The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 191
Shaelock met with Hedonia and the espers to organize what to say.
‘I should trust the intelligence of Pheon and Hedonia.’
Adron did not reveal his true intentions even to Shaelock.
He had always been a tricky father.
Though they shared blood, the term ‘father’ didn’t seem fitting.
“If there’s nothing more to say, I’ll be on my way.”
With Karina safe, she had no desire to face Adron any longer. Hedonia was about to arrive soon.
“Your Majesty.”
At that moment, Hedonia’s voice was heard. Simultaneously, Adron’s face crumpled miserably.
“What brings the Duke here? I haven’t even heard any messages.”
Hedonia was the only one who could elicit emotions from Adron.
After removing Robert Apharantes, who had been in sync with Adron, Hedonia took an almost antagonistic stance toward the royal family, acting independently.
He began to bring guides into a society that had been led primarily by espers and nobles.
“You planted someone in my estate.”
Hedonia threw a blood-soaked servant before Adron. His calm voice and noble face starkly contrasted with the brutal torture evident.
“Ah.”
Adron was not surprised at being caught. Instead, he propped his chin on his hand with a regretful expression.
“You should have killed him. That would have been more merciful to him.”
“……”
“You can’t expect to see anything good coming from me…”
“For someone desperate enough to send a letter, you certainly talk a lot.”
When Hedonia uttered these words, Adron’s speech was abruptly cut off.
“You found out later than I thought. I don’t know if it was deliberate or if the Duke’s blade is rusty.”
Adron muttered in a lowered voice afterward. His fierce eyes stared fixedly at Hedonia.
“Do not touch my people. I won’t stand idly by.”
“If you won’t stand idly by? Are you planning to attack the royal family?”
There was a contract between the royal family and the espers.
It was a life oath, similar to the one Karina and Robert made, but much stronger. The magic circle forming the contract surrounded the empire’s borders.
The moment one became an esper, the contract was automatically established, and it was an unavoidable step.
As long as each other’s rights were guaranteed, interference in each other’s affairs was prohibited.
If the royal family was attacked, the offender would lose their life.
This law was created to maintain the royal power, which could be rendered helpless against espers.
The oath was enacted the moment one became an esper and applied to Hedonia, Shaelock, Pheon, and Esban alike.
Thus, the espers had to grudgingly follow the royal family.
Unless the other party changed their mind, the law remained unchanged.
This was the reason the royal family could firmly exist in a world of chaos dominated by espers, guides, dungeons, and monsters.
Adron did not fear the espers because of this.
Despite Adron’s bold words, Hedonia did not flinch.
“Yes.”
The golden eyes flashed as he spoke calmly.
“Even more so to Your Majesty.”
Hedonia’s long fingers pointed at Adron before slowly moving towards his own chest.
“You must know that I’m not someone who values his life.”
“……”
“The reason I’ve lived quietly is not because of the oath.”
Quietly? Living quietly twice would get someone killed.
Shaelock grumbled inwardly while listening from the side.
It wasn’t something that the person who overturned the Apharantes house and changed the welfare and laws for guides and managed the espers should say.
“Your Majesty cannot stop me.”
Adron bit his lip at Hedonia’s confident assertion.
“We’ll see about that this time.”
Adron replied with a smile.
“The espers must be getting itchy as well.”
“I have warned you.”
Hedonia said, completely ignoring Adron.
“Do not call me like this again.”
Afterwards, Hedonia left the audience room with Shaelock.
Adron narrowed his eyes as he watched them leave.
“Ugh…”
The groaning sound reminded him of the spy he had sent.
“Take him away.”
Adron waved his hand with a look of contempt. He regarded the servant as an object rather than a person.
The blood-soaked servant was dragged away, destined to meet a miserable end in the underground prison.
“……It seems it’s time for me to come out now.”
Then Cayden Cairoze, who had been hiding behind the throne in the audience room, stepped forward.
“You are right. There is no need to specifically use the guides. Such arrogant espers need to be disciplined.”
“Indeed.”
“It would be best to make a big move during this festival.”
