The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away

‘The one who says he will become Emperor wants to kiss me?’

Even setting aside that Kailos was a villain, Leslun was not destined to be with him.

Especially not, how absurd, to harbor romantic feelings for a male aide.

The Kailos Delroi that Leslun knew was not that kind of man.

‘There was mention of a first love, but…’

Even if the person was innocent, in this world Kailos would cruelly murder them, digging up a flaw just to mar them. He would never openly keep by his side a lover who was so clearly his weakness.

‘That Kailos, in a relationship with a man? Impossible.’

So Leslun tried not to show any further agitation. He steadied his posture, pretending to be composed. His face felt hot even at the brush of a fingertip, but he fussed with his collar as if dusting it off.

Kailos, as though seeing straight through his thoughts, gave a low laugh.

“You seem to have grown close with the Prince of Vancor.”

At those words, Leslun faintly furrowed his brows.

“I told you to show him around the Academy. You must have enjoyed going about the city with him.”

“It was purely a professional meeting.”

“Really? Robin doesn’t seem to think so.”

Kailos’s tone carried mischief, though on the surface it sounded like his usual reply. Something about it pricked oddly at Leslun.

Leslun was at a loss. How was he supposed to interpret the Crown Prince’s words about Prince Tarensiu?

“This is an additional order to what I said before. Do not get close to Prince Tarensiu.”

“But I am supposed to keep watch on him.”

“Exactly. Keep watch—but don’t get close. Who knows, you might end up running away together.”

Only then did his true meaning come out. The order not to grow close applied to all those Leslun would meet going forward—and Prince Tarensiu was included among them.

Now that they had already exchanged faces, if they happened to meet again by chance, he couldn’t just walk past. Yet with the Crown Prince saying such things, Leslun swallowed a sigh and lowered his head.

When he heard the words tacked on at the end, a sharp ache pierced beneath his heart.

Having already committed a fault, he had no grounds to argue back.

“I will do my utmost.”

Perhaps disliking that answer, Kailos’s breathing shifted faintly, like air leaking out.

“So you say you will, but will you later claim you had no choice?”

“I will make Your Highness’s orders my highest priority.”

That meant, in whatever form, he would obey the Crown Prince’s command. At that, Kailos stared fixedly at him, as though to confirm if his words were true, then slightly lifted the corner of his lips.

“When you say it like that, it sounds as if I’m keeping you apart out of jealousy.”

“I did not think such a thing.”

“It’s fine if you do. It’s half true, after all.”

Kailos gave Leslun a complicated look.

“I called you here to check if what Blue said was true, but since I didn’t get an answer, I found myself feeling petty.”

He muttered something incomprehensible.

“Still, I’ll tell you one thing. Even when you come close…”

And even when their bodies touched, it did not feel unpleasant.

He swallowed those last words as he gazed at the moist corners of Leslun’s eyes.

***

Robin was staring not at papers, but at Leslun’s face.

At first, Leslun thought perhaps he had something to say, but Robin said nothing at all. When Leslun asked if he needed anything, the reply was no.

So, with no other choice, Leslun turned back to his work. But it was hard to concentrate with his aide’s gaze fixed on him. The amount of paperwork piled up before him was considerable.

As shocking as it was to suddenly become the Crown Prince’s aide, what surprised him even more was the sheer workload handled by the Crown Prince. It was clear there should have been more aides.

How on earth had Robin managed it alone until now? The thought came, though he didn’t say it aloud.

The Crown Prince was dealing with work far beyond comparison to the Count. And now the overflow of that burden had fallen on Leslun.

“Are you truly unbothered, or are you merely pretending to be?”

At Robin’s words, Leslun raised his head. He had just been finishing the final report on expenditure details and budget execution for an inauguration ceremony.

“You slipped out of my watch and had a fine time. I thought you’d be floating with happiness right now.”