Rolling in Bed with the Male Lead

"I warn you. Do not touch what is mine again."

...?

Richard's body stiffened just as he was about to step down from the carriage.

What?

What did that mean? Don't touch what is mine?

"You...?"

Daphne blinked and asked in bewilderment. She, too, looked confused.

"Richard... Friedrich."

Richard's name fell from Enoch's lips.

"I mean, do not touch him again."

Then, raising his gaze, he glared at Daphne as though wary of her.

"You said you were his longtime childhood friend?"

"Yes, Your Highness... That is true, but..."

It seemed Enoch's identity had been revealed in the meantime, as she was now speaking to him cautiously and formally.

"Friendship between a man and a woman cannot exist. You must be pretending otherwise while secretly holding him in your heart."

"Pardon?"

"However, he is mine. He is not someone the likes of you may touch."

...?

For a moment, Richard felt as though his brain had frozen solid.

What?

Who was not supposed to be touched?

Who belonged to whom?

So, right now...

Enoch is...

Was he laying down the law to Daphne, telling her not to touch me?

"Huh...?"

Faced with a situation so absurd that it felt like a dream, a foolish sound escaped his lips involuntarily.

"Ah... Richard?"

Daphne's eyes widened when she spotted him.

"...!"

Enoch noticed Richard a moment later.

"Daphne..."

Richard staggered as he climbed down from the carriage. He was utterly bewildered.

"What on earth is going on...?"

It was a situation his mind could not comprehend.

He had rushed over because he was worried the two of them might become romantically entangled, but what was going on here?

Daphne glanced at Enoch, then cautiously opened her mouth.

"Well, it seems His Highness is laboring under a slight misunderstanding... Um. You came at just the right time, Richard."

"..."

"Your Highness the Fourth Prince, Richard truly is nothing more than a friend. We have no feelings for each other whatsoever. Isn't that right, Richard?"

"..."

For some reason, Richard felt a sharp throb deep in one corner of his heart, but he did not let it show.

Because that was not important right now.

"That's... right. No, more importantly, Enoch. What are you doing here?"

What mattered was whether he had correctly heard what Enoch had just been spouting...

"I've fallen for you."

Suddenly, a confession came flying at him.

"Ah."

Daphne's eyes widened.

"Should I... give you some space?"

Lowering her voice, she discreetly asked Richard.

In this bewildering situation, there was no time to question the fact that Richard and a member of the royal family were speaking casually to each other.

"No, no..."

Richard pressed a hand to his forehead, fighting the sensation that the world was tilting on its axis.

"Enoch? What are you talking about?"

"Exactly what I said. I fell for you the day you saved me."

"..."

"The people around you are an eyesore. I wish I were the only one by your side."

Something had gone terribly wrong.

Enoch, who was supposed to be trailing after Daphne...!

Enoch, the second male lead who was supposed to have fallen for her...!

"I..."

Richard found himself taking a step back without realizing it.

A man had confessed to him.

And Enoch, of all people!

I...

The person I like is...

Daphne...!

He unconsciously clenched his teeth and looked at Daphne.

"Ah, um..."

Interpreting his gaze in some way, Daphne's expression stiffened.

She cautiously turned to Enoch.

"Um... Your Highness the Fourth Prince."

"What is it?"

"Richard... already has a man he is fond of..."

"What did you say?"

This time, Enoch's eyes widened like those of a startled cat.

"Who is it...? I will sever that person's limbs and..."

Just as those strange words began spilling from his lips, Daphne spoke.

"Um... I apologize, but that may prove difficult..."

"Who is it?"

"His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince..."

"...!"

Enoch's expression turned grave. Then, as though lost in thought, he pressed a fist beneath his chin and muttered under his breath.

"The process may be somewhat difficult."

"..."

"..."

Did that mean he intended to try anyway?

"..."

Amid this dizzying situation, Richard stood there stupidly with his mouth hanging open for a moment.

"Enoch!"

Realizing that he could not simply stand there, he grabbed Enoch by the wrist.

"Let's go home first."

He tugged firmly on Enoch's arm and gave Daphne a slight bow.

"So."

Back in his bedroom, Richard sat Enoch down on the bed and narrowed his eyes.

"You like me?"

"Yes."

Enoch answered without a moment's hesitation.

"..."

Richard's eyes shifted awkwardly.

It was an absurd and troublesome situation.

No wonder Enoch had insisted that he would not return to his kingdom...

It looks like the cliché really got misfiled.

Looking on the bright side, at least he probably would not become entangled with Daphne according to the "story"...

"Haa..."

Richard let out a deep sigh and raised his head.

All right.

For now... it probably would not cause any problems, so he could leave it alone.

"Do you really like the Crown Prince?"

Ignoring the question from directly in front of him, Richard continued thinking.

It probably would not cause any problems.

"Why aren't you answering?"

Probably.

"Is it true?"

"..."

"Then... I'll sever that person's limbs..."

"Stop, Enoch."

Richard pressed a hand to his throbbing forehead. ...Right. There would not be any problems at all. There could not be.

"More importantly..."

Richard tried hard to ignore the ominous feeling and changed the subject.

"Do you truly have no intention of returning to your kingdom?"

"No. Not until I repay my debt."

The answer left no room for negotiation.

"..."

Richard slowly swept back his bangs and raised his gaze to look at him.

Well, since things have come to this...

His watery blue eyes grew cold and settled.

Should I make use of him?

Leaving him alone seemed likely to cause trouble, so it would probably be better to give him something to do.

"Enoch."

Richard stepped closer to him.

"...?"

Those green eyes looked up at him.

"You said you would repay your debt, didn't you?"

"Yes."

Enoch nodded without hesitation.

"Eloise does not forget its debts."

"Then..."

Richard grinned.

"Will you help me with something?"

A chilly winter wind swept across the front of the Chesika ducal residence. Beneath the ashen sky, lavender roses bloomed brilliantly along the black marble wall.

"..."

A man draped in a thick robe stopped before them.

He moved to enter the ducal residence.

Clang—

The soldiers guarding the main gate crossed their spears, blocking his path.

"Have you received an invitation? Please identify yourself."

"..."

The man's foot halted. A low, weighty voice emerged from beneath the hood of his robe.

"Open the gate."

"I apologize, but please identify yourself."

The soldiers cautiously requested his identity once more.

However, the man remained adamant.

"I said, open the gate."

"We cannot carelessly admit someone whose identity we do not know into the ducal residence."

The soldiers scanned the man warily, their hands tightening around their spears.

"Ha."

The robed man clicked his tongue.

"How dare you block my path?"

His voice was low and utterly arrogant.

He quietly drew a breath, then pulled down the hood of his black robe with his fingertips. As his white-streaked hair scattered in the wind, a chilling aura spread around him.

Eyes as deep and red as an abyss looked down upon the soldiers as though they were beneath him.

That single gaze seemed to freeze the surrounding air.

"His Imperial Majesty the Emperor?!"

The soldiers' eyes widened.

"Open the gate at once. Summon the Duke of Chesika."

The Emperor, Raios, let out a low, cold growl.

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