Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are So Hot! [BL]-Chapter 89: Hidden Vulnerabilities

"Master Theo, it’s not... that kind of unwell." Leonide swallowed, unsure of how to explain.

Theo paused, understanding dawning on his face. "Ah, I see," he said, a knowing smile playing at his lips. "So, you’ve seen it too?"

Leonide blinked, surprised. "Does Master Theo know what’s going on?"

"Yes, I’ve seen it before," Theo replied softly. "Damien’s not the best at hiding things."

He chuckled, a fond expression crossing his face. "When Damien’s like this, how could anyone not worry? It’s practically second nature to want to be close to him."

Leonide’s eyes widened slightly. "So... you really do understand?"

"Oh, don’t worry," Theo reassured him with a warm smile. "Damien’s told me everything. You don’t need to hide it from me, Leonide—I know what it’s like to care for him."

He patted Leonide on the shoulder. "But with Damien being the way he is, be sure to consider your plans carefully, alright?"

Leonide nodded, his expression softening. "I will, Master Theo."

Theo sighed, memories flickering across his mind. "Yes, I went through a similar experience myself. One time, I found him wrapped tightly in his blankets, trying to stifle his tears."

Leonide’s eyes softened with empathy. "I’ve seen him like that, too... pretending he’s perfectly fine."

"There’s a soundproofing charm on his room," Theo explained, "but if you get close enough to the door, you can still hear a little."

He smiled sadly. "If he claims he’s unwell, it only takes a moment to find out the truth."

Leonide nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Damien’s charm is that he thinks he’s hiding things, but..."

Theo chuckled. "Yes. Damien’s strength and determination to keep things concealed... it makes him admirable. And endearing."

After a pause, Theo turned, calling out, "Sebas! Could you bring us two cups of tea, please?"

He turned back to Leonide. "It seems that, from here on out, we’ll be both rivals and allies in caring for him. Why not indulge in a little talk about love?"

A few moments later, Sebas returned with tea, placing the tray on the table. Theo took a sip, savoring the taste. "No matter the time of day, Sebas’s tea is always incredible."

He gestured to Leonide. "Go on, try it. No need to hold back."

Leonide hesitated, then took a cautious sip. "You’re right—it’s wonderful."

Theo chuckled, watching him. "You know, the people here aren’t just master and servant—we’re all fellow victims, tangled up with someone as complicated as Damien."

"Yes," Leonide agreed with a rueful smile. "He’s... unique."

"As long as you care for him," Theo continued, "there’s no need for restraint." His expression turned wry. "Damien is something else. Usually, he’s so self-assured, handling things alone. But every now and then, he shows this vulnerability... it’s like he’s silently saying, ’If I’m not tended to right now, I might just break.’"

Leonide nodded, understanding completely. "It’s true. And he’s always so ready to look after us, always wanting to spoil us. It’s... hard not to care for him in return."

"Yes," Theo said thoughtfully. "Damien gives off this presence—like an older brother. Did you know he’s actually older than us?"

"Really?" Leonide’s eyes widened. "I... never would have guessed."

Theo chuckled. "Yes, I was also surprised. When I first met him, I thought, ’Ah, another con artist trying to make a quick fortune.’" He laughed. "You’ve heard about my fascination with ’otherworldly people,’ I’m sure."

Leonide chuckled, nodding. "Yes, we’ve all heard the stories."

"As for my first impression?" Theo tilted his head, thinking back. "I thought, ’This one’s surprisingly charming for a fraud.’ Back then, I thought he was about your age."

"I thought the same," Leonide admitted with a grin. "But there’s something about him... something unexpectedly mature."

"Yes. Despite that innocent face, he has this maturity. Even now, I sometimes can’t tell if he’s older or younger than me."

He shook his head, a fond smile touching his lips. "When I first met him, it felt like... acquiring a new pet." He laughed, embarrassed. "A cute, clever pet that warmed up to me."

"Master Theo!" Leonide laughed, shaking his head. "That’s... one way to put it." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Theo chuckled, clearly unbothered by the remark. "Yes, as a noble, I suppose I’ve become a bit twisted in my own way. Thinking of a human as a ’pet’... I even put a collar on him to make sure he couldn’t betray me."

Leonide’s eyebrows raised. "A collar?"

"Yes," Theo confirmed with a smirk. "The Unicorn’s Horn—a spell to unmask lies. There are charming little lies and lies that are... not so charming. Being in my position, I’ve attracted my fair share of enemies, you see."

"And Damien?" Leonide asked curiously.

Theo’s gaze softened. "Until I told him about the collar, he was hiding behind a whole web of lies. None of them were the cute kind, either. He’d put on this indifferent face, bottling up loneliness and homesickness, pretending like it was nothing."

"He sounds... remarkably resilient," Leonide said quietly.

"Yes," Theo agreed, a wistful look in his eyes. "When he first arrived, he must have been overwhelmed, but he put on this front of having ’adjusted’ completely."

"Was it difficult to watch?" Leonide asked gently.

Theo nodded. "It was. And it made me wonder—what kind of life had he led back in his world?"

Leonide’s eyes softened. "I think he just wanted to go home..."

"Ah, yes." Theo smiled sadly. "I realized that on the first day we met. Damien’s surprisingly careless, you know. Endearing, isn’t it?"

Leonide chuckled. "Very much so."

"On that first day, I brought him here to the mansion, and perhaps he let his guard down. After being shown to a bed, he started crying. Not just crying—he was sobbing."

Leonide’s eyes widened. "He... let you see that?"

Theo nodded, smiling fondly. "Yes. I was just about to introduce him to the staff and happened to be nearby."

"Even back then, he was pretending to be fine," Theo continued thoughtfully. "Thinking back, it’s only natural. He’d just been torn from his family, his friends."