Chapter 41
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Lea was swiftly carried back to her palace in Zion’s arms. The speed of a physical-type Esper was entirely different from that of an ordinary knight.
“Lady Haisley, are you able to stay conscious?”
Currently, there was no one else in her palace. Rose had gone running to summon the palace physician, and since Lea’s regression, she had dismissed all other palace attendants.
Only now did Zion realize just how empty and cold her palace felt. Though he had visited relatively often before, he scolded himself for not noticing it until now.
“…Yes, I-I’m fine.”
“There’s no way that’s true. Just hold on a little longer, the physician will arrive soon.”
Zion, feeling sorry for her trying to act composed, spoke gently to comfort her.
But Lea truly was fine. She had sustained plenty of minor injuries during the war in the past.
At the time, she had been shunned by Espers for many different reasons.
They found her too finicky in her guiding. Others rejected her because her rank was lower than Lucy’s, claiming she wasn’t even worth receiving guidance from.
And in the end, because she was said to look down on the Imperial Crown Prince—someone Espers revered—it became increasingly difficult to find anyone who respected her as a Guide as the war dragged on.
Going against Espers on the battlefield was never advantageous. So the fact that she survived was purely due to her own skill.
Not only that, but after the war, she had been tortured and even subjected to beheading.
So something as minor as a thin arrow wound to the shoulder didn’t hurt at all. Even if it was a spot that had previously been burned.
Though she had fainted briefly, she believed it was simply because her current body—one that had experienced nothing more difficult than Bianca’s tyranny—couldn’t withstand the stress.
Rather, Lea thought to use this as an opportunity. She knew better than anyone how Bianca had managed to seize control over the Emperor.
Not just the Emperor. Bianca had also firmly kept her grip on any Esper she deemed useful.
In this lifetime, Lea had to quietly dominate even more Espers than Bianca ever had.
And since she had decided Zion would be the first, she couldn’t let this moment alone with him go to waste.
Lying on the bed, Lea reached out and weakly held onto his pinky finger.
And then, as if guiding energy naturally slipped from her, she put on a pure, innocent expression.
“Thank you… for worrying about me, Sir Zion…”
“…It’s only natural, Lady Haisley.”
“But… I’m so scared…”
With a fragile expression, nearly in tears, she clasped his fingertips and pleaded,
“Just until Rose returns—could you stay with me?”
“Of course. So please be at ease.”
“Haah… I’m really glad you’re the one who stayed, Sir Zion. I can’t trust the other knights…”
Zion would naturally think she was physically weakened and emotionally vulnerable. And when someone opens up like that, one tends to believe they’re hearing their true feelings.
This tactic was something Bianca excelled at. She would fake illness and, while bedridden, tell each visiting Esper, You’re the only one I can trust.
Fundamentally, Espers want to possess their own Guide, so they never leaked such conversations.
Instead, they were lured into a pitiful misunderstanding.
So this Guide only depends on me…
“…I don’t believe I’ve been a knight worthy of your trust, Lady Haisley. But that will change from now on.”
In Zion’s eyes, fixed on her, Lea could see a firm resolve. He clearly understood why she claimed she couldn’t trust the other knights.
After all, though it had been under the Empress’s orders, Lea still remembered being dragged away by knights.
“I swear to you, Lady Haisley. From now on, I will be loyal only to you.”
This oath was even more direct than the one he had made previously. Lea, not expecting him to say such a thing, flinched slightly in surprise. At the same time, a hint of guilt crept in.
Even if it was for Calix’s sake… Was it really okay to deceive someone like this?
As she wavered in her thoughts, Zion gently but firmly grasped her hand and brought her small hand to his lips.
“Please give me faith in my vow.”
She couldn’t pretend not to understand what he wanted. Any Guide who had looked into an Esper’s desolate eyes, full of long-held thirst, would know.
Without delay, Lea let guiding energy flow into him. Not the hesitant trickles from before, but a powerful, high-quality purification.
However, the guiding didn’t last long… because of an unexpected interruption.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is here!”
At Calix’s sudden and unanticipated entrance, Lea couldn’t even bring herself to look up, even though he had entered the room. She felt like a child caught doing something bad.
“Sister, are you all right?”
Calix strode into the bedroom with a rather worried expression. Ilion followed behind him.
Zion, who had been kneeling and gazing into Lea’s eyes, couldn’t hide his irritation at having the guiding interrupted.
It felt as though someone had barged in and stolen away his moment with her.
Unconsciously, he began to show a guarded wariness toward Calix—who, like him, was an Esper.
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