Chapter 60
At that time, Derek came to see Lea alone. Ever since Bianca started paying attention to Derek and he learned how to control his ability, he had stopped meeting with Zion altogether.
They each only did the tasks assigned to them, and when meeting Lea, they moved separately. This was partly due to their desire, as Espers, to monopolize the Guide for themselves.
“My lady.”
“You’re here?”
He secretly blushed when he saw Lea, who had grown even more mature compared to five years ago.
Her face, which had once still held a trace of baby fat, had become slimmer, and her sharp eyes now often softened with a smile, giving her a gentler impression.
But there were things that hadn’t changed. Her noble-looking golden eyes were still as brilliant as ever, and her plump lips, which curled up at the corners, were as plump and ripe as cherries.
What’s more, her now-matured figure had grown so attractive that it drew the eye even when he tried not to look.
Like her appearance, Derek too had changed greatly over the past five years.
The biggest change was that he no longer suffered from the thoughts of others. This was the result of his steady practice in control, based on her and Zion’s advice.
Now, he caught glimpses of others’ thoughts only when he needed to, and otherwise, he was no different from an ordinary person.
Just that fact alone made her his benefactor, but he owed her even more.
He no longer had to endure scorn for wearing shabby clothes, nor did he have to stay at home walking on eggshells around his father and brother.
And although he couldn’t tell her, he was grateful that he no longer had to go hungry.
Since childhood, the food the servants brought him couldn’t even be called food. If he ever left any, they simply wouldn’t bring him anything the next day.
Not just emotionally, but physically, he owed her a great debt.
Most of all, he was most grateful for the guiding that he had been able to receive consistently.
“Would you give me your hand for a moment?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Derek did his best to hide his nervousness as he held out his hand. Her small hands gently enclosed his. Before he could even feel her skin properly, a warmth even greater than that rushed into him.
Just as he had grown skilled at controlling his own ability, it seemed that her guiding, too, had become purer than before.
The impure energies left in his body were instantly swept away by her refreshing aura. The process was so quick that Derek couldn’t help but feel disappointed it was over so soon.
“Maybe it’s because you’ve been getting regular guiding, but you’re very clean. Still, don’t forget to come for guiding.”
“Yes, I will.”
“Oh, are these this month’s sales records?”
“Yes, this is the merchant guild’s sales report, and this is the document on gemstone sales from the mine you purchased last time.”
“Oh, very good.”
As Lea scanned through the sales reports, she was already thinking ahead. In truth, it was all thanks to Derek that she’d been able to secretly grow the merchant guild over the past five years without Bianca finding out.
At some point, his ability had awakened. Specifically, the ability to manipulate others’ memories.
When she first heard about this overwhelming yet unnoticeable power, Lea couldn’t help but recall her life before her regression.
Was it after about two years had passed on the battlefield? She remembered how he had died, his ability going out of control before it could fully bloom.
Before then, not only Lea but also Lucy had provided guiding for him, but the side effects of not having received guiding for so long could not be easily undone.
She also remembered the pained expression on Calix’s face as he bitterly regretted the loss of such talent.
But even back then, did he already have the ability to manipulate memories?
If so, whose memories had he altered? It was a question that came too late, so there was no way to know.
“But, Lady Haisley.”
She was focused on the documents when she heard Derek’s gentle voice and looked up.
“Did you have something to say?”
“There’s something I’ve wanted to ask for a while now.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Lea had no intention of lying to someone in the same boat as herself. Even with her ready permission, Derek hesitated and couldn’t ask right away. Eventually, he spoke up.
“Why do you secretly help His Highness the Crown Prince?”
It wasn’t just Derek, Zion and Eric were also curious about this. Lea, who had been so cheerful, suddenly grew somber and spoke slowly.
“…I guess you could say I came to my senses at some point.”
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