The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 80
Dragging my exhausted body back to the mansion, I was soon caught to supply blood to Hedonia.
It was something that had to be done anyway. With a sigh, I headed to Hedonia’s room.
When I opened the door, I saw Hedonia leaning against the wall right next to the door, staring at me.
Today, his long hair was tied back, giving off a different vibe than usual.
The lines of his neck and the prominent Adam’s apple clearly showed he was of a different gender from me.
“Busy day today,”
He said. Feeling a pang of guilt, I murmured.
“You’re probably busier, Lord Hedonia. My work is your work, so you’re definitely doing better than me.”
Thinking that way made me feel petty. Hedonia did all sorts of things with Shaelock, so why should I feel guilty for this?
“You guided, didn’t you?”
“I did. It’s something I have to do.”
It was an obvious statement.
I am a guide, after all.
Hedonia would know this better than anyone.
Hedonia sighed and approached me, pulling me into his embrace.
By now, we had grown close enough to hug without needing to talk about it.
It was a sign we were getting used to each other.
And I couldn’t bring myself to push him away.
His embrace, his scent, felt like they were comforting my tired self today.
I let out a deep sigh and awkwardly patted his back.
It seemed he had a tough day, just like me.
As he hugged me even tighter, almost suffocating me, Hedonia whispered.
“…I wish I could awaken soon.”
“Pardon?”
“Then I wouldn’t have to worry about how to protect you from Robert.”
“I’m handling that just fine.”
Of course, I obediently followed Robert’s orders.
I met Hedonia only in the evenings, and even then, it was rare because it only happened when Robert was away. So, there was no chance of being found out.
A soft whistling sound echoed near my ear. Even without looking, I could imagine Hedonia’s faint smile.
“Shall we kiss?”
“Sure.”
Who knows how many more days we can have this kind of intimacy.
We should do it while we can.
At my casual response, Hedonia pressed his forehead against mine and rolled his eyes.
“…Really. Isn’t your answer too easy?”
“Should I say I don’t want to when I actually do?”
“No.”
Hedonia shook his head firmly, as if afraid I might change my mind.
His cute expression with his lips tightly shut made me lean in and brush my lips against his first.
Smooch.
“You…”
When he called me in a bewildered tone, I shrugged my shoulders.
“Why?”
In times like this, it’s best to be shameless.
In response to my actions, Hedonia lightly nibbled on my ear.
The sensation of my ear being nibbled always felt unfamiliar. When I flinched, Hedonia smiled contentedly.
“Good.”
Then he kissed me. The kiss was long, as if trying to erase any trace of Pheon.
That, in turn, satisfied me.
* * *
When I stepped outside, the atmosphere was completely different from usual.
‘…Have I been found out?’
Instinctively, I felt it.
As I sighed and turned around, I saw Robert standing in the middle of the hallway, his eyes glaring coldly.
Hedonia’s door was already closed.
“Don’t you think you’re spending too much time with my daughter?”
He wouldn’t have expected me to get this close to Hedonia.
He might be worried that I know his secret, and he surely doesn’t want me to get closer to his son.
But!
All of this wouldn’t be a problem because Hedonia is a “daughter.”
“I thought getting to know Lady Hedonia better would help me be a more perfect stand-in.”
I decided to provoke Robert even more.
“Don’t worry, Duke. I’m heterosexual, so I won’t see Lady Hedonia in any impure way.”
My words hit the mark, and he started trembling with rage.
Seeing him like that was quite satisfying.
“Duke, are you feeling unwell? You’re trembling…”
I responded brazenly.
Robert glared at me as if he wanted to kill me.
Of course, it had no effect on me.
I was certain he couldn’t kill me.
‘Hedonia’s awakening pain hasn’t ended yet.’
Plus, I had insurance.
‘Esban is probably watching from somewhere.’
Since he promised to ensure my safety, he wouldn’t just stand by if I were in danger.
…Maybe I should stop provoking him now.
“I’m fulfilling my role as a stand-in diligently.”
I didn’t respond to his words directly, instead changing the subject.
“I’ll leave according to the contract. I will never forget that part.”
I brought up the aspect he considered most important.