How to Survive as a Supporting Male Lead

“He requested another priest from the temple. Another high-ranking one, at that.”

Kallian let out a dry laugh. As if the wild rumors swirling around weren’t enough, Iann kept fueling the fire. And somehow, it was driving Kallian up the wall. He couldn’t understand this new behavior from Iann, who’d previously shown no interest in women his entire life.

Kallian tried to recall the image of the woman who’d been with Iann. She didn’t seem particularly remarkable. What did stay with him, however, was the way Iann’s face had lit up, his eyes sparkling. Just remembering that look made Kallian’s blood boil.

“Investigate further.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Once his subordinate left the office, Kallian leaned back into his chair, letting his body sink into it. His head throbbed, making it impossible to concentrate on work.

Why did he feel so agitated? The flood of inexplicable emotions kept welling up, troubling him—betrayal, jealousy, anger, even disappointment—all clearly directed at Iann, and it irritated him.

Yet each feeling was so distinct he couldn’t deny them. Kallian decided he’d have to identify the reason behind his feelings. After all, one word in the rumors had particularly rubbed him the wrong way.

Marriage. Marriage! It was absurd no matter how he looked at it. His own path to marriage had long been blocked, as he’d been labeled alongside that thunderhead, Iann. And now Iann was preparing for marriage, with rumors even saying he was already a married man. Of course he was upset. It was only natural.

“Hah…”

He clenched his teeth against the surge of anger that came again, his jaw muscle tensing visibly.

Leaving me to rot alone and daring to consider marriage?

Just as Iann harbored his grudge against Kallian, Kallian, too, had his own pile of grievances against Iann. After all, it takes two to keep a feud going. If Kallian were destined to remain single, then Iann should share that fate. That was where Kallian directed his simmering resentment.

If his subordinates, who’d been fretting over his indifference to marriage, could hear his thoughts, they’d likely clutch their chests in frustration. But Kallian didn’t question his reasoning. Once he’d opened the floodgates to these thoughts, there was no stopping them, and he found no other explanations.

At the same time, Kallian was fully aware that he was losing his usual composure, caught up in rumors without basis. Yet he had to see Iann. He needed to confront him, uncover the truth behind these rumors, and respond accordingly.

That was how it had always been with them.

Kallian almost leapt to his feet, ready to storm over to Iann’s place, but he paused. He couldn’t just rush in. He had to find a way to unsettle Iann as much as he was currently unsettled to even the score.

From his pocket, he pulled out a small key. It clicked into the lock of the last drawer in his desk. Inside, wrapped in a handkerchief, was an old brooch and several fine ring cases. Kallian selected one and tucked it into his pocket with the key.

It was time for revenge.

* * *

“Kallian’s here?”

Iann, who was enduring another one of Derrick’s lectures, perked up at the butler’s report. Finally, an excuse had presented itself.

“Kallian does know how to be useful.”

Iann muttered, sneaking glances at Derrick as he got to his feet.

“And where do you think you’re going?”

Derrick asked, maintaining a polite tone that couldn’t quite mask the prickliness beneath,, pointing out that it was working hours.

“Well, Kallian came to see me.”

“You agreed to attend the upcoming hunting festival, and I’ve already told you that you’ll need to finish work steadily from today to be prepared.”

“Listen, Kallian’s here. He came all the way to my house. That guy must be absolutely furious to be here.”

Iann pressed, repeating himself like it was the most obvious thing in the world. He wore a pathetic expression that said, ‘No, you’re going to miss this opportunity, are you stupid?’

“It’s not the first time His Grace has paid you a visit.”

Derrick replied sharply. Iann and Kallian did frequently visit one another, which was surprising given how poorly they got along, though perhaps it was only natural. Constant squabbling requires regular interaction, and they’d often made a point of visiting each other’s homes or workplaces, all for the sake of giving the other a hard time.

But Iann wasn’t backing down. He had a good argument ready.