Chapter 104
Translator: Yonnee
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Still, seeing him like this wasn't so bad, so I just changed the subject.
"Is your younger brother a psychic-based Esper?"
"Indeed, you can see through everything."
"Then, I think it would be better for him to break his habit of nodding alone... Have you told him about psychic Espers?"
In the past, psychic Espers completely hid all their traces. Most of the monsters that needed to be dealt with were left to elemental or physical Espers, while the psychic Espers were sent out to other countries for espionage.
That's how it was as far as I knew, so I naturally gave such advice.
"Irene."
Calling me quietly, Ciel immediately added,
"You don't have to worry about anything like that. This is the Stern Empire, not the Republic of Korea."
It took a moment for me to process what he just said. Blinking slowly, I soon nodded.
That's right. Unlike how it was in Korea, the citizens of the Empire had yet to know the full extent of the Espers' abilities.
In the first place, they all didn't even know that there were other Espers besides the crown prince and the duke.
Maybe it's because monsters that I once saw only in Korea appeared in this place, but my mind became muddled and confused for a moment. Absent-minded as I was, Ciel gingerly held my shoulders and leaned forward, looking into my eyes worriedly.
"You are Irene de Closch, esteemed daughter of House Closch and soon to be Duchess."
"...Ha."
"I also know that you are no longer Seohyun. That's why you've been refusing me, but..."
As he continued speaking, he gently pulled me into his arms. I wanted to shake him off, yet strangely, I couldn't.
Was it because of the fact that we shared a past that no one even knew? Was that enough of a cause for a strong bond between us?
Still in his embrace, I listened to his words.
"You won't be able to push me away just for that reason alone. You know, Irene, I am but a fool who can't live without you."
It was not the tone of voice he'd use whenever he spoke as a duke, but the familiar manner of speaking that I was used to. Once again, the past was overlapping with the present.
I could vaguely recall him saying something similar back then, although with a completely different nuance.
[ Do I look like a fool who can't do anything without you? ]
For the record, he said that whilst he was, in fact, following me around wherever I was going. It made me laugh.
"You told me once that you're absolutely not a fool."
"That's because I was a fool back then."
I had been so resentful before, but now, I just felt unimpressed. I pushed him lightly and just went straight to the point.
"I pulled you aside because there's something I want to ask you."
"It's about the monsters, right?"
He asked back with a knowing look.
"Right. Weren't those monsters of a kind that could only be seen on Earth and not here? Their attack was definitely on the level of a monster wave, too. And besides that, I saw only a portion of them, so there must have been more of Earth's monsters that appeared. Did you catch sight of them?"
"Yes, I did."
"By any chance, do you know what caused it?"
It was something that was against the providence of nature, but there were always exceptions.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know what caused it. But the same thing happened in the past life as well-in the Stern Empire. I found out only after I traveled to Korea."
As I heard him say that he didn't know either, the thoughts in my mind became tangled.
"I have one more thing I'd like to ask."
"If it's an answer you want, I'll tell you everything you wish to know. Whatever it is."
As though he was in a pleasant mood, his eyes were curved into smooth arcs as the corners of his lips were raised. At this, I couldn't help but think...
How great would it have been if he had been like this in the past?
"Would you mind if we talk about the novel?"
"I don't mind."
"...Right. In the novel, the only Espers were you and His Highness the Crown Prince, and the only Guide was Seo-yoon, who'd been anointed as the saintess. But this time, I don't know why, but I also manifested as a Guide."
I also thought about Morgan and Aiden.
"Morgan and your younger brother also manifested as Espers, and I just keep thinking... What if there are more people in this world who have manifested as Espers and Guides? What if they all perished-or are about to perish-without them or anyone else none the wiser?"
Ciel fell silent. I kept my eyes on him as he looked down, his gaze complicated.
Rustle-
Right then, however, I heard someone approaching from behind me. I turned my head reflexively, and Ciel's expression changed violently in an instant.
"There's something I need to tell you, Irene."
The person who had approached was none other than Morgan. And, he brought someone behind him.
It was a girl who I was meeting for the first time today, and she started blushing heavily as she alternately gawked at me and Ciel.
Given her clothes, she looked to be a commoner, but why did Morgan bring her here? Or did she lose her family amidst the monster wave?
"I found her by chance when I saved her earlier, but it felt a little strange."
"What do you mean, Brother Morgan?"
Taking the girl's wrist, he suddenly blushed as well. If it wasn't love at first sight, there was another clear reason why an Esper like him would have reacted that way.
"She gives off a similar energy to what you have and gave to me. Of course, it feels weaker than your energy, so I don't know if I'm even right about this."
The only kind of person who'd give off a similar energy to mine was, of course, a Guide.
"Good day... Milady."
I looked at the shy girl who was looking up at us with wide, doe eyes. Ciel, too, stared back.
