The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 10
Ways he could survive.
Reasons why Hedonia could withstand the awakening, as stated in the contract.
Finally, I came up with a solution.
“After becoming a guide, slap him in the face.”
He smirked.
“What? After becoming a guide?”
“The current Duke truly hopes more than anyone else that you, Hedonia, becomes a guide.”
I chose my words carefully. I couldn’t reveal facts I knew as a reader. I had to stick to what I could have known.
“If you truly become a guide, Hedonia, I believe that through arcane and silencing people, the wish you’ve longed for will come true.”
“…….”
“Perhaps, you might even hope to become a guide, following in the footsteps of the Duke, to uphold the honor of the family.”
I added the word “perhaps,” but I know this to be true.
Typically, people have the greatest expectations just before their wishes come true.
When you realize it’s not what you thought it would be, you naturally feel disappointed and even despair.
“The only person who can shatter that happiness into pieces is none other than Hedonia.”
Disappointment is as big as the expectation.
“Wouldn’t that be the ultimate revenge?”
Hedonia could use this.
That was the ace I could offer him.
“…Revenge.”
Hedonia’s face, which had been listening to me with an amused expression, gradually turned grim.
“Revenge.”
Just murmuring the word seemed to make him appear somewhat sinister.
But that was only for a moment; he soon succumbed to the overwhelming pain and groaned.
The few drops of blood I had offered him had drained his strength.
Aaarghh!
Hedonia let out a piercing scream, as if his ears were being torn apart, and gasped for breath, struggling to breathe. It was hard to watch.
I found myself unable to move, staring at my fingers, now devoid of blood.
“Heh…”
He gasped, almost looking pitiful, then suddenly smirked at me.
It was astonishing how he maintained his dignity despite writhing in agony.
Of course, I wasn’t crazy enough to say this out loud.
“You have quite a desperate look on your face.”
His words seemed to pierce through me, and I felt embarrassed instead.
Well, my life is on the line, so naturally.
“I have to live for you to live, is that right?”
A slightly husky voice escaped from his lips as he had just taken a breath.
He had grasped the essence of the problem.
There was no need to hide it.
I nodded immediately.
Hedonia reached out towards me.
“Shall we make a deal then?”
His grip on my wrist lacked strength, but I couldn’t bring myself to pull away from his hand.
“Help me with my revenge.”
His words were as ruthless as they were seemingly kind.
But even that felt heavy on me.
In our brief conversation, I sensed a lot. He had endured much more pain than I had thought, and endured it.
‘…In the original work, he didn’t kill his father.’
Well, I’ll figure something out. There’s no point in overthinking it now.
There’s only one thing I can say.
“If there’s anything I can do.”
The moment I spoke, the fleeting light that had been nothing more than a flicker suddenly engulfed the room.
His eyes, which had been dull just moments ago, slowly filled with indiscernible emotions, sparkling.
Where there had only been embers moments before, a fire was ignited.
‘…It’s done.’
A sense of relief washed over me, and a small smile crept across my face.
As he watched me smile, Hedonia’s expression seemed to sour, as though he didn’t appreciate it.
“You don’t seem the least bit flustered.”
Isn’t it stranger to reveal all your emotions in front of someone like me…?
He seemed much more human now than before…
But the loosening of his guard made people even more uneasy.
As I carefully chose my words, Hedonia beat me to it.
“Isn’t it impolite to make such a face when being praised?”
…Being praised?
“Earlier, you played the villain role, didn’t you?”
It seemed my amateur villain act was apparent.
His words pierced my conscience with precision, but I wasn’t about to back down.
“Haha, I thought you were glaring at me because I did something wrong. It’s quite unique to praise me like that.”
As a bonus, I gave Hedonia a slight smirk.
“Did I just act like father?”
Instead of responding to my remark, Hedonia muttered dully.
…I admitted that too honestly.
But knowing the background roughly, I didn’t press him further.
Maintaining a certain distance is helpful in human relationships.
Him and I have a business-like relationship, so it’s appropriate to keep information about each other limited.
Anyway, it was fortunate that Hedonia had become more cooperative.
‘…Who would’ve thought there was more to add behind the scenes of Duke Apharantes?’
Having accomplished two big tasks in a day, exhaustion hit me hard. Now, it seemed like a good idea to unwind and relax.
“Well then, Shall I provide the blood?”
I quickly got up from my seat and sat down on the chair next to the bed.