Chapter 107
“Yes. Come in.”
Was it Euphen?
Since no one else would be visiting, she naturally assumed it was him. But the one who entered was, unexpectedly, Eshar.
“Miss Eshar.”
Lynette hurriedly rose from her seat. How long had it been since she last saw her? It was the first time since she had met with Sillian, the four of them together.
“It’s been a while.”
The woman smiled faintly as she stepped inside. Behind her, several attendants followed in carrying large boxes.
“Pointless to ask if you’ve been well, I suppose.”
Eshar spoke calmly. When Lynette quickly urged her to sit, she lowered her head politely as if thanking her, then settled onto the sofa.
Lynette hesitated, then sat across from her, stealing glances at the boxes being neatly stacked up.
“What are those?”
“Gifts for your recovery.”
“Ah… you didn’t need to.”
“I bear responsibility too for what happened to you. Think of them as an apology.”
She wanted to say, What does this have to do with you? It was Euphen’s matter. But she knew the truth. It was only because Eshar appeared that Euphen had been drawn into the battle for the throne.
“Since I didn’t know what you liked, I prepared a variety of things. Hopefully, something will please you.”
“Thank you for the thought.”
Lynette bowed her head politely.
Not long after, perhaps having heard that a guest had arrived, Lara came in carrying refreshments.
“I wondered if I should visit sooner, but I thought it would be better to wait until you’d regained some strength.”
“Just coming at all is more than enough, thank you.”
“I heard you were badly bruised, so I brought a good ointment.”
Eshar took out a small jar from one of the boxes she had brought herself.
“It will work better than the palace’s medicine. Though the smell is a little unpleasant.”
When she opened the lid, a pungent bitterness drifted out, strong enough to wrinkle one’s nose. It was certainly different from the palace ointments, which carried a pleasant fragrance. This one seemed to be wholly focused on effectiveness.
Seeing Lynette’s expression, Eshar let out a small laugh.
“It may not look like it, but I can guarantee the effect.”
“I’ll use it well. Thank you.”
They exchanged some pleasantries for a while, asking if she was truly all right, expressing relief that nothing worse had happened. All the while, Lynette was wondering why Eshar had come. Of course, perhaps she truly had come with no other motive than to pay a visit, but Lynette couldn’t quite imagine Eshar doing that.
When would she get to the point?
It wasn’t until Lynette had lowered her gaze and was halfway through her tea that the conversation finally shifted.
“Are you still meeting that man? The one called Sillian.”
“Ah, yes…”
So she had wanted to ask about Sillian?
Lynette’s whole body tensed. There were far too many secrets about him. That he was a foreign prince. That he had spoken of Espers and Guides.
‘Ah right, I forgot to ask her about what I read in that book.’
After the assassin’s intrusion and the days spent ill in bed, she had completely forgotten the book she had borrowed from the Imperial Castle library. And hadn’t Sillian thrown yet another matter for her to ponder as well?
“I know he’s your fated one. But is he truly someone you could spend your life with?”
Spend your life with.
Why did those words strike her ears so strongly? Lynette hesitated, unable to answer at once.
‘So that’s how it looks to others. That Sillian and I are meant to be together.’
Regardless of her own thoughts or feelings, wasn’t destiny about forcing one down a path already determined?
She fiddled absently with her teacup.
“I think… he’s a good person.”
After some hesitation, she gave the most cautious answer she could. Though she smiled faintly, it was clear enough that Eshar wasn’t very satisfied.
“I don’t know what you intend to do with him… but in the end, you are tied as Esper and Guide.”
“That’s true.”
“If you remain at Euphen’s side, then by extension, Sillian will remain as well.”
Lynette could guess what troubled her. She must be wary of Sillian’s true identity. After all, he was a man born and raised in another land. There was no way she could gather proper information on him.
Even for the Lera Merchant Guild, it would be impossible to connect a ‘distant foreign prince’ with an ordinary Imperial guard. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t quite imagine how far away his homeland really was, but Sillian had said himself that Calles was extremely distant. Even in the Imperial library, where records of most neighboring kingdoms could be found, there had been next to nothing about Calles. That alone spoke volumes of its distance.
“I don’t like having any ‘sources of uncertainty’ around me.”
“Sillian is…”
Lynette’s lips parted. She wanted to say he was no threat to Euphen, but the words wouldn’t come.
That his sole focus was herself? That once Eshar awakened, he intended to leave with her, far away, never to return? That he would never, under any circumstance, stand in their way?
“…He’s just an ordinary guard.”
Even knowing she was a poor liar, she forced the words out.
“Is that what he told you?”
“There’s nothing particularly unusual about him.”
“Have you never once thought that man was strange?”
Truthfully, Lynette had often wondered about Sillian. His noble-like manners, far too refined for a mere guard, his uncommon red eyes, even the magical pendant. She herself found him suspicious at times, how much more so must he appear in Eshar’s eyes?
“From the very start, wasn’t the way he met you unnatural?”
“Why? Sillian had the pendant, and by chance-”
“In a fated bond, isn’t it usually the Esper who awakens first?”
Lynette slowly nodded.
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