The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 187
I glanced at Hedonia and cleared my throat awkwardly.
‘…I should have just kept quiet.’
I felt a pang of guilt.
At home, I never thought much about it, but being next to Hedonia made me feel like I should live more diligently.
I knew he worked after putting me to sleep.
And that he returned by the time I woke up.
“Or did someone hint at it?”
Hedonia narrowed his eyes as he asked.
“No, they were very kind.”
Although I only met them during meals…
The people in this estate were astonishingly friendly.
Everyone clearly recognized me as Hedonia’s lover and seemed to welcome it.
They always smiled warmly at me and nodded at whatever I did.
Their sincerity was evident; it didn’t seem like an act.
[Thank you for being with Lord Hedonia.]
They often whispered this and also frequently wished for us to be together forever.
No one seemed to care about my background or past.
‘…Maybe he replaced everyone completely.’
No matter how I looked at it, it was surprising that they so easily accepted a commoner like me being with Hedonia, the only Duke. In fact, they seemed to wholeheartedly welcome our long relationship with open arms.
‘Are they all open-minded people?’
It’s fortunate that there are many who have a modern mindset.
Although it was likely that Hedonia had used his abilities to thoroughly convince them.
‘But I can’t continue living like this forever.’
After all, the way I was spending my days now wasn’t normal.
‘I need to get some work done.’
I loved being with Hedonia, but I also wanted to look into my guiding activities and visit my home.
That place was my precious living space, and I couldn’t keep relying on others to take care of it.
First, I needed to finish the audience with the Emperor today.
‘I must completely refuse him.’
After hearing the warnings from Shaelock and the other espers, I wanted nothing to do with the Emperor.
After making up my mind, I got up.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I yawned as I draped the robe hanging on the nearby table over myself.
I shouldn’t get used to waking up naked…
“Already awake?”
Hedonia hugged me from behind. He wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin gently on my shoulder, his breath hot and humid against my skin.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because I don’t want to let you go today.”
The moment I saw his languid expression, alarm bells rang in my head.
“Maybe I shouldn’t let you go.”
Hedonia gazed at me for a moment before standing up. His golden eyes glimmered through his tousled hair.
When Hedonia spoke like that, it was usually sincere, and I knew all too well that he rarely failed to get what he wanted.
“Karina…”
The growl in his voice made me shiver like a startled bird. Suddenly realizing what might happen, I hastily got up and moved towards the door.
“Why are you getting up?”
Hedonia looked deeply disappointed as he rose.
“Uh, uh… Don’t come any closer.”
I backed away cautiously, knowing too well that if he got any closer, my plans to leave would be ruined.
“I need to get ready quickly!”
Before Hedonia could do anything to distract me, I hurriedly left the room.
“This is my chance.”
The timing was perfect.
Opportunities to go out without Hedonia were rare. I also planned to buy him a gift while I was out.
It had been a long time since I had gone out.
‘It’s also a chance to see what the public would look like.’
To resume my activities, I needed to understand the world outside.
After getting ready, I quickly left the estate, worried that Hedonia might try to stop me.
Then I saw a hand waving from a window… or maybe it’s just my imagination.
* * *
From the moment it was uncertain whether Karina would return, Hedonia had already declared that he would remain single for life.
If it wasn’t Karina, he had no intention of bringing another woman into his life.
The longing that arose while waiting for her was instead channeled into creating and decorating a room under the assumption that Karina would be there.
That was enough for him.
Hedonia’s work was impeccable, but it also exhausted those around him. People admired his efficient management and generous salary, yet they also wondered how things would change if he softened a bit.
“…But he’s different these days!”
“Did you know he let my mistake in the documents slide yesterday?”
During dinner, the topic among the mansion’s staff was, as always, Hedonia and Karina.
This was the first time Hedonia had brought a woman into the estate. The staff understood that Karina was the first and would likely be the last woman in Hedonia’s life.
