The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 180
“Rina!”
As soon as I entered the room, Shaelock, who had been pacing around, ran towards me.
“The Duke of Apharantes didn’t give you any trouble, did he? I heard you couldn’t go back to the mansion and stayed here. If you want, I can use my power to help you.”
She rattled off words like a machine gun, and I shook my head.
She really seemed concerned.
“I’m fine. I stayed because I wanted to. Did you get back safely that day?”
Shaelock, who had been scrutinizing my face with a furrowed brow, sighed. She narrowed her eyes.
“…Safely, sure. I was almost kicked out.”
Shaelock’s tone was icy as she spoke about Hedonia’s actions.
I decided it was best to change the subject and quickly pointed to my neck.
“Princess, look at this.”
“Hmm?”
Shaelock’s eyes widened. Then, recognizing the necklace she had given me, a smile spread across her face.
“You’re wearing it.”
“Of course, it’s a gift from you.”
“I’m wearing mine too.”
Shaelock proudly pointed to her own neck. With her striking features, I hadn’t even noticed the necklace until she pointed it out.
“Princess, won’t you let us talk too?”
Pheon subtly joined the conversation.
“Same here.”
Esban also attempted to engage.
‘Huh.’
Esban, Pheon, and Shaelock were all wearing uniforms similar in design to the one Hedonia was wearing.
“Shall we sit down first? It might be good to talk before the guiding.”
Shaelock suggested. We all sat down in turn. Shaelock and I sat together, and beside me on the other side was…
“…Esban? It seems like you picked the wrong seat.”
“No, I’m sitting here today.”
To my surprise, Esban took the seat. Pheon, who had been giving him looks, sighed and sat across from us.
He looked at the ceiling with a bored expression, then glanced at me with a playful smile on his face.
“You seem curious about something, Karina.”
“…You’re all wearing the same outfit.”
“Oh, this.”
Pheon shrugged, pointing at his uniform.
“We’ve recently gotten new pins and uniforms according to esper ranks.”
“Uniforms?”
Shaelock answered for him.
“With all the recent divisions and conflicts among the espers… we decided to implement this to help with identification and foster a sense of belonging.”
“Ah…”
“Just wearing the uniform can intimidate people, so there might be fewer instances of getting badmouthed.”
Of course, since the fundamental issues weren’t resolved, uniforms couldn’t be seen as the ultimate solution.
‘But it will make it easier to distinguish between regular people and espers.’
Special uniforms could become something people look up to.
I remembered reading studies that showed how people’s reactions could change based on what someone was wearing.
“Did you know about the new disappearances of espers?”
Shaelock asked.
I shook my head. Shaelock nodded in response.
“You really haven’t been aware of what’s going on outside.”
“…Embarrassingly, yes.”
Who would have thought I’d be back here again?
“It’s okay, we will fill you in,”
Shaelock reassured me.
“That’s right, even just visiting the Magic Tower, we can tell you a lot,”
Pheon added.
“…The Cairoze family is always open as well,”
Esban awkwardly chimed in.
The way they each spoke up after one another reminded me of baby birds following their mother.
‘What is this?’
It felt strange.
Just then, the door swung open.
“Karina will learn everything she wants while staying at Apharantes, so what’s the point?”
Had they heard everything from outside the room?
Hedonia, running his hand through his hair, gave Esban and Pheon a chilling smile.
“You’re here already…”
Shaelock, who had been receiving guiding next to me, shuddered as she muttered under her breath.
…She looked as if she were facing a sworn enemy.
Even if they weren’t destined to be together, I had expected at least some fellowship between them.
“Princess, Esban Cairoze. It would be best if you stood up,”
Hedonia said politely. Shaelock glared at him and grumbled.
“I’m in the middle of guiding.”
“I also need guiding. That’s why we’re meeting today.”
Esban also gave a valid reason to refuse his suggestion. Neither of them showed any signs of moving.
Hedonia sighed and proposed,
“You can wait at the front like Pheon. I need to sit next to Karina.”
Hedonia wasn’t one to back down easily.
“There’s a seat next to me, Lord Hedonia,”
Pheon added with a smile, pointing to the seat next to him.
“No, it has to be next to Karina,”
Hedonia replied firmly, immediately rejecting the offer.
Shaelock’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
She stopped receiving guiding and crossed her arms, questioning him.
“Because, obviously…”
Hedonia looked at me, as if signaling what he wanted to say.
I nodded.
“Because I’m Karina’s lover.”
A bright smile, the one I loved, spread across Hedonia’s face.
