Guiding the Male Lead out of His Trauma - Chapter 39.1
Belled sat down at the round table cluttered with all sorts of odds and ends.
Inside the repair shop, shadows flickered. There seemed to be a couple more people, but there was no way to be sure.
It was well past 2 a.m., the dead of night.
District 4 was mostly populated by the lower classes, people barely scraping by with a day’s wages from the nearby factories.
All the more, to see Prince Isadore himself welcoming someone who’d arrived even later, inside a shop dealing in illegal goods, was utterly surreal.
“At least you realize you call me out often. I know this is better than having my tail caught, but still.”
Unlike Prince Isadore, who kept smiling brightly, Belled was indifferent.
At the mansion, he was renowned for being kind and considerate, known for his good character and how easily he got along with the staff, but none of that was present now.
He was more sensitive than people said, and in the last six months, I’d seen that he was also much more indifferent than I’d realized.
“Is it that difficult to get away? The security at the duke’s house should be pretty loose these days.”
“That’s because Acteon Brondearn is there. Who would dare touch a mansion where two high-ranking Transcendents are staying? Not to mention, there are only eleven S-Class individuals on the whole continent, and two of them are living there.”
“Seems you’re not happy now that Acteon has manifested? But you joined that house fully expecting this, didn’t you?”
Wait, wasn’t that a pretty important statement just now?
Acteon’s eyebrows also lifted.
It clearly didn’t sit well with him to hear that Belled had infiltrated the house specifically with him as a target. There was a look of displeasure in his gaze as he watched Belled.
“There’s probably no need to worry about Acteon Brondearn anymore… Not that I can’t understand your feelings, of course.”
“It’s an honor to have someone of your stature care so much about my feelings.”
“Don’t be sarcastic. Everything’s falling into place, and this time there’s real reason for hope. Acteon Brondearn didn’t lose control.”
I quickly grabbed Acteon’s hand.
He looked at me silently.
“Senior.”
“We don’t know for sure. There’s not enough evidence that Prince Isadore was actually trying to make you go out of control.”
“……”
He tilted his head, a wry smile on his lips.
“But even if it’s uncertain, that was just now a pretty decisive testimony.”
“Acteon.”
What started as an attempt to keep him calm was turning into a small argument.
At that moment, things inside suddenly grew quiet.
As I tried to slip away, I was yanked back by a strong grip.
Acteon pulled me into the narrow space right beside us.
Cramped between buildings, in a gap barely big enough for a cat, I could smell the damp scent of grass.
Almost as soon as we hid in the shadows, I heard the window open.
“Belled, you’re not the type to bring someone all the way here, are you?”
“That’s true, but anyone can make a mistake now and then.”
Their voices exchanged, but even knowing the situation was dangerous, something else had all my attention.
Because I was pressed up against him, I could hear Acteon’s heart beating right by my ear.
‘That sound…’
The heavy, urgent pounding struck my eardrums.
For a moment, I worried his heart might actually burst.
I thought it would be better to move away, but his hand gripped firmly around my neck.
When I looked up, he slowly shook his head.
His lips moved in silence.
‘Just a little longer. Please.’
Thump, thump.
Despite the pounding heart, Acteon remained calm, and only then was I able to focus on Belled’s voice, just a few steps away.
“I thought I heard someone, but I guess it was my imagination. Lately the constabulary’s been rounding up assembly groups, so I’m a bit on edge.”
“I’ve heard about that too. Pelsi’s been begging me to stop sneaking out because I might get arrested by mistake. But I’m a prince, after all. It’s my duty to see how commoners live.”
Creak—
The window closed, and Acteon finally loosened his hold on me.
Once the tension eased, I let out a deep breath. Acteon apologized.
“…I’m sorry. I had no choice, it was urgent.”
Despite his simple apology, he wouldn’t meet my eyes, unlike earlier.
I was startled, but honestly, if our positions had been reversed, I’d probably have reacted the same way.
Still, after once looking away, Acteon couldn’t quite look at me again.
I gently cupped his cheek and led his wandering gaze back to me.
“Alright, so stop avoiding me. You’re making it look like I bullied you.”
“…Really?”
“Why don’t you deny it? When did I ever—”
I stopped, suddenly realizing the position we were in.
Even though he was the one who hugged me first, why does it feel like I’m the one pouncing on him?
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