Path of the Extra

A tall, beautiful man stood protectively before Mio, his figure towering elegantly a full head taller than her. He wore an immaculate white military uniform adorned with golden-threaded epaulettes, beneath a cloak bearing the brilliant sun emblem of House Aureliath. Covering the upper half of his striking face was a dark ivory mask, yet even that mask failed to hide his captivating golden eyes, sharp jawline, and perfectly sculpted cheekbones. His hair, pale gold—almost white-blond—shone faintly beneath the moonlight, cut neatly yet rebelliously short.

This was the man—no, the crown prince—who now held Mio gently, as though she were a delicate glass flower he feared might shatter in his grasp.

Snapping from her trance, Mio quickly freed herself from his embrace, stepping back hastily. Forgetting the trembling butler entirely, she lowered her gaze and performed a hurried, shaky curtsy.

“I-I greet the future sun of Ismyr, His Highness, Crown Prince Lykos Aureliath,” she stammered breathlessly, heart racing wildly within her chest.

Without lifting her head, Mio’s thoughts spiraled chaotically.

‘W-why is he here…? He really came back, after—’

“Why are you being so formal with me, my lady?”

His low voice was velvet-soft yet commanding, sending a shiver racing down her spine. Mio gasped softly as his fingers gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet those piercing golden eyes, eyes that seemed to burn like captured suns.

“Two years,” he murmured coldly, almost painfully.

“…!”

“That is how long I’ve been gone. Two years secretly fighting the war against Nymira, kingdom of the moon. At long last I return, having dyed their precious moon crimson, and the very first thing I find, after longing to see you again, is…this?” His tone deepened, edged with bitter irony.

“Tell me, my lady…”

His face drew closer, cold breath brushing gently against her flushed cheek, setting her skin aflame. Mio trembled, paralyzed by his proximity.

“Have you forgotten me in these two years? Decided to replace me with this filthy worm?”

“N-no!” Mio protested instinctively, eyes wide in panic.

“That’s not true!”

Lykos let out a low, amused chuckle, a gentle sound entirely at odds with the terrifying aura he radiated.

“Of course, it isn’t. I know that very well. And yet, my fears were proven correct. Just today, the very moment I returned—even before spending a full day at the palace—I rushed here to meet you. Imagine my surprise, hearing your scream the instant I arrive.” His voice lowered dangerously.

“Why was he making you scream, my lady?”

“T-that…” Mio bit her lip hesitantly. She didn’t want to tell him, afraid of his reaction, afraid of the truth that lay waiting.

Noticing her reluctance, Prince Lykos slowly turned to the trembling butler, who now stared up at him in abject terror.

“Filth,” the prince whispered icily, each syllable sharp enough to cut.

“Explain yourself. Why were you looking at my lady with such disdainful eyes? What is this nonsense about her younger sister? Enlighten your prince clearly.”

“Y-your Highness…” the butler stammered, his voice shaking uncontrollably. Yet suddenly, foolishly, he pointed an accusing finger at Mio.

“D-do not let that deceitful witch fool you! She’s a vile woman who—”

Silver flashed once, then a splash of vivid crimson filled Mio’s peripheral vision before she felt Prince Lykos’s palm shield her eyes protectively.

A shrill, agonized scream tore from the butler’s lips.

Her heart hammered violently in her chest as she trembled beneath Lykos’s protective hand, hearing the prince’s merciless voice.

“Once again, I wonder what granted you the audacity to point your filthy finger at her. This is the second time you have offended me. It shall also be your last.”

‘No… please don’t tell him!’ Mio wanted desperately to protest, yet her voice died in her throat.

The butler’s screams became choked sobs as he clutched the bleeding stump where his hand had once been, blood staining the pristine moonflowers beneath him.

“I-I’ll tell you! I-it’s widely known!” he cried miserably.

“D-during the debutante ceremony of her younger sister, Lady Mio—she… s-she apparently stole the affection of her sister’s fiancé, Duke Halvar’s youngest son, R-Ronan, humiliating her sister even more and him publicly by also rejecting his proposal… th-they say she did it purposely for attention and petty revenge! Th-that is all I know! Please, spare me, Your Highness!”

“Mercy?” Prince Lykos echoed, his voice colder than ice, causing the air itself to shiver.

“Very well.”

For a fleeting instant, the butler’s eyes brightened with desperate hope.

“T-thank you! Hail t—”

“The mercy I grant you,” Lykos interrupted cruelly, “is that you may lie here, bleeding and helpless, until I finish sorting this matter. If you remain breathing by then, I’ll allow you to be healed—just so I may flay your miserable skin off slowly and feed you alive to rats.”

Utter horror painted the butler’s face white as chalk, his desperate pleas choking in his throat before he collapsed unconscious into the bloody garden bed.

Lykos finally removed the hand covering Mio’s eyes, stepping closer to shield her from seeing the fallen man.

“What he said earlier…” Lykos began softly.

Mio paled, clenching her eyes shut, bracing for the sting of rejection, the bitterness of accusation.

Yet instead, she felt a cool, gentle hand tenderly tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear.

“…is obviously a lie,” he whispered.

“Huh?” Mio blinked in astonishment, confused by his calm assurance.

Lykos chuckled softly at her bewildered expression, a warm, surprising sound coming from someone who had just coldly crippled a man.

“Why that expression, my lady? Did you honestly think I would believe any nonsense these lowly ants could spout about you? Their heads are obviously filled with cotton. Isn’t it obvious?” His eyes softened gently as he sighed.

“Your sister was blinded by foolish love for that brat, Ronan. The two schemed to cast you as a villainess, isolating you so that the future of House Rossweth would fall conveniently into her and Duke Halvar’s hands. Your father thought sending you alone to the capital was the safest option.”

Mio’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. How did he know everything?

“H-how…?” she stammered faintly.

“How?” He smirked confidently.

“My lady, have you forgotten that we’ve been childhood friends since birth? I can read you easily. Unfortunately, the same applies to that clingy fox who always attempted to interfere between us.”

He released an annoyed sigh, massaging his neck tiredly.

“Two years away, and somehow everyone has become even more pathetically predictable. I should never have left. I thought I was strengthening my position as crown prince for you, believing you’d remain safe. Clearly, your father failed spectacularly. I was wrong—I should never have left you at all.”

Suddenly, Lykos leaned forward, their faces mere inches apart, and Mio found herself utterly breathless, drowning helplessly in his burning gaze.

“My lady…” he began softly, abruptly pausing.

Mio stared up at him, breath hitching, confusion filling her wide eyes.

When he finally spoke again, his voice was impossibly gentle—more tender than she had ever known.

“Mio, forgive me.”

His cool fingertips caressed her flushed cheek, sending electrifying warmth through her.

“I will never leave you alone again.”

Something deep within her broke at those words. Tears flooded her vision, spilling uncontrollably down her cheeks.

“Stupid,” Mio whispered, her voice trembling.

Lykos’s eyes widened in panic, confusion flickering across his handsome features at her tears. Before he could speak, Mio leaned forward, pressing her forehead gently against his chest.

“Stupid,” she whispered again, crying softly.

“Don’t say such things to someone who’s merely your childhood friend. Save those words… save them for the woman you’ll one day marry.”

Yet despite her words, Mio clung tighter to him, feeling overwhelming relief and warmth in the comfort of his embrace.

“The woman I’ll marry, hmm?” he whispered softly, thoughtfully.

Mio nodded, voice barely a breath.

“Yes. Those words… should only belong to her—not to me.”

She laughed softly through her tears, a fragile sound of sorrowful relief.

Lykos smiled tenderly, his eyes softening—yet there was something hollow in both his smile and eyes.

“…Alright. Then I will save these words for the woman I will marry.”