When the Guide Stopped Playing a Villainess, the Obsession Began - Chapter 17
Ah, something different from the past.
This time, it was Lea—not Calix—who had been scalded and injured.
Though she usually wore only a robe in her own quarters, she had wrapped a bandage around her shoulder to come to the Empress’s palace.
Hearing the truth spoken from the Emperor’s mouth, something no one else had pointed out, left her feeling strange.
As she had in her previous life, Lea was reminded that the Emperor was surprisingly quick-witted.
“Just who dared to harm our lovely Lea!”
His booming voice echoed with force, like wind pressing down hard from above.
At the power embedded in his voice, Lea’s face went pale. Bianca was no different.
Though Espers were generally endlessly gentle toward Guides, it didn’t mean their powers were ineffective against them.
If they wished, they could absolutely attack a Guide.
In the distant past, Espers had killed enemy Guides without mercy.
“It’s nothing, Your Majesty. I was hurt by my own mistake.”
Lea rushed to make an excuse. She knew how tenacious the Emperor could be.
“How could you possibly burn your own shoulder by mistake!”
The Emperor clearly already knew the story but chose to bring it up now—there must be a reason behind it.
“I tripped and accidentally hit the teapot. Please forgive me.”
Kneeling, Lea looked up at the Emperor with a pleading expression.
“What is there for you to ask forgiveness for?”
The Emperor extended his hand. Lea hesitated, as if frightened, then took it.
And at that moment, she was struck by a strong temptation.
‘Should I try guiding him now?’
The Emperor might waver, just like Zion did.
But as she hesitated, the Emperor withdrew his hand and gave an order to his chief steward.
“Send the imperial seamstress to Lea, Andrio.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Only then did Lea realize his true intention.
He didn’t want Bianca’s birthday banquet ruined by this incident.
How pure and devoted his love was… at least when it came to his Guide.
Lea had never received love from an Esper, so she didn’t know how persistent and stifling it could be.
The Emperor, as if bestowing a great favor, added,
“It doesn’t seem the injury will heal in time for the Empress’s birthday banquet, so have something seamstressed to conceal it well. As members of the imperial family, one must always display dignity to those beneath them.”
“Your Majesty, I was going to handle everything. That’s why I called her… It seems this mother has nothing left to do now.”
Bianca, who had been assessing the situation with a sidelong glance, gave a heavy laugh and slipped her arm into the Emperor’s with a subtle gesture.
The Emperor’s previously tense expression loosened slightly. He had likely just received guiding.
“If you say so, then I suppose that must be it.”
“Of course. When have I ever disappointed you, Your Majesty?”
Her softly curved lips looked devious.
Lea watched the two with a cold, hardened face.
“Andrio.”
The Emperor called the chief steward again.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“This banquet must be the most splendid and beautiful of the entire year. After all, is it not the day my Empress was born?”
“Yes, I will bear it in mind.”
With a very different expression from when he had entered, the Emperor left the Empress’s palace.
Perhaps he had come not only with a purpose, but also because he sensed the gathering of impure energy and felt unsettled.
He would sometimes barge into the Empress’s quarters like this and throw his weight around. Then, Bianca would murmur and guide him. It had become a habit.
Once the Emperor was gone, Bianca—her face full of irritation—grabbed an object and threw it at Lea’s feet.
CRASH!
Unfortunately, it happened to be a porcelain vase, and it shattered, dangerously sending shards near Lea’s face.
Yet no one stepped forward in concern.
Only Zion quietly observed as if walking on eggshells.
“You understand now why I called you, don’t you?”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Don’t make another ridiculous mistake like last time. You need to do your part and protect your place.”
“Yes…”
“How long must this mother take care of everything for you?”
“I promise to do well. Please don’t worry.”
Though she had cut out the truly important parts of her response, both Lea and everyone present understood what she meant.
A Lea with no noble title had only one role in the imperial palace.
To torment and tarnish Calix.
Because that’s what Bianca wanted.
And because, going forward, the Emperor—though Calix was his son—would continue to neglect him.
But in this life, things would not go as they wished.
Lea would protect Calix.
Even if he never learned of it for the rest of his life.
Even if it cost her her own.
