Chapter 130
“…Haah…”
Leaning her back against the door, Lynette let out a long sigh.
She stood still, staring blankly at the floor.
An indescribable emotion surged within her.
Most of it felt like sorrow.
Still leaning against the door, Lynette slowly sank down and wrapped her arms around her knees.
She missed Euphen.
When they were together, she had never longed for him this desperately, but now that she realized she could never see him again, it became unbearably hard to suppress her feelings.
‘This was for the best.’
She told herself over and over that it had been the right choice for everyone.
Her mind understood everything perfectly, but her heart still refused to accept it.
She buried her face against her knees.
Things would get better eventually. She would feel better, little by little.
She repeated those words again and again, trying to convince herself.
Lynette stayed curled up for a long time, holding her breath.
Then, unsteadily, she stood up.
She let her body fall onto the bed.
It didn’t seem like she would be able to sleep.
A strange bed, an unfamiliar place, and the thought of all the new things yet to come, things she had never experienced before…
Her eyelids slowly blinked.
Whether it was her mind or her body that was exhausted, she couldn’t tell, but before long, her eyes grew heavy and closed.
Lynette drifted into a deep sleep.
Her last thought was that she wished, at least in her dreams, she could see Euphen once more.
***
How far had she gone by now?
Where was she headed?
Euphen thought quietly to himself, then let out a faint laugh.
He knew better than anyone that wondering about such things was pointless, yet whenever his mind wandered, he couldn’t help but think about where Lynette might be.
‘I’m glad I didn’t ask.’
Knowing nothing meant he could do nothing.
If he had known where she went, at some point… if not today, then someday, he might have run after her, unable to stop himself.
The only comfort he had was the thought that Lynette would no longer be in danger.
Whenever he remembers the moment the assassin’s silver blade touched her fragile neck, he could still feel the blood in his veins turn cold.
How could he ever forget that terrified face?
That expression would remain carved into his heart for the rest of his life.
‘To think I let her experience something so horrifying.’
If she was with Sillian, she would at least be able to live in peace.
No one would try to kill that man.
A dry laugh slipped through his lips.
There were times when being an Imperial Prince felt utterly loathsome.
No… he had always hated this life.
Either do nothing, or risk your life for everything.
There was never a middle ground.
Between those two choices, Euphen had chosen to do nothing.
His mother had passed away long ago, but he liked to think that this was what she would have wanted.
When she had given him that pendant, she had told him only one thing.
To live a long life.
Not to become a great Emperor.
Not to grow stronger.
Only to live.
‘It’s really just an excuse, though.’
He simply disliked it all.
He had no desire for the throne, nor any reason to fight desperately to survive.
If Lynette hadn’t gone through the trouble of finding and bringing Eshar to him, he would have lived quietly with her, undisturbed by anyone.
‘If that had happened… would I never have known the pain she carried?’
He would have gone on, happily ignorant, while her life was slowly being drained.
And perhaps, in the end, he would have lost her all the same.
No matter how he tried to think of it, there was no version of that story that ended happily.
As if the two of them had never been meant to be together from the start.
Euphen closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again.
Only a single day had passed, yet he had been thinking of Lynette constantly.
It wasn’t like before, when he could see her anytime he wanted.
Now, even if he longed for her with all his heart, he would never be able to see her again.
She wouldn’t reach out to him, and he had no intention of seeking her out.
‘At least our hearts had been one.’
They loved each other.
Though they had never openly expressed it or spent time like lovers do, one thing was certain.
Their feelings were mutual.
That alone should be enough.
He knew well how miraculous it was to be loved by the one you love.
Once was enough for such a miracle.
Anything more would only be greed.
Euphen drew in a deep breath, forcing the image of the woman who filled his mind to fade.
He tried to read the words that refused to come into focus.
He hoped Lynette would forget him soon.
‘No… if I’m being honest, I hope she never forgets me.’
He laughed bitterly to himself.
So he really was a selfish, wretched man.
Thanks to her, he had come to realize just how narrow-minded and ugly a person Euphen truly was.
He had done his best to hide that side of himself whenever he was with her.
The more he tried not to think of her, the more she effortlessly took over his thoughts.
Just as he let out yet another long sigh, there came a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
A servant entered, informing him that Eshar had arrived.
Euphen nodded and rose from his seat.
When he opened the door to the reception room, the woman sitting inside rose gracefully to her feet.
“Euphen.”
She greeted him with impeccable courtesy.
“You’re early.”
“I had a bit of free time. I hope I’m not intruding?”
“It’s fine.”
He took a seat across from Eshar.
Her gaze lingered quietly on his face, then softened into a curved smile.
Without a word, she extended her hand.
Euphen stared at it in silence.
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