Chapter 45
Even though Lea had resolved to use him for Calix’s sake, she still felt a pang of guilt at Zion’s words.
“I’m feeling much better, so there’s no need for concern. Look.”
Trying to shake off that guilt even a little, she gently guided him through their joined hands. Zion’s brows, deeply furrowed with worry, relaxed as his expression turned hazy under the subtle influence of guiding.
Swallowing hard at the sudden guiding, Zion enclosed her small hand with both of his and said,
“…I’m considering stationing a knight at the entrance to your palace, Lady Haisley.”
“Pardon? No, that’s not really necessary…”
“No. Even if the palace guards patrol frequently, it’s still a separate issue if there’s no one posted right at your door.”
Lea grew flustered at Zion’s firm tone. She had deliberately dismissed all her attendants except Rose—if an inconvenient knight started standing guard, it would make it harder for her to move around freely.
She was about to refuse outright, but Zion’s next words made her fall silent.
“Considering you were injured this time as well… It’s dangerous to keep wandering around in your fox form, Lady.”
“H-How did you…?”
Caught completely off guard, Lea couldn’t even think to deny it and stammered instead. Zion lowered his voice and whispered,
“I saw the location of your wound from the hunting grounds.”
“…Excuse me?”
“It was clearly a spot where an arrow had pierced you. But you lied about how it happened. And the jacket and shirt stained with blood—there wasn’t a single hole in them. That made me suspect something.”
“Uh…”
That was completely unexpected. In truth, she had planned to treat herself after sending Zion away that day. But Calix had shown up so suddenly that she hadn’t had time to dismiss the others, and ended up fainting instead.
Zion must have noticed something odd in the meantime.
Still, it seemed he didn’t know why she had been in her fox form, which gave Lea some relief.
But she couldn’t just let it end there. Thinking quickly, she came to a decision: she would use this opportunity to help Derek.
Derek, who didn’t yet realize he was an Esper, needed a senior Esper to guide him. And Zion was more than qualified.
“The truth is… I was so startled that I instinctively shifted into fox form.”
“No one forced you to transform, did they?”
Because Zion had closely observed both her and Bianca over time, his gaze darkened as he made a guess. Lea quickly shook her head and added urgently,
“Of course not. There’s only one person who can force me to shapeshift, and that’s…”
“…My apologies.”
“It’s not your fault, Sir Zion. It’s just… I only wish I were the kind of daughter who could meet my mother’s expectations.”
Her lowered lashes, heavy with emotion, fluttered slowly like rain-soaked butterfly wings. Zion stared at her blankly for a moment before finally replying,
“You’re already more than lovable enough, my lady.”
“…Thank you.”
“But… what startled you so much in the first place?”
“Oh—it was nothing serious. I was just surprised by Young Master Felitier.”
“That man dared to threaten you?”
The man who had been kneeling so obediently before now suddenly spoke in a sharp, intimidating tone, and it startled Lea a little.
In her past life, the Espers she had dealt with were always sarcastic or petty.
Even if they hated her, none of them had ever directly threatened their own Guide. That’s why Zion’s reaction surprised her.
It must have shown on her face, because Zion quickly wiped the aggression from his expression.
“My apologies. Just the thought of such a thing happening was enough to enrage me.”
Lea couldn’t answer.
If she hadn’t revealed she was a Guide, would he really have been any different from the other Espers?
She found such Espers both off-putting and pitiable. Conflicted, she momentarily lost her words before changing the subject back to Derek as if nothing had happened.
“Something strange happened that day. Young Master Felitier said things I was thinking—word for word. It was just a brief conversation as we crossed paths, but… he figured out that I’m a werefox. Could that be some kind of Esper ability?”
“…He knew your true identity?”
“Yes, even that I’m a Guide. I was so startled that I fled in fox form and ended up getting shot by some group.”
“So you’re saying he’s the reason you got hurt.”
Lea hurriedly added clarification, sensing that Zion was taking it the wrong way.
“But he’s also the one who pulled out the arrow and helped me.”
“…I understand.”
The grinding of his teeth was clearly audible, but Lea pretended not to notice.
She had no idea what part of that story had upset him so much.
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