How the Sidekick Prince Lives Again - Chapter 70

“Your highness……?”

Renato cautiously called Khalid when the atmosphere around the man suddenly became sharp. Only then did Khalid realize he had revealed his anger toward Maximo and hurriedly withdraw his aura.

“I’m sorry, I was lost in thought for a while. Anyway, it’s not someone you should care about, Your Imperial Highness.”

In the end, Khalid decided not to tell Renato that the person was Maximo. He didn’t want to upset Renato for no reason, and considering the expression on Maximo’s face a while ago, it seemed that man wouldn’t easily reveal he was here either.

It was highly likely that Maximo didn’t even know what his feelings were right now. Khalid had some guesses as to why the man was treating Renato so harshly.

When he judged the life of Maximo, who must have been respectfully treated as Duke Florence’s only heir as well as a collateral imperial family member who was in line for the next throne, and the noble society’s atmosphere that openly disdained and ridiculed the imperial family members born as Betas, he could quickly come up with an answer.

Maximo, with his arrogant personality and high self-esteem, wouldn’t have wanted to admit that an Alpha like him was having a Beta like Renato in his heart. At the same time, he would have been frustrated that he couldn’t easily have Renato even though he wanted to.

Although there were exceptions such as political marriages, the union of an Alpha and a Beta of the same gender was usually not welcomed. In particular, for someone appointed as the successor like Maximo, it was absolutely impossible.

Maximo must have known that as well, so he unconsciously turned away from his own feelings. He wouldn’t give up his chance to ascend to the throne, or his position as the heir to the Florence family.

As a result, Maximo developed a twisted possessiveness and dreary obsession with Renato. And they were manifested into physical and mental violence toward Renato.

Khalid sighed when the situation was clearly pictured in his mind. He decided to be more vigilant and keep an eye on Maximo in the future. Maximo’s emotions were a risk factor just like gunpowder that might explode at any moment.

Once he found out about it, he couldn’t just ignore this. Especially since he had seen Renato suffer from trauma.

“……Should we go inside now?”

After organizing his thoughts, Khalid raised his hand to fix the disheveled silver hair. Not only Renato’s hair but his clothes were also crumpled. His body was still trembling with the lingering sensation of the kiss.

“I think I went a bit too far today. Are you hurt or feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”

Feeling sorry when looking at Renato’s disheveled appearance, Khalid caressed the reddened corners of his eyes. When he recalled, today’s kiss was a bit impulsive even to himself.

This person should never be treated like this.

The red eyes looking down at Renato darkened. The more Khalid knew about the unreasonable treatment Renato had been subjected to, the more complicated his mind became.

At first, he was obviously only paying attention and feeling worried for Renato who had grown up in a similar situation to him. But now, he was angry with the disregard and discrimination that Renato was receiving as if it were his own problem.

It has long gone beyond mere sympathy or compassion.

Khalid didn’t know how to define the emotions that sometimes weighed on his heart. His composure, which had never been lost even on the battlefield, continued to be disturbed in front of Renato. Whenever he was together with Renato, his emotions would react before his reason. It was the same a while ago as well.

“I’m not hurt, but my lower lip stings a little……”

“It stings?”

Before Renato could finish his words, Khalid’s eyes became stiff, and he tilted his upper body. He was also worried because it seemed that he bit it too hard earlier.

“Does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt, but, uhm.”

When the man got closer in an instant, Renato couldn’t keep his gaze straight and rolled his eyes. The feeling when the man’s hair touched his forehead, and the breath tickling the tip of his nose made his shoulders shrink. Meanwhile, Khalid found a tooth mark on Renato’s lower lip that was darker than usual.

“Luckily, it doesn’t look like there is a wound.”

Khalid carefully examined Renato’s lips and said with relief. His gaze moved to the clear mark on his lips. The hand that was caressing around Renato’s eyes also came down to his thick swollen lips.

“I’m really sorry, I knew your skin was weak but I couldn’t control my strength, Your Imperial Highness.”

“There is no need for you to apologize……”

When Khalid apologized to him, Renato was restless, thinking the man was saying something unnecessary. To him, this was not something to apologize about.

But Khalid’s thoughts were different. He was so thrilled with Renato’s reaction whenever he stimulated him, and in the end, he deliberately pushed Renato hard so that he wouldn’t notice Maximo’s existence. Because of that, he had to say sorry. Whatever the reason was, it was true that he couldn’t control himself.

“I will be gentle next time.”

“Next time……”

Renato repeated Khalid’s words in a murmur. In the future, he and Khalid would have to do more than just kiss. So, even though it was natural that there would be a next time, his heart was pounding for no reason.

What will I do in the future if my heart is pounding with only this?

Renato clenched his fists to suppress his agitation. His heart was pounding so much that he was afraid Khalid might hear his heartbeat. Renato struggled to calm his trembling and looked at Khalid with an enthusiastic expression.

“I, I will also try to do better next time.”

“Pardon?”

“Because I just received one-sidedly today……”

When he recalled the kiss a while ago, his voice became smaller and smaller. At first, he still clumsily moved his tongue to follow the man, but later on, he could only tremble, overwhelmed by the sensations Khalid gave him. Together with that, his legs became numb again.

It’s the first time for both, so why is there such a difference?

Renato felt a little unfair. If Khalid was really good at kissing because the man was a knight, he might not be able to keep up with him for the rest of his life.

“Hmm.”

Khalid looked down at Renato, who was sullen just like a rabbit with drooping ears, and pressed his lips together. He felt that he would inadvertently laugh aloud if he didn’t do so. Khalid lightly coughed, knelt on one knee on the floor, and met Renato’s gaze.

“Please don’t feel too burdened. You can gradually get used to it. You will naturally improve as we do it.”

“But, I think I was the only one who felt good……”

“No, I felt really good too.”

“Really?”

“Yes, to the point that I couldn’t control myself for a moment and bit you until it left a tooth mark like this.”

Khalid playfully tapped Renato’s lower lip with his finger. As he spent time with Renato, Khalid realized that Renato was far less accustomed to interacting with others than he had expected.

It was not just about kissing. Renato felt awkward not only with hugging or intertwining their arms together, but also holding hands.

Furthermore, he was not easily convinced that other people could feel happy or good because of him, and often asked back questions like just now. Every time that happened, Khalid felt a little bitter. He realized Renato was more used to being hated than being loved.

“I always prided myself on being patient, but…… I don’t think it’s still the case these days.”

“Excuse me?”

Renato tilted his head when hearing the man’s strange words. Not saying anything in return, Khalid pressed down on the flesh at his fingertips. His gaze filled with strange hunger reached Renato’s lower lip which still had the teeth mark on. The puffy, swollen lips were as luscious as ripe pomegranates. To the extent that he wanted to swallow them again right away.

“When I kiss you, I keep losing my composure, Your Imperial Highness.”

Khalid muttered in a lower, raspier voice than before. Most of the things Renato did with Khalid were his first time. So he thought he should be gentle and tender, but whenever the kisses deepened, he always felt himself pushing Renato.

Renato always strangely blamed himself and felt anxious, thinking Khalid was relaxed and skillful unlike him, but that was because he didn’t know anything.

Khalid had to desperately try not to lose his reason every time he kissed Renato. He never knew that kissing someone would feel so good.

He really didn’t know he would want to keep reaching out and crave more.

A languid smile appeared on his lips as he recalled their sweet kisses. He felt like he had become a child who was obsessed with the sugar candy he just tasted for the first time and kept wanting to eat it.

“So please don’t think that only you aren’t good enough. I also have many worries. I’m afraid that I won’t be able to control myself at this rate.”

Having honestly expressed his feelings, Khalid lowered the hand that was stroking Renato’s lips. Then, he slightly turned his head and pressed his lips together with Renato’s. The man’s wet, hard tongue softly licked Renato’s bitten lower lip a couple of times, then naturally dug into his mouth.

Renato closed his eyes, feeling a new heat rushing through his open lips. The fact that Khalid wasn’t relaxed either, even though not as agitated as Renato, made him feel a little relieved and also strangely proud.

* * *

“I think you look really great these days?”

“……? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Khalid, who was reviewing the documents Nasir had brought, raised his head and frowned because of the sudden remark. Despite Khalid’s fierce gaze, Nasir did not hide his grin.

“No, I really think your face is shining these days, your highness. Is it because spring has come to your heart? It’s very nice to see.”

“If you’re going to say useless things, just go to the training ground.”

“Ayy, why is this useless? I’m just saying it’s a fortunate thing that you and His Imperial Highness seem to be having a good relationship.”

Nasir said with a smile. He was genuinely feeling happy. It was because the relationship with Renato was helpful to Khalid in many ways.

“Wherever I go these days, there are only stories about His Imperial Highness and you, your highness. I am getting a lot of questions about whether the rumors are true, too. It is definitely a hot topic among the knights as well. The celibate and ascetic Commander-nim falling in love totally causes an uproar.”

Within the Knights Order, only four executives, including Nasir and Amavand, knew that Khalid and Renato’s relationship was because of a contract. Therefore, most of the knights were surprised because Khalid was having a relationship rumor with someone, and that the person was not an Omega but a Beta of the same gender. It was because of what Khalid had shown them in the meantime.