The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 119
Pheon’s eyes sparkled, and a smile played on his lips.
It was as if he had anticipated my words.
Not surprising. Perhaps he had predicted this from the moment he read my letter.
He must have been waiting for the right moment for me to bring it up.
“You want to use it?”
He muttered, propping his chin on his clasped hands.
“Yes, I want to break it and spread the word. However.”
“However.”
“Hedonia must be excluded from these rumors.”
It was crucial to convey that while these events happened within the Apharantes duchy, Hedonia was entirely unaware.
This move would not only tarnish the Duke’s reputation but also highlight Hedonia as someone distinct and separate from Robert.
I wanted my actions to be a boon to Hedonia, not a burden.
For that, I needed to be cautious.
“You assumed I would know how to break it. Since I’m also a mage.”
“I heard you already captured the dark magician. And I trust in your abilities, Lord Pheon.”
“My abilities, huh?”
Still, wanting to make a good impression while asking for a favor, I started with a compliment.
Pheon, who had trailed off, looked at me with pursed lips.
“But why did you not draw a smiling face for me?”
“…Pardon?”
I was genuinely taken aback by the unexpected question.
A smiling face?
“…Are you talking about the note I added to Lady Shaelock’s letter?”
I couldn’t believe he was referring to that.
Pheon snapped his fingers and nodded.
“I thought we had grown closer. But your letter was all business, very stiff. The one to the princess was much friendlier.”
“…”
I had anticipated they might read it, but I didn’t expect to get direct feedback like this.
“Lord Pheon, our relationship is based on a transaction… we are professional associates.”
“But when I read the letter yesterday, I saw the princess’s face brighten while Esban and I grew more and more sour. It felt like something was missing even though you thanked us.”
“…I don’t think this is the time for such discussions.”
We don’t have much time!
“When Lady Hedonia reads it, she might react strongly as well.”
Pheon replied, waving the letter in his hand.
It seemed this issue was more important to him than I had thought.
“I didn’t realize it at first… but it actually hurt my feelings. Seeing the princess get special treatment.”
Special treatment? It was just a smiley face at the end of a message.
“So I thought about why that might be, and I realized that the princess is the only person Karina has asked to be friends with.”
The fact that he was just noticing this now was surprising.
It showed how little he had paid attention to that aspect.
“So I thought about it… and I decided I want to be friends too.”
“…Just a while ago, you said we were just doing business.”
I really couldn’t figure out what Pheon was thinking.
“That’s true. But things have changed. Seeing you so close to the princess made me jealous. I realized I could be that close too.”
I was suspicious of his motives.
Even Esban had said that Pheon was not someone to get close to unless there was something to gain.
“You’re doubting my intentions, aren’t you?”
“…”
“The final transaction will proceed as planned. But the compensation for this favor…”
Pheon smiled.
“Let’s say it’s going out together.”
“Going out with you?”
“Yes, I noticed you went to a gambling house with the princess last time. I can take you somewhere even better.”
“…I can’t imagine anywhere better than a gambling house.”
“I’m talking about a proper place.”
The fact that this conversation wasn’t still making any sense was unnerving, yet he remained so unbothered. I shivered.
Pheon felt jealousy over the letter meant for Shaelock.
There was only one reason for that.
He probably wanted me to be his exclusive guide again, just like before.
‘It’s a perfect start, considering it’s difficult to ask directly from the beginning.’
I had no intention of playing along with Pheon’s whims.
Instead of responding to his request, I shared my own plans.
“Once I get out and our transaction is complete, I’ve decided to take a break from guiding for a while.”
I thought that if I told him I couldn’t give him what he wanted, he’d back off immediately.
“I know you’re taking a break from guiding as Lady Hedonia’s stand-in.”
Pheon shrugged as if it was the most obvious thing.
“No, I mean I plan to completely stop guiding, with this transaction as my last. I want to live without any guiding at all.”
“…You won’t guide at all? After this?”
Pheon frowned, there was a rare hint of urgency.
