The Useless Prince Is A Gangster

Leo sat on the fallen log, his bandaged hand shaking slightly, the pain from his burned flesh and sword-slashed chest barely eased by the healing potion Rin had applied. His crimson eyes, though tired, burned with fierce intensity as they met Rin's tear-filled pink gaze.

Her dark pink hunting outfit was torn, her face streaked with dirt and tears.

Even though Leo's pale face was glistening with blood and sweat, his lips curled into a subtle, playful grin. "Just for a friend of mine? Rin, no." His crimson eyes locked onto hers with a fire that took her breath away, and he spoke in a rough yet steady voice, "I don't go feral for just anyone."

"I would burn the entire world for you."

Rin's heart ached as she clutched the mask, its edges digging into her palms, and her tears came more quickly.

Months of suffering and bewilderment had left her voice raw and cracked.

"So why do you push me away? You hardly gave me any attention for months. I thought you hated me when you left!" Her voice trembled with pain and longing as her pink eyes searched his face in a desperate attempt to find the truth.

As he reached for and took a thin chain from around his neck, Leo's face softened and a trace of guilt appeared on his face. A tiny silver ring hung from it, glinting in the dim forest light, its understated design brimming with subdued significance.

He raised it. "Hate you? You don't know how much staying away broke me, Rin." His voice faded to a near whisper as his crimson eyes glistened with agony.

"I felt like I was carving out my own heart every day by keeping my distance."

Rin stepped closer, her voice breaking as she shook her head, her eyes watering."Don't say that, Leo. You can't just—" She swallowed hard, her hands trembling. "If you cared, why act like I was nothing to you?"

"I'm not lying," he said.

He snapped the chain with a gentle tug, the ring falling into his palm.

He looked at her—her tear-streaked face, flushed with anger and vulnerability, yet radiant in her fierce beauty—and his grin softened into something tender, unguarded.

"You think I wanted to hurt you? I was trying to protect you, Rin. "

"Protect me?" she whispered, her voice cracking with raw emotion, her pink eyes shimmering with hurt. "You think leaving me alone felt like protection? I thought you hated me, Leonhardt."

He let out a rough chuckle, warm and aching, his crimson eyes never leaving hers. "Hate you? Rin, never In a thousand lifetimes." The faint glow of the ring reflected in her eyes as he held it up.

"Stay with me for the rest of your life, even if you hate me."

As Rin gazed at the ring, the weight of his words weighing heavily on her, her breath caught and she started to cry uncontrollably.

As Leo took her hand and carefully slid the ring onto her finger, she let out a sob and her hands began to shake. It felt warm against her skin and fit flawlessly, as though it had always been there.

She rushed forward, her hand swinging to slap him hard across the face, the sharp sound resonating in the silent clearing as she felt a rush of raw emotion—anger, relief, and a love she could no longer deny.

Her tears came more quickly, but Leo didn't bat an eyelid, his crimson eyes unwavering as he accepted her pain. She sobbed, her voice fierce, "You moron!" "You were never hated by me! I was hurt because—"

Her words hung in the air, her chest heaving as she grabbed his shoulders, pulling him close. Her tears and the metallic tang of her split lip's blood made the kiss desperate and intense as her lips drove into his.

The intensity of her passion took Leo by surprise, and he froze for a moment before melting into her and putting his unhurt hand on the back of her neck, his fingers gently tangled in her hair.

Grounding her in the chaos of their world, he kissed her back with equal intensity, his lips steady and warm.

Rin's forehead pressed against his as they parted, panting. Her hands were still gripping his shoulders as she spoke in a shaky but fierce voice.

"You Moron, say you're sorry for breaking my heart."

Leo's crimson eyes shone with devotion as his lips formed a gentle, genuine smile. He whispered, "I'm sorry, Rin," in a low, sincere voice, as he gently wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "I'll make it up to you forever."

Nimbus looming at the clearing's edge, watched Leo and Rin's kiss with a low huff, his purple eyes narrowing in what seemed like jealousy.

He turned his head away, padding toward one of the melting cultist bodies, sniffing the air carefully, his tail flicking. Suddenly, the ground shook hard, a deep rumble vibrating the earth, sending dirt and leaves tumbling.

Rin pulled back from Leo, her pink eyes wide with alarm as she scrambled to her feet.

"What's happening?" she asked, her voice urgent as she scanned the forest.

Leo rose slowly, his crimson eyes calm, almost expectant, as if he'd known this was coming. His gaze drifted upward, and Rin followed, her breath catching.

Up above, a surge of pulsing, dark energy gathered in the sky and then burst in a bright flash as it swirled through the forest canopy.

From there, a glistening, transparent dome started to take shape, its edges rippling with mana as it lowered, enclosing the clearing and Leo, Rin, and Nimbus within its bounds.

The air became heavy, a suffocating trap of mana that had almost killed them before, the same crushing weight Rin remembered from the hunting cage incident.

Rin's voice shook, her eyes darting to Leo. "Leonhardt, that's… it's like the hunting cage again!"

Leo pulled on his bloodied shirt, buttoning it with steady hands despite the pain in his bandaged hand. "Take your staff, Rin," he said, his tone low but firm.

"We're moving."

She nodded, her heart racing as she ran to grab her staff, its mana crystal shining faintly among the leaves.

Leo's crimson eyes lingered on the sky, tracking the dome's growth.

***************************************

Hello readers, I want to thank you all for supporting me to this day.

I was happy with your support.

The thing is, I want to announce some important news.

I am going to start a new book called Dead God's Slave.

The book will be dark-toned and focus on revenge. Hope you guys will support me after its releaseon July 4th.

Thank you.