination?

4o

You said:

used proper proniuns and proofread properly

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

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

“Let’s head back now. Can you walk? No—just get on my back.”

“What? Why? I can walk just fine!”

I hadn’t injured my ankle, and all my limbs were perfectly fine, so there was absolutely no reason to be carried. He had insisted on giving me a piggyback ride last night, and now it seemed his persistence hadn’t ended. Callisto frowned stubbornly as he pressed his argument.

“You fell into the sea, didn’t you? You’re probably exhausted.”

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

“You’re not strong! After all that, and not even getting a wink of sleep, you’re planning to walk?”

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

How long was he planning to treat me like some frail invalid? Callisto, however, wasn’t budging.

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

“No, it’s too far, which is why I shouldn’t be carried. You’ll get tired.”

I instantly regretted my words the moment they left my mouth. Callisto raised an eyebrow 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 have won.

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

“So, just get on already. Hmm?”

If I let him carry me, Kevin, Anessa, and the navy crew would no doubt flock to us, mocking me relentlessly. Worried about tarnishing Callisto’s reputation, I argued with him for a while, but ultimately, I failed to break his stubborn resolve. After all, he was the admiral—not me. Resigned, I climbed onto his back and wrapped my arms around his neck.

The dawn air was crisp and refreshing. Resting my cold face against the warmth of Callisto’s neck, I felt his heat seep into my cheeks. A faint, fresh, and clean scent lingered on his skin.

It was early enough that the island remained asleep. Save for the occasional chirp of insects, the beach was quiet, the only sound being the soft crunch of Callisto’s footsteps in the sand as he headed toward the fleet.

After walking in silence for a while, Callisto spoke suddenly.

“Are you cold?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Do you want my jacket? I could cover you more.”

Before I could respond, he asked again without waiting for an answer—and his jacket was already draped over my shoulders. If he were to give me more layers, would he strip entirely by the time we reached the fleet? Why was he so naturally inclined to undress?

Suspicious that he might have spent his seafaring days perpetually half-naked, I hesitated before speaking.

“Why do you keep taking your clothes off? Stop. Just keep them on, okay?”

“Huh? I just thought you might be cold.”

“I’m not. So don’t just take things off wherever you please. Especially not on the ship…”

The realization that he had been half-dressed all night made my protest sound weak. Embarrassed, I added hastily, “You’re the admiral…”

“Uh, okay…” Callisto tilted his head, clearly confused about the connection between being an admiral and staying dressed, but he nodded obediently. His compliance softened my mood, and I reached out to ruffle his hair. As I did, I noticed one of his cheeks puff up slightly, his ears already tinged red.

We walked until we finally reached the fleet’s anchorage on the beach. From a distance, Kevin waved an arm, bouncing with energy.

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