When the Guide Stopped Playing a Villainess, the Obsession Began - Chapter 20
III. Lady Haisley
Ilion, Zion’s younger brother, had supported Calix in the past as well and was a physical-type Esper.
As Lea approached, the two men naturally turned their gazes toward her. For a brief moment, displeasure flickered in Calix’s eyes.
Noticing this, Lea felt her heart plummet. Then she quickly mocked herself.
It wasn’t even a surprising reaction, so why was she startled on her own?
She forced her expression into composure and simply bowed her head deeply before raising it again.
Though she caught Ilion glaring at her openly from beside Calix, she deliberately looked away, pretending not to notice.
On the inside, though, she almost laughed at how unchanging Ilion was.
Ilion had always been an unshakably loyal man.
Like a hunting dog that bites those who threaten his master, he served with absolute devotion.
Because of that, even in the past, Ilion had been one of Calix’s most trusted people.
A heavy silence settled between the three of them until the doorman approached and informed Calix it was time to enter.
“Let’s go then.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As Calix passed in front of Lea, he glanced at her with suspicion.
Ever since that day, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she had changed.
She had constantly summoned him in annoyance, but ever since that incident, she hadn’t called him even once.
She had even just ignored him now.
It was something he had wished for all along, and yet—strangely—it left him feeling unsettled.
Whether she drew near or pushed him away, it was always entirely on her terms.
With a brief moment to spare before his entrance, Calix cast a seemingly indifferent glance at Lea, from head to toe.
Unlike the vulgar dresses she usually wore, today she was dressed in a gown that covered her neck. Since she’d been scalded by hot tea, it was an understandable change, but for some reason… it irritated him.
What was it?
What had changed her?
Even now, as she showed no reaction to his blatant stare, Calix studied her relentlessly before letting out a quiet scoff.
Whatever that woman turned into, what did it have to do with him?
Finishing his thought, Calix signaled to the doorman and entered the banquet hall.
Ilion, after seeing him in, stepped back and walked toward the entrance designated for nobles.
Seeing him depart without so much as a word to Lea, Rose muttered with clear displeasure.
“To not even greet Lady Haisley… how rude.”
In the past, Lea might have been touched that Rose understood her feelings. But now, she didn’t care at all.
All that filled her mind was Calix, who had already disappeared inside the banquet hall.
His jet-black ceremonial uniform was in perfect harmony with his deep blond hair and rose-colored eyes.
As she recalled how dazzling he looked, Lea gave her dress one final check before entering. She couldn’t afford to give the nobles anything to criticize.
“Lady Haisley, you may enter.”
At the doorman’s signal, Lea slipped through the opening doors.
The loud banquet, filled with layers of perfume and noise, was all too familiar.
Lea sighed inwardly as she looked at the packed crowd of nobles. The mere thought of having to greet them all again already exhausted her.
‘Once Calix is safely crowned Emperor, I’ll leave the palace. Maybe I’ll live out the rest of my life alone in some distant mountain.’
Tired of being surrounded by humans, Lea took her seat at the head table with a look of weary indifference.
As soon as she sat down, the Emperor spoke.
“On such a meaningful day, it’s good to see everyone gathered.”
Since it was the Empress’s birthday banquet, the nobles had arrived fully prepared and bowed their heads in response to the Emperor’s words.
“I ask that you raise your glasses in gratitude to the Empress, who returned light to the Cantabrian Empire!”
As the only known Guide in the empire, the nobles naturally accepted the Emperor’s words.
Among them, nobles with Esper children nodded fervently or raised their voices in praise of the Empress.
Bianca, dressed in a red gown, had her radiant golden hair elegantly styled up.
Around her neck hung a necklace that only the Empress could wear—a gold sapphire pendant engraved with the moon and stars, and her most treasured ornament.
“To have so many gathered to celebrate my birthday—I’m overwhelmed, Your Majesty,” she said with a coy expression.
Lifting her glass toward the assembled nobles, she added,
“In gratitude to the great Sol, His Majesty the Emperor of Cantabria, and in prayer for the empire’s prosperity, I raise this glass!”
“Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress!”
“Long may you reign!”
“May the empire’s glory endure forever!”
With their various responses, the nobles sipped their wine.
Lea, too, gave the crowd a detached glance and merely wet her lips with a sip of red wine.
What followed was a long procession of gift presentations.
Only after receiving gifts from all the nobles did the Emperor and Empress begin the first dance, signaling the true start of the banquet.
MEOWLIN
The plot is really interesting. 👀