Chapter 72
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“Welcome back. I knew you’d end up coming to me in the end, Commander.”
Adrien stared blankly at the handsome man who looked at her with shining eyes and a bright smile.
“Aren’t you going to ask why?”
“Sorry?”
“Aren’t you curious? I kept my distance for so long, and suddenly decided to make you my exclusive Guide—at the strangest possible timing, no less. Don’t you wonder why I changed my mind?”
“Is that the Commander speaking, or my friend Adrien?”
“Your friend, Adrien.”
“…It doesn’t matter.”
Linton grinned.
“You know, Adrien, I think the outcome is what matters most. The process—well, that’s just a fleeting moment, something that’ll be forgotten someday.”
He took Adrien’s hand from the desk and, like a true gentleman at a society party, pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles.
“But the fact that we decided to be each other’s exclusive partners and stand by each other—that won’t change.”
“….”
“I don’t care what you thought about in the past, or who you were with before. None of that bothers me. Don’t you think I make a pretty cool and understanding exclusive Guide?”
“I suppose you do.”
“Then it’s your turn now.”
Linton slid the application form, now bearing his signature, back across the desk to Adrien.
“Write your name above mine, Adrien.”
Adrien gazed at the form for a long moment. Not so long ago, a very different name had nearly been written in that same space.
But there was no going back now.
With Jacqueline’s involvement, it was clear Samuel would try to stay by Adrien’s side no matter what she wanted. It was the last thing Adrien wished for.
Realizing this, she was struck by the horror of walking the very same path as her mother’s, the one she had always tried to avoid. If this was truly her fate, what about the Guides who became entangled with her?
‘There’s no way this story ends happily.’
She didn’t want to gamble Samuel’s life on the slim chance that she could live differently from her mother. If someone had to bear the burden of unhappiness, it would be her alone.
Adrien’s pen moved, signing her name above Linton Vionne’s.
Linton watched with a satisfied smile. Seeing the names Brillante and Vionne together was always a pleasing sight.
“I’ll take care of submitting it, if that’s all right?”
“Go ahead.”
“When should I start guiding you? I’m available today, if you want.”
“…”
“Or shall we go… now? To your room?”
As Linton glanced toward the attached bedroom, Adrien’s face fell. It was as if the room, with all its buried memories, was haunted by ghosts of regret.
“Not today. You can go home and rest.”
“Then at least let me know when you want to schedule. I’ll prepare myself.”
“I’ll let you know later. I’m just tired right now.”
“…Understood. Rest well, then.”
For an Esper to turn away a Guide with ‘I’m tired’ was unheard of. Linton did his best to hide his disappointment as he left the office.
Adrien sat alone for a long time. Her stomach churned from the incompatible guiding, and her head throbbed.
It felt as though she’d woken from a blissful dream—only to find herself dropped back into a harsh, inescapable reality.
* * *
Linton Vionne had become Adrien Brillante’s exclusive Guide.
The news sent shockwaves through the Security Guard. Though rumors had long swirled, no one had really expected the two of them to end up together. Now suddenly, it was official.
Not just within the army, news that the legendary ‘Light of Justice’ finally had an exclusive Guide even made the headlines.
Everyone buzzed: Linton’s devotion had finally paid off, Adrien’s health would stabilize, and now, everyone in the Empire knew about the two of them.
But some were confused. Not only the Security Guard members but also nobles who’d seen Adrien at the recent masquerade ball.
“If you were going to choose Captain Linton anyway, why did you even consider my proposal? The whole society is abuzz! People keep grabbing my sleeve to ask, and it’s driving me mad!”
“Then maybe stay away from social events for a while.”
“If you’re going to give advice like that, please direct it to my mother, Mrs. Macgis.”
Alex’s bow was polite, but his tone and face showed his irritation.
Adrien, with a faint mocking smile, displayed her guiding necklace—something she hadn’t worn in ages.
“Take a look at the color, Doctor.”
“Still orange. The tips are nearly scarlet. No surprises there. You need to reduce your medication and get guided by a real person from now on.”
“There aren’t any new meds? I’ve poured so much funding into research—why is there never any progress with guiding supplements?”
“Because, really, it’s obvious. No medicine could ever replace a real person’s touch.”
“I can’t stand this.”
Adrien pulled off the guiding necklace and covered her eyes with her hand.
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