The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 89
Shaelock asked,
“Pardon?”
“…He wishes to see all four of you. Is that alright?”
Shaelock replied as if she had been waiting for this.
“Fine by me.”
She turned her head towards me.
“What about you?”
“I will go too.”
Then the focus shifted to Hedonia and the silver-haired man.
“Let’s go see him.”
“Likewise.”
After their brief responses, the dealer spoke again.
“Please follow me this way.”
They then pointed down a hallway and began to lead us.
Before following them, I took one last look around and saw the silver-haired man making a gesture.
‘Who is he signaling to?’
I subtly followed his gaze and noticed someone standing stiffly with arms crossed, conversing among the chattering crowd.
Even here, the person exuded a distinct noble air, standing out like oil that couldn’t mix with water.
“Let’s go.”
Shaelock, who had stayed by my side, tugged at my hand, whining slightly.
“Ah, let’s go quickly.”
Well, it’s none of my business.
So I smiled as I took her hand.
* * *
We arrived at a large drawing room.
The drawing room was connected to other rooms.
The dealer asked if we preferred separate rooms, but Hedonia immediately refused.
“We don’t mind sharing the same room.”
“Yes, we will stay in the same room.”
Shaelock answered vaguely to Hedonia’s statement.
The first person to meet the Master was the silver-haired man.
In the drawing room, only Shaelock and I were sitting on the sofa, and Hedonia was leaning against the opposite wall.
After confirming that the door was closed, Hedonia strode over to us and growled.
“Bringing Karina here, what on earth were you thinking, Princess?”
The emphasis on the word “Princess” was intense.
He recognized Shaelock immediately.
I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing there wouldn’t be any unnecessary misunderstandings.
Shaelock wasn’t perturbed at all by Hedonia figuring out her true identity.
Instead, she leaned back comfortably on the sofa and asked with a bored expression.
“I’m more curious about what you are doing here, Hedonia.”
Her eyes gleamed sharply as she rested her chin on her hand.
They had recognized each other’s identities for a while.
They were just probing each other’s intentions for being here.
Hedonia retorted, not to be outdone.
“I asked first, Princess.”
He remained confident, even knowing this was an illegal gambling den.
“Please answer my question first.”
“A bold question. But receiving an answer comes first for us. Are you refusing a command from the Princess?”
An awkward silence followed.
Even with his face hidden by a mask, I could imagine his expression.
“The Duke of Apharantes suspected something unusual here and sent me to investigate. He wants Espers to be more controlled than they are now.”
Despite Shaelock being an Esper, Hedonia spoke freely about his intentions.
“Not surprising.”
Shaelock replied calmly. It made me wonder if anything could surprise her at this point.
“Are you starting your activities soon?”
“…There isn’t much time left.”
Hedonia glanced at me as he muttered.
He was referring to the imminent end of the Awakening.
Though they continued their conversation, I could still gather the information I needed.
‘The Duke of Apharantes is a supporter of the nobility.’
His son wasn’t an Esper, and as a Guide, it made sense for him to support the nobility.
To some, this might seem contradictory.
Wouldn’t it be better for a Guide to strengthen the power of Espers and keep them under control?
‘But I think differently.’
I could fully understand Duke Apharantes’s current plan.
Increasing the power of Espers means their overall influence grows as well.
This would add more variables for Robert to consider.
A powerful Esper could use guiding as leverage to threaten him, and other guides might rise up and seize power to oppose him.
Maintaining a precarious balance, as he does now, would become more difficult.
It was clear that Robert, who was sincere about controlling the situation, wanted to prevent this at all costs.
“I didn’t expect the Princess to be here, though.”
After finishing his explanation, Hedonia turned his attention to me.
“I see. Before you answer my question, there’s one last thing I’d like to ask.”
Her voice carried an unusual authority.
The soft aura Shaelock usually exuded had completely changed.
“Does Hedonia Apharantes share the same views as Robert Apharantes?”
By using Hedonia’s full name, she was questioning whether he aligned with Robert, even within the Apharantes family.