Chapter 32: The Price of Ambition

The Piato River diagonally bisected Ashilton, forming a natural boundary. To the north stood the royal palace, while its symmetrical counterpart to the south was the Esper Guide Research Center.

The Jade Bridge, connecting these two landmarks, was a lavish display of the Green Dynasty’s grandeur. It was constructed from hundreds of thousands of jade tiles, overtly proclaiming the Center as a royal asset. Ordinary citizens were forbidden from using this bridge, and no other bridges could be built within a 10km radius.

While symbolizing royal prestige, these restrictions also served military purposes and acted as a safeguard against Esper rampages. Consequently, the citizens endured the inconvenience without complaint.

Naturally, the areas closest to the bridge became home to the estates and exclusive facilities of nobles and Esper Guides who used the Jade Bridge. This affluent district, centered around the bridge, was thus known as the South Jade District and the North Jade District.

In the afternoon, Annabelle, from the Moore family’s main estate located west of the royal palace, crossed the Jade Bridge. She entered a members-only salon in the South District, her face pale with evident distress.

“Annabelle Moore of the Moore family greets His Highness, Second Prince Devon Green.”

Inside the private room where she was led, a delicate tea fragrance lingered in the air.

“Aunt.”

Devon, addressing Annabelle as ‘Aunt,’ slowly poured tea into an empty cup. He then gently pushed it towards her, offering a kind smile.

“The Ashilton nobility has been quite boisterous these past few days.”

Annabelle bit her lip, her head bowed. She, too, had heard the rumors that her son’s Guide had finally appeared.

“Something seems to be amiss.”

“Amiss, you say?”

“Your Highness, Ethan Prescott is merely a commoner who caused an accident at my son’s estate and, unable to repay the damages, now assists with minor tasks there. My son himself told me this, and I recall it distinctly.”

Setting down his teacup, Devon nodded at her words.

“If my aunt says so, then my aunt must be correct.”

“Then, in that case…!”

‘He believes me,’ Annabelle thought. As she lifted her head, her face alight with expectation, Devon pointed to her untouched teacup.

“This is my favorite Royal Rose tea. While I’m not particularly fond of rose scents, this particular rose doesn’t overwhelm the senses; instead, its subtle, lingering fragrance is quite pleasing.”

Annabelle did not place her hand on the teacup. Devon, noting this, subtly whispered.

“Why, do you suspect I might have put something in it?”

“…Of course not. It’s merely that I informed others I was visiting the Center to meet a relative. I merely worry that the aroma of tea, specially prepared only for the royal family, might lead to premature misunderstandings.”

Her mention of the ‘Center’ rather than the South Jade District as her destination to meet a relative, given her usual pride in her royal lineage, was tantamount to stating she was meeting Devon Green. It served as a subtle warning: if anything were to befall her here, Devon Green would be the prime suspect. After observing her for a long moment, one corner of Devon’s mouth curled upward.

“For someone soon to become a ‘Green,’ your humility is excessive. Set aside your worries and drink.”

Only then did Annabelle offer an elegant smile and bring the teacup to her lips. As the subtle tea fragrance filled her mouth, she finally felt a slight easing of her tension.

“I understand Your Highness is already investigating Ethan Prescott, but he is merely a part-time worker employed by Bliss. He’s a regular commoner who, I hear, broke a chandelier worth 12 million Gid at the estate.”

“So, he’s working at the estate just for that? A mere chandelier?”

“For commoners, that’s a significant sum, difficult to repay all at once. I will try to persuade him.”

“Aunt.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’ve conducted some investigations myself, and it seems he’s an ‘unaffiliated individual.’ In other words, he has only a complete stranger as a guarantor, not even a family member.”

…!!

“I truly lament that my aunt, who once monopolized grandfather’s affection, has not yet become a ‘Green.’ I wish to bestow upon you the status of a ‘Princess,’ complete with legitimacy, just as you earnestly desire, but you are making me wait far too long.”

“Your, Your Highness…!”

Caught off guard by Devon’s sudden, piercing words, Annabelle averted her gaze, her face etched with discomfort.

“A paltry noble Guide lady is irrelevant, as is a commoner. I have no interest in him marrying a woman he likes to continue the Moore lineage. There is only one thing I desire: for him to become *my* Esper.”

“But Bliss…”

“I did not summon Marchioness Annabelle Moore here to hear such a trite excuse as ‘Bliss gives no quarter.’ If Ethan Prescott is merely a commoner, and Bliss is using him to put on an act, then surely it wouldn’t be difficult to dispose of a mere pawn, would it?”

…!!

“Is there truly a need to let Marquis Douglas Moore, who is currently abroad and thus behind on the rumors, hear that Bliss has a ‘Guide’?”

His olive-colored eyes, fixed on her, curved into a chilling smile.

****

“…So, a 30% matching Guide is the most basic level of a matched Guide…”

Doctor Sera, mid-sentence, let out a sigh and glared at Ethan, who was asleep yet maintained a perfectly upright posture, as if intently listening. She found it utterly baffling how he could possibly doze off in such an odd position.

Unaware that this was a posture Ethan had perfected over years of enduring relentless, rote education from the adults in Han’s village, Doctor Sera waved her hand before his eyes. He looked as though he was in a deep, tranquil meditation, prompting her to let out an exasperated “Huh!”

Still, impudence was impudence, no matter the circumstance.

“Ethan Prescott!”

At Doctor Sera’s sharp tone, Ethan’s eyes snapped open, and he immediately pretended he hadn’t been asleep at all.

“Yes, Doctor Sera. I’m listening.”

“Explain why a 30% matching rate is considered the standard for a matched Guide.”

“Well, Guiding from a Guide with a 30% or higher matching rate can prevent an Esper’s seizures and alleviate about half of the pain experienced in daily life, thereby minimizing disruption to their routine activities. During an intimate relationship, the matching rate can increase to the 40% range, allowing for a far more satisfactory life.”

“…Can you also explain Guides with a matching rate of 50% or higher?”

“Guides with a matching rate of 50% or higher are uncommon. However, they can immediately alleviate an Esper’s seizures and reduce their pain by approximately 70%. Guides with a matching rate above 70% are called ‘miracle matching rates,’ where immediate Guiding occurs merely by shaking hands with a perfectly matched Esper, and those with a matching rate of 90% or higher can even prevent an Esper’s rampage.”

Doctor Sera stared intently at Ethan, scrutinizing him.

‘Oh, how vexing!’

Her question had been intended to admonish him for dozing off. Yet, Ethan, as if possessing ears that listened even in sleep, had managed to answer everything.

“…Let’s stop here for today.”

“Wow, really?”

“…I think I need some sugar.”

Doctor Sera stumbled into the kitchen, retrieved three slices of chocolate mousse cake, and devoured them in one go.

****

As anticipated, the development of the new anesthetic was assigned to Enoch’s improved drug division. Enoch, using a courtesy call about the contract as an excuse to visit Bliss, began to sneer as soon as the privacy of their conversation was assured.

“I never imagined you could feign the Guiding effect so perfectly. Shouldn’t *you* be the actor, Bliss, not me?”

“…I received Guiding.”

While it was only a mere sip from the gwi in his pocket, his statement wasn’t entirely false. Nevertheless, upon hearing Bliss’s words, Enoch appeared somewhat surprised, yet his brow furrowed in a frown.

“So Ethan Prescott actually *is* a Guide… though he must be a sub-30% Guide for you, judging by your request for more of this medicine.”

Bliss gazed down at the ‘courtesy gift’ Enoch had brought. Disguised as a present, it was a drug five times stronger than Bliss’s usual Esper pain medication.

“If that’s the level of Guide you need, private agencies have them. Did it absolutely *have* to be Ethan Prescott?”

Bliss responded in a businesslike tone.

“Perhaps you should treat your own Guide better. Especially if you manipulated his matching rate because you didn’t want to be swayed by something like imprinting.”

“Listen, Lord Bliss Moore. Are you aware that, as a result, both my Guide and yours are currently below 30%? And not wanting to be swayed also implies free love. Of course, Scott Kent is cute, and the Guiding, which rises to the 30% range during intimacy, is satisfactory. But it’s a relationship unburdened by instinct. One that can end, just like any ordinary couple.”

“Didn’t you think it was wrong from the start to deceive Scott about his 30% matching rate and bring him here?”

“If he’s happy with that fact, is there really a need to inform him? More importantly, I’m suddenly curious about my matching rate with Ethan Prescott, now that he’s a Guide.”

Bliss frowned at Enoch’s more persistent questioning than he had anticipated.

“…Ethan Prescott is not compatible with electricity-based abilities.”

“Then perhaps I’m simply attracted to Ethan Prescott on a human level.”

“Enoch Cloud. I would appreciate it if you chose your words more carefully now.”

At Bliss’s warning, Enoch shrugged in a gesture of surrender and pointed to the medicines he had brought.

“Why do you need so much? These still have side effects.”

Bliss offered a bitter smile. Ethan was not a true Guide. No matter how safely he kept the young, helpless man with other Guides, he couldn’t bring him into a combat zone.

“…If I’m to avoid taking Ethan into a conflict zone, I have no choice.”

Enoch’s eyes widened.

“What absurd talk is this? The commander of an Esper unit, refusing to take his own Guide to the battlefield! And harming himself in the process!”

His voice erupted in a shout, but Bliss remained unmoved.