The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 146
Marrying a commoner guide who had been under Robert was enough to make him fall out of favor.
Having endured such harsh days under Robert, who wouldn’t tolerate anyone he didn’t like, Cayden Cairoze must have had many things to say and do to Robert.
Even though Hedonia wasn’t using his powers, Robert couldn’t even open his eyes, still dazed.
For a while, just living like a human would be difficult for him.
‘But I can’t let him wander outside.’
It would be better to lock him up here until things were settled.
Hedonia lifted Robert with one hand and threw him into the prison where the guides had been confined.
His bones hadn’t fully healed, so when he regained his senses, he would be in tremendous pain…
‘But that’s not a bad thing.’
Compared to the pain Hedonia had to endure repeatedly, it was nothing.
Hedonia securely locked the prison and took the key himself.
It was a card to play when discussing matters with Cayden Cairoze and the future of the ducal house.
Of course, he also had to make sure that Cayden Cairoze couldn’t use Robert to attack the House of Apharantes.
They couldn’t let Robert tarnish the honor of the House of Apharantes.
Robert, the House of Apharantes, and Hedonia all needed to be separated.
Taking the guides outside, Hedonia looked around. The sound of people chattering echoed loudly.
No, it might be more accurate to say it was the voices of those fleeing or trembling in fear.
“It’s chaos.”
Hedonia walked through the crowd. His desire to find Karina quickly grew stronger.
The headache intensified to the point where it felt like it would consume him, but he felt confident that seeing Karina’s face would solve everything.
Hedonia ran swiftly. Then he spotted Karina wandering outside.
Karina was inspecting the surroundings of the mansion with Shaelock and Pheon.
When Karina’s eyes met his, Hedonia waved his hand cheerfully but paused at her gaze.
It felt like she was looking at a complete stranger.
Her glaring eyes were unfamiliar. It was entirely different from how Karina usually treated him.
It was like seeing a new face.
‘She wasn’t like this when we first met.’
Her wary look reminded him of how he was when they first met.
To think that their expressions were similar when they didn’t know each other.
‘We are alike.’
Realizing this brought a faint smile to his lips.
Karina, whose eyes met his, shivered. It was clear to anyone that her look was one of seeing a pervert.
‘Ah.’
The transformation magic from Pheon hadn’t worn off yet.
‘…’
Even at this moment, Hedonia found himself lost in thought.
‘Will you be disappointed in me?’
If you are disappointed…
There’s no point in living.
A world without you has no meaning to me.
‘No, even if you are disappointed…’
I can’t let you go now.
I must keep you by my side somehow.
I could use guiding as an excuse.
With a weak heart, if I use my life as an excuse, she would have no choice but to accept.
He made up his mind.
Hedonia stood in front of Karina.
“Oh, the esper…”
No matter how many times he hears it, he never gets tired of Karina’s voice. Hedonia smiled brightly as he listened to her.
Shaelock and Pheon, standing on either side, tilted their heads as they looked at Hedonia.
Their lips moved, asking why he was here instead of meeting with Cayden.
Hedonia completely ignored them.
The only important thing right now was Karina.
“I came to give you this.”
Hedonia extended the doll first to ease her wariness.
But as Karina reached out to take the doll, Hedonia was seized by a feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong.
His mind, already on the brink, reacted to even the slightest guiding.
Holding onto the thread of reason became increasingly faint.
He wanted to touch her.
Hold her close, kiss her… make her cry in his arms in a room where they were alone for at least a few days.
‘What’s the difference between this and being a beast?’
In front of Karina, he wanted to be human. He wanted to approach her not just as someone desiring physical intimacy, but as a person.
‘…Actually, I don’t even need to do that.’
His thoughts shifted.
Even without a sexual connotation, he craved the refreshing feeling he got when he touched Karina.
‘Just the hand…’
Wouldn’t it be okay if it were just her hand?
Thud.
In the end, instinct won over reason.
Hedonia took Karina’s hand.
Then he began to ravenously absorb her power.
