The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 149
Hedonia listened to Shaelock’s words while looking at the collapsed Karina. Just by looking at her pale face, he could tell how dire the situation had been.
He let out a low sigh and covered his face with his hand.
A wave of self-loathing washed over him.
‘She’s already in poor health…’
She had lost a lot of weight enduring Robert’s abuse. It was unlikely he ever gave her proper meals. What had he done to such a fragile person?
“Do you know that Karina was looking for you, Duke?”
Shaelock asked, her expression still calm, though her eyes remained cold.
A rift had formed between them, one that couldn’t easily be bridged, all because of Karina.
Hedonia let out a bitter laugh.
‘She was looking for me.’
This was the first time he hated hearing that Karina had been searching for him.
What if she had found him alone?
The scenarios that followed were too horrible to imagine. Hedonia bit his lip.
Blood trickled from his split lip, and the salty taste only made Karina’s face appear more vividly in his mind.
He questioned himself.
Had I been too arrogant?
He admitted it.
He had been overconfident.
No matter how long it took, Hedonia had never failed to achieve what he wanted.
The revenge on Robert was the biggest example. It had been smoother and more satisfying than he had ever anticipated.
That’s why.
Despite being a newly awakened esper, he was certain he wouldn’t lose his composure in front of Karina.
‘That I nearly killed you.’
But this was merely the delusion of an arrogant man.
‘I need to prepare myself.’
He thought reclaiming the duchy would be the end of his preparations to keep Karina by his side, but it wasn’t.
A bigger problem remained.
‘I must ensure this never happens again.’
If there was even the slightest chance he could lose control in front of Karina, he had to eliminate it.
It wasn’t just for Karina’s safety. It was also for himself, so that every time he met Karina, he wouldn’t be haunted by this memory.
The fact that Karina almost died due to his negligence was too horrific to bear.
Hedonia pressed his lips together and approached Karina.
Shaelock and Pheon didn’t move any further.
In the hallway, where all the espers held their breath, the only sound was Karina’s labored breathing, as if everyone was listening intently to it.
“Is it common for newly awakened espers to lose their composure like this?”
Pheon responded promptly, as if he had been waiting for the question.
“At first, they don’t know their limits, so it’s inevitable. It takes about two months of using their powers to understand them.”
“…Two months.”
Though he said this, Hedonia was certain the period would be longer.
He knew his own perfectionist tendencies.
He had already nearly killed Karina. Until he was absolutely sure this wouldn’t happen again, he couldn’t face her properly.
Or maybe, just maybe, he could achieve it while keeping Karina close.
The temptation was strong, as strong as his desire for Karina.
Hedonia gazed at Karina’s face.
The seductive voice in his head began to fade.
As he continued to check on Karina’s condition, his resolve solidified.
With the determination of it being the last time, Hedonia memorized every detail of Karina—her eyes, nose, mouth, hair, breath, and body.
‘…I won’t see you for a while.’
From today, until he could completely control his powers, he wouldn’t meet Karina.
He would do everything in his power to ensure her safety and well-being.
The decision to avoid her altogether was extreme but necessary.
Even seeing her from afar would tempt him to break his resolve, until he could be certain Karina would be safe by his side.
If he saw her from afar, he would want to see her up close, and then he would inevitably approach her and touch her.
It wasn’t just for guiding; he constantly wanted to touch Karina.
There was no longer any reason to hide his gender, and his physique far surpassed hers.
The desires he had suppressed could erupt at any moment.
So he needed to keep his distance.
Hedonia gently took Karina’s hand and reverently kissed the back of it.
His actions were so solemn, like a prayer to a deity, that neither Shaelock nor Pheon could intervene.
Then Hedonia stood up.
“Karina needs to be taken to the island.”
“I’ll handle it,”
Pheon offered.
“No, it’s best to leave it to the princess.”
Of course, not seeing Karina didn’t mean he wouldn’t deal with the pests circling around her. Especially not someone as sly as Pheon.
“Alright, I’ll go,”
Shaelock said.
“Princess, Karina asked me to—”
“No, I will go,”
Shaelock replied, immediately dismissing Pheon’s attempt and cradling Karina in her arms.
“Then I’ll take Karina to the island now.”
