Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 6.4

“If the dam collapses, too many lives will be lost. It doesn’t matter whose land it is—whether it’s Wynyates or Camois—it’s a place where people live. I want to help them. I know it’s dangerous, but… will you understand, Etienne?”

Callisto was right. Allowing an entire village to be submerged wasn’t an option.

After a brief hesitation, I cupped his face in both hands and nodded.

“Just promise me you’ll come back without a single scratch.”

Callisto’s face brightened slightly as he gave me a faint smile.

“Try to understand, Ivry. This is Callisto holding back because he’s not at full strength right now.”

“Exactly, Ivry. Besides, did you see what happened earlier? The Marquis is even more intense than the Admiral.”

“Right? Did you hear him? Asking if he was scared or hurt? Honestly, Ivry, you should have seen the Marquis lift that rubble with one hand and toss it aside.”

“Even if he had seen that, those rose-colored glasses wouldn’t come off. Just endure it, Ivry. That’s your only option.”

Ivry stood there silently, listening to their chatter. His expression, however, made it clear he wasn’t taking it well. He looked as though he was suppressing something unpleasant. I glanced at them briefly before turning my focus back to Callisto. Right now, Callisto was more important.

I reached out, gently stroking his cheek as I asked cautiously, “Sweetheart, are you sure you’re okay sitting up like this? You should be lying down and resting if you’re hurt, don’t you think?”

From behind me, Ivry muttered, “Did Etienne… did the Marquis just call the Second Prince ‘sweetheart’?”

“You heard it right, Ivry,” one of the twins replied.

“Which is why it’s time to leave, Ivry,” added the other twin.

With Ivry sandwiched between them, the twins grabbed his arms and dragged him out.

Once the large, scowling man and the noisy, boisterous siblings were gone, the room fell blissfully silent. Relieved, I leaned closer to Callisto and sat beside him. He chuckled softly, resting his cheek on my shoulder.

As I gently caressed his face, I murmured, “You lost consciousness, Callisto. You promised to be careful with yourself.”

“It wasn’t a big deal. I woke up as soon as I got here, but everyone kept making a fuss,” he replied casually.

From the Camois estate to the capital was a three-day journey by carriage. Even if he’d regained consciousness during that time, waking up after three days could hardly be considered “nothing.”

Though I admired his resilience, I wanted him to feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable in front of me. So, I lightly bumped my forehead against his.

“Nothing? You were unconscious for three days, and that’s ‘nothing’?”

“Ugh…”

“Callisto? Oh no, I didn’t mean to hurt you. Are you okay? Did that hurt a lot?”

To my surprise, Callisto flinched. I thought it was just a minor scrape on his forehead, but it seemed more serious. Alarmed, I hurriedly examined the white bandages on his head, gently pressing around the area. Sensing my concern, he winced slightly before composing himself. Yet his pale complexion was enough to make my chest tighten with worry.

“I’m sorry…”

Callisto shook his head faintly, a weak smile on his lips.

“I was just startled. It’s really not a big deal, Etienne. I’m fine.”

“Where exactly are you hurt?”

“Uh, just a small cut on my forehead and a few cracked ribs. That’s all.”

“…A small cut? Cracked ribs?!”

It wasn’t just a scratch—it was a full-blown injury. I felt incredulous at how lightly he treated it, while frustration bubbled at his nonchalant shrug.

“Seriously, these will heal quickly. I’m—”

Before he could finish, I bit down on his lower lip.

I was angry—at him for brushing off his injuries, at myself for not being there when he needed me, and most of all, at his infuriating smile pretending everything was fine. However, Callisto seemed to misinterpret my actions. His golden eyes softened, and his tongue grazed my lips teasingly.

“Don’t,” I mumbled, trying to push him away. “This isn’t the time.”

“Then what time is it?”

Still holding me close, his voice was low and drawn out, his expression playful. The sweet, floral scent that always lingered around him seemed to grow stronger, easing some of my irritation despite my efforts to stay firm.

“It’s scolding time, Callisto,” I replied sharply. “You need to stop being reckless with your body. And stop pretending you’re fine when you’re not.”

“Okay, okay,” he murmured.

But his compliance wasn’t genuine—his tongue still traced the inside of my mouth, and his long fingers had already found their way beneath my shirt to graze my bare skin. My thoughts grew foggy, and my resolve began to waver.

A sudden gasp startled us both.

“Good heavens, what are you doing, Marquis?!”

I jumped away from Callisto like I’d been burned, my face hot with embarrassment.

Elsie, the head servant who had practically raised us both, was standing in the doorway, eyes wide in disbelief.

Among all the Wynyates staff, the one person I had been dreading finding out about our relationship was Elsie. She had been like a second mother to us, fiercely loyal but also unflinching when it came to scolding us for any misbehavior.

“Elsie, it’s not what you think…” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Callisto, however, remained unbothered. “What’s the problem, Elsie? Etienne is my fiancé.”

“Your fiancé?!” Elsie exclaimed. “Marquis, what are you saying? And you, Etienne—how could you let this happen?!”

“Why are you yelling at Etienne?” Callisto interjected, his voice calm yet firm. “If you have an issue, you should talk to me.”

“Stay out of this, Your Highness!”

For the first time, Elsie’s temper flared at Callisto. While he seemed unruffled, I shrank back, guilt washing over me. Elsie had always been protective of both of us, but seeing her react like this made me feel as though I’d truly crossed a line.

“I don’t understand,” Elsie continued, her voice trembling with anger. “How could you do this? Etienne, he’s practically your little brother!”

I snapped.

“He’s not my little brother!”

The words burst out before I could stop them, loud and indignant. For a brief moment, I finally understood how Callisto must have felt all those years ago when everyone dismissed his feelings.

“Yeah, according to Lawrence, it seems like…”

The rest of my sentence trailed off as the words failed to form. Callisto, as if sensing my hesitation, continued smoothly.

“Yeah, brother. It looks like avoiding a civil war will be tough.”

During our time in the Northern Continent, the Empress’s faction had steadily been gaining ground. Knowing full well the risk of leaving the capital, we had braced ourselves for potential complications. Yet, neither of us had anticipated that the Empress would resort to slave trading.

Engaging in illegal trade wasn’t just a challenge to imperial authority—it was a declaration that they were prepared to face any resulting conflict head-on.

Callisto spoke slowly, his expression heavy.

“I’ve been discussing this with Duke Armagnac as well. When I visited Gunther Port, I thought gathering evidence would allow us to resolve this legally. But we miscalculated. Roen and his faction never intended to keep this quiet.”

“Did you uncover something new?”

The gravity of his tone caught me off guard. Alarmed, I asked urgently. Callisto sighed, brushing his bangs back, revealing his clear brow. His sharp features stood out even more in the light, though his furrowed brow betrayed his concern.

“Harrington isn’t just trading slaves.”

“Then… what are they doing?”

“They’re building a fleet. They’re cramming slaves below deck, chaining them to oars. These ships won’t rely on the wind they’ll move freely, guided by Harrington’s soldiers onboard.”

“Ah…”

The realization hit me like a wave. The Empress and Roen’s ultimate target had been clear all along Callisto. Roen understood that to seize control of the empire, dismantling Callisto’s naval fleet was imperative.

Callisto’s ships, designed for long voyages, relied entirely on wind power. In any naval battle near the imperial coastline, a fleet unrestrained by the wind would pose a significant threat.

Moreover, Harrington’s private army, honed over centuries, was renowned for its combat prowess, rivaling any force within the empire.

My mouth went dry as I processed the implications. Looking up at Callisto, I asked, “What are you planning to do? Will you blockade Gunther Port?”

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