Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 8.9

“Hand over the whip! I’ll beat those vermin myself and see if they dare to resist!”

Roen snatched the whip and stormed forward, but before he could act, an unfamiliar voice spoke from behind him, the accent heavy and foreign.

“Your words are harsh, southern prince.”

The moment those words reached his ears, Roen felt his blood run cold. The air around him turned ominous.

Somehow, the slaves who should have been chained to their oars had surrounded Roen and Duke Harrington, forming a tight circle. Their chains had been cut, and they now stood with weapons in hand, glaring menacingly.

“What… what’s happening? Guards! Guards!” Roen shouted, his face pale as he retreated step by step.

Meanwhile, dozens of lifeboats had inexplicably appeared, encircling the ship. Emaciated, ragged figures swarmed aboard, their gaunt faces fierce and determined. Holding broken chains and axes, they advanced toward Roen, baring their teeth like wild animals.

One of them raised a hand high into the air, letting out a guttural scream. The others roared in unison, their suppressed rage erupting.

“Kill him!”

A torrent of chains lashed through the air, and axe blades gleamed sharply in the sunlight as they struck down around Roen. The guards who had attempted to protect him were quickly overwhelmed, their bloodshot eyes wide with fear as they fell one by one.

Roen clung desperately to Harrington’s coat, screaming in terror.

“Uncle! Uncle, save me!”

“Y-Your Highness…” Harrington tried to shield Roen and push him behind himself, but the surging mob knocked him over. The slaves’ bare, calloused feet trampled over Harrington as they closed in on Roen.

Blinded by fear, Roen grabbed the nearest weapon and swung it wildly. With a sickening thud, it connected with one of the attackers. The man collapsed with a scream, blood spurting from his crushed skull.

“Arrrgh!”

The sight and smell of fresh blood further inflamed the attackers’ rage. Roen staggered back, only to find himself pinned against the ship’s railing. Surrounding him on all sides, the northern slaves raised their axes high.

Thud!

Squish!

“AAAAAAAHHH!”

The sound of flesh being cleaved filled the air, punctuated by Roen’s screams. With so many attacking at once, the horrific noise dragged on. Gradually, the chaos subsided. The slaves’ anger abated, leaving an eerie silence over the blood-soaked deck.

It was over.

When Ivry ascended to the deck with Callisto, she saw what remained of Roen. His mutilated body hung grotesquely from the mast, wrapped in the same chains that had once bound the rowers. Ivry gasped sharply, a hand flying to her mouth. If it weren’t for the still-shining golden hair, she might not have recognized him at all.

The once-proud prince who had ruled the empire with an iron fist had met a pitiful end. His crimes were too great to inspire pity, but his death was undeniably wretched.

Callisto stared at the mutilated corpse of his half-brother, his expression unreadable. The face that had once seemed like a beautiful mask now betrayed nothing of his thoughts. Ivry observed him silently, noticing how his long lashes trembled faintly as he lowered his gaze. For a brief moment, there was an almost mournful air about him.

But Callisto was still Callisto.

“Dispose of it,” he said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion.

As he turned away, the air around him seemed to chill. Soldiers saluted sharply before lowering Roen’s body. The corpse’s lips, which had been warm and breathing just moments ago, were now a ghastly blue. Ivry watched as the soldiers wrapped the body in torn sails and weighted it down with chains.

In the empire’s history, no defeated prince had ever received an intact burial. Such corpses were usually dragged behind the victor’s procession, mocked and jeered by the public before being left to rot. If Callisto had lost, he too would have suffered that fate.

With a splash, Roen’s body sank into the depths. Callisto paused briefly at the bow, glancing coldly at the spot where the body had vanished. For a fleeting moment, his gaze seemed to waver.

The remaining ships of the First Prince’s fleet raised white flags, signaling their surrender. Callisto’s soldiers, having bound the enemy survivors, raised the red victory banner on the heavily damaged flagship. Across the battlefield, the red flag bearing Callisto’s insignia fluttered atop every mast.

As the morning sun bathed Blast Harbor, an unexpected commotion broke out. From the dock where I had been waiting since dawn, I watched the sea anxiously. A faint bell rang, accompanied by the creak of oars. A massive fleet was approaching the harbor, cutting through the waves.

“The fleet! The fleet is returning!”

“The admiral is back!”

“Waaaaah!”

Pushing my way through the cheering crowd, I stepped forward to get a better look. Beside me, Brine craned her neck and squinted. The fleet, now fully visible, was in a sorry state. The lead ship’s tattered sails drooped pitifully from its high mast.

But atop the mast, the red victory flag fluttered proudly.

“Callisto…”

My throat tightened, and I couldn’t manage to speak further. Instead, Brine pointed at the ship and shouted.

“What did you do to my ship, Callisto?!”

Her indignant cry broke the tension, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Relief washed over me. Callisto had returned in triumph. The fleet was battered, but the battle was over, and I could finally let my worries go.

That didn’t mean it was okay for him to wreck the fleet, though.

“So… you rammed them again, didn’t you? With that strange iron thing.”

“It’s not a ‘strange iron thing,’ it’s called a ‘ram,’ brother.”

“Oh, really? It has a name? Then do you know what we call someone who completely ignores their fiancée’s pleas, acts recklessly, and ends up getting dumped?”

“….”

“We call them an ex-fiancé, Calli.”

“Brother….”

Perhaps sensing that it was time to charm his way out of trouble, Callisto’s eyes drooped plaintively. But given that he was covered head to toe in blood, his attempt at looking cute came off as more menacing than endearing.

Well, to be honest, it was a little cute…

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