Chapter 69
“Among their entourage, there is said to be an Imperial Princess who is an S-Class Guide, but His Majesty and I have no intention of arranging a political marriage with the Nabel Empire. Even if a marriage were to be arranged, it wouldn’t be with the Crown Prince.”
‘A political marriage… a political marriage? Kasselard with an S-Class Guide?’
It was unexpectedly welcome news. It would be a lie to say that she didn’t feel any regret about Kasselard’s existence, but if there were another Guide to guide him, it would become much easier for Ephinia to separate from him.
She would also be able to live as a noble in this country without worry.
“So even if you hear groundless speculation, do not pay it any mind… and I would like you to hasten the guiding. We must make full preparations before welcoming them.”
The Empress was speaking as if Ephinia’s position as Kasselard’s Guide was firm for now, but would that really remain the case? If the S-Class Guide from the Nabel Empire also had a high match rate with the Crown Prince, would his heart not lean that way?
‘And if she is an Imperial Princess as well, there would be no issue with her lineage.’
Even if relations between the two nations were poor, the other party was royalty. A commoner and an Imperial Princess. Was there any point in comparison?
“I understand what you mean. I will meet with His Highness and discuss this matter.”
“Good. I am counting on you, Baroness. I can’t tell you how fortunate it is that you are here.”
Yekaterina’s added words were sincere, but they didn’t move Ephinia at all. She was thinking about what a great opportunity this would be for her.
The Empress was aware that Ephinia was thinking of something else, but she wasn’t particularly worried. Whether sooner or later, the girl would become part of the imperial family in the end. That was what she intended to ensure.
* * *
‘I don’t think I need to worry anymore!’
There must be her own reasons why Her Majesty disliked the Imperial Princess of the Nabel Empire. But the existence of an S-Class Guide couldn’t be ignored… and if one had to choose between an A-Class Guide who was a commoner and an S-Class Guide who was an Imperial Princess, the latter would be the obvious choice.
That would be true for anyone.
‘I’ve been so careful all this time, but I didn’t need to be!’
Kasselard didn’t have such an admirable character, and the moment he heard this news, it was obvious his heart would lean toward the Imperial Princess. The only thing Ephinia needed to worry about now was parting from Kasselard on good terms.
‘Once the Imperial Princess becomes engaged to His Highness the Crown Prince, she might see me as a thorn in his side. So when they get engaged, I should quietly leave the capital and never come back.’
Her match rate with him was extremely high, so even afterward, the Imperial Princess of the Nabel Empire might find her displeasing. She couldn’t risk returning to the capital and inviting trouble.
For Ephinia, there was nothing tying her to life in the capital anyway, so it seemed like a good plan. From the beginning, once she was free from Kasselard, she had intended to move to the countryside and live there.
‘Then what I need to do is…’
To lower Kasselard’s numbers completely before the envoys from the Nabel Empire arrived. She had been distracted and playing around instead of focusing on guiding for the past few days, but it seemed possible.
It felt like she could proceed with full penetrative guiding.
To be honest, while guiding him, she had grown curious about what it would feel like. Even with just kisses and other physical contact, the sensations were overwhelming. Until now, she had avoided penetrative guiding because she felt like if she did it, she would be dragged straight to the wedding hall, not because she didn’t want to do it with Kasselard.
Lately, he had also become… less uncomfortable to be around.
‘Alright. Let’s do penetrative guiding.’
She knew that if her first man was someone too extraordinary, whoever she dated later might seem lacking by comparison, but if she let this chance pass, she felt she would regret it for a long time.
Shouldn’t she at least try it once?
“……”
Now that she had made up her mind, she felt a little like trash.
But this was a world with contraceptive magic tools. And besides, it was necessary for guiding, so it should be fine. It would be fine.
‘It will be… right?’
Yeah, probably.
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