You’re In A Supporting Role Anyway, So Just Love Me.

Was it just my imagination, or was that a smirk? Kyle raised his head slightly with an indifferent expression.

Oh my god. Jesus. Looking down, he looked about 20 times better. If only I were taller than Kyle, I would have looked at him from this angle every time. Ah, damn it, I should have drunk more milk when I was younger.

"It's rare for anyone to look down on me."

"No, how can this guy say something like this so shamelessly."

"Why aren't you more careful with your words? After dressing like a man, you seem rougher."

"Do I look like a man? I think I'm cute no matter how you look at me."

"... Did you hurt your head instead of your ankle?"

This guy.

Oh, that probably didn't get through.

But it was still a sincere statement. Looking through the dormitory window, I thought I was a beauty who looked good with short hair.

"But I'm pretty good-looking, right? Of course, Kyle is much prettier, but I don't think I fall short in beauty either."

As I leaned my face closer to Kyle, he hurriedly lowered his head.

"...I, If you were hurt, you should have called the palace physician if you were hurt."

"Oh, forget it. What kind of palace physician would come to see a guy who works in a stable?"

"You're still a hostage that I'm holding, so you should be okay until you're proven to not be a spy."

"You're still saying that! I'm really not one!"

From the slightly raised eyebrows, it seemed like Kyle was laughing. How could he laugh after wrongly accusing me of being an assassin? If he wasn't so handsome, I would have grabbed him by the neck.

I should change my name when I get home to Kim the Uncontrollable Fanatic.

"Anyway, how did you get hurt?"

"Ow! Be gentle!"

Tears welled up as Kyle twisted my ankle.

"Earlier today, Dieppe suddenly jumped over the fence and started running across the field. I ran after him to catch him; it was okay until he started running towards me as if he forgot the person that fed him and almost beat me to death."

So you asked for help. I heard Kyle whispering softly. He stood up from his seat and said it in a smiling voice.

"Anyway, then Benji ran up and caught me."

"He caught you?"

"He came riding a horse and picked me up in his arms at that moment. Thanks to him, I was saved."

"...He hugged you?"

Kyle, who was listening to the story with his arms crossed while standing up, suddenly closed his eyes and opened them slowly, rubbing his neck. He looked uncomfortable.

He hugged you?

"Uh, yeah."

The reason why the conversation ended like this is not my fault. It's because of Kyle, who was staring at me with an excessively lethargic expression.

If you ask me about the perfect balance between lethargy and sexiness, I would say it's Kyle to one.

"I'm immune to whatever you say now."

"Really?!"

"...Why are you so happy about it?"

"If you become immune to it, doesn't that mean I can say more?"

"I'll take it back then. That's not what I meant. I just wanted you to reduce the frequency, or at least set a time limit. It's really embarrassing if someone says 'Kyle is the perfect balance between being lazy and sexy' in my head during a meal."

"...Oh, you heard it again."

"You don't realize it when you speak into my head, do you?"

"...It might feel like I'm intruding, but they come from the heart."

"Then did you mean it all? Nothing was made up?"

"What do you mean?"

Kyle hesitated for a while, twisting and unclenching his hands several times before finally speaking in a low voice.

"...That you, love me and...think I'm handsome...and how many times a day..."

I couldn't hear his words properly since he mumbled them, but his embarrassment made me feel flushed too.

"Isn't it obvious that I'm sincere? Do I seem like someone who just talks empty words without meaning?"

I had nothing particular to say, so I was just pulling out weeds with my toes. Even though I had sprained my ankle, I found that I could still put some strength into my toes. As I was having the same useless thought, Kyle cleared his throat and spoke again.

"Dieppe is my responsibility because he's my horse."

"What, are you going to take him away? No, you can't. Dieppe has a dirty personality, but sometimes he can be nice. And is Dieppe the only one you're talking about? The rest of the horses belong to you too, Kyle. No, don't take him away."

Rather than feeling relieved, I worried that my evaluation would drop if the number of horses under my management decreased. I was sick of personnel evaluations. I don't even have a place to live right now. What is this person talking about? Is he asking for me to get fired?

I looked up with a trembling heart, and Kyle laughed, making a sighing sound.

"Okay, I'll take full responsibility."

"What?"

"I'll take full responsibility. It's not because of you; Dieppe was probably frustrated, and that's why he did that. You couldn't ride, so he couldn't run, right? I'll have to come and ride every day from now on, at least once a day."

"Really? Every day? Here?"

"...It's just that the horses get frustrated with the lack of rides. That's all,"

"What are you talking about?  What 'It's just that; it's not because of you.' Don't say things like that. Are you worried because I got hurt? Are you afraid that another accident might happen?"

As my excitement rose, I smiled widely and said to him, "You're blushing so much; it's cute. You're so cute. The back of your head is round and lovely, it looks like candy. I want to put it in my mouth and say 'wow'". While I'm responsible for taking care of the stable, could you take responsibility for my life as well?"

Kyle tilted his head in the opposite direction, brushing off the back of his head with his hand.

"I can hear everything if you say it so loudly like that," he said.

Right then, a star that appeared in the black sky traced an arc and fell towards the horizon.

"Your Highness! Kyle! A shooting star, a shooting star!"

Forgetting my injury, I sprang up from my seat and grabbed his sleeve.

"What?"

"A shooting star! Make a wish quickly!"

There weren't just one or two; meteors were pouring down like raindrops. Filling the night sky with blue and white lights that left a long tail behind.

I put my hands together and prayed earnestly for the things I had been wishing for every day since I came here and the recent hopes I had.

'Please make Kyle happy. Please let Kyle enjoy being loved shamelessly. If possible, let him love me too. Make Rick stop stealing my potatoes, please. Bring meat tomorrow; bring meat to the dormitory tomorrow and cook it well... Even if I'm late, let there be some meat left...'

When I opened my eyes slightly, Kyle was just looking up at the sky without doing anything.

"What are you doing, Kyle?  You have to make a wish!"

"...A star is of no use."

"What?"

"Stars are just leftovers from the day. They can't become a sun, and they can't exist at the same time as the sun either..."

Kyle's face, looking up at the sky, seemed lonely as he spoke.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Even if the sun shines brightly, people only make wishes to the stars."

Kyle slowly turned to me. I smiled at him.

"Stars represent hope, Kyle."

He looked at me with an unreadable expression and suddenly raised his right hand to cover his eyes before turning away.

"Your Highness Kyle, are you cold? Are your eyes dry? Is the wind too strong?"

Kyle kept avoiding me and wouldn't show his face.

"If you're cold, should I get a blanket? I'll go get a blanket so we can look at the stars a bit longer."

What's going on? Why won't he show his face? I'm only living here to see him.

Kyle turned away and muttered something.

"...Huh?"

"What did you say? I didn't hear you."

"...Do you really like me?"

What? Do I really like you? This jerk can't be for real.

I felt my temper rising. If not, then what the hell have I been hearing for the past month?

Since I came all the way here, all I ever wanted was to make this poor guy happy. If I can't change the future, I should at least tell him that I love him and make him feel less lonely. But what? Do you really like me? Oh, me! Give me back my month!

... In the midst of all this, his back looked very wide. Wow, it was quite muscular.

"Kyle! Look at me."

I grabbed Kyle's shoulder and turned him around. Despite his sturdy build, Kyle moved as I led him and looked at me.

His trembling lower lip, which he bit down on, and the moistness in his eyes were strangely erotic, making me forget what I was going to say.

"...Why did you call me if you're not going to say anything? I'm quite alright now. No way, you..."

"......"

I don't know what to say. His voice is so soft, I don't want to think about anything.

I stared at Kyle's face like someone fascinated and lost in an art piece.

Every time Kyle's lips puckered up, blood rushed to his face, making the inside of his lips turn a deep shade of red.

"I can't hear your thoughts, Joe."

"...I'm not thinking about anything right now. ...You're really amazing, Kyle."

"What?"

"You. You're the best."

Kyle's face turned red like a ripe tomato. He quickly turned around without even saying goodbye and disappeared into the pouring meteor shower. It's safe to say that being handsome is the best.

                                                 **********

"Pell, Pell!"

"Yes, Your Highness Kyle. What can I do for you?"

Kyle, who rushed into the palace with an uncertain gait, called out to his loyal servant.

"What kind of person am I in Pell's eyes?"

Instantly, numerous answers popped up in Pell's mind.

'A heartless person that trampled on the heart of a young boy.'

'A pitiful prince who suffers not only from the Emperor and Empress but also from his siblings and assassins who come after him all at once.'

'...Cold-blooded.'

'A heartless person who left Joe alone to work in the stable.'

Of course, because his salary comes from Kyle, Pell couldn't utter a single sentence from the words in his heart.

"Your Highness is a perfect person."

Pell spoke with a smile that enhanced his wrinkles and acted like he didn't just lie. It wasn't a lie, actually, since, in terms of behavior, Kyle was the most upright and courteous among the princes.

He tried to move on, but then...

"......Is that what Pell sees?"

"...What do you mean?"

"I, I suppose...... You don't think I'm handsome."

Pell's face immediately crumpled.

Of course, Kyle was a handsome man who would make anyone turn back just to see him once more. He had features that exuded a calm and neat aura but resembled Empress Priscilla.

Kyle was a person that screamed royalty; he was a noble down to every strand of his head. Moreover, he had never been caught up in any rumors, unlike the many nobles who were famous for their looks.

But now he was looking in the mirror and complimenting himself. Pell stood beside Kyle, looking awkward with a troubled face.

With a flushed face, Kyle looked at the mirror with haste and said,

"....Should I wash my face with rose water too?"

"Your Highness, you already have beautiful skin that is not inferior to anyone else's."

"Hmm...really? Or should I brush my hair before going to bed as well?"

"Your Highness, why are you acting like this? Did something happen in the stable?"

He never acted like this before, so seeing him like this made Pell feel uneasy as he tried to subtly ask if anything was wrong with Kyle's head. But Kyle blushed and brought up a different topic.

"What do you usually think about when you look at the stars?"

"....Hmm...that it's night time...."

Tiredness was attached to Pell's face when he answered with cloudy eyes.

"I've been talking nonsense for too long. I'm sorry, Pell. Go rest now. I'll tidy up and go to bed on my own tonight."

After trying to reject Kyle's kindness several times, Pell finally managed to leave the prince's bedroom with difficulty.

Today, the prince seemed strange. Did Joe say something about the prince being ugly? Is that why the prince suddenly started caring about his appearance?

Of course, the truth was the opposite.

Kyle looked at the cluster of stars outside the window from under the covers and replayed Joe's voice in his voice.

"Stars represent hope, Kyle."

Joe kept coming to Kyle's mind.