The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 67
“I refuse.”
I answered him immediately.
“Why? I have much to offer as well. You seem to like jewels, I can guarantee those too.”
“Jewels? I’ve already settled that matter with Lord Pheon.”
“Isn’t it better to have more?”
“No? I just need enough to live comfortably. I don’t plan on being greedy. Besides, I’m leaving anyway.”
Esban’s eyebrows twitched at the mention of me leaving again.
“Why leave when you can live your life as an S-grade Guide in the future?”
“That was part of the contract. Besides, with Lady Hedonia, it feels odd for me to stay. You said the same when we first met, quite unexpectedly.”
“…If you take on my guidance, I can protect you.”
“I plan to live quietly, almost as if I were retired. I don’t need protection.”
“…With the Espers.”
“I trust Lady Hedonia will take good care of them. After all, it was always meant to be for her.”
My place was always meant for Hedonia.
“It’s a position prepared for Lady Hedonia, and I intend to keep it that way.”
I made my stance clear.
Esban looked at me intently.
There was no sign of the anger from moments before.
It was as calm as the surface of a lake.
He tightened his grip on my hand.
“…When the duke won’t leave you alone, you might need my strength.”
Esban murmured emotionlessly.
“…Are you threatening me?”
It’s not like he’s throwing straight pitches like Shaelock, nor he is pushing conditions like Pheon.
“I’m simply stating the facts. It seems you don’t fully understand what kind of person the duke is.”
“And how much do you know about him, Lord Esban?”
“…More than you, I suppose.”
It was a subtly charged statement.
It was unlikely that Robert Apharantes hadn’t managed his image in front of Esban…
It seemed Esban already knew Robert’s true nature.
‘Could there be a backstory not explained in the novel?’
The thought crossed my mind.
“My offer always stands.”
Esban said in an even tone.
Hearing this, I became curious about how much guidance he intended to demand.
Esban wasn’t wrong.
In fact, it made me realize how naive I had been.
Where is the guarantee that Robert, who would do anything for Hedonia, wouldn’t sacrifice his own life?
I thought he valued his own life more…
But Esban’s words suggested otherwise.
‘Should I ask Shaelock for help?’
But I didn’t want to rely on her for everything.
Just because we are friends doesn’t mean I can demand everything from her, especially if we are still getting to know each other.
From Shaelock’s perspective, she might suspect that I’m trying to befriend her just to use her.
I wanted to avoid such a situation.
If we can establish a business-like relationship, taking Esban’s hand is not a bad idea. Given his nature, it’s unlikely he’d harbor other intentions towards me.
“How much guiding do you need?”
“All that you can provide.”
Esban declared confidently.
I was at a loss for words.
…I didn’t expect him to be so straightforward.
‘But I can’t just accept it blindly.’
“Then, there’s something I must ask…”
“What is it?”
“Do you have any boundaries?”
I needed to determine if his conditions were acceptable to me.
While I wasn’t sure how far I’d need to guide him, it was best to consider all possibilities.
“Huh.”
Perhaps caught off guard, Esban’s face turned red.
Coughing like someone choked, Esban looked at me and exclaimed,
“What kind of question is that?”
His surprised demeanor left me baffled.
I blinked and replied,
“Why? You know as well as I do that the final stage of guidance could involve sharing a bed.”
Though things get clunky when I meet with Hedonia, I’m a grown adult.
I’m not ignorant about the bedroom; in fact, I’m quite open-minded.
If there’s something to gain and enjoy, I could consider it.
I’m not in a relationship, after all.
‘Come to think of it, things always get clunky when I meet Hedonia.’
However, when it comes to physical intimacy with Hedonia, setting such standards wasn’t easy. It’s because he makes me lose my composure.
…He’s the only one who can truly shake me.
Why is that?
Lost in thought, I was abruptly snapped back to reality by Esban.
“We don’t need that!”
His hurried denial revealed a youthful innocence.
‘What, could it be…?’
Listening to Esban’s robotic response, a playful mood overtook me.
I spoke with the stern tone of a strict teacher.
“That’s not how you talk about sexual matters. You’re an adult, aren’t you? It’s not like I asked something inappropriate.”
Esban’s body stiffened rigidly. He seemed genuinely flustered by my words.
T/N: In narration and monologues, Hedonia’s pronouns are male if the speaker is Karina or someone aware of his gender. In dialogues, Hedonia’s pronouns are female since his gender hasn’t been revealed yet.
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