Chapter 92: A Royal Scandal and a New Instructor

The attempt to cover up the unfortunate incident that occurred in the palace garden before the Spring Flower Festival with a new event had utterly failed. Not only had it failed, but it had also become an international embarrassment.

Zaisler Corporation and the palace’s public relations department actively stepped forward with explanations, attributing the problem to an old public hall system that coincidentally malfunctioned, rather than equipment failure. While domestic media outlets exercised restraint, foreign press seemed to relish any opportunity to undermine the image of a company and nation that typically dominated their respective fields.

Coincidentally, an exclusive interview video with Ethan was broadcast, alongside news that the title of ‘Flower of the Empire’ had been bestowed upon a new individual. According to the pre-arranged Imperial Information Act, only the “rare compatibility” between Bliss Moore’s abilities and his Guide’s resonance was disclosed.

Although the interview offered only brief, formulaic information, it was significantly better than nothing at all. The sight of a Guide, as beautiful as any Esper, dressed in fashionable attire, laughing while showcasing their friendship with Enoch Cloud—who made a rare television appearance—caused a considerable stir.

As public interest began to return to the Spring Flower Festival, the relieved King prohibited all public events within the palace that could expose it to the media for the next year, citing repairs to the public hall as the reason.

Amidst these developments, news reached Devon that the official in charge of ceremonial duties was struggling considerably with Ethan Prescott’s training.

“Are you suggesting I should instruct Ethan Prescott in the festival ceremonies?”

Huey Cloud questioned him with a hint of disbelief, yet Devon merely offered an affirmative smile.

“Huey, you are also the Center’s Guide training officer.”

“It’s merely an honorary title.”

“Indeed, you even trained Scott Kenton. Who else but Huey Cloud, a former Guide training officer, has mastered all ceremonial procedures, moving between both the event and ceremonial departments?”

“The ceremonial department won’t be pleased.”

“Haha, don’t worry. Ever since Ethan Prescott appeared on broadcast, all sorts of people have been making inquiries or attempting to see him, sometimes making it impossible to proceed. Even with guards present, there are always a few persistent individuals, aren’t there? If a high-ranking noble like Huey Cloud were in charge, it would deter such impudent approaches.”

“He is destined to be Bliss Moore’s companion.”

Devon, who had been intently watching him, curved his eyes into a smile and extended an arm. His smooth skin, exposed since he was bare-chested, wrapped around Huey’s neck, who sat neatly dressed in a shirt and trousers.

A soft groan escaped Huey as he relaxed his stiff face, the guiding energy flowing into him. He then cupped Devon’s chin and kissed him.

As their tongues disengaged and they parted, Devon leaned in, his lips brushing Huey’s ear.

“Huey, sometimes you surprise me in the most unexpected ways. Even with a high-matching Guide, do you truly believe Ethan Prescott could become Bliss Moore’s ‘companion’? Your fiancée would be saddened.”

“Your Highness…”

“Surely you can marry a lady from a family I’ve chosen for you. It would benefit the Cloud family, after all. Why are you still merely engaged?”

Huey offered a bitter smile. His fiancée, bound by a political engagement, hailed from a noble family, and everyone was aware of Huey Cloud’s relationship with Devon. She, too, had taken other lovers early on, viewing marriage as nothing more than a contract, so there was no need to rush the union. Yet, Devon provoked him, knowing all this.

“Your Highness, I am not delaying marriage out of ambition to become your companion. My family affairs are not yet settled.”

‘He wished to hear those words directly from Huey’s lips.’

Devon bit his ear and whispered.

“If marrying makes it difficult to assist me, then take charge of Ethan Prescott’s training. Hand him over to Victor when the festival period concludes.”

“…!!”

Having concluded the guiding, Devon moved away from him and donned a gown. Huey rose, his face hardening at the clear sign that Devon would no longer engage with him, just as a knock sounded. Huey’s gaze sharpened, fixed on Devon.

This was a private room for guiding. It was a perfectly secluded space, and at this late hour, only one type of knock was conceivable.

While Huey strode forward and grasped Devon’s arm, Devon merely took a nonchalant sip of his drink. Soon, Huey’s low voice broke the silence.

“Is Lord Wilfried Zaisler your Highness’s new Esper?”

****

“Therefore, from now on, Lord Huey Cloud will be responsible for Lord Ethan’s training.”

Ethan blinked. The person standing beside the ‘human sleeping pill’ official was someone he had never imagined.

“But didn’t you say guards aren’t allowed in the training room?”

As Maxon argued, Kyle intervened, making a polite request.

“Please allow at least one of us to enter. Considering Lord Huey Cloud’s abilities, leaving him alone with the protectee would be abandoning them to danger.”

The official glanced nervously at Huey, taken aback by Kyle’s blunt, unfiltered words. He himself was reluctant to spend extended time with Huey Cloud, let alone have him conduct training. However, any sympathy Ethan might have felt quickly vanished when he recalled how he had dozed off throughout his previous lessons.

“Well, I haven’t received any instructions regarding that.”

“Official!”

Ethan watched Maxon and Kyle, who acted as if Huey Cloud might read their minds at any moment, before his gaze drifted blankly. Seeing Huey so nonchalantly allow this situation to unfold, Ethan frowned.

“It’s fine.”

“Ethan!”

“Lord Ethan!”

“It seems everyone has forgotten that Lord Huey Cloud is the eldest son of the Cloud family.”

“…!!”

“As an Esper receiving Devon’s guiding, he can’t constantly use his abilities. If he did, Lord Huey would be the first to perish.”

“B-but…”

‘Even if he wasn’t constantly using his abilities, couldn’t he still use them on Ethan?’ Maxon swallowed the words that threatened to escape. Just as he wore lenses to conceal his eye color, he had secrets of his own, and drawing Huey Cloud’s attention would do him no good.

Meanwhile, Kyle, having finished reporting to Bliss, sighed and pulled Maxon back, a look of incomprehension on his face.

“Lord Bliss said to leave Ethan and Lord Huey alone, and that we should specifically not enter.”

“That can’t be!”

Ethan chuckled softly. Given Bliss’s knowledge of the gwi’s abilities, it would be far more awkward for Maxon or Kyle to be read by Huey Cloud’s power. Since their imprinting, Bliss had come to fully understand the gwi, and his anxious tendencies—imagining Ethan in immediate danger—were significantly improving. Furthermore, Ethan felt a surge of pride that Bliss seemed to trust him.

“Let’s go in.”

Standing with a slightly blank expression, uncharacteristic of him, he entered the training room, casting a fleeting glance at the guards. Maxon and Kyle, though clearly disagreeing, quietly took up positions outside the door.

“So, you unconditionally obey Bliss’s every word. What if I were to read you?”

“Then I’d scream.”

Ethan, treating the rather serious taunt as a light joke, sat down and connected his tablet to the monitor on the desk. Huey, letting out a deep sigh, sat beside Ethan and began to recite the event schedule in a listless voice.

And, without exception, Ethan Prescott began to doze off.

****

“Ethan Prescott!”

“Hah!” Ethan’s head shot up at the sound of a hand slamming on the desk. Huey stood with his arms crossed, sending a look of utter exasperation his way.

“What should be done with the earthen jars prepared for the eve’s ceremony?”

“They should be covered with red cloth and placed beneath the giant topiary wearing a flower crown, which is being carefully cultivated at the event venue. Oh, and for the Nishan—personal items with wishes written on them—everyone except the four members of the royal family can freely place them into the jars, as long as it doesn’t overfill them, right?”

Wishes, inscribed on small personal items, were placed into earthen jars containing herbs and water. These jars were then covered with red cloth and arranged beneath a goddess statue adorned with spring flowers. After Ethan, as the Flower of the Empire, placed the first jar, others would then cover their own earthen jars with red cloth and place them beneath the statue, following a tradition that the Nishan contained within would receive the magic of spring and night.

Ethan, who had been dozing just moments before, slowly recited the correct answer with a sleepy, awakened face. Huey’s expression, poised to deliver a harsh reprimand, twisted into a peculiar grimace. The raw emotion of wanting to be angry but being unable to was clearly visible on his face, revealing a fiercer sentiment than expected.

“I wonder if you studied separately.”

Ethan shrugged, muttering somewhat wistfully.

“Lord Huey wouldn’t understand the terror of rote memorization. One just… gets into the habit of memorizing things.”

“…”

Huey stared at Ethan, his expression conveying a desire to strike him, when Ethan checked his watch and abruptly stood up.

“Bliss said he’d come pick me up. Shall we end the lesson here for today?”

Huey inhaled deeply, then exhaled.

“Typically, I believe, that’s something the instructor says.”

He pressed his temples, which had suddenly begun to throb, as he spoke. Just as the designated training time ended, the door to the room opened, and Bliss Moore entered. Huey, now beyond sighing, waved a dismissive hand at Ethan, as if telling him to leave.

“Bliss, today we finished a bit earli— mmph!”

Bliss, who had intercepted Ethan’s waist, kissed him without preamble. Philip, who had followed them in, was breathing heavily, claiming he had used his abilities extensively during today’s training.

“Lord Bliss, I know saying this is pointless, as you never pay attention, but please, some decorum…”

Philip mumbled, then sighed in resignation and retreated. This was because Ethan, far from pushing Bliss away, was actively embracing him, receiving his kiss. Huey, directly witnessing Ethan’s fingers firmly intertwined behind Bliss’s back and his lips aggressively drawing in Bliss’s, held his breath. As this was clearly not the first time such a scene had occurred, Maxon and Kyle were naturally standing outside the training room, blocking others from approaching.

Huey’s eyes saw their tongues and lips confidently and sensuously intertwined. Even while performing mucosal contact guiding through their kiss, Ethan narrowed his blue eyes, gazing warmly at his Esper. The rounded curve of his eye corners, the swelling of his cheeks as their mouths met and their tongues intimately danced within, and the gradual flush rising on his neck and cheeks.

“Let’s go. I’ve reserved a restaurant by the river.”

Ethan’s swollen lips curved into a reciprocal smile towards Bliss, who was thoughtfully considering Samwol’s enjoyment of playing in the water.

Philip playfully chided them, asking if they had no shame. Though his words were directed at Bliss, they were also meant to gauge Huey’s reaction. To Huey Cloud, however, the scene was simply too dazzling. The Guide’s smile towards his Esper lingered, an afterimage imprinted upon his heart.

Huey Cloud remained there long after they had greeted him and left. Within him, the definitions of Esper and Guide, of lovers, were slowly crumbling.

And just as much, he felt a profound loneliness.

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