The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL] novel Chapter 264

Chapter 264: Competition

If there were something to be thankful for today, it would be the Emperor’s sacrifices and the Empress’s grumblings.

Countless nights told to sleep outside and several instances of grovelling without knowing why have equipped one prince with life skills he never thought he’d needed—until now.

He, as the only child back then, was the one to witness it all.

At that time, he’d watched his father’s antics and was bewildered by the man’s exaggerated expressions of torment, which he’d privately thought were all ridiculous.

Yet here he knelt, years later, finding himself in a similar situation, only now, he understood why his father had been so dramatic.

It felt like a stab wound, but at the same time, Xavier could have sworn he was probably unhinged somewhere, for there was no denying his relief upon witnessing this.

Surely he’s gone mad, right?

Luca could only stare at Xavier as he was trying to process what he meant.

"It’s not that it’s bad to compare, nor is it something we can just easily avoid. But in your case, it would be pointless."

Xavier saw Luca droop and wanted to pick him up and fix all the problems.

Luca’s eyes trembled at hearing this. He knew of his shortcomings but...

But nothing—for Xavier suddenly occupied his thoughts before he could spiral even further.

"Luca, your hands—" Xavier said as he squeezed those smooth fingers softly.

"They could be larger, smaller, or whatever color you’d like them to be, and it wouldn’t matter."

"???"

The prince could see Luca’s confusion but decided to continue patiently. "You could even wake up tomorrow and decide you’d like to be taller," he said as he gently tapped on Luca’s forehead.

"Or shorter. Or even pocket-sized, and I wouldn’t complain."

He paused, his azure eyes as clear as ever, "And if someday you get bored and want to shave all your hair, you can do that too."

"For I still wouldn’t mind."

Luca’s brows furrowed, not understanding why Xavier would say such things. But the Prince didn’t rush his words.

"Because all those things? I like them not because of how they look or how they compare. I like them simply because they’re yours."

The moment felt charged. So charged that Luca’s breath caught sharply at Xavier’s earnest words.

His eyes were probably bugged out, but he couldn’t think about that over the thundering in his chest.

"So, if you’re bored and want to compete for fun, you can compete with yourself. Or compete with me."

"We can compete to see if you can like yourself more than I like you."

Xavier may have said it with a smug smile, but his knees did go weak at that. But he still said it. Granted, he could’ve gone further, but he didn’t want to pressure Luca, who was already at wits’ end.

The little guide got there, ever so slowly. But when it clicked, his entire body practically flushed red.

He didn’t know where to hide, for Xavier had him cornered, but Luca was going mental over how...how could Xavier say all of those embarrassing things?

And so the little red chipmunk who had panicked decided to cover Xavier’s mouth instead.

Only for his poor hand to get kissed.

And licked!

"!!!"

A wolf!

Xavier was really a wolf!!!

Luca’s ears were so red that he felt like they were going to explode, and Xavier noticed all of it and figured he needed to calm him down, or he’d be out for today.