After I Died, He Died After Me Too - Chapter 49

Chapter 25.1

“Bianca, are you really okay?”

She couldn’t hide her shock as she saw her mother, whom she hadn’t seen in so long, looking so haggard. Bianca nodded blankly. She had assumed only her father would come.

Her heart, which had felt numb until now, changed when she saw her family. Her eyes burned, and she lowered her head. She regretted not properly saying goodbye to them before leaving, yet part of her felt relieved. Especially when she saw her mother, she feared she might cry.

Her mother had always worried about her, especially since she had no abilities. Now that Bianca had suddenly awakened and become the crown prince’s exclusive Guide, her mother’s anxiety must have only grown.

“…Your face is so thin now. Life at the palace hasn’t been easy, has it?”

Lesillia held Bianca’s hand, unable to tear her eyes away. The Count simply furrowed his brow and sipped his tea. He didn’t need to ask to know what kind of treatment their precious daughter had likely received in this place.

“We couldn’t refuse His Highness the Crown Prince’s order. We never intended to send you away like this.”

Count Astri’s voice was heavy with guilt.

If they had come from a powerful family, there would have been no need for concern. But Bianca’s family wasn’t even notable enough to attend social gatherings in high society. So, they probably believed she had chosen this path for the family’s sake, compelled by the crown prince’s order and her own nature.

“Father, really, I’m fine. This was my choice.”

She didn’t want her family to feel guilty because of her. Of course, becoming the crown prince’s Guide could be seen as a service to the family, even an honor. However, such words only mattered to people who craved power. Bianca and her family had always been content with their current status and lives.

‘Even if I refused… he would have found some way to keep me by his side.’

Her family might have been put in danger.

After awakening, she was supposed to report immediately to the imperial family and register, but she had tried to return home first. She had even wandered into the crown prince’s garden without permission, and that was just the beginning.

There was no end to the excuses they could find to fault her.

Though the contract had been forged under coercion, at least it had a defined end. If she could endure just one year, she could walk away from this place. Had it been an endless continuation like before, she would never have agreed.

“Your words do put my mind at ease, but still, be careful. We have no way of knowing the Crown Prince’s intentions.”

“Don’t worry.”

Bianca forced a smile as she replied.

No one could possibly decipher what he was thinking. At times, it even seemed like he didn’t understand his own actions. The hatred, resentment, and obsession—feelings toward her that defied explanation. And in between all that, there were rare, unexpected moments of kindness… how was she supposed to make sense of that?

There was affection in his delicate gestures, like when he fixed her hair today. That was what made it so hard for Bianca to read Dexter. She needed to find a way to protect her family and escape safely within a year.

“But I don’t see any maids around. I thought the palace handled everything… Are you living here without even a maid?”

“No, nothing like that. I can’t go into detail, but there’s no issue with my living conditions.”

Bianca sipped her tea and smiled faintly. There were likely more than just five candidates. She had only seen Elris, but including the maids who came in after her, there should be six. And if she counted Lady Eliaden as well, it would be around seven.

‘Could there be more candidates than this?’

The conditions he had set were undeniably stringent. Even when Bianca was an Esper, finding a Guide who avoided contact during guiding had been difficult. Moreover, considering his requirement for compatibility above 80% and a high classification, there couldn’t be more than five candidates at most.

Five was a small number. It wouldn’t be surprising if they all turned out to have low compatibility.

Though the Crown Prince’s rank was high, that didn’t guarantee a good match. If compatibility were something everyone could easily find, they wouldn’t have struggled so long to find a Guide for him until now. If no one suitable turned up, the one-year contract might end up being extended.

Bianca bit her lip, her throat dry with inexplicable anxiety.

“Still, it looks like you’re doing well. Your maid must be quite skilled.”

“Ah… yes, they’re very skilled.”

She absently agreed with her mother’s remark. What expression would she make if she told her it wasn’t a maid, but the crown prince who had fixed her hair?