Chapter 118
The retainers, even so, could not drive out the duke’s second son.
The same was true for Aaron. In fact, he hoped that this would be an opportunity for his two sons to reconcile. After all, their sibling feud had started simply because they each served a different master.
One could tell they were his sons that both were so fiercely loyal that it was impossible to stop them. But now, it was no longer a problem. There was no longer any reason for conflict between them.
“…The last person, please come over here.”
Lea, now seated at the head of the table, spoke without looking at Ilion. But Ilion, understanding perfectly well that it was his turn, came trotting over with a puppy-like eagerness, which didn’t match his large frame.
He had never been able to forget the guiding he’d received by chance before, and the thought that he would soon receive a comparable guiding made him almost giddy with anticipation.
As soon as Lea saw the large, thick hand thrust out in front of her, she was once again reminded of the past, and it was difficult for her.
Still, not giving Ilion a guiding would be unfair, contrary to her beliefs about fairness. Lea, closing her eyes tightly, pressed her fingertip into the center of his palm.
Ilion was briefly flustered by such a passive touch, so different from what the others had received, but even that tiny contact was enough to flood him with an energy even purer and more refreshing than what he’d felt before. His expression quickly melted into a dazed look.
Lea, for her part, couldn’t help but sigh when she sensed the tangled, impure energy built up in Ilion’s body. He was the worst off among everyone present.
Well, come to think of it, he had always been a loyal retainer to Calix and had probably never even turned his head toward the Empress’s Palace.
In the past, the reason he hated and tormented her was almost entirely Lea’s own fault. Realizing that, she now felt embarrassed by her own former reluctance toward him.
Lea abandoned her hesitant touch and instead placed both hands over his large hand. She carefully sent a much greater power than she’d used with the duke, working to gently, but firmly, untangle the long-standing, knotted, impure energy within Ilion.
She soothed it gently, but also forced her way through the stubborn knots, using all her concentration for this adjustment. She was sweating with the effort, and everyone except Ilion watched her intently.
And they were all amazed. Some praised her as the very image of a true Guide. Others whispered about how Ilion, thanks to the rumored improvement in relations between Calix and Lea, was now reaping the benefits.
In short, everyone was simply ‘jealous’. They subconsciously realized that those who’d built a good relationship with Lea early on were now receiving a different quality of guiding from the rest.
“Haa…”
Because she had used more energy than expected, Lea felt a deep exhaustion. Zion gently wrapped his arm around her drooping shoulders and, as if it was second nature, lifted her into his arms.
“Ah, Sir Zion…”
She called out weakly, and Zion replied with concern in his voice.
“You can lean on me. There’s still time before the banquet, so you should rest.”
“…Yes, then I’ll leave it to you.”
Hearing Zion’s words, Lea let go of the tension she’d been holding, and fully leaned into him. This was enough to set the hearts of the Espers aflame with emotion.
After Lea, Zion, and Rose left, the conference room was briefly filled with an oppressive silence. Then, all at once, a deep sigh swept the room.
“Did you see that?”
“Ha, that’s what a true Guide is. If you think about it, back when the Cantabria Empire still had Guides, people like Her Ladyship saved countless Espers.”
“Yes, that’s right. I only knew about it from records, too.”
“To me, this was a moment worthy of being recorded as a milestone in the history of interaction between Espers and Guides.”
“…I also want to become a dependable Esper for Lady Haisley.”
“You’re not the only one thinking that, you know?”
“Still, I want to try!”
Because the retainers had brought their children as well, it was noisier than usual. Watching them, Aaron nodded vigorously, pleased.
He already knew that just the presence of a Guide could have such a positive effect on Espers, but today he was reminded anew.
Everyone was overflowing with energy and making a commotion, but suddenly, an even louder voice filled the meeting room.
“Uwaaaaah!”
Ilion, who had been frozen like a statue, belatedly let out a shout of amazement and jumped up. But his leap was unusual. His heart was pounding wildly from the new strength that had been born inside him.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that this was the first time in his life that Ilion had received proper guiding. But for his abilities to awaken after just a single guiding…!
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