Becoming the Guide of the Mysophobic Villain? Absolutely Not! - Chapter 266
“C-Claude, just now… who was that? That didn’t seem like the Rose we know…”
“…”
“Your Guide is usually bright, innocent, and cheeky… but that just now couldn’t have been her, right?”
Listening to Oscar’s rambling, Claude tightly closed his eyes.
To feel that Rose’s sarcastic resignation was unfamiliar was something Claude experienced even more strongly than Oscar.
Running his hand through his hair and sighing did little to ease his frustration. While Claude was trying to suppress his anger, Daniel, who had been silent until now, spoke calmly.
“Lord Claude, may I say something?”
Oscar unconsciously rolled his eyes, gauging Claude’s reaction.
In a situation where it would be better to keep a low profile, Daniel, who had held hands with someone else’s guide, was stepping forward. Oscar couldn’t understand his audacity.
Whether or not he knew Oscar’s anxious thoughts, Daniel continued speaking calmly.
“Until now, Lord Claude, you have never allowed anyone close to you. The first person you cherished happened to be none other than Lady Rose, and because of that…”
“What are you trying to say?”
“…It seems you are somewhat clumsy in dealing with Lady Rose.”
Gasp.
Oscar involuntarily took a sharp breath. To an outsider, this was clearly crossing the line.
As expected, Claude’s gaze, now as cold as ice, turned to Daniel.
“Lord Claude, I am certainly not involved with Lady Rose in any way. But I know better than you how Lady Rose has been during your absence. Lady Rose felt very anxious and powerless at that time. The only thing she could do for you was to wait quietly at home. So, if I may be so bold, the way you are trying to protect Lady Rose might not be what she truly needs…”
“Don’t be presumptuous.”
Claude cut Daniel off, as if he didn’t need to hear any more.
Rose was small and weak. There was no need to compare her to an Esper like himself. Even among other guides and ordinary people without abilities, she was the same.
Seeing her among other Guides, Claude sometimes felt strange. He realized anew that she, who now had the power to sway him, was still an endlessly fragile being.
Her body was weak, but her mentality was even more so. He often wondered how she had survived in this harsh world on her own, given her lack of caution in everything. She was sometimes unbelievably innocent, with emotions that fluctuate so wildly he couldn’t keep up.
Moreover, she was incredibly fearful. Sometimes, when he inadvertently wore an indifferent expression, Rose would reach out and gently pat his cheek, asking him to show a kinder face because she found his usual expression frightening.
Even after spending so much time with him, Rose still found meaning and fear in every little thing he did.
Thus, despite his unease, he couldn’t bring himself to take her with him.
Even though she had an excessive attachment to money and food, Rose had no real material or vain desires. What she wanted was simply a peaceful life without worries, the kind of life ordinary people jokingly dream of.
So, despite knowing how childish it was, he kept wondering. Perhaps Rose would have been happier if she had never met him.
If she had met an ordinary, non-powered person. Then she wouldn’t have had to bear the heavy responsibility as a guide or endure the harshness of the battlefield.
Or at least, if she had met someone more delicate and kind than himself, someone better at cherishing others.
…Someone like the man standing before him now.
That was why he didn’t want to take Rose to the dangerous battlefield just because she happened to be his Guide among all the Espers. Even if that was what Rose wanted, he couldn’t compromise on this.
“I know Rose better than anyone.”
“…”
“She’s weak, lazy, and scared. So, I’ll make sure she never has to suffer and can live comfortably.”
Claude declared, as if making a vow to himself.
