The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 140
To prepare for any unexpected situation, Robert stopped by the study to collect the doll for Karina’s curse and important documents.
‘I knew it would come to this.’
He had anticipated that Cayden Cairoze, though hiding his malice, could rise against him at any time.
‘Did he think I would just take all of his hits like this?’
He wasn’t foolish enough to rule out such a possibility.
Reaching the secret space, he sighed in relief as he confirmed the potential guides, each locked in their own cells.
‘They all move according to my commands.’
It didn’t matter how many private soldiers Cayden had brought.
Depending on his choice, not only the guides here but also……
“The future of all active guides will be decided.”
Of course, there was the exception of Karina, but it was impossible for her to handle dozens or hundreds of various grades of Espers all by herself.
The guides trained here might not know, but Robert Apharantes had sent the guides out with poison injected into their bodies.
The poison, which could be activated at any time he wished, was secretly manufactured through several mages.
No one could be trusted, so information was gathered separately, and few knew this fact.
If Cayden Cairoze tried to kill him, all these guides would die with him.
The world left with only Espers would become a chaotic mess.
Every Esper relies on their guide.
This was his prepared solution.
“No one can escape this.”
Laughing heartily, pleased with his plan, he noticed a figure standing in the shadows.
“Wh-Who’s there!”
“Ah, you’ve finally arrived.”
The familiar tone and manner of speech made Robert frown.
“Hedonia?”
It had taken a long time to open Hedonia’s door. He had ordered the soldiers, servants, and even activated the magic circle to break down Hedonia’s door……
“Has the Awakening finally ended?”
Even from his unresponsive demeanor, it was clear that it was Hedonia.
If he had become a guide… he would undoubtedly have immense potential as an S-rank. Then he would finally realize how incredible the path Robert had paved was.
As Hedonia… or rather a stranger, emerged from the shadows, Robert’s frown deepened.
“Who are you?”
“Do you remember when you first brought me here?”
The man spoke in the exact same manner as Hedonia.
‘The only person I brought here was Hedonia.’
Yet this completely different individual was naturally talking about experiences only Hedonia had gone through.
That left only one answer.
“Hedonia, what’s with your appearance? Why did you come here right after your Awakening?”
Robert frowned.
“This is perfect. I could use your guiding abilities on Cayden Cairoze.”
Having waited so long, his expectations were high. As Robert rubbed his hands together and spoke, Hedonia smirked crookedly and muttered.
“I’m the one who called him.”
“……What?”
“It seems you haven’t grasped the situation yet, Duke.”
“What do you mean you called him?”
Robert frowned.
“I know you hold resentment against me. But once you awaken as a guide, you’ll see the value in what I’ve been doing―”
“I’ve heard that speech countless times.”
Hedonia interrupted Robert’s speech and gestured with his hand.
At the awaited signal, Esban stepped forward.
“Esban Cairoze… What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to follow the young master.”
Robert gritted his teeth.
“Hedonia, this place is strictly forbidden to anyone who isn’t a guide. Why did you bring him here?”
Hedonia stared at Robert.
He had denied his true gender, forced him to live a different life, manipulated his future, and controlled him to suit his own desires.
Under the name of father, Robert had tried to change him entirely.
And Robert never considered the possibility that he was wrong or that his daughter… no, his son, could hate him.
‘Why can’t he understand that being a parent doesn’t give you the right to everything?’
Living a long life doesn’t make you wise, a truth Robert was being forced to realize once again.
Now, it was time to unfold the body that had been hunched over and to reveal his wings.
Countless days of dreaming and waiting had led to this moment.
Hedonia smiled brightly, like a newly blossomed flower.
“To take revenge on you.”
“Revenge? I’m the only one who has taught you everything about guiding and could continue to do so.”
Robert laughed, as if it were a joke.
“I know how extraordinary a perfectionist you are. Just like me. Do you think you can easily kill me?”
“Oh dear, maybe you should replace your eyes first.”
It seemed he hadn’t realized Hedonia’s true nature, trapped by the preconception that he would become a guide.
Hedonia approached Robert and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Duke,”
Hedonia whispered.
“I didn’t awaken as a guide.”
At this moment, with the certainty of ending Robert.
“I became an Esper to crush you.”
He revealed his true identity.
In the moment he faced Robert, Hedonia realized.
The only person who made him want to hide the fact that he was an Esper.
The only person who could become a variable in his life.
Was Karina.
No one else could create variables in his life.
That was the rule of Hedonia Apharantes.
t/n: imma say this again (although this might be the first time you’ll see this), in narration and monologues, Hedonia’s pronouns are male. If the speaker is Karina or someone who knows his gender. Hedonia’s pronouns are female in dialogues since his gender hasn’t been revealed yet.
