The One and Only Guide - Chapter 9
After the bath-time commotion about people wanting to accompany her during her bath, Jian, who had already experienced a fair share of embarrassment, was now being led to a dining area with heightened sensitivity.
Despite voicing her displeasure and objections multiple times, she received no satisfactory answers. The only response she heard was this: “It’s the Duke’s orders.”
There was not a single meaningful response beyond that. She was basically told that further resistance would lead to the use of force, an absurd ultimatum that left her utterly bewildered.
What they called “accompanying” Jian to the dining hall appeared to be more like surveillance. She was surrounded on all sides, front and back, and it was clear she was being closely monitored.
Under such strict scrutiny, Jian arrived at the dining area, where a man who identified himself as the northern Duke awaited her.
“Do have a seat.”
“…”
“…Aren’t you hungry?”
This seemingly nonchalant question ignited Jian’s temper.
“Hungry or whatever. Shouldn’t you first explain this situation?”
Her question, delivered with an absence of deference, obliterated any remnants of politeness. Even the faint traces of courtesy were completely eradicated.
In the face of her question, which was devoid of any kindness, Axion felt a sense of shrinking for the first time. He wanted to offer some explanation, but he couldn’t come up with a plausible one.
An acute silence hung in the air, and it seemed to expand, filling the void.
The knights around Jian, who were waiting on standby, looked at each other in disbelief. To dare to disrespect the Duke of the North! Other than the Emperor of the Thereon Empire, who would dare do such a thing?
They didn’t know who this woman was, but unless her status was equivalent to that of an imperial princess, she would never leave this place alive.
The knights were worried that Axion might take immediate action against Jian, and the servants were considering how to clean up any spilled blood from the carpet. They knew that Axion, although not a ruthless ruler without reason, was cold and sensitive, and simultaneously someone who could snap unpredictably.
But to their utter surprise, it was Axion who yielded first.
“…If you have questions, I will answer them. Please, have a seat first.”
‘Please’?! The knights were aghast, still standing silently.
But his plea didn’t elicit any cooperation from Jian. Why should I comply with your request? She wanted to snap at him and tell him to stop talking nonsense.
Yet, she had many questions about whether this was indeed a Gate, how people were living within the Gate like a village, and more. Most of all, the knights surrounding her made Jian uneasy.
Reluctantly, Jian sat down, casting a disapproving look. The servants and maids quickly set the table and served the food.
Their efforts filled the massive dining table with a sumptuous feast. Wine poured into glistening silver goblets, and the scent of spices wafted through the air, mingling between courses. It felt as though one would hardly receive such lavish treatment even at a grand party.
However, Jian wasn’t even remotely tempted to taste the food in front of her. She felt nothing, not even a shred of hunger. Hunger, what a ridiculous notion. She regretted blindly trusting the unfamiliar Esper she had just met. Despite the well-prepared food before her, she couldn’t bring herself to eat anything.
Unaware of this fact, Axion waited for Jian to pick up her utensils. After all, he believed that once she tasted something, she would start to relax. Good food can make people more forgiving, right? In reality, the food prepared in front of the two was a feast prepared at Axion’s request after he consulted the chef.
“Please help yourself.”
He urged her, but Jian’s two hands remained quietly on her lap, not even attempting to pick up the utensils, the most basic of actions.
Her stance made Axion incredibly anxious. Jian was unaware that everything on the table was prepared to please her. But with her refusing to even touch the utensils, the meal would not ensue.
The meticulously prepared food was growing cold, and Jian’s expression was even colder. An anxious Axion began to answer the unasked questions.
“This is the Northern Odergen Duchy, as I mentioned. I am a duke of this country, and…”
Under Jian’s icy gaze, Axion hesitated, feeling like a child. He needed courage to continue speaking.
“…and I need you.”
Jian did not react.
At the time when Gates suddenly appeared and Awakened individuals began to emerge, it was common for Espers to kidnap Guides. Such incidents were much rarer after the establishment of the Awakened Society, but in otherworlds or Lost Lands, they were still reported.
In fact, she had suspected the kidnapping from the moment they forcefully bathed and changed her clothes. However, to consider this situation as a typical kidnapping scenario… Something was odd.
She had thought she had just been swept up by the Gate manifestation without any explanation, but why was it unfolding like this?
