The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]
Chapter 410: Worse

Chapter 410: Worse

Bonuses, advance payments, and even commissions.

It felt like he’d received all of it in one night.

Because right now, his usually shy, occasionally flustered, yet always obedient little chipmunk was curled in his lap, giving hugs and asking for pats like they were precious commodities.

Yes, ideally, he should have been giving Luca hugs to try to improve his little aggrieved wife’s mood. But with how they were positioned, it was really him who was getting spoiled.

And Xavier, the reclusive prince, could only enjoy the look on his soft and adorable Luca as he wondered what kind of windfall this was.

He wasn’t quite sure what kind of feat he had performed in his past life, but whatever it was, surely it had to be big enough to enjoy something like this when he ought to be the one begging for forgiveness.

But eventually he had to ask, after all, there was still the matter of the 27 sighs and why it seemed like he’d been looking for him all day.

"Luca," Xavier said gently, "did something happen today?"

The little guide blinked up at him.

"Earlier, you said you were waiting for me."

The prince actually expected hesitation, and while Luca hadn’t been the type to shrug things off or mutter lip service, he wasn’t sure what he had learned while he was away.

But instead, Luca, who had felt better after Ollie’s prescribed solutions worked, sat up a little straighter.

And with complete seriousness, he said—

"I think I have new symptoms."

"...Symptoms?"

Luca nodded, expression earnest before answering, "Ones that weren’t in the materials I read. And I don’t think you have them."

However, before Xavier could ask about these new symptoms, the little chipmunk started an animated re-telling of his attempts at solving this new mystery.

"First, I went to the Princess," Luca said, "but she got too excited and Ada had to pull her away before things got too heated."

"So when that didn’t work out, I went to ask my brother."

Xavier nodded slowly, taking this seriously, because Luca clearly was, but couldn’t hold back his desire to ask—

"Why didn’t you ask me?"

Now, Luca didn’t expect this question. He stilled, but hesitantly decided to answer,

"...Because I haven’t seen the same symptoms in you."

"Hmm. If it’s alright with you, would you mind telling me what kind of symptoms we’re talking about?" Xavier asked carefully.

The prince watched as the guy in his arms reddened once more as he stammered to explain his unofficial diagnosis.

"According to my brother..." he mumbled, "I’m—um. I’m pining."

Xavier raised a brow. "Pining?"

Luca nodded, clearly mortified now. "Because I kept sighing. And glancing. And...sniffing."

He paused. Looked down.

"Apparently, those are signs of pining."

Normally, Xavier would be second-guessing what he just heard, but after months of knowing Luca, he’d learned how to take things at face value.

Like hearing something like this that got him smiling—slowly, helplessly—as if this was the most treasured discovery of the week.

"You were sniffing?"

Luca covered his face. "Just a little! Maybe. I don’t know why!"

The prince let out a quiet laugh, pressing another kiss to his temple.

"My love," he whispered, "you’re really going to be the death of me."

The little chipmunk squeaked, still not used to hearing Xavier say those words. But he didn’t stop him because somehow, he liked the sound of that.

He liked it so much that he didn’t say anything for a long time and just stared up at Xavier, lips slightly parted, heart skipping an uneven rhythm in his chest.

The words echoed again and again in his head—

You’re really going to be the death of me.

They wrapped around him like heat.

He didn’t know why it made him flutter from the inside out, but it did because now his cheeks that had been warm since earlier were so hot they might just combust.

In his embarrassment, his arms tightened slightly around Xavier’s neck, trying not to meet those azure eyes that were searching his face.

Meanwhile, the prince, who had been admiring the look on his face, tilted his head slightly, amused by his attempts at avoiding his gaze.

He gently tapped the tip of the shorty’s nose. "You alright?"

Luca twitched. "Y-Yes! I’m fine! Perfectly fine!"

"Uh-huh." Xavier chuckled under his breath, clearly not buying it, but too amused to press further because the way his little chipmunk looked right now was far too tempting.

He leaned back just a little, arms still secure around the smaller guy.

Then, with a tone far too casual for how dangerous the question was, he asked—

"Say...who exactly were you pining for?"

Luca froze.

Suddenly, he was like an animal caught mid-scamper as his eyes widened at this question.

"I—You—!"

The prince laughed. He couldn’t help it.

Luca puffed his cheeks, ready to protest, but before he could form any real words, Xavier leaned in again.

This time his voice dropped, soft as silk and twice as warm.

"I missed you, too," he whispered. "Terribly."

The words struck like a bolt of heat, catching Luca off guard. His breath hitched as the words echoed in his brain.

The little guide’s fingers twitched where they held Xavier’s shirt. His earlier frustration, his pacing, his hesitation—all of it crumbled under the weight of those five simple words.

But he still asked, because some part of him needed to know.

"Then... how come?" he asked quietly. "If you missed me... why didn’t you stay? Why did you keep leaving at night?"

Xavier didn’t look away, he just maintained his gaze as he thought about how to get Luca to understand.

"Because," he said softly, "my symptoms are far worse."

Luca blinked. "Worse?"

The prince nodded, eyes never leaving his.

"You were satisfied with sniffing coats, right?"

Suddenly, a certain guide’s soul nearly left his body as his toes turned scarlet in one breath.

He had forgotten.

Not that he hadn’t been reminded of it, but he didn’t think much of it earlier as he had other concerns. And now, he manages to remember that he’d wrapped himself in three of Xavier’s coats like they were some kind of safety blanket.

"I—I—Didn’t mean to take them!" he stammered.

Xavier’s grin widened, shameless and wolfish.

"I’m not judging," he said, voice dipped in amusement. "In fact, I’m flattered."

He leaned in closer, just enough for Luca to feel his breath on his skin.

"But I can’t do what you did."

"Huh?" Luca’s voice came out faint, confused.

"I crave your scent too," Xavier said quietly, "but I can’t be satisfied by clothes alone."

He shifted forward—just slightly—but it felt like the whole room tilted.

Luca could feel the heat between them rise.

"Because here," Xavier murmured, his voice brushing against his skin, "is where you smell really good."

And then—

Xavier’s lips touched the side of his neck.

Soft.

Careful.

Possessive in a way that sent a quiet shiver down the little guide’s spine.

Luca’s breath hitched. His fingers clenched.

"X-Xavier..."

The prince pulled back, but only slightly.

Just enough for their eyes to meet.

Xavier’s gaze burned steadily.

"I love your hugs," he said. "I wait for them every time."

"But what I miss most—" his voice lowered again "—are your kisses."

Luca couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t look away.

His heartbeat so loud in his ears that he thought it might knock him over.

Because in that moment—

The only thing louder than Xavier’s voice...

Was the terrifying silence of his own mind that had completely forgotten how to function.

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