The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 186: Maybe Me Instead?

For a moment, Lane just froze completely, even his breath dying in his lungs, his fingers tightening on the silver knife and the fork, which he still was holding, despite having not taken a single bite ever since the conversation started.

Then, he moved his eyes to Nyla, who was sitting with her head down, pushing the food around on her plate. She was listening, Lane knew she was, but she still remained silent. As if the conversation had nothing to do with her.

Which it didn’t until now, yes, but now her ’potential’ engagement with Damien was mentioned. And yet, she didn’t react at all.

Lane moved his eyes back to his mother. Catherine was cold and composed, sipping some wine. She seemed serious. Lane thought it was weird when he had heard the rumors back in the Allen Guild, but still...

Once again, Lane’s gaze drifted to his twin sister. Still silent.

...Did she not tell their parents what Damien had told her at the gala? That he was taken? Why wouldn’t she?

Then again, perhaps she did. However, Gracie was there as well. She must have heard everything, and knew that Damien was dating Xavier.

And Xavier... was dead. So, from the Allens’ point of view, Damien was likely single again.

Lane gritted his teeth. He couldn’t let it go on any longer. While he knew that Damien would refuse the offer, no matter how many times the Allens’ extended it to him...

It still bothered him. A lot.

So, he chuckled, his lips twisting in a sneer. "My brother-in-law? Damien Lennox? Are you sure it’s even possible?"

Catherine furrowed her brows. "And why wouldn’t it be? Both Damien Lennox and Nyla are high-ranking Espers, and around the same age. While his background leaves a lot to be desired, he is hardworking, handsome, serious, and dedicated. They are a good match."

"Oh yeah?" Lane quirked his brow, as he leaned in his chair, still chuckling, even though Catherine’s last comment made all of his insides twist. "Except that she’s a woman!"

Catherine paused, taken aback. Not by Lane’s words though - she had heard that Damien’s ’dead’ partner was a man - but rather, by the fact that Lane seemed to know that.

Lane really shouldn’t know that, and he was aware of that. Still, he had to, ahem, protect his boyfriend from the unwelcome marital pursuits, so he explained, "You know I’ve met him, right? It’s so obvious he’s gay, I could instantly tell!"

Silence hung over the table. True silence this time, as Miles and Catherine finally stopped eating, turning their eyes to Lane instead. Their gazes were so cold, that the sea of ice Lane passed through earlier in the day seemed like a tropical island in comparison!

"It’s an arranged marriage," Miles finally spoke. "Personal preferences are not important."

That was a harsh comment coming from a man who was in an arranged marriage himself, and whose wife was sitting right next to him. However, Catherine was unmoved. She probably shared the sentiment. There probably was no love between her and Miles... But they still got along surprisingly well. Maybe because they both had those cold, emotionless, success-oriented personalities, and they were more like business partners than spouses.

Either way, neither Damien nor Nyla was that way. So trying to force them together was ridiculous. Cruel even.

"It would have been better for you to try to marry him to me," Lane muttered.

Only to choke on his own words a second later.

...Just what did he just say?

His parents were no less stunned.

"What are you..." Catherine started, but before she could finish her sentence, Miles lifted his hand, signaling her to stop talking.

"Marry Damien Lennox to you?" Miles repeated calmly, his sharp grey eyes focused on Lane.

"Ugh..." Lane bit on his lip. Yes, he was dating Damien, but marriage was a bit...

All of a sudden, his eyes widened, as he realized something. Actually, was that a great idea? Marriage aside - it wouldn’t be happening anytime soon anyway, so there was no point worrying about it - an offer like that could create an opportunity for him to meet with Damien. Meet, and then either tell him the truth, or try to seduce him as ’Lane Allen’. How it would work out, Lane didn’t know, but it was at least worth a try!

"Well, yes." He flashed a bright smile, as confident as he could under his father’s cold gaze. "I’m certain I could win him over easily. Back when I ran into him, although we didn’t talk for long, I could tell that he was interested in me..."

"In you? With your ridiculous hair?"

Lane’s eyes twitched, but he maintained his smirk. "Yes. You might not be aware, but serious and proper men like Damien Lennox often prefer more relaxed, easy-going types! And he had even complimented me on my hair, so clearly, he sees nothing wrong with people dying their hair pink!"

Miles observed Lane with narrowed eyes, tapping his fingers on the table, as he pondered over his son’s words.

...He was actually considering it. Yes, Lane proposed it himself, but he was still thrown into a state of complete disbelief! That his father, who had wanted to get rid of him, both metaphorically and literally, now was considering using Lane for his own benefit.

But then again, perhaps he shouldn’t be surprised. He knew it all along that if he had ever shown any sign he might be useful for them, they would gladly exploit him without any hesitation.

As they were doing with Nyla.

"...No," Miles finally said, after a dreadfully long silence. "If you were to marry an S-rank Esper, your existence might be brought into the light. That would only bring shame to the Allen family."

...Of course. Lane couldn’t help but scoff.

"Perhaps we should take it into consideration, though," Catherine chimed in. "If Damien Lennox is truly homosexual, he might be unwilling to marry Nyla. We should try suggesting Elliot next."

Lane’s whole body tightened.

Elliot Ross? His cousin from his mother’s side? An A-rank Guide? With Damien?

"Elliot is straight, though," he pointed out.

However, his remark was completely ignored.