After I Died, He Died After Me Too - Chapter 17

Chapter 9.1

“That would be difficult on your end.”

“Yes?”

“About five minutes left.”

As Dexter glanced at his watch and spoke, his words suddenly brought a wave of anxiety over her.

‘The medicine that suppresses the awakening fever.’

Her awakening fever wasn’t over yet.

Bianca bit her lip.

The Crown Prince didn’t want to receive guiding from someone who was in someone else’s hands. And once imprinted, he wouldn’t receive any guiding except from the imprinted Guide.

“Don’t you need a Guide, Your Highness?”

For him, enough time had already passed. As an S-class Esper, if he continued to not receive guiding, he would eventually die. He might not be able to prevent going on a rampage. Right now, the imperial family was probably administering a substitute. His stubbornness was probably the reason they hadn’t been able to assign a Guide until now.

“I think I’m reaching my limit now. Even if there’s a substitute, the side effects would be severe, and it wouldn’t be sufficient.”

If she were to be registered with the imperial family, all the families of the Asteria Empire would be clamoring for her. It was obvious that even if she expressed her intention not to become a dedicated Guide, there would be many people who would secretly try to contact her.

Dexter’s Guide was nothing short of an imperial asset. A high-ranking Guide would be considered an even more valuable asset.

“If I’m registered with the imperial family, other families will start moving. So, if I become a dedicated Guide without others knowing my rank, I’ll just be a Guide with a high matching rate.”

“I see. As long as there’s enough guiding, I won’t imprint as you wish. However…”

Bianca tilted her head slightly at the attitude as if he was going to give her everything she wanted.

“However?”

What conditions was he trying to impose?

She held her breath and waited for him to continue.

“I won’t be the one to initiate the imprinting. But if you want it, the imprinting can happen anytime. I have no intention of refusing.”

Even the brief physical contact with him overwhelmed her with unforgettable sensations throughout her body. Even in her previous life, brief physical contact with Mikhail had been intense. It was intense when it was 89%, but how much stronger would it be at 98%?

‘It’ll definitely be worse than back then.’

She couldn’t even imagine what it would feel like. However, with a high matching rate, she would be able to fully fill his strength within a short period of time.

“…I understand.”

She wouldn’t die easily, so she wouldn’t let the word ‘imprint’ come out of her mouth first.

“I would like you to provide me with medication to suppress the awakening fever until my body gets better.”

“Let’s do that. One pill per day. Since excessive medication isn’t good for the body, it would be difficult to go any further than that. If you can’t bear it, let me know anytime.”

“….”

She couldn’t bring herself to say she could endure it because she had already asked him to help her in the garden before.

“Then, let’s write a contract.”

“Are you really agreeing to both conditions?”

“I told you I would give you what you want.”

“What is the length of the contract?”

“At least one year. That should be enough time for both you and me to find stability.”

Bianca nodded her head.

“However, please find someone to replace me in a year.”

She would feel more at ease if she could leave. It would be troublesome if, when the time came, they clung to her because she was the only dedicated Guide for him.

“You’ll receive a list of Guides anyways, so please conduct matching rate tests for all of them.”

“I will.”

“I hope you consider candidates with at least an 80% matching rate. Of course, it’s fine to attach the condition that the Guide hasn’t bonded with anyone as you wish, Your Highness.”

“Is that all?”

Dexter continued writing down the details of the contract. Without hesitation, he raised his head and signed it.

His elegant yet slightly crooked handwriting caught her eye.

‘…Huh?’

Bianca’s eyes widened at the familiar handwriting. Had she seen the Crown Prince’s handwriting before? Even though she tried recalling the letters on the invitation, the signature’s handwriting was different.

‘Where have I seen it before?’

Tap, tap.

As if not allowing her any time to think of anything else, Dexter tapped the contract. Because of that, her gaze shifted from the Crown Prince’s signature to his finger.

“Sign it.”

She dipped the pen nib in ink and signed. The contract with both their names written side by side was witnessed by the Guide.

“Then, I hereby declare that the contract has been concluded. I’m the witness who will confirm your agreement.”

Bianca nodded her head. Then, she glanced at her watch.

‘It took longer than I thought.’

Her family would be worried.

“I’ll leave now.”

“Oh, I didn’t mention that. From now on, since the contract has begun, you cannot leave the imperial palace. It would be troublesome if any flies were to gather.”

“My family must be worried.”

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