The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 155
As soon as he saw her round face through the softly colored purple hair, like the edge of a sunset and night sky, he realized how much he had missed and wanted Karina.
It wasn’t that he wanted her for her guiding.
He wanted to see that face, to hear that voice.
Even if he couldn’t receive her guiding, it would be the same.
The moment he held her hand, he unconsciously tried to absorb her… but he was able to control it immediately.
Now, he was certain that things would be different from before.
‘It should have been like this from the beginning.’
Thus, Hedonia shifted his thoughts and began to explain the situation to Karina.
“Yes, Karina. I didn’t become a guide. So, I wandered a lot.”
He was trying not to show his emotions as much as possible.
He honestly talked about how he felt at that time. He often wondered if he really became an Esper, if this life was right.
Karina looked confused.
Hedonia couldn’t tell if the confusion was a prelude to disappointment.
All he could do was answer Karina’s questions one by one and convey his feelings.
Hoping that his sincerity would reach Karina.
“But now… I think I understand.”
The answer to the problem was in front of him.
Hedonia, calmly as if he had prepared for this moment a thousand times, revealed the reason he became an Esper.
“It was to become your Esper.”
Hedonia kissed the back of Karina’s hand as he spoke.
This sensation. Karina’s unique fragrant scent tickled his nose. There was a scent that only came from her.
Even though his lips left the back of her hand, he still held her hand. Her warmth was too comforting to let go.
Half a year.
He had waited half a year for a perfect reunion.
Seeing Karina, he felt that all those long and painful times were worth it.
The desire he had suppressed and dealt with alone for half a year slowly resurfaced. His gaze fixated persistently on Karina’s lips.
He remembered that sensation. How sweet it was, the time they sought each other, the breaths, and even the exchanged saliva.
Karina’s lips were particularly red.
His instincts finally burst from his throat.
“I will be your Esper…”
It wasn’t because of the guiding.
“Can I kiss you?”
He really wanted to kiss her.
“I want to touch you.”
He wanted to touch her.
Hedonia Apharantes loved Karina.
Despite the presence of other Espers, he needed to make it clear to them how much he loved Karina.
The choice would be Karina’s, but he needed to show her his courting clearly.
It was time to fully utilize the face that Karina was weak for.
They didn’t have much time left to talk alone.
Hedonia glanced at his watch with a small laugh.
‘About one minute left.’
Hedonia glanced at the three Espers standing behind Karina.
Pheon, Shaelock, and Esban were standing in place with stunned faces.
It was thanks to Hedonia’s ability.
Over the past half year, Hedonia had honed his ability to freely enter people’s minds whenever he wanted.
Of course, there were penalties. The consciousness of the person he entered could mix with his own, and if he wasn’t careful, he could forget who he was.
As long as he didn’t overuse his ability, he wouldn’t lose his mind, but he always had to stay alert.
It seemed Cayden Cairoze also had similar side effects.
This time, he used his ability because he wanted to talk to Karina alone.
Of course, the three S-class Espers had begun mental training as soon as they learned Hedonia’s ability was psychic, so they wouldn’t be controlled.
However, they couldn’t completely escape Hedonia’s influence.
‘It was worth the effort.’
Guiding only needed to be enough to keep him alive.
…It would be nice if Karina did it, but it was okay even if she didn’t.
No matter what the future held, seeing Karina’s eyes looking only at him made him feel it was worth it.
* * *
My goodness.
I thought the main storyline was definitely going in the same direction as the original, but that was a huge misconception.
Hedonia, who should have awakened as a Guide and controlled everyone, became an Esper?
…And what does he mean by becoming my own Esper?
We needed time to talk.
“Hedonia, you—”
The moment I called his name, the three Espers who had been running from behind gritted their teeth and surrounded Hedonia.
“…A surprise attack. That’s not something a Duke would do, is it?”
Shaelock frowned at Hedonia. Her face showed no affection towards him.
‘…Are they really the main male and female leads?’
Even thinking it was an antagonistic relationship was in the past. I’ve been away for half a year, and their relationship hasn’t improved at all.
No, it seemed to have gotten worse.
Shaelock showing her emotions was fine, but I didn’t expect her to be so wary of Hedonia.
To Shaelock’s thorny words, Hedonia calmly replied.
“Forgive me for saying this, but isn’t it partly the Princess’s fault for not being fully prepared to deal with my ability?”
Even his sarcastic tone… it was the Hedonia I knew.
