[BL] Seducing Male Leads To Survive As A Villain In A Novel-Chapter 280: True to myself

Elvis looked confused. He stared at Eden and then looked around.

Eden smiled. "You’re awake," he said as he walked up to him.

"Where am I?" Elvis looked around. At least he wasn’t panicking now, knowing that he was with Eden.

"In a cave," Eden said, standing before him with his arms folded.

The mattress was low, so Elvis had to look up at Eden like a kid while sitting on it. "A cave? Why? How...?"

"I brought you here after we ran off from the palace. Did you sleep so much that you forgot?" Eden folded his arms, staring down at him.

Elvis hesitated as he ran a hand through his hair, trying to recall. And then he did. "Mum... Where’s mum? What happened to her? Is she still there?" he demanded.

But Eden sighed. "Don’t worry. She’s okay. She’s fine."

Elvis stared at him for a while. "What happened to her... Did Dad catch her? Is she imprisoned, or...?"

Eden smiled. "I already told you she’s okay. She succeeded in her plans and managed to outsmart everyone. Now she has taken over the kingdom as the new ruler, and the king’s dead."

It was a lot of information at once for Elvis, but he digested it fast. And he was happy about what he heard. He looked relieved.

"So don’t worry. Your mum isn’t some kid. She knows what she’s doing," Eden assured him.

Elvis looked around the cave again. "And you brought me here?"

"It’s the safest place, though. Outside the view of people."

"How long have I been sleeping?"

"For three days, I guess."

"Three?" Elvis stared at him, confused.

"Yeah. I guess you were really tired. Or sick. I don’t know?" He shrugged. "But I left you while I arranged everything," he explained as Elvis looked around again. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Then Elvis looked up at Eden. "What did the two of you plan? You and my mum. Why did you take me away?" He was curious.

Eden hesitated before he spoke. He briefed Elvis on the idea that his mother had a plan to take down the King for all he did to her. And so she had asked him to take him away to a safe place while she executed the plan.

Elvis said nothing as soon as he was done narrating; he only sat there listening. Their faces were illuminated by the yellowish light from the fires.

"I believe the coast is clear now, so if you’re all ready, you can return back to the palace. I believe she’d be waiting for you," Eden said, folding his arms.

Elvis stared at him. "And what about you?"

"Me?" He smiled. "I don’t think I’ll be returning to the palace. I have stuff to do." Eden had concluded on seriously looking for answers to his questions.

And so that was what he was going to be doing from now on.

Elvis was quiet for a while before asking, "What are you going to be doing?"

Eden smiled at him. "We’re already done with our deal, remember? So we should be going our different ways. And I’ve helped your mother protect you, so you guys should cut me some slack, don’t you think so?"

Elvis was quiet as he stared at him. His eyes were tender while he gazed at Eden’s soft expression.

They stared at each other in the awkward silence of the room. "You should go back and explain yourself to the emperor before he gets mad. The engagement was ruined and his precious daughter left hanging. I bet they’re pissed."

Eden added, "So you should go and continue the engagement where you left it so the emperor doesn’t declare war on your kingdom or something."

Elvis hesitated, still staring at Eden. "But I did it intentionally. I didn’t want the marriage, so I took the opportunity and ruined it. Why should I go and make it work?"

Silence. Eden stared at him, confused. "Huh?"

"I mean, I don’t want to marry her. It was all arranged, after all. I don’t like her. So why should I go and continue with the lie I broke free from?"

"But your feelings aren’t usually considered in stuff like this. It’s political, after all..." Eden tried explaining.

"But I don’t want it," Elvis said. "At least I know I want to be true to myself." He was staring at Eden as he spoke. "I want to at least go for what I like and leave behind what I don’t."

Eden strangely felt his arms flutter. He swallowed as he looked around, clearing his throat. "So now what are you going to do? It sounds as though you’re blaming me for making you ruin your own engagement by saving me. You don’t have to cover up with those fancy words."

"I’m not blaming you. I just did what I wanted to. What I would do in any situation. Saving you over anything. Even my engagement." He spoke with his eyes still on Eden, making it difficult for Eden to stare back at him.

Eden wanted to feel excited within, especially hearing that Elvis would give up anything to save him.

It was indeed something romantic to say. But Eden didn’t know if it was too early to be happy about it.

Lenny, on the other hand, could feel where this was headed, and so he strolled off, leaving the cave. He wasn’t ready for any third-wheeling at the moment.

"So..." Elvis emphasized. "I didn’t do it because I felt like it was my job or responsibility to save you. I did it because I wanted to. It was what made me happy to do. Saving you. And I’d still do it even if it was a thousand times."

Eden blinked. He cleared his throat as he looked around, scratching his hair. Suddenly the cave was feeling somewhat hot.

"You should get some sleep; it feels like you’re still tired and sick," Eden said.

"I’m not sick, I’m—" Elvis couldn’t finish his sentence as he let out a sharp cough. He felt a sharp sting of pain in his chest.