After I Died, He Died After Me Too - Chapter 35
Chapter 18.1
“Oh. So Lady Astri may not be your fiancée, but it seems it’s acceptable to share a bed for the purpose of guiding.”
“For Espers, guiding is essential, isn’t it? Even without any feelings involved, it’s something that must be accepted. It’s an inevitable necessity.”
“You don’t see it that way, do you?”
“…What I think doesn’t matter.”
Bianca noticed the Crown Prince’s grumpy demeanor. For some reason, it felt like she had upset him once again. His icy gaze alone was enough to reveal the shift in his mood.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, may I dare to share my opinion? I believe guiding doesn’t always have to involve physical intimacy, so I don’t think it has anything to do with being engaged. That’s how I’ve always seen it.”
Perhaps Bianca spoke this way because she didn’t know that Dexter had already been guided by her. If she found out what he had done to suppress her awakening heat, such a statement would be unimaginable.
Especially if it were someone she had feelings for.
This was exactly why she was even more hesitant to imprint. She didn’t want to take something that might be valuable to someone else, especially when she knew she wouldn’t be by his side forever. As for the ‘biting and sucking’ he’d mentioned, she had no response.
However, Dexter’s body could no longer be satisfied with mere radiant guiding.
For him, it was a necessary act, not something shared out of emotion. Even if he felt unbearably dizzying pleasure, it wasn’t love.
While rank was important, matching rates were just as significant. Lady Fair, unaware of Bianca’s rank, naturally assumed she held the upper hand. Bianca longed for someone with a higher compatibility rate than hers, but that would be more than a miracle.
‘‘They say a 98% match is already a miracle. Anything beyond that would have to be 100%.’
Such a thing would never happen. No matter how much she wished for it, it was something that could never come true. She resigned herself to the truth.
“I suppose the Lady isn’t aware. Of course, it’s only natural with all the candidates entering the palace. Or perhaps she knows and is just pretending otherwise?”
“Dexter, enough. Don’t be rude to the Lady. She’s here as the Empress’s guest.”
“It seems like they’ve been more careful about keeping their mouths shut than I thought.”
Could it be that only the fact that she came as his exclusive Guide was revealed, while everything else was kept hidden? Now that she thought about it, the Empress’s behavior was definitely strange.
No matter how much the Empress disliked her, if she had known Bianca’s rank or compatibility rate, she wouldn’t have brought Eliaden to check the compatibility. It was clear the Empress had become desperate because a young woman from a low-ranking family had secured the position.
“Well, since Mother is so curious, there’s nothing I can do.”
Finishing his words, Dexter nodded slightly toward the Guide.
The Empress’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, clearly expecting him to finally confirm his compatibility with Lady Fair. Meanwhile, Eliaden shyly extended her hand, her face flushed red. She lowered her gaze slightly, waiting for him to take her hand.
Bianca couldn’t take her eyes off Eliaden, who seemed completely enamored. A smile spread across Bianca’s face as she watched, and she couldn’t help but wonder what it felt like.
While she was looking at Eliaden, Dexter’s gaze shifted to Bianca. Finally, he reached out and spoke to the Guide.
“Test it.”
“…Pardon?”
Bianca was taken aback when her hand was suddenly grabbed.
She had already gone through the compatibility test with him. Both the Guide and the Crown Prince were aware of it, but she couldn’t understand why he was holding her hand and insisting on doing the test again.
“Your Highness?”
Bianca called out to him, but he merely nodded toward the Guide as if urging them to proceed. Eliaden’s hand, which had been awkwardly hanging in midair, lingered briefly before she regained her composure and tightly grasped her teacup, acting as though nothing had happened.
Eventually, the compatibility test was conducted. The moment the circular plate, embedded with a magic stone, touched her hand, the Guide spoke.
“…The compatibility rate is 98%.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Eliaden’s face, which had remained composed, stiffened. She instinctively repeated the question, but realizing her mistake, she quickly clamped her lips shut.
“The compatibility rate between the two of you is 98%.”
“There’s no mistake in the measurement? Are you certain?”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress. The compatibility rate between the two is 98%, almost a perfect 100%.”
“Ha!”
The Empress’s expression shifted as if she now understood why Bianca had been chosen as the Crown Prince’s exclusive Guide.
“Mother, are you also curious about Lady Eliaden’s compatibility rate?”
“I, I…”
Eliaden stammered, clearly flustered. The Empress clicked her tongue lightly before softening her expression with a kind smile.
“It seems Lady Eliaden should take her leave for today.”
“Didn’t she come here to check her compatibility? Then, let’s confirm it.”
As Dexter extended his hand toward her, Eliaden quickly hid her hand under the table.
“Aren’t you curious, Lady?”
“I-I’m sorry. I think it’s best if I leave for today.”
“Well, if that’s what you want.”
Dexter didn’t bother to stop her. Rising from her seat, Eliaden gave a quick bow to the Empress before hurrying out of the room.
Bianca watched her retreating figure, then glared at Dexter. Was it really necessary to hurt someone like that?
“Your Majesty, may I take my leave as well?”
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