Chapter 6
Imagine if there were two Guides in the empire, when everyone believed there was only one.
Power that would have gathered easily in one place would instead be split into two factions.
Bianca, who couldn’t tolerate even her own biological daughter standing in the way, spent years eroding Lea’s self-worth.
She deliberately belittled Lea’s abilities and prevented her from ever revealing them.
In the past, Lea had obeyed her mother, hiding her powers in hopes of receiving love. Later, she only used those powers to humiliate Calix.
Only now did Lea truly realize what a complete fool she had been.
‘She never cared about someone like me to begin with…’
But remembering how she had desperately clawed for her birth mother’s affection brought a wave of depression.
Back then, everyone had hated her.
Even her own mother didn’t love her—how could anyone else?
But now, she no longer longed to be loved.
Death was, after all, something one walked into alone.
“It’s cold…”
She hadn’t noticed it in her fox form, but once she returned to human form, the cold came rushing in.
When Lea shivered from the chill, Zion spoke gently, just for a moment.
“At least wrap this around yourself for now. I shall escort you personally.”
Zion removed his cloak and wrapped it around Lea, who was smaller and pale. Then he picked her up.
He seemed briefly startled by how light she was, letting out a small cough before quickly moving forward.
Lea didn’t miss the opportunity fate had placed in her hands.
As she was carried in his arms, she playfully touched the back of his neck with her fingers, initiating a subtle guiding.
Each time a trickle of fresh energy flowed into him, Zion twitched like a broken toy.
It was funny—and strangely sad.
He tried not to show any signs of being guided to the knights following behind.
Watching him, Lea faintly smiled.
She knew exactly why he reacted so sensitively to even this tiny bit of guiding.
Her mother was someone who knew how to raise her own value.
That’s why, even though Bianca was a high-ranking Guide, she only gave Espers just enough guiding to leave them wanting.
Then she would tell them:
The more loyal you are, the more guiding I’ll give you.
Foolishly, the Espers fell easily for her honeyed words.
Back in her palace, just before Zion left, Lea opened her mouth.
“I want to know your name. So I can thank you properly later…”
At her question, Zion, as if he had been waiting for it, knelt on one knee and responded with great formality.
“It is an honor, Lady Haisley. I am Zion, eldest son of House Grayson.”
She already knew, but the name Grayson made her shiver unconsciously.
It was the surname of the one who had cursed and hated her almost as much as Calix did. Her reaction was only natural.
“Lady Haisley?”
When Lea didn’t respond, Zion called out to her with a puzzled expression.
“..Ah, yes. Would you come see me again when you have time? I’d like to give you a small token of thanks.”
“Yes, of course.”
His reply was polite, and his face flushed slightly, but the knights behind him didn’t notice.
Only Lea caught that subtle change.
“Then, I’ll rest now.”
“Yes, understood.”
The knights vanished in an instant, and Lea, dazed, stared at the ceiling before slipping into a robe and lying on the bed.
She felt the need to gather her thoughts before her lady-in-waiting arrived.
How was she supposed to explain this dream that was unfolding exactly like her past?
Her mind was a mess, but gradually, she began forming a plan.
Yes, even if this was a dream…
If she could help Calix.
If she could earn even a single warm glance from him.
Wouldn’t that make this quite a worthwhile dream?
If this dream was going to unfold just like the past, then wouldn’t she, who knew everything, be at an advantage?
In the past, constantly abused by Bianca, Lea had come to deeply undervalue her own abilities.
So though the desire to do something for Calix surged within her easily, she couldn’t decide right away.
After all, what could someone like her possibly do?
“Lady Haisley, may I enter?”
Her personal lady-in-waiting, Rose, quietly entered the bedchamber.
She approached Lea, who lay on the bed, carrying a jar of ointment.
“Lady Haisley, it would be best to apply this ointment.”
“…Okay.”
Lea, lost in thought, gave a slow reply.
Rose gently pulled down the collar of her robe and scooped up a generous amount of ointment.
“It may sting a little.”
She warned in advance, but Lea didn’t even look at her and answered blankly,
“It’s fine…”
Because Calix must have been in just as much pain.
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