Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 5.9

“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?

“If you truly didn’t care about others, you wouldn’t have thought to secure millet in the first place. Right now, you’re just a little excited because we’re in a new place. Besides, securing food was something I asked you to do. Solving this is my responsibility.”

Callisto’s voice was steady and firm. When I looked up at him, his amber eyes shone gently.

“We just need to do what we each can. Don’t try to take everything on yourself for my sake.”

He hesitated for a moment before adding, “Let me have my role too.”

It seemed he wanted to say that he wasn’t a child anymore. Yet, instead of saying more, he simply smiled softly, his calm and composed expression showing no trace of agitation. I stared at him for a moment before nodding.

I knew better than anyone that Callisto was no longer a child. For a while, I had found that fact bittersweet and a little lonely.

But at some point, without realizing it, my heart had started to race—something I couldn’t bring myself to admit to him.

We were staying in a port city along the northern coast. The blue sea was visible from almost anywhere in town, and a salty breeze constantly blew through the streets. Perhaps due to the warm climate, vibrant flowers bloomed everywhere, their bright colors catching the eye. Watching them sway in the wind, I suddenly remembered the bouquet of violets Callisto had once given me, and my ears grew warm for no reason.

Leaving the fleet stationed on the beach, Callisto and I boarded a carriage. Several fully armed naval officers followed on horseback. They kept glancing through the carriage window, clearly hoping Callisto would join them outside. But as our conversation began, they fell silent and quickly distanced themselves.

“Uh, we’ll… escort you from over here, Your Grace the Consort!”

“Yes, Admiral, enjoy your time together!”

“Ah, right… thanks.”

I stared blankly at the backs of the officers as they scurried away, then realized belatedly that I’d made a slip of the tongue again. Out of habit, I’d called Callisto by a familiar nickname in front of his men.

“I messed up again. I keep trying to be careful, but I can’t seem to fix it. Sorry—I’ll watch myself more for your sake.”

Surely, no officer wanted to hear their admiral being called something like “baby.” Feeling apologetic, I glanced at Callisto, worried this might damage his dignity.

But he merely shrugged.

“If my dignity could be erased by something like that, it wasn’t there to begin with. Call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“Your officers look so uneasy every time it happens, though.”

“They’re just jealous. Where else are they going to find someone who loves them like this?”

This was the same Callisto who had protested being treated like a child—but now he seemed completely fine with it. In fact, he looked positively pleased with himself. I didn’t understand the difference, but since he said it was fine, I was relieved.

And seeing him puff up with pride was oddly endearing, so I couldn’t help but laugh. I lightly patted his cheek and asked teasingly, “Really? Baby, do you feel loved right now?”

“Of course. You don’t call just anyone that, right? I’m the only one in the world you say it to.”

I had always doted on Callisto since he was young, which was why I called him “baby.” But it wasn’t such a unique or special term that he needed to frame it like that. Occasionally, I would call young children I met on estate visits “baby” as well. In fact, just recently, I’d met a dark-haired little boy on a visit and, reminded of Callisto as a child, had given him some sweets and doted on him.

“Why aren’t you answering, Hyung?”

Lost in thought, I hadn’t realized Callisto was frowning slightly, pressing me for a response. When I looked up, his intense gaze was fixed on me.

“Uh, well…”

“It’s not true, is it?”

What wasn’t true? His frown deepened, and suddenly the air felt two degrees colder.

“Don’t tell me you’ve called someone else ‘baby’ too.”

“Someone else? Calli, those kids on the estate don’t count as ‘someone else.’ Watch your words.”

He had been in the military long enough that his language seemed rougher than before, and I reflexively corrected him. But a shadow passed over Callisto’s expression.

Support