When the Guide Stopped Playing a Villainess, the Obsession Began - Chapter 12
The only thing that could relieve an Esper’s pain was guiding.
At the end of his thoughts, ultimately the only person he could think of was the Empress.
Calix openly revealed a deeply unpleasant expression. Lea watched him as she nibbled on the apple.
She couldn’t help but stare, as someone who rarely showed his feelings was now comfortably displaying various expressions.
Before her death, the only expressions she’d seen from him were mocking or glaring looks.
That’s why she couldn’t take her eyes off him even more. Seeing someone she longed for treating her without suspicion, for the first time she wished she wouldn’t wake from this dream.
Couldn’t she just keep watching a little longer before waking up?
After all, when she woke from this dream, nothing but pitch-black darkness awaited her…
Her soaring mood suddenly sank heavily. Her chewing noticeably slowed as melancholy gradually filled her.
“I guess it doesn’t really suit your taste?”
Even though he was preoccupied, Calix keenly noticed and murmured. At his words, Lea eagerly resumed moving her mouth.
She felt she might burst into tears from the joy of feeling his gaze following her every movement.
She was happy.
Even if this was a side she would never show him as a human, she still liked it.
“Kyaang—”
Lea softly cried out, putting all her feelings into it. Calix, who had been watching comfortably, chuckled quietly and asked,
“You want something other than apples, huh?”
‘No, it’s just… I was just thinking that I should have told you I liked you at least once.’
Though Lea wanted to shake her head, she pretended not to understand and placed another piece of apple into her mouth.
Calix stared intently at the fox and suddenly spoke up.
“By the way, where did you come from? You’re not from the imperial hunting grounds, are you?”
“Kkyung!”
“It almost sounds like you’re responding.”
“Kkuung?”
Lea unconsciously replied, then flustered by his subsequent words, tilted her head innocently.
“I can’t tell if you actually understand me or not…”
Calix couldn’t stop smiling at the fox’s adorable actions. He didn’t know what he was doing in the middle of the night, but he liked this fox.
It felt as if his current improved condition was all thanks to this fox.
Though its eyes resembled those of the person he disliked most, it was just an animal anyway.
“For a fox, you have quite unique eyes.”
Seeing Calix smile radiantly, fitting his age, Lea recalled their first encounter.
Even back then, he had smiled gently just like that, offering his hand to her.
If only she hadn’t ignored him and had taken that hand then…
‘Would our relationship have been different from what it became?’
She knew it was too late now, but still, she wondered.
‘Cal…’
Lea continued chewing quietly, unable to take her eyes off him.
By the time Lea finished eating an entire apple, Calix blinked slowly as pleasant drowsiness overtook him unexpectedly.
Now that the pain that had tormented him daily was gone, sleep naturally overwhelmed him. As his eyelids drooped heavily, the fox approached closely, looking up at him.
Calix lifted the fox into his arms and placed it on his lap. Stroking its fur and gently rubbing its belly like before, he asked,
“Your flat belly got all round. Hmm, you’re going back soon…”
His slowly spoken words faded off into the air without completion. Lea stared quietly up at him, then tapped his chest lightly with her front paw.
After confirming that he had fallen asleep, she couldn’t leave his side immediately, gazing up at him instead.
Perhaps due to his recently guided body finally relaxing, sleepiness had likely overtaken him. She had seen Espers react similarly before.
Lea knew she had to leave, yet she found it impossible to move, fascinated by the sight of him comfortably asleep in front of her, completely relaxed.
She remained by his side until dawn before finally leaving.
Quickly returning to her palace with swift movements, Lea hurriedly dressed in her nightclothes and climbed into bed.
Her body was exhausted, yet her mind was so alert she couldn’t fall asleep until Rose arrived.
Her heart kept pounding wildly.
Truly…
“This dream feels far too vivid…”
She murmured softly in a dreamy voice, her lips gently curving upwards. Now it no longer mattered whether this situation was a dream or not.
If he was happy, she was happy too.
