Chapter 111
At those words, Sillian frowned.
It was the expression of someone who had never once imagined that he could live as a ‘normal’ person.
“Even if I were to die first, it wouldn’t matter…”
The man made a face of disbelief.
“Don’t bother making excuses, Lynette. Isn’t all of this for the sake of the Imperial Prince?”
How could she answer when his words struck right at the truth?
Lynette closed her mouth.
“Do you want to stay here so badly that you’d believe such absurd stories?”
“…”
“Then why did you say you were leaving?”
“Truly…”
She tried to say something, even if it was just an excuse, but the moment she saw the man’s face, she couldn’t go on.
It was an expression she had never seen before.
She could tell he was furious, down to the tips of his hair.
Though he sometimes spoke harshly, and occasionally grew angry, he had never been this enraged.
Lynette lowered her head.
It was only natural that Sillian would be angry. She had spoken as though she had given everything up and would leave, yet at the same time she was desperately searching for a way not to.
It must have seemed ridiculous.
“I’m sorry.”
“Are you really sorry?”
At that question, she closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again.
“Sillian, I wasn’t lying.”
She knew that saying this now would only sound like an excuse, but it was the truth.
She had never once lied to this man.
Every answer she gave had been after long and careful thought.
Despite knowing how foolish she must look, Lynette couldn’t figure out what to do.
Always trying to choose the ‘best option’ that came to mind in the moment, yet she ends up with conflicts over and over again. Like when she had made that absurd request of Eshar and Euphen, to fall in love with each other.
‘Back then too, I said such things and yet couldn’t even conduct myself properly.’
She hadn’t even been able to sort out her own feelings toward the Imperial Prince, and yet she had said she wanted the two of them to be together…
She let out a long sigh.
“I truly intend to leave. It’s just…”
“Then stop clinging to such nonsense.”
Sillian’s words were right.
Once she had decided, she shouldn’t look back, even if it was something Euphen wanted.
When she looked at this man, she chose to ‘leave’.
When she looked at the Imperial Prince, she chose to ‘find a way’ in accordance with his deep concerns.
Lynette clenched her fists tightly.
She couldn’t keep wavering like this.
She gazed blankly at the red eyes before her.
Though his tone was calm, his expression was more rigid than ever, as if his anger had not easily subsided.
“…I understand. From now on, I won’t do anything pointless.”
It was clear which choice she had to make.
Rather than clinging to an impossible being like a dragon, she had to choose reality.
“It will probably sound like an excuse… No, it is an excuse.”
“…”
“All this time, I was only thinking about what was right in front of me. I’m sorry.”
Sillian let out a deep sigh.
“I’ve already told Miss Eshar that I will leave, so there’s no way to take it back now.”
“…I’m sorry for losing my temper.”
The man gave a bitter smile and calmly apologized.
But the one who should be apologizing was Lynette herself.
Saying one thing and then another, how pathetic must she have looked?
Besides, whether she liked it or not, this man was bound to her.
And yet she kept acting selfishly.
Of course he had reason to be angry.
“It’s all right. I think you had every right to be angry.”
“Even so, I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
“No. If anything, you scolding me helped me come to my senses.”
Just as their pointless argument seemed to be dragging on, their walk ended.
Without another word, Sillian pressed a kiss to the back of her hand, and, as always, quietly left.
Lynette let out a short sigh and stepped inside.
As she lowered her head and placed one foot on the stairs, a voice came from above.
“Lynette.”
“Your Highness the Imperial Prince.”
Euphen was slowly descending.
The man’s gaze did not leave the bandage pressed against her cheek.
Feeling self-conscious, Lynette turned her head away slightly.
Soon, he stopped in front of her.
“I heard Eshar came to see you.”
“Yes.”
She nodded, then remembered the gifts.
“She gave me a lot of presents. She even gave me an ointment that’s supposed to be good for bruises.”
“And besides that?”
He seemed uninterested in what had been given.
His words asked about ‘another purpose,’ and at that, Lynette almost laughed.
Both Sillian and Euphen, it seemed, thought of Eshar as someone who always acted based on ‘profit.’
Not a single person seemed to believe her visit had been a matter of pure concern for the sick.
“She didn’t say anything in particular.”
His expression faintly stiffened.
Lynette recalled that Euphen had the ability to see through her lies.
Should she mix in some truth?
That would be far better than insisting nothing at all had happened.
“She asked a little about Sillian.”
“About security?”
“She said she was curious how she happened to find out.”
She mentioned the pendant, mixing in the truth that it was thanks to it that they had met.
Though the man still looked slightly doubtful, he chose not to speak further. Perhaps it’s because he hadn’t read any lies in Lynette’s expression.
“As long as nothing happened, that’s enough.”
Only then did his expression relax.
But what would his face look like if he learned she had spoken of ‘leaving’ several times today?
Would he be angry?
Or would he speak even more desperately of finding a way for her to stay?
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