The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 111
“They can’t fully understand the emotions we feel because they’ve lived such different lives.”
His low voice carried the weight of his lived experiences.
I couldn’t dismiss the conviction in his words as mere delusion because I empathize with him.
At least, I knew it was true for me.
‘Hedonia and I are in entirely different positions.’
Hedonia can pursue what he wants, but I can’t.
He is strong, and I am weak.
When we reveal our emotions, I stand to lose far more than Hedonia does.
‘I can’t deny Pheon’s words.’
He had hit the nail on the head.
He knew exactly what I was afraid of.
“So come to me.”
Pheon’s eyes softened as he looked at me.
“I can give you everything you desire.”
“…”
“I can understand you.”
Pheon wasn’t someone who spoke empty words.
“…Alright.”
And I couldn’t resolutely reject his sincere offer.
Most of all, his final words lingered in my mind.
He’s the closest person to my situation.
Would being by Pheon’s side change anything?
‘…Could I act less defensively?’
Only time would tell.
Pheon, who had been quietly observing my face, stood up. He glanced at the clock and shrugged.
“Unfortunately, it seems our time is up.”
He handed me a small piece of parchment.
“If you think of it later, give this to Esban Cairoze.”
“…You’re not giving it to him yourself?”
“It would be suspicious for me to return to the Apharantes estate so soon. Besides, Esban and I have a cooperative relationship.”
This was unexpected as well.
Given Esban’s selective nature with people, like Marquis Shepherd, I hadn’t thought he would ally with Pheon.
‘And his apology to me…’
Esban’s mother was a commoner, wasn’t she?
Is that why he’s so fixated on noble status?
I tilted my head in thought but decided to see Pheon off first.
There was no point in pondering Esban’s circumstances when I couldn’t know them.
* * *
“Starting tomorrow, your blood will be delivered through someone else, Hedonia.”
Hedonia frowned at Robert’s sudden announcement.
“When did you say that fresh blood was necessary? You’re quite inconsistent.”
Despite his sarcasm, Robert remained unfazed.
“Yes, I thought you could always maintain your peak condition. But that was my arrogance.”
Robert admitted his mistake.
It was true that Hedonia and Karina hadn’t met this time. Shaelock and Karina’s stories matched up perfectly.
However…
‘If I’m suspicious to this extent, it means their relationship has already crossed the line.’
Relationships that cross boundaries can change at any time.
Even if Karina sees Hedonia as just another woman, their hearts could still connect.
Since the emergence of guides and Espers, it has become common for people of the same gender to grow close.
Constantly being together for survival, they inevitably form deeper connections.
‘The problem is physical contact.’
This was also why Robert had come to avoid contact guiding.
It wasn’t out of a pure devotion to his wife, who had died giving birth to Hedonia.
The idea of liking someone of the same gender was an unacceptable affront to his pride.
‘How effective is non-contact guiding?’
There was no need for physical closeness.
Despite this, all S-class Espers were eager to bow down to him.
Even within the Cairoze family, both Cayden and Esban were under his command.
All because of his exceptional abilities.
…Though he could never match his mother, that was a natural limitation.
Hedonia, however, could surpass even these natural limitations.
‘Yes, Hedonia will handle it.’
Hedonia was his hope.
Therefore, he had to become the perfect guide and make up for his lifelong insecurities.
There was no place for obstacles like Karina in that path.
While he had dealt with guides haphazardly before, Karina was different.
Hedonia was investing too much attention in her.
So, he scoured far and wide, making inquiries.
He sought knowledge of black magic that could break a life-binding contract.
And now, he had finally found a lead.
