The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]
Chapter 139: Marriage What?

Chapter 139: Marriage What?

"...Leader would like to know your thoughts about our recent offer," Nyla’s words drifted to Lane’s ears, causing him to quicken his pace as he squeezed through the crows.

"What offer?" he asked, popping up right next to Damien.

Both Nyla and Damien looked over at him, but neither rushed to respond.

Lane’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What offer?" he repeated, this time more forcefully.

"It’s... a marriage offer," Damien finally responded, although unwillingly, averting his gaze.

This was... certainly not what Lane expected. "A marriage offer?" he could only repeat the words, completely dumbfounded. "For whom?"

"...For me."

"With whom?"

"With me," Nyla admitted.

’...Say what?

For a moment, Lane just stared at his sister. He was shocked, truly shocked.

Of course, ever since the early age, he had always known their parents would arrange their marriages, or at least try to do so. If it wasn’t for the dungeons’ appearance, Nyla would have long been married to some guy from a rich, high-profile family. Due to all the changes in the world, her engagement was postponed, as new factors had to be taken into consideration during matchmaking...

But who would have thought, that when the Allens finally decided on a potential husband for Nyla, it would be Lane’s very own boyfriend? His one and only boyfriend? Of course, the match made sense, with Damien being an S-ranker and of similar age, but...

Lane wrapped his arms around Damien’s, clinging tightly to his man’s side. "He’s already taken."

"...Oh." Nyla paused for a moment, her eyes wandering between Lane and Damien. And then, she nodded her head. "I’m sorry, I didn’t know. In this case, I will relay to the Guild Leader that the marriage cannot happen."

She wasn’t even particularly surprised. She had been to dinner with the two of them before, after all, and Lane... hadn’t been particularly discreet back then.

Lane, on the other hand, was completely taken aback. Convincing Damien to marry her must have been a task Miles assigned to Nyla. Of course, considering the circumstances, there was no way she could have possibly succeeded... But, Lane didn’t expect her to back down so fast! And even apologize! Putting her own thoughts aside... Hell, that marriage was obviously against her own will right from the start, and yet she tried to make it work! Because that’s how she always was, fulfilling their orders perfectly without a word of protest, up to the tiniest detail!

So!

Unconsciously, Lane tightened his grip on Damien’s arm, squeezing it forcefully and earning himself a confused glance he didn’t even pick up on. He was too busy staring at Nyla, his thoughts all chaotic and heated up.

Of course, Lane was glad Nyla backed out. But, where was this courage to defy their parents before?

"Ahem," Damien cleared his throat, interrupting the awkward silence. "By the way, Miss Nyla. I met your brother a while ago."

And, from one uncomfortable topic they shifted to the next.

"Ah..." Nyla averted her eyes. But not before tossing Lane a furtive glance, which clearly meant to check whether ’Xavier’ knew what Damien was talking about.

So, Lane pretended he didn’t. "Miss Nyla has a brother?" he exclaimed with surprise. A bit too loud, so it caught attention of a few people around, and caused Nyla’s shoulders to flinch.

"N-no, I don’t..." she muttered. Not too confident. Then, she bit her lip and lowered her head.

Lane’s eyes narrowed. Just what the hell? What did she mean by this display? If she was so regretful, then why didn’t she...

’Ah, whatever,’ Lane inwardly scoffed. He had long stopped having any expectations toward her. How things were when they were kids didn’t matter. Now, Nyla was just another Allen.

"Team Leader Lennox," Gracie Collins, one of their aunts, stepped in, noticing the situation. "I’m sorry, but there are a few more people we have to greet, so unfortunately, we need to excuse ourselves now."

"...Of course," Damien nodded his head. "I won’t hold you back."

Gracie smiled - a polite, fake smile - as she grabbed Nyla by the shoulders, turning her away.

"Ah, by the way." She glanced back. "I don’t know who you’ve met, but Nyla is an only child. So, if there is someone claiming to be her brother, he must be a fraud."

’Oh, shit, no.’ Lane momentarily stopped breathing. He was going to be fucked...

Just as he thought he was done for though, Damien spoke up again.

"There is no one CLAIMING to be Miss Nyla’s brother," his voice was calm, but stern. "I found his identity from the Association’s files... Unless you’re saying there is a mistake in them?"

Lane exhaled softly with relief. Good, good. As long as the Allens knew it wasn’t his fault. He didn’t want to have a complete fallout with them just yet, as it would make things... a bit complicated.

At Damien’s words, Gracie could do nothing but gnash her teeth. What was she going to say, that the government documentation was wrong? If it was so easy to fake, then Lane wouldn’t be listed as Miles’ son!

She swept her eyes through the people around them, making a quick damage control. Luckily, not that many people had heard. With just a bit of cash, it should be easy enough to suppress the news.

"I’m afraid I cannot answer to that yet," she said, holding back her annoyance. "I will inform Guild Leader Allen about it, and we will make a through check. Now, please excuse me." Gracie bowed her head, and dragged Nyla away.

Lane’s eyes followed them until they disappeared in the crowd. Only then his shoulders finally relaxed.

"...Are you going to keep squeezing me like that?" Damien asked quietly, whispered practically. His tone was... weirdly soft and warm. Tingly.

"Huh?" Lane lifted his eyes, glancing at Damien’s arm. His previously perfectly ironed sleeve was all wrinkled now. Lane truly had been clinging hard.

Well then... There was only one way he could play it now. He pouted his lips, and averted his eyes, as he complained in a whiny voice, "What’s this thing about a marriage offer? How come I don’t know?"

"It’s just an offer the Allen Guild had sent. I have never intended to accept it..."

"Oh really. Then you should have at least told me about it!"

"Well, I didn’t want you to-"

"You even said it before, that Miss Nyla is beautiful!"

Damien paused, staring down at Lane helplessly, not knowing what to do. He could tell that Lane was just pretending to be jealous, obviously, but how was he supposed to deal with it? And in front of so many people at that...

"Come with me," he eventually sighed, furrowing his brows as he grabbed Lane by the arm and led him out of the venue. If Lane wanted to make a scene, then FINE, but not in public! It was an official event, and they were part of the delegation from the Awakened Association! Maintaining a proper decorum was necessary!

But he couldn’t bring himself to scold the man, not after what he had just witnessed. Because if his hunch was correct...

Well, even if it wasn’t. He still felt bad, thinking about that pink-haired man.