Chapter 264: Competition

Words : 1216 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

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. "Want a hug? I can hide you if you’re too embarrassed." It took a beat, but Luca didn’t just slowly move toward Xavier’s waiting arms; he rushed into them, causing both of them to almost fall back on the floor if not for the other bedframe. Luca felt better like this. He didn’t have to see Xavier’s face, but more than that, the Prince wouldn’t be able to see his—his face, which was so red it could pass for use on pasta. Xavier just held the small animal who decided he’d just go crawl under his skin to hide. "Hey, Luca. I’m sorry." Luca’s squirming suddenly stopped, and he wanted to look up at Xavier, but the mountain giant blocked his head. Contrary to the guide’s assumptions, he was not the only one embarrassed about all this. But Xavier was much too responsible not to ask for forgiveness. "I’m sorry for worrying you like that." "I made you feel like you had to compete or measure up against someone because I didn’t reassure you enough." "So, I hope you know. And I hope you can tell me next time if I’m making you feel like you’re less than enough." The crumpled guide, who had been so focused on his embarrassment, stopped after hearing this. "You...you really mean it?" Luca whispered from under Xavier’s arms, which practically coiled around his head and shoulders. He was not one to complain, largely because there was no one to complain to and because he didn’t know what he couldn’t complain about. And to be told that he could say it like that... "I mean it. You should lodge a complaint every time I do something you don’t like." Xavier’s fingers ran through Luca’s scalp reassuringly. "I’m allowed to do that?" Asked Luca, who was new to such a thing. "Yes. All I ask is that you don’t run away from me. That we’ll talk first." Xavier wanted to insert that part about not making him sleep outside but maybe that’s unfair. And so he settled with just that. Only to be surprised by a stirring Luca who really wanted to be free from his hold. "Me...me too!" Huffed the little Guide a bit too enthusiastically. "You can tell me too!" Luca’s eyes were clear despite being red in the face and he felt like he needed to say this too because he felt better. He felt much better after talking to Xavier and wanted him to feel the same way, too. He just didn’t expect him to use it right away. And more than anything, he didn’t expect Xavier to have such grievances! And the husband, who had unexpectedly shelved a lot of his grievances against a smiley chipmunk, unleashed it all, shocking Luca momentarily. The Prince knew he was being irrational and, frankly, downright possessive. But he knew better now than to be a hypocrite. When Luca says something, he means it and Xavier has learned that so far this has worked best. He just prayed that Luca won’t find him too needy. Yes, needy. Xavier kept trying to deny it because even he couldn’t believe it. But it was true. The Imperial Crown Prince of the Empire of Solaris was needy. And jealous. Luca heard all this and his once recovering ears once burned as Xavier mentioned the instances when he got jealous. But right as the wolf wondered if he had scared this guy into leaving him, he noticed Luca twitching and blushing, desperately trying to keep something hidden. "?" Then Xavier felt it after shifting, and Luca’s eyes snapped straight up at him with a gasp. Ah. No. He wasn’t the only crazy one. Seems like his little chipmunk has learned to be a little fox.

Chapter 264: Competition

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