The Esper Grand Duke Wishes For Purity - Chapter 16
“For someone from the southern regions, this weather is harsh.”
As Heejae stepped closer to the window, Kylus took off his cloak and draped it over Heejae’s shoulders. The heavy fur cloak not only wrapped around Heejae’s body, but also fell all the way to the floor. The length, which had fit Kylus perfectly, was almost excessive on Heejae.
“I’ve ordered a meal to be prepared. Your companions have already finished eating, so I told them to bring the food here. I hope you won’t feel uncomfortable about it.”
While continuing various calculations in his head, Heejae slowly turned to face Kylus. The man’s calm face belied his true feelings. Anyone could sense from his energy waves that he was desperate to devour Heejae.
That’s why, in the novel, he ended up cutting off his ankles. Now that he thought about it, there were moments when even Ha Sehyeon, after holding back for so long, would finally snap in a similar way.
‘I did faint yesterday, but I’m certain I guided him properly… How can he still look this deprived of guiding?’
He’d seen Espers whose bodies began to rot from accumulated side effects due to a lack of guiding, their autoimmune systems collapsing. The energy waves he sensed from Kylus now were no different from those cases.
[It’s a miracle you’re still alive, honestly.]
On the surface he seemed as cold as ice, but Heejae could see the fire burning within.
[How are you holding it in?]
“Speak so I can understand…”
Heejae’s gaze swept over Kylus’s body, as if evaluating him.
“…please.”
Is he really Ha Sehyeon?
He’d told the Translator he didn’t believe it, but the words it left behind had shaken Heejae to the core. His mind, always ready to run wild, was already concocting all sorts of theories.
If this really was Ha Sehyeon who’d lost his memory, it was all the more important not to let things follow the original plot. Locking Heejae away and exploiting him for guiding out of obsession… Well, it wasn’t that Heejae minded, but for Sehyeon hyung, it would surely leave a wound.
Besides, Heejae didn’t want to be assassinated or see the world destroyed, either. Whether this man was Ha Sehyeon or not, whether the Translator’s words were true or false, the immediate truth was that he needed to survive, to buy time.
[Purify him.]
He didn’t believe everything the Translator said, but—
Even the gloom on Kylus’s face was beautiful. He looked so much like Ha Sehyeon.
[That’s just the kind of face that stirs up my guilt. He really shouldn’t look so pained with a face like that. That’s not fair.]
Heejae was overcome with a desire to guide Kylus…
On impulse, he reached out and placed his hand on Kylus’s cheek. Before Kylus could properly push him away, Heejae poured in a deep, powerful surge of guiding energy.
Though called a Holy Knight in this world, the basic setting was still that of an Esper. In the face of guiding, they were utterly defenseless.
“…!”
Kylus stiffened, every tensed muscle clearly felt. Heejae had meant to smile only to himself, but couldn’t help letting the corners of his mouth twitch up.
He could feel all of Kylus’s sharp, bristling energy waves melt away under the intense guiding. Heejae always loved this moment.
Just like a hedgehog laying down its spines, the moment when that sharp, aggressive force softened and melted before his guiding, until it would even roll over and reveal its blushing underbelly, defenseless.
[Such self-control. That’s just like Ha Sehyeon…]
Seeing Kylus make no move to touch him, not even a twitch of a fingertip, Heejae let his words trail off.
He was suddenly reminded of the very first time he’d stood before Ha Sehyeon as his Guide—how Sehyeon had lowered his long, thick lashes so far they cast a shadow, lips twitching nervously as he approached.
What should he do? The memories kept flooding in at the slightest distraction.
“Ren.”
[Ah!]
Kylus snapped Heejae out of his trance. He grasped Heejae’s wrist and slowly removed his hand from his cheek. The way he finally let go was careful, but to Heejae it felt like being rejected.
It felt almost like being slapped, so he looked up at Kylus—who clenched his jaw tightly.
“A servant of the Goddess who so shamelessly breaks Her teachings…”
“……”
“Repent. Shameful priest, have you no sense of propriety?”
