Guiding the Male Lead out of His Trauma

As soon as Cassiel completely disappeared past the main gate, we were finally able to borrow a carriage.

But for some reason…

“It would’ve been enough to just let us know. Why are you coming with us?”

“I have somewhere to go, too.”

Acteon, who I thought would be going out separately, suddenly requested to join us.

Hyacine, annoyed at Acteon for getting in the way of an outing with his sister, snapped irritably. But Acteon replied coolly,

“With so many people going out today, the stables are really busy. If I went separately, it might take even longer for a carriage to be ready.”

“You. You planned this from the start, didn’t you? Just so you could go with my sister.”

“Well. What do you think, Senior?”

No, I’d rather not think anything about it…

The Acteon I knew from the original story was someone tormented by trauma, cold toward everyone except his own Guide, to whom he was obsessively attached. That instability always made things dangerously tense with Millia.

But the Acteon in front of me now…

‘I can’t imagine him as the same person from the original at all…’

If anything, he felt like a kid wanting attention, hoping I’d care for him.

‘Except he’s too clever for just a child.’

Even now, Acteon knew that if he said that, I’d have no choice but to let him come along.

Did you think I wouldn’t notice? I pretended to fall for it, then gestured for him to come closer.

“Acteon.”

“Yes, Senior?”

“Could you lower your head for a second?”

He probably didn’t expect this.

He obediently ducked his head and looked up at me, his gaze full of curiosity and anticipation.

What is he expecting me to do?

I reached out toward his forehead, pushing aside his bangs, and then—

Smack!

“I hit you because you’re being annoying.”

After giving him a playful flick on the forehead, I quickly climbed into the carriage that was now ready.

‘Seriously, what a handful…’

Hyacine, seeing all this, snorted and mocked Acteon triumphantly.

“Hah, what were you expecting? That kind of thing never works on Lippey.”

As Hyacine boarded after me, Acteon muttered quietly behind him.

“Hm. We’ll see.”

Let’s just pretend I didn’t hear that.

If Hyacine had, the tense standoff between them would’ve started all over again.

Fortunately, he didn’t seem to catch it. Sitting next to me, Hyacine simply shot a glare at Acteon, who sat across from us.

I glanced at Acteon and then slipped back into my own thoughts.

‘First, we need to stop by the bank, and since we’re in the capital again, we should visit our parents…’

Conveniently, there’s a cathedral on the west side of District 1, right by the bank, so our route lines up nicely.

‘That should leave us plenty of time. Good.’

I was already thinking happily about what I might buy for our kid when Acteon caught my eye.

“What? Do you need something?”

“You seem to have a lot of places to visit. May I ask what your plans are?”

“What if it’s a secret?”

“In that case, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll just have to head back on my own. Even though, as someone still recovering, you really ought to take the carriage, and I’d have to walk alone.”

“…In the morning, the bank. In the afternoon, maybe check out a nice restaurant, and I’m planning to stop by the cathedral and a dress shop too.”

Hyacine glared at me for so easily revealing our plans.

Sorry, I’m just an easy sister.

“I suppose that’s fine, then…”

Acteon lightly tapped his folded arms with his fingers.

Come to think of it, didn’t Acteon say he had errands of his own?

But from the way he acted, it was obvious his own business was just an excuse. He was just here to tag along with us.

‘Actually, it works out well for me.’

Because I had another goal today.

‘I’m sure of it. She said she worked there before enrolling.’

I planned to try and find Millia in advance.

Since I’d already decided to overturn the predetermined story, I didn’t care whether Acteon and Millia ended up falling in love or missing each other entirely.