The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 126
An unfamiliar self-deprecating smile appeared on her lips. Resting her chin on her hand, Shaelock murmured.
“They say espers are broken somewhere.”
Shaelock’s sharper-than-usual demeanor made her seem like a completely different person.
“What can I do when I can’t find my rationality? The moment I received your guiding keeps replaying in my mind.”
“…”
“That’s why I thought I should avoid forming relationships with people…”
Trailing off, she looked at me and smiled.
“But you approached me first.”
Shaelock took my hand. Though her grip was light and weak, I immediately took a deep breath.
“Huuuh…”
The strength was quickly drained from me. The ravenous guiding, just like the first time I faced Shaelock, sucked my energy dry.
“I’m sorry.”
Shaelock avoided my gaze till the end.
Seeing her bite her lip revealed a dark side of her.
“This isn’t just for me.”
“…Your Highness.”
“It’s also to take you with me completely.”
Her voice was so small it was almost like she was speaking to herself, more a justification than anything.
Though I was the one losing strength, she felt even more uneasy.
Perhaps this was also why she avoided getting close to guides.
‘Yes, Shaelock’s power comes first.’
I gripped Shaelock’s hand even tighter.
“That’s right. You’re doing this for me.”
Shaelock’s eyes wavered as she looked at me in surprise.
I smiled at her even more broadly.
“It’s all for me, so I shouldn’t feel so guilty.”
The grip Shaelock had on my hand loosened. And her face looked much more relaxed.
‘I’m not just guiding Shaelock.’
Deciding to diligently perform the guiding made the situation appear different.
Esban, of course, would need guiding too. I glanced at him.
“Your Highness, we must leave soon.”
He warned Shaelock, twisting his brow.
I knew how much risk they both took to come here.
I should do what I can for them.
‘If it hurts, I can just lie down.’
A cozy rest awaits me.
I made up my mind.
“Then we should finish the guiding quickly. Esban, could you come here too?”
I gestured to Esban and downed the potion he brought in one shot.
It felt as invigorating as drinking RedX.
“Your condition doesn’t look good, so you should refrain.”
Esban shook his head firmly, but I knew that wasn’t his true feeling.
“Just a moment, Your Highness.”
We had no time to waste. I stepped up to Esban, who was leaning against the wall, and grabbed his hand.
“You—”
Esban didn’t react for a moment, perhaps due to exhaustion or surprise at my actions.
The important thing was that I started guiding while holding Esban’s hand, and he couldn’t resist.
Esban gritted his teeth, and his breathing became rough.
“This…”
But Esban couldn’t bring himself to let go of my hand.
It wasn’t a lack of strength, but his instincts that prevailed.
Instead, he gripped my hand tighter.
“I…”
Esban started to speak but then fell silent.
“It’s part of the role as a stand-in.”
I gave him an excuse.
“For me to fulfill that role one last time, so please.”
Esban gave a small laugh at my words. It was the first time I saw a relaxed smile on his face.
“…You leave me speechless.”
He nodded and quietly complied with my request.
To see Esban following orders so willingly.
‘At least we won’t part ways on bad terms.’
At least with Esban and Shaelock, I felt there would be no regrets after we said goodbye.
* * *
After finishing the guiding, my condition definitely worsened.
“By the way… Pheon is late.”
“Indeed. What is he doing to take so long…”
“Could it be that Hedonia has woken up?”
“Now we just need to leave.”
I felt relieved at those words and started to get up when a commotion was heard.
“There’s an intruder!”
“Search the entire mansion!”
It seemed they intended to search my room last since it wasn’t deemed important. However, the word “intruder” made my heart sink.
“Have they already discovered we entered?”
Shaelock frowned. Despite everything, she already looked better after receiving even a brief guiding.
Esban quickly checked the time.
“It hasn’t even been ten minutes. And we haven’t used any power, so there’s no way we’ve been discovered.”
“…Then has Pheon been caught?”
I was so busy with the guiding that it took me a while to understand what they were saying.
And the moment I realized Pheon was here, my mouth dropped open.
“Pheon is here too?”
When I asked in surprise, Shaelock nodded.
“He said he couldn’t miss this opportunity either. Oh, now that I think about it, Pheon said something strange.”
“Something strange?”
“He said… he decided to become friends with you…”
“Ah.”
“Is it true?”
Shaelock asked in disbelief.
“…I did say that.”
Honestly, I didn’t want to admit it!
Since I had a deal with Pheon, I trailed off instead of giving a precise answer.
“Then—”
Esban hastily spoke up from the side, but his voice grew fainter and was hard to hear.
“…What was that?”
