Chapter 21: The Unspoken Burden

A few days later, Hans arrived at the mansion, bringing the final delivery of foodstuffs. He requested a brief audience with Ethan, who was there to receive the provisions.

Dale readily offered the drawing-room on the first floor for their meeting. He then reported to Bliss, who was in the study, that Ethan was currently with Hans.

Observing Hans’s grave expression, Ethan felt a flicker of apprehension. He hesitated for a moment before slowly taking his seat.

“…Ethan.”

Hans’s lips, which had seemed so heavy, finally parted to call Ethan’s name. Ethan hastily swallowed his tea and responded.

“Yes, Uncle Hans.”

“Why don’t you move to the capital and pursue the pedagogy you wish to specialize in?”

Ethan’s eyes widened in surprise at the abrupt suggestion.

“Uncle, no… suddenly…”

“You only have one semester left at the academy, don’t you? They say preparations for your accommodation and courses in the capital must be made now.”

“Th-that may be true, but I hardly think this is a suitable topic for discussion in Lord Bliss Moore’s mansion.”

Just then, a knock sounded, and Dale entered, accompanied by Bliss, both carrying a tea tray.

“Oh, Lord Bliss?”

Ethan, bewildered, glanced back and forth between Hans and Bliss. Yet, Bliss merely settled into a chair, remaining silent until Dale had finished pouring the tea and exited the room.

Hans hesitated for a moment, finding it difficult to resume their conversation. He took a sip of tea, then finally confided in Ethan.

“I truly don’t know if this is a good development or not, Ethan, but Lord Douglas has expressed his desire to sponsor you.”

“Sponsorship? For me? Why?!”

Ethan practically leaped from his seat. Bliss, who had been silently observing their exchange, then turned his gaze towards Hans.

“Hans Palmer. The account I heard from my grandfather differs slightly from this. I’ve been told of your considerable efforts. When my mother arrived, you contacted me immediately after speaking with Ethan, allowing us to avert a potentially troublesome situation. I, too, wish to express my gratitude.”

“I merely wished to protect the sight of loving partners…”

Hans, mid-sentence, seemed to realize his blunder and trailed off. He was, at that moment, extolling the relationship between an Esper and a Guide before the Marchioness, the official lady of the house, and her son, Bliss.

Yet, Bliss seemed unperturbed by Hans’s remark. He even chose to echo Hans’s sentiment.

“It is indeed rare these days to find individuals who aid others purely out of goodwill. That, I presume, is why you also extended your help to Ethan.”

The truth of Ethan being an unregistered individual with amnesia was already known. Ethan, for his part, had previously informed Hans that Bliss had conducted an investigation into his past.

Neither Ethan nor Hans had anticipated such a direct declaration, and they exchanged uneasy glances. A premonition settled over them, suggesting that this particular fact would make their predicament difficult to escape.

“At any rate, His Excellency the Marquis intends to support not only Hans Palmer and Ethan Prescott’s residence in Ashilton but also all other related arrangements. Given your work in grocery distribution here, you could continue the same trade in Ashilton if you wish, or His Excellency will assist you if you seek other employment. The support for Ethan Prescott is merely a part of the gratitude extended to Hans Palmer. Should either of you have a matching Guide, approval for relocation to a primary residence will also be granted for them.”

Only then did understanding dawn on Ethan’s face. Marquis Douglas, it seemed, intended to offer fitting compensation to Hans Palmer, who had repeatedly saved Henry Grace, thereby also saving the Marquis’s own son. Ethan himself was merely an appended option, included as part of the package deal for Hans Palmer.

“Uncle Hans, I’ve heard that relocating to an Esper residential area, as opposed to simply traveling, involves a very stringent approval process. It’s not just about my schooling; didn’t you also express a desire to expand your business in a larger city? If you were to move to Ashilton, wouldn’t your matching Guide be pleased with that prospect as well?”

Once he grasped the situation, Ethan became proactive. If this was compensation for Hans’s tireless efforts rather than unearned charity, what possible reason could there be to refuse?

He had been fretting over how to manage after spending a significant portion of his accumulated funds. Realistically, having both rent and tuition fees fully covered presented an undeniably attractive proposition.

However, Hans slowly shook his head, his expression grim.

“Ethan… I believe it would be better for me to remain here.”

“While enduring the constant scrutiny of everyone in town, their eyes fixed on both of us? Even knowing that people only desperately seek you out when they need something?”

“…Wouldn’t things improve somewhat if at least you went to Ashilton?”

Ethan frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. For reasons he couldn’t fathom, Hans persistently tried to send only him to Ashilton.

“This would also be an opportunity for your matching Guide. If they prefer this place, you should inquire about their intentions…”

“No! Absolutely not. It’s because I have no desire to move with my matching Guide!”

Hans, whose demeanor was always so gentle, now spat out his answer like a low, guttural cry. Both Bliss and Ethan wore expressions of slight shock.

“Uncle Hans…?”

As Ethan moved to approach Hans, the older man shook his head, his face flushed crimson.

“Ethan, I’ve always wished to explain this to you, but it proves too difficult to articulate directly. Would you grant us a moment alone? It seems, rather coincidentally, that Lord Bliss is the only one here who might understand my petty desire for vengeance right now.”

Bliss offered a subtle nod and a knowing glance. Seeing this, Ethan halted his approach to Hans, turning instead to exit the room.

A considerable time later, Hans emerged from the room. He offered Ethan a brief greeting, muttered that he was feeling rather tired, and then departed.

No sooner had Ethan seen Hans off than he re-entered the drawing-room. There, he found Bliss, holding a wine glass, his face expressionless as he appeared lost in thought.

“…Lord Bliss, nothing is wrong with Uncle Hans, is it? I don’t have to go to Ashilton. If something has happened to Uncle Hans, I simply couldn’t bear it…”

“Ethan.”

“Yes.”

“How much do you truly understand about Espers and Guides?”

‘I know more than you could possibly imagine,’ he yearned to say. However, Ethan knew his permissible reply was constrained.

“Have you forgotten that I am friends with Scott, an Esper and Guide enthusiast? Moreover, I’ve lived continuously with Uncle Hans, who is an Esper himself. I’ve always had an inkling that the lives of Espers and Guides are not always as glamorous and blissful as they appear.”

“That level of understanding is insufficient.”

“At the very least, I don’t view them through the prejudiced lens of the villagers.”

Ethan wouldn’t have cared even if Hans had been concealing a crime.

Bliss, after observing Ethan’s resolute gaze for a long moment, let out a soft sigh and leaned back against the sofa’s cushions. The hand that had been pressing against his temples, as if to soothe a returning headache, stilled, and then his heavy lips finally parted.

“You are aware, I presume, that most late-onset Guides within the Center are not truly individuals who manifested after the age of twenty. Rather, many manifested their abilities at a young age but chose not to register until financial desperation compelled them to come forward.”

Ethan nodded slowly.

“Because registering as a Guide would inevitably bring various restrictions.”

The majority would likely prioritize their immediate freedom over saving an Esper they didn’t even know.

“Guides registered with the Center receive a substantial income and are guaranteed a stable life. However, the funds provided to Guides are not, as one might assume, entirely disbursed by the state. A certain amount is subsidized, but the sum increases significantly once a matching Esper is found. The greater portion of this augmented payment is then borne by the Esper. As you are aware, Espers typically possess considerable financial means.”

“That seems a reasonable approach. It would be preposterous to cover everything solely through taxation.”

“Despite such measures, Guides remain scarce compared to the sheer number of Espers. Consider this: what would happen if a man who had manifested as a Guide, after marrying, fathering children, and subsequently losing everything for various reasons, then sought assistance from the Center?”

“…!!”

“Th-that sort of situation…”

Ethan’s mouth fell open in astonishment. It was, he realized, an entirely plausible scenario. Bliss offered a wry smile, observing Ethan’s surprise.

“Given the severe shortage of Guides, the Center accepts such individuals. However, they carefully adjust the matching process. They intentionally pair Guides and Espers who possess a slightly higher natural matching rate. This ensures a thirty percent matching efficacy can be achieved through mere hugs or light kisses, without requiring sexual contact. In this arrangement, the Guide can provide their services while preserving their family life, free from the need for intimate contact with the Esper. For many Espers, even such a limited connection is a desperate necessity, often leading them to accept a match even if it means financially supporting the Guide’s entire family.”

“……I s-see. So, is that the case with Uncle Hans as well? Having to consider not only the Guide’s wishes but also those of their family regarding relocation…?”

Ethan was indeed uninformed. It wasn’t that he lacked knowledge about Esper-Guide interactions, but rather that he was unaware of the specific effects and potential negative consequences arising from the Esper-Guide laws currently enforced within the Aitoolia Empire.

“…Hans Palmer’s situation is the worst. After manifesting as an Esper and registering at a young age, he progressed to intimate guiding—through mucous membrane contact and sexual intercourse—with his matched Guide. You may not be aware of this, but with a thirty percent matching rate, if instances of mucous membrane contact accumulate or if sexual intercourse occurs, the Esper develops a certain level of affection and protective instinct towards the Guide. While not as intense as the imprinting phenomenon seen in matching rates of fifty percent or higher, it is still an activation of the Esper’s innate survival instinct. At least, Hans defined this person as his lover, and they lived as actual lovers. Until he married another woman.”

“…!!!”