Chapter 96
Then, Calix placed Lea back on his thigh and removed the pit from a cherry before placing it directly in her mouth.
“There you go, eating so well.”
“Kyang.”
“Want to try another fruit?”
“Kaang!”
Zion was on the verge of losing his mind with worry, watching Lea—completely unaware of her presence here—nestled in Calix’s arms, earnestly playing the part of a fox. He had done everything he could to quietly search for her all this time, not even knowing she was here.
“Pardon me.”
Only after Daisy entered with tea, set it on the table, and left, did Zion bring up the matter again.
“The truth is, Lady Haisley has gone missing.”
“…Missing?”
“The reason she hasn’t responded to Your Highness’s visits is because she has not been at her palace. We’ve searched everywhere, but have yet to find her.”
Calix pressed his lips, trying to hold back a smile. Really, when the circumstantial evidence was already this strong, was hard evidence even necessary?
But what on earth had she done to transform into the form of a fox? That was what he was truly curious about.
Zion stared at Calix with eyes lowered in suspicion. He seemed to realize that Calix had figured out Lea’s identity, but not Derek’s ability.
So Zion deliberately brought up the topic first and pretended not to know, continuing the conversation. In the meantime, Derek reached out to Lea through their mental link.
{ Lady Haisley. I believe His Highness may have figured out your identity. }
{ …My identity? }
{ He doesn’t seem to know that you’re a werebeast fox, but I believe he’s aware that you, Lady Lea, have transformed into a fox. }
Lea was so shocked by Derek’s words that it left her reeling. How had he noticed? Could it really be more than just a guess?
She wanted to deny it, but when she thought about how suspicious Calix had been acting recently, it didn’t seem so far-fetched.
Calix was feeling, in real time, how Lea’s body had tensed up from anxiety. He had been petting her, after all.
Even while speaking with Zion, his attention drifted toward Derek sitting beside him.
There was definitely something off about the way Derek looked at Lea. It wasn’t the kind of gaze a regular person would have. He was sure the man was also an Esper. But he still couldn’t figure out what kind of ability Derek had.
Was it connected to how Luna’s body had suddenly stiffened with tension?
Normally, she was always relaxed and content whenever he stroked her fur or petted her. Whether she was really Lea or not, the behavior she had shown him up until now couldn’t have been a lie.
Yet, even now, despite his constant touch, Luna’s body didn’t seem to loosen up at all.
‘Could he be a psychic-type Esper, like the ones I’ve only read about in the records?’
Compared to Zion, Derek’s body looked slim to the point of frailty, and that annoyingly handsome face stood out.
If Derek was a psychic-type Esper, maybe that’s how he managed to escape Ilion that night. According to the records, psychics had the base ability to read others’ thoughts.
Which meant… could he be reading Calix’s thoughts right now?
Amused by the idea, Calix smirked and mentally shouted with intense intent.
{ Stop poking around in other people’s heads. }
At the exact moment he thought that, he saw Derek’s body stiffen ever so slightly, and that confirmed it. He was sure of it now: Derek was a psychic Esper.
“A disappearance within the Imperial Palace itself, hm. Don’t you think that’s rather ridiculous? Are you sure Lady Haisley didn’t just run away?”
“…Pardon? That’s impossible.”
“You never know. Maybe she ran off because the rumors you had spread became too burdensome, Young Duke. Or maybe… she found herself a lover?”
“……”
Zion was struck speechless by Calix’s words. He hadn’t asked for Lea’s permission before spreading the news that she was a Guide.
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