Chapter 121
As the three of them entered, there was a strangely heightened sense of commotion. However, that commotion was not directed at the three of them.
Almost as soon as Zion wondered what was happening, the cause of the excitement in the banquet hall revealed itself.
“Lea.”
True to the hall’s name, countless crystal chandeliers shone brilliantly from above. Standing in the very center of the hall, as if drawing in all that light to himself, was Calix, dressed impeccably.
As soon as he spotted Lea, he handed his champagne glass to a servant and strode forward with long strides. Even though he stood nearly 190 centimeters tall, his long waist and limbs kept him from looking bulky.
Almost as if he had coordinated his outfit with her, he wore a cream-colored suit with a deep red cravat, matching the dress Lea wore.
“Your Highness? Why are you here…”
“Didn’t you hear from Ilion?”
Calix, who reached them in no time at all, very naturally moved Lea’s hand from where it rested on Zion’s arm to his own. Then, slipping right between Derek and Zion, he smoothly drew Lea to his side as he continued,
“I intend to start attending events together from now on. Wouldn’t it be too hard for you to go alone, Sister?”
He once again used the term ‘Sister’, teasing her. As Lea looked at him, she realized that there were far too many ears and eyes here.
“…Your Highness. If you keep using that title, people might misunderstand.”
Lea muttered in a voice barely above a whisper. Everyone knew that the two of them were not related by blood.
But people sometimes turned even the most absurd fantasies into reality. Lea, more than anyone, knew this all too well.
“What does it matter?”
Calix didn’t care at all. No matter what rumors spread, the fact that he was the Imperial Crown Prince and an Esper wouldn’t change, nor would the fact that Lea was a Guide.
Even the Emperor had made Bianca, whose origins were unknown, the Empress. Since there was already a precedent, Calix was unconcerned.
“But why did you come here, Your Highness?”
He was just as much a homebody in the palace as she was. What had brought him all the way to the Grayson Duchy?
“I told you, didn’t I? I said I’ll be accompanying you for the time being.”
He was quite displeased that Lea wanted to guide other Espers as well, but, faced with her resolute attitude, he couldn’t stop her.
Honestly, he wasn’t unaware of the current situation for Espers in the Cantabria Empire.
But, just as he had said, he planned to make her do her guiding with just a touch of a finger. Just as she used to visit him every day in her fox form and he became accustomed to her, now he planned to visit her every day and make her accustomed to him.
Judging by his past experiences, it seemed Lea had a particular weakness for certain sides of him. He planned to make good use of that.
“There’s no need to look at me like that, Sister. The important thing is that this little brother came here out of worry for you.”
He smiled slyly, eyes curved in a charming way, and the atmosphere around them grew even more lively. People also whispered among themselves, noticing that Calix had cut his hair.
To the young nobles, Calix—who had lived in the Crown Prince’s palace without interacting much with the aristocracy—seemed unexpectedly free-spirited, and their attention quickly turned to him.
Unable to do otherwise, Zion helped Lea and Calix mingle with the nobles and guided their conversations. As time passed, the noisy atmosphere settled, and the banquet became a pleasant and fruitful one.
With the Grayson Duchy’s banquet a great success, invitations began pouring in for Calix and Lea.
Just as Zion had hoped, Lea made her debut as a new Guide in high society with remarkable success. Of course, Calix’s influence could not be ignored.
* * *
Thus, as she began interacting with many nobles, Lea steadily carried out her plan to guide all the Espers in the capital.
She even created a list, recording each person’s condition before and after receiving guiding.
There were quite a few nobles in the capital, and the number of Espers among them was not insignificant. But Lea did not stop there.
Now that she was in her stride, she pushed herself to the limit, even seeking out commoner Espers and guiding them personally.
That wasn’t all. Through the Retrosum Merchant Guild, which she had essentially founded, she provided food and fabric to the slums.
And every time, Calix was always at her side. Even when her path took her to the poorest districts, he was with her.
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