Guiding the Male Lead out of His Trauma

No matter how much we’d only just met yesterday, if someone collapses right in front of you while helping you out…

‘You’d be thrown off, of course…’

Not to mention all the trouble that comes after.

The sudden visit from the Bureau’s inspectors, having to explain the reason for unauthorized guiding, all sorts of hassles.

‘Just thinking about it is exhausting.’

After calmly putting myself in his shoes, I put my hand to my forehead.

I’d even imagined getting thrown out for being a mere B-Class daring to guide a member of Brondearn.

‘Fortunately… it seems to have worked out pretty well.’

Only then, finally reassured, could I answer Acteon’s question calmly.

“Yeah, sorry for acting on my own.”

“I’m not really looking for an apology…”

“But thanks to me, you got through a dangerous moment. Wouldn’t a thank you be better than a scolding?”

Helping Acteon with his first awakening might have changed the future in uncertain ways.

I’d risked a lot to help him, after all.

When I looked over at him with raised brows, as if to ask if I was wrong, Acteon flinched.

“Am I wrong?”

“……”

After a moment of silence, he answered,

“No, you’re right, Senior.”

He admitted it so obediently that it was almost strange.

Why is he being so meek all of a sudden?

I was honestly a bit thrown, especially remembering how he was when we first met.

Not to mention right before I collapsed.

“But you seem to be fine now, so I guess it worked out in the end?”

But before Acteon’s expression could lighten, Hyacine jumped in from beside me, mimicking my earlier look, eyes sharp.

Like a mother-in-law scolding her daughter-in-law for not treating her precious son right.

“If you get it, you should at least thank her properly. Don’t just think you can get away with it.”

Hey now, don’t glare at him that much.

Thankfully, Acteon didn’t seem to care how Hyacine talked to him.

Instead, he looked at me.

We made eye contact, though only for a second before he quietly looked away.

“The Bureau said it wasn’t a normal first awakening. They said it was closer to an anomalous reaction. It’s proof that my expected grade is high, but they also said that if something went wrong while accepting mana, I could’ve been in serious trouble.”

After hesitating a moment, Acteon added,

“…I could have been left crippled, or, worst case, the mana I absorbed could have reversed and my heart could have burst.”

…I knew it was serious, but I didn’t realize it was that dangerous.

If I hadn’t helped Acteon, then…

‘I might have ended up with the entire Brondearn family’s resentment…?’

After all, if the person nearest had been a Guide but had done nothing and just stood by, that would have been unforgivable.

‘Knowing the Duke’s personality, he’d have blamed me unconditionally.’

It might be right to call Acteon’s anomalous first awakening an accident, but the Duke would have dumped all his anger at losing a valuable Transcendent onto me.

Turns out saving him really was the right choice.

It felt strange.

This dizzying sense of danger, like looking back after walking a tightrope…

And the relief that I’d gotten through it safely, both swirling in my chest.

After a moment’s silence, Acteon reached out his hand.

Was he reassured to see me awake and coherent?

He seemed to want to check for himself, so I laid my hand over his.

“It’s thanks to you, Senior. I’m only alive and whole because of you.”

Acteon thanked me, then brought my hand to his lips in a noble’s gesture.

How aristocratic.

I was about to let it go as nothing, but then I felt a sinister glare from beside me.

“Hey! You could have just said thank you! Why are you sticking your mouth on her hand?!”

Before I could react, Hyacine tried to slap Acteon’s hand away.

But Acteon, quicker, let go first and smiled as he stood up.

“I’ll let my father know I’m back to normal. See you later.”

With that, he left the room, ignoring Hyacine’s outburst.

“Lippey, that guy is weird. You shouldn’t get close to him.”

“Why are you making such a fuss? Nothing’s going to happen.”

“You call this making a fuss? Can’t you see what a sly fox he is?”

Of course I can see it, it’s plain as day.

But even if Acteon is interested in me… Me, of all people? I’d just have to stand by and watch some high-ranking Guide handle his guiding because of the difference in our grades.

Why bother giving myself such unnecessary heartache?