Chapter 114
“I’m his Guide, so of course he’ll treat me kindly.”
With a self-deprecating laugh, Euphen spoke in a rough voice.
“You’re honest when you’re with that man.”
“That’s…”
What did it mean to be honest?
Lynette had no memory of doing anything particularly special with Sillian.
“In front of me, you’re always just trying to smile no matter what.”
At his mutter, Lynette clenched her fists.
She remembered the gaze she sometimes felt on her when walking with Sillian in the garden.
Did Euphen think showing anger, crying, and revealing such emotions to Sillian was what counted as honesty?
“I only wanted to show Your Highness my best side.”
At her words, Euphen let out a short, bitter laugh.
“I want to see your honest self.”
“…This is my honest self.”
How could she possibly get angry, cry, and break down in front of Euphen the way she had with Sillian?
In front of him, she just wanted to be happy.
He looked at her quietly with those deep, blue eyes.
“Lynette, if I told you to be happy with that man… how would you feel?”
Saying that all of a sudden, what was that supposed to mean?
She couldn’t guess what he intended at all.
‘Be happy with Sillian?’
Did that mean he no longer needed her?
Or that he thought her heart already belonged to Sillian?
In a daze, Lynette said nothing.
Euphen gave a bitter smile.
“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”
“I’m asking whether you could get along well with him if you were together.”
“I’m… His Highness’ Guide.”
Even though she was only a ‘temporary Guide’ until Eshar awakened, and even though she had resolved to leave Euphen’s side someday… now was not that time.
“That’s why it can’t be.”
The man took a step closer.
His fingertips lightly brushed a few strands of her disheveled hair, as though he couldn’t quite bring himself to touch her properly.
Through those thin strands of hair, she could faintly feel his touch.
Because it didn’t reach her skin, there was no pain.
“If you keep staying by my side…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but Lynette knew very well what he meant to say.
Hadn’t she heard of it endlessly already?
That her life would shorten, that she would suffer pain?
Euphen gave a dry laugh.
“I thought it would be easy, but it’s hard.”
“What are you talking about?”
At her question, the man pressed his lips together firmly.
“I need some time to prepare myself.”
As Lynette tilted her head slightly, he let out a long sigh.
“I’ll tell you next time, Lynette.”
“Your Highness.”
Even when she called out to him, Euphen left without turning back.
She couldn’t bring herself to stop him.
Lynette gazed blankly at his retreating figure.
The thought that had briefly crossed her mind resurfaced once more.
There could only be one reason for him to speak as if he were trying to send her away like this.
‘Has Miss Eshar awakened?’
She bit down on her lip.
It wasn’t strange for Eshar to awaken.
Hadn’t she expected something like this to happen soon anyway?
And yet she found herself absurdly shocked.
If Eshar had truly awakened, then soon she would have to leave.
‘Is His Highness thinking the same thing?’
Had they both concluded that simply growing apart was the answer?
Realistically, that was the best method.
There was no way to undo any of this.
Even if they stayed together, they couldn’t do anything.
A love that couldn’t reach, what a ridiculous sight it was.
“Haah…”
Clenching her fist, she pressed it against her chest.
What pained her most was the realization that their fates belonged to different people.
‘If Miss Eshar really has awakened… then now I won’t even have an excuse to reach out to him anymore.’
It was obvious Euphen would try not to touch her.
With someone else there to guide him, there was no need for him to cause Lynette pain.
It had been only a few days since she’d decided to leave, but everything was moving too quickly.
She hadn’t even properly prepared herself, yet she had awakened so suddenly, and Euphen was saying words carrying a ‘certain’ meaning.
‘He hasn’t actually said it yet, so it’s fine.’
She wasn’t officially told that Eshar had awakened, so maybe she could still pretend not to know a little longer.
Just a few more days by his side.
Lynette bit down on her lip.
She hoped that Euphen’s time to ‘prepare himself’ would last a little longer.
‘No. Maybe Miss Eshar plans to tell me herself.’
Since she disliked Sillian’s presence, perhaps if she delayed like this, Eshar would come to her personally and say she had awakened.
Eshar’s awakening would surely bring joy to everyone but Euphen and Lynette.
If Sillian learned of it, he would probably be pleased, thinking that they could finally leave.
Eshar would also be relieved because the troublesome man will be gone.
In the end, Lynette had never found a way to return from being a fake Guide to her original state.
She slowly brushed her fingertips along the handrails of the stairs.
The thought that the day she would leave this place was drawing near left her feeling restless.
Even if she tried to buy time, it would only be a few days at most, but she prayed desperately for that moment to come even a little later.
With a dark expression, she collapsed onto the bed.
She wished time could stop just like this.
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