How to Survive as a Supporting Male Lead - Chapter 14.2

Iann, too, couldn’t tear his gaze away. But unlike the awe that filled the others’ eyes, his blue ones burned with determination. A fiery resolve to outdo Kallian flared within him, undeterred by the reality of his own position as the perennial supporting character.
Kallian smiled faintly under the weight of Iann’s pointed gaze. Iann’s predictability was a source of occasional amusement.
It was almost endearing, how relentless he was in finding ways to provoke. That sheer determination deserved some recognition. Conveniently, Kallian ignored the fact that he had sent yet another letter to Iann that very morning, gloating about the ring. Instead, he decided to return the favor by shifting his gaze toward the ever-energetic Iain.
The slight curve of his lips dropped sharply.
‘Again.’
It was her, that woman. He brought her all the way here? The unknown woman he had met barely a month ago.
And yet, here she was, seated beside Iann. Something about it felt profoundly wrong. Resentment surged in Kallian like an unstoppable tide, and his fist clenched at his side.
“…I hope you all enjoy yourselves.”
Kallian finished, his words carrying a calm authority that belied his boiling irritation.
Iann, oblivious to Kallian’s simmering emotions, greeted him with a beaming smile.
What defines a true nemesis? A nemesis was someone who could detect even the subtlest change in your expression, who would exploit every weakness, every flicker of discomfort. And Iann, the perfect nemesis, didn’t miss a thing. He noted with glee the moment Kallian’s expression faltered.
‘This feels amazing.’
Buoyed by triumph, Iann puffed out his chest like a squirrel hoarding acorns. His grievances melted away, replaced by an unshakeable sense of satisfaction. And as Kallian approached him, his mood soared even higher. Surely, it was because of Yuhwa—the obvious cheat code for manipulating Kallian’s emotions.
“Kallian!”
Iann greeted him first, brimming with confidence. Kallian’s lips tightened, betraying his discomfort.
“Iann.”
“You spoke so well.”
Iann praised Kallian with all the sincerity of a fox. In truth, he hadn’t heard a word of the speech, too busy glaring at him.
“What do you want?”
“What do I want?”
Iann replied breezily, unshaken by Kallian’s terse tone. The unspoken subject between them was glaringly clear. Of course, it was about Yuhwa, the female lead. Glancing sidelong, Iann noticed that Yuhwa’s gaze had indeed drifted toward Kallian, the male lead.
“You said you weren’t getting married.”
Ian looked between Kalian and Yuhua intently and tilted his head. There it is again.
“What are you talking about? Marriage?”
For someone planning to live life as a virgin for the foreseeable future, the insinuation was particularly aggravating.
“Ah… then romance?”
Kallian ran a hand through his neatly combed black hair in irritation. The blue diamond ring on his finger caught the light, and Iann’s eyes immediately hardened, seeing his favorite ring again. But his anger dissipated just as quickly when Kallian’s haphazard movement left his hair slightly disheveled. This imperfection made Iann feel like he’d won a small victory in today’s ongoing battle of appearances.
Smirking, Iann asked.
“Romance? With whom?”
Kallian didn’t reply aloud, but his glance answered for him.
“With Yuhwa? Oh, no way.”
Iann’s initial reaction was disbelief—how could someone fall for another after barely a month? As someone with surprisingly high standards for relationships, Iann couldn’t fathom it. But then he caught himself. Denying any connection with Yuhwa would be a grave mistake. If he wanted to keep poking at Kallian, he needed to hint at a deeper bond with her. Now was the perfect opportunity.
Slowly, Iann crossed his legs, leaning back with a languid grace. Resting an elbow on the table, he supported his chin with one hand, staring wistfully into the distance.
“No… maybe romance.”
“…..”
“Maybe… interest. Could be what it looks like.”
“What are you even talking about? Are you saying you’re in a relationship or not?”
Iann’s favorite tactic—garbling the order of his sentences—failed spectacularly. Kallian’s mounting frustration shattered the atmosphere Iann had been trying to create. His brooding act crumbled, earning only a faint laugh from Yuhwa. Narrowing his eyes, Iann retaliated with a sharp quip.
“What’s it to you?”
The ambiguous response only deepened Kallian’s frown. His expression stiffened further, his jaw tightening with restrained annoyance.
‘Serves you right.’
Leaning back in his chair, Iann basked in Kallian’s discomfort, savoring every fleeting crack in the Duke’s usually impenetrable composure.

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