Episode 5 “The Villain Held My Hand”

The giant black wolf growled again.

Its sharp eyes locked directly onto Eli.

Eli immediately hid behind Kael.

“Your Highness,” he whispered urgently, gripping Kael’s sleeve, “I think it wants to eat me.”

Kael looked completely calm.

“It’s only observing us.”

The wolf snarled loudly.

Eli looked horrified.

“THAT does not sound like observing!”

The beast suddenly stepped forward.

Eli nearly climbed onto Kael in panic.

Without thinking, he grabbed the back of Kael’s uniform tightly.

Very tightly.

Kael glanced down briefly at the hands clutching him.

Then—

for some reason—

his expression softened slightly.

Meanwhile Eli was too busy preparing his funeral mentally.

I’m too young to die.

I haven’t even kissed properly yet.

Kael went still for half a second.

Eli froze too.

Oh no.

Not again.

That strange reaction.

Like Kael heard something.

Before Eli could think further—

the wolf suddenly lunged.

“AHHH—!”

Eli shut his eyes instantly.

A powerful burst of magic exploded through the clearing.

Wind rushed violently around them.

The wolf crashed backward several meters before retreating into the forest with a wounded growl.

Silence returned.

Leaves slowly drifted through the air.

Eli blinked.

“…Am I alive?”

Kael lowered his hand calmly.

“Yes.”

Eli stared at him in awe.

Okay.

That was cool.

Very cool.

Dangerously cool.

The black military uniform fluttering in the wind definitely was not helping.

Why does saving lives make him hotter?!

Kael suddenly turned away slightly.

Like he was hiding something.

Suspicious.

Very suspicious.

Eli narrowed his eyes.

“Your Highness…”

Kael looked at him calmly.

“Yes?”

“…Are you secretly laughing at me?”

“No.”

Too fast.

Way too fast.

Eli pointed dramatically.

“That was a suspicious answer!”

For one horrifying second—

Kael actually looked entertained.

Then—

voices echoed through the forest.

“Your Highness!”

Several royal knights finally arrived.

Eli had never seen people look more terrified.

The captain immediately bowed.

“We apologize for our delay!”

His eyes shifted toward Eli gripping Kael’s sleeve.

Then toward Kael standing protectively in front of him.

The captain looked emotionally damaged instantly.

Probably because Kael usually scared people into unconsciousness, not protected them from wolves.

One knight whispered quietly:

“…Is Prince Eli crying?”

Eli immediately wiped his face.

“I was NOT crying!”

Another knight muttered:

“He definitely was.”

“I HEARD THAT.”

Kael stepped slightly closer to Eli.

The knights instantly straightened like frightened statues.

“Return to the palace,” Kael ordered calmly.

Everyone obeyed immediately.

Because survival instincts existed.

—

The ride back somehow became even worse.

Because this time—

Kael made Eli sit in front.

Directly in front of him.

Eli could practically feel the entire empire judging him.

This looks unbelievably romantic.

Kael’s arm tightened slightly around Eli’s waist as he held the reins.

Eli noticed immediately.

Nope.

Absolutely not.

Something strange was happening.

Every time Eli thought embarrassing things—

Kael reacted.

Not always.

But enough to feel suspicious.

Eli slowly glanced back.

Kael looked calm as usual.

Too calm.

Dangerously calm.

Eli narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Then—

for science—

he tested something.

His eyelashes are ridiculously pretty.

Kael immediately looked away.

Eli froze.

WAIT.

NO WAY.

His eyes widened dramatically.

HE REALLY HEARD THAT?!

Kael’s horse suddenly slowed slightly.

Suspicious behavior.

Very suspicious.

Eli internally screamed.

OH NO.

OH NO NO NO.

The villain prince could hear him somehow.

Maybe not everything—

but definitely enough.

Eli’s soul nearly left his body.

This meant:

every embarrassing thought

every panic

every compliment

KAEL POSSIBLY HEARD ALL OF IT.

Eli wanted to jump off the horse immediately.

Unfortunately—

right as he panicked—

the horse moved suddenly.

Eli lost balance instantly.

“AH—!”

Before he could fall, Kael grabbed his hand tightly.

Their fingers locked together naturally.

Warm.

Firm.

Way too intimate.

Eli’s heartbeat exploded.

Kael looked down at their joined hands briefly.

But instead of letting go—

he held tighter.

The servants and knights behind them immediately started pretending not to see anything.

Because they valued their lives.

Meanwhile Eli’s brain was melting.

Why are his hands so big?!

Kael closed his eyes briefly.

Like he was struggling not to react.

Then softly—

almost too quietly—

he said:

“You think strange things.”

Eli stopped breathing.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Eli slowly turned around.

Kael looked back at him calmly.

Too calmly.

And suddenly—

Eli realized something horrifying.

The villain prince had definitely been hearing him this entire time.

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