Chapter 263: Fermentation

Words : 1259 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

Chapter 263: Fermentation If there was one thing that the guardian mecha had learned, it was that peace was temporary. Such as right now. It was but a perfect day when the seas of consciousness were relatively peaceful, save for one that had been in constant rage. But it could be ignored, for one was still at extreme peace. However, one could not simply close an eye when both seas were raging. And one of them was caused by this accursed system. "D-29! One does not simply get rivals like that! To have a rival, one must at least be fighting in the same league!" "So, what more for love rivals?!" Exclaimed an exasperated mecha who was trying not to pummel one blabbermouth. "Sid." It was a stern voice that Sid had not expected to hear at such a critical moment. "Ma—Master?" "What love rival?" Xavier had been sensitive to such things lately, and even if they whispered it or said it in sign, the prince would’ve likely discovered any form of threat. He just didn’t think it’d be of this kind. "Ah, Master. It’s nothing. It’s just because someone exclaimed Love Rival upon seeing one Orc Princess. And it may have rattled a few (a lot of) bones..." "..." But it really just wasn’t a few bones because one little chipmunk was suddenly shot into a different kind of turbulence. One he hadn’t felt before because he had no one. There was no one to lose—nothing to miss. But what was this feeling? Luca didn’t like it. He felt like something was stuck in his throat. All he could see in his mind were fingertips lightly touching. Those familiar fingers that touched him everywhere were lightly mingling with another set of fingers. Green ones. They weren’t his smaller fingers but digits that were just as big as those long and elegant ones that always traced slow circles on his palm. Then he saw it. Those same fingers lingered by another hand. Then, as if decisively, that thumb stroked a possessive pattern along the unfamiliar knuckles. And Luca paled. His heart lurched. And he was so absorbed in his thoughts that he had forgotten he was standing before a group of people. One in particular was looking at his expressions like a hawk. Xavier would have to be blind not to know that something was wrong. And he’d be an idiot to let it pass like this. It was one thing for him to feel like that vinegar they’ve started fermenting, but another to let a certain someone experience unfounded doubts. "Kyle, buy me time." "Deal with the Belgrave kid first. Then interview Noah next. Hold off on the orcs." The order wasn’t said loudly, but it still pulled Kyle out of his lamenting state. Something was wrong. "We’ll be back." It was not like Kyle could say anything with that kind of tone, so he nodded. The others weren’t sure what had happened. One moment, Xavier was just seated like them, and the next, he was hauling off their guild leader. "???" "???" "Wha—" Luca had been so deep in thought that it all registered late, and by the time he had reacted, he was already back inside their dorm. Only when Xavier sat him down did Luca finally snap back into awareness. His heartbeat felt too loud, but despite that, the unfamiliar feeling still clawed at him. "Xavier?" he asked softly, confusion and a tinge of something else mingling in his voice. Xavier met Luca’s gaze. It was one that he didn’t like seeing. Those golden eyes seemed to search his face while openly showing the anxiety that Luca was likely feeling. The little chipmunk wasn’t vocal, but his eyes and the way his mouth would quiver usually displayed his unsaid emotions. "Luca," Xavier began gently, lowering himself to the floor until they could see eye to eye. "What’s wrong?" It was a simple question, something that Xavier would usually ask. And it was one that he kept on asking even when Luca wasn’t sure how to explain his problem. Like right now. Luca’s mouth opened slightly, hesitating. His face flushed, embarrassment and vulnerability evident in how his eyes tried darting to anywhere but Xavier’s face. "I..." Luca began, his voice quiet. "It’s...silly." Xavier, sensing his little Guide’s hesitation, gently cupped his face in his hand, tilting it towards him until their eyes met again. "Silly? Nothing you feel is silly, Luca." Luca bit his lower lip, courage slowly building under Xavier’s patient gaze. He wasn’t sure how to explain this, and all he could do was describe what it felt like. "She has bigger hands..." "Also taller, and is pretty..." Xavier blinked at this. Huh? Bigger hands??? "Luca, who has bigger hands?" The prince was suddenly unsure of what was happening but had to ask. "The Princess, she has bigger hands. And when you held her, it looked like it was supposed to look like that." He flushed even deeper, embarrassed at how childish the words sounded when he said them. But it was the truth. Xavier was bewildered, for he had never held the Princess before and had no plans to even at the threat of a plasma gun. "Luca, I don’t remember ever holding or touching her, for that matter, so I’m not sure how our hands would touch." "But my mind kept replaying it, even now..." he trailed. Oh. The internally panicked husband’s eyes widened slightly, realization slowly washing over him. Ohhh. "Did you, by any chance, imagine something like this?" Xavier’s eyes, despite usually radiating coldness, were unusually warm as he tugged at Luca’s hand. The little chipmunk trembled slightly, betraying his attempt at staying strong. But then their fingers intertwined. It felt effortless, as if it had always been meant to be like that. But... Xavier pulled their intertwined hands towards his face, resting his cheek against it. "Did you think of something like this, Luca?" Xavier murmured incredulously, his voice tenderly amused. Luca’s face flushed even harder. He thought of something similar, but nothing like this. Nothing where she was touching his face like this. That felt wrong. It felt bad. "No, but—but the other Guides, they always talked about being perfect together." "But I’m not even tall enough. And you always have to look down just to see me." Luca was going to rattle off. It was like a dam had broken, and he was finding things, insecurities that he never even thought existed. And they were all crazy speech. But to someone with thoughts like his, right now, at this moment, all of it made sense. And all of it sounded like reasons why he could lose. It could’ve sounded like he was nitpicking, for he even noted how boring his hair color was. But to Xavier, who had never seen this side, all of it was cute. As cute as it was sad. For his little chipmunk didn’t know that there could never be a competition. Luca’s rapid fire was stopped because Xavier leaned in to kiss him. It was swift and caught him off guard, only for Xavier to place a gentle and reassuring one on his forehead. "Luca, look at me." The startled guide took a moment until Xavier’s thumb brushed softly along his cheek, causing him to gasp at the sudden sensation. "There could never be a competition." It sounded like a declaration. And it really was, for Xavier had to make it known. "Not when the only winner and participant had long been decided."

Chapter 263: Fermentation

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