The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 29
Frankly speaking, if a handsome man asks for a kiss and one doesn’t eagerly accept, wouldn’t that person be a fool?
That’s what I think.
‘Yes, I am that fool.’
Although I said that, it didn’t mean I could actually do it…
I clenched my eyes shut and lamented.
‘I can’t do this.’
No, it was the face of Hedonia thrust before my eyes that was too overwhelming.
The unreal golden eyes situated between longer lashes than mine, a nose sharp as if chiseled, and slightly parted lips made my face heat up in a completely different sense than before.
The absurdity started to creep in as I looked at Hedonia, who was just standing there, opposite of me.
‘Hedonia was the one who asked for the kiss, so why am I the one feeling shy?’
As always, without any change.
In the end, I clenched my eyes shut and pushed my lips onto Hedonia’s.
What followed was a lip crash, something you’d expect to read about in a novel, before I hastily retreated.
It was the strange sensation from the lips that startled me.
How could the lips of a person who seems as prickly as a thorn be so soft?
A moment later, when I regained my composure, I lifted my head that had been deeply bowed.
It was because I realized how Hedonia might perceive my actions.
‘He probably won’t like it.’
Sure enough, Hedonia was looking at me as if I were pathetic.
“What are you doing now?”
“I kissed you. Just as the word suggests, a lip… touch.”
As I insisted that I wasn’t wrong, Hedonia narrowed his eyes.
“…So, I don’t understand how you plan to learn guiding from this.”
“No, I mean, if I think about it, Master. I can’t imagine how I could learn guiding from this.”
“Do you think I told you to kiss me out of personal desire?”
Hedonia irritably rubbed his lips, showing me a man utterly devoid of any personal interest in me.
It was a moment when the hidden meaning behind my words became embarrassingly apparent.
It’s all my fault. Yes, I was wrong.
Perhaps feeling pity for me, Hedonia, with his arms crossed, continued.
“Have you ever heard that those who undergo awakening are between a guide and an esper?”
“No, I haven’t.”
In the novel, Hedonia’s awakening was merely part of the process to become a guide.
Since it wasn’t well described, his story felt unfamiliar to me.
I perked up my ears to his words.
Listening was all I could do, so I might as well do it well.
“Right now, I am neither a guide nor an esper, but I can feel the flow of their powers.”
“Does everyone who undergoes an awakening experience that?”
“Not everyone, but it’s a rare symptom that some have.”
If it’s a rare ability, it suits Hedonia well. After all, he’s the male protagonist.
As if reading my thoughts, Hedonia whispered the following words.
“…Only those who can later awaken to become a significant esper or guide.”
Indeed, the protagonist is different right from the start.
“My grandmother also showed these symptoms.”
The story even led to Ellina Apharantes, a tremendous guide.
It was as if Hedonia was laying his cards on the table for me.
‘How long have we known each other?’
I wasn’t sure whether to be grateful for his quick trust or not.
Perhaps Hedonia was just that soft-hearted.
Looking at him, I stated resolutely,
“I won’t tell the Duke.”
“That goes without saying.”
Regardless, Hedonia’s words were fascinating. Hearing details I hadn’t known made this place feel more like a space I was living in rather than the world of a book.
After finishing his words, Hedonia looked straight at me.
“So, try kissing. I’ll read the flow of your power and tell you how deep it should be.”
Even real couples wouldn’t say to kiss this openly!
Screaming internally, I was fervent in persuading Hedonia.
“I cannot be kissing all the time. Can’t we start with other types of physical contact first?”
“The most efficient way is kissing,”
Annoyed with the repetition, Hedonia spoke,
“What did you take from my explanation earlier? Do you even have a brain?”
“I have a brain, very much. And the reason I’m hesitating is because…!”
About to gloss over with a vague reason, I decided to be honest.
I realized quickly that whatever excuse I came up with wouldn’t work on Hedonia.
“It’s because I feel like I’m going to die of awkwardness. I’ve never kissed before.”
I sighed deeply while looking at him.
Hedonia blinked.
“…What?”
“Hedonia, you’re going to be my first kiss. I’ve never rubbed lips with anyone before, so this learning process feels incredibly awkward for me.”
I could feel my face heating up as I spoke, but I decided to maintain a brazen attitude.
“Please give me some time to learn the theory. It won’t take a few days. Until then, you could teach me by holding hands, right?”
I gently persuaded him.
Even if he could be temperamental, I knew well that he always considered me.
Just his willingness to teach was enough for gratitude.
At my words, Hedonia’s face froze before he slightly frowned.
“Seriously, how old are you…”
While he grumbled with his arms crossed, I asked him,
“Then, have you ever kissed, Young. Hedonia?”