The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL] novel Chapter 394

Chapter 394: Conviction

He’s got a whole new set of symptoms and an entirely new way of looking at it as the thumping of his chest gripped the entirety of his being.

Luca felt like a giant heart.

A stunned heart that was incapable of blinking, breathing, or thinking. And all he could do was beat frantically until Xavier took pity on him.

Or send him to the afterlife in one piece because the prince who never took his eyes off him shifted, just a little, tilting forward, then angling his head as those lips brushed gently against Luca’s brow.

A featherlight kiss.

So light he was probably going to fly.

But to the confessing prince, it was a wordless vow, and an encouragement to take it easy.

From the very beginning, Xavier had thought of taking his time because he didn’t want Luca to be consumed by his thoughts and affections.

Even now, he said it not because he was expecting a response but because he didn’t want his wife to think of rejection scenarios, especially when those couldn’t be farther from the truth.

And while he desired his wife with every fiber of his being, he would wait because it was worth it. For Luca was the type to give it his all when he’s made up his mind.

And he wanted that.

He wanted all of it. All of him. Like the greedy ass that he really was, he wanted Luca to want him just as much as he yearned for him.

But to do this, to even get to this point, his little chipmunk must be given the space to grow into himself.

And so the prince did what he did best: he didn’t let Luca flounder. Instead, he kept a steady arm around his wife’s waist and let his other hand gently trace circles on his back.

Reassuring. Familiar. Protective.

"I meant what I said," Xavier murmured softly, his voice like a warm blanket. "But there’s no rush. No pressure."

"There’s no need for you to catch up to anyone or me. What’s important is for you to understand why you feel that way and what it would mean for you."

Luca’s mouth opened to reply—only to close again when nothing intelligible came out promptly. His lips flapped once. Twice.

A sound escaped.

It may have been a squawk.

Xavier’s lips quirked into the faintest amused smile as he leaned forward again, brushing one soft kiss to the corner of one golden eye. Then the other.

It was such a delicate thing—barely there—but it hit like lightning, practically liquifying the already soft guide.

If not for Xavier’s arm around him, he might’ve slid straight off the bed like a puddle of overwhelmed goo.

He didn’t know whether to cry, melt, or faint. Possibly all three, but more than anything, he felt like he liked being there, right at this spot where he could feel overwhelmed without feeling terrified.

Without feeling like he’d be judged for asking about questions that sounded so simple to everyone else but were difficult for him.

"X-Xavier..." he finally managed, voice wobbling like jelly. "What should I do?"

Xavier tilted his head, his hand never stopping its slow trace along Luca’s back.

"Nothing," he said softly. "There’s really nothing you must do. I didn’t tell you this so you’d come up with a response. I told you this so you could have more examples for your study."

His fingers gently brushed away hair that was too close to Luca’s eyes as he continued, "And I told you that so if ever time comes and you need to know where I stand, you wouldn’t have to second-guess anything."

Luca’s brows furrowed. "But...In the book I read, when one confesses, the other has to say it back...or else it’s a rejection."

His voice cracked a little.

But how could Luca reject Xavier when the thought of doing that alone hurt, but at the same time, he wasn’t sure he could say something he didn’t even understand yet.

It was confusing, and the little guide felt like he was being pulled into different corners as he tried to grapple with himself.

And it showed all over his face. The way his golden eyes darted, the way his hands fidgeted, how his legs tucked in like he was bracing for disappointment.

But Xavier didn’t flinch.

"It’d be difficult to both reject and accept something that you still don’t understand."

"Also, if you noticed, I wasn’t asking, but was just informing you. Especially since I’m fortunately your husband already." The edge of his mouth turned upward because it was true. He was a lucky fellow in that department because they could take all the time they needed.

"But just because I told you that, and just because we’re married, doesn’t mean you need to give me the lip service of telling me that you love me back."

Xavier’s gaze softened as he brushed a thumb under Luca’s eye again, slow and steady.

"It won’t be the same if you just return the words. Because you need to know what the words mean so you understand what you’re promising when you say them."

Luca frowned slightly. "But how do I do that? He asked, genuinely curious. "How do I become sure like you?"

"Hmm."

"We’d have to learn to compromise, yes," Xavier said, amused at how they’ve even gotten to this point. "But we should build something where we both get to chase our dreams and reach our goals. Just...together."

Oh.