Chapter 141
The man and woman seated at the table exchanged bewildered looks before turning their eyes to Lynette.
Biting her lip hard, she asked again.
“What did you just say?”
“What… do you mean?”
“Lynette.”
Sillian gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
“My apologies.”
He gave a brief apology and tightened his grip, as if to urge her to return to their seat.
But Lynette shook him off and asked once more.
“You mentioned His Highness the Imperial Prince Euphen.”
“Lynette!”
She ignored his firm tone that told her to stop.
The woman, looking uncomfortable as she met Lynette’s desperate eyes, hesitated before speaking.
“They said… Prince Euphen is dead.”
“Where? Where did you hear that? Who said it? That’s a lie, isn’t it?”
She tried to calm herself, but she couldn’t.
Her trembling voice poured out question after question, and the woman who answered her began to look uneasy.
Lynette knew she should apologize and step back, but she couldn’t stop herself.
“I only heard the rumor. They said Prince Euphen has died…”
“Why? Is it true? It’s just a rumor, right? A lie. It’s a lie, isn’t it? There’s no way something like that could’ve happened.”
She wanted to grab the woman by the shoulders and shake her.
She wanted to scream at her to say it wasn’t true.
Barely restraining herself, Lynette clenched her fists tightly.
“I really don’t know.”
“That’s enough.”
The woman looked displeased, and the man sitting across from her stood up, stepping in between them.
Just before Lynette and the man could collide, Sillian pulled her back slightly.
“Lynette, you should calm down first.”
“Where did you hear that story?”
She tried to shake off his hand again, but this time, it wouldn’t come free so easily. Even when she asked again, the woman didn’t answer.
“My apologies.”
Just as the man between them opened his mouth to speak, Sillian cut him off and forcibly dragged Lynette away.
No matter how much she resisted, she couldn’t overpower him.
“Let me go, Sillian.”
She bit down on her lip as she struggled to pry his fingers off her, twisting with all her strength.
“Let me go! They’re saying His Highness the Imperial Prince is dead. Such ridiculous rumors, ugh-!”
“Lynette, I’m sorry.”
As her voice rose in near hysteria, the man gave a troubled apology and covered her mouth.
“Mmph!! mmph!”
“We’ll return to the inn first.”
Nearly everyone in the shop was staring at them now, but Lynette didn’t care in the least.
Half-carrying her, Sillian quickly left the shop and started going toward the inn.
Lynette struggled fiercely for a long while, but by the time the inn came into view, she stopped. She had twisted and fought so hard she could barely breathe.
Panting heavily, she glared at him as he glanced her way and slowly released his hand from her mouth.
“Haah.. hah…”
Lynette glared at him through her ragged breaths.
Sillian gave another quiet apology and finally let go of her completely.
“…”
“I couldn’t just stand by and watch you talk about the Imperial Prince in a public place like that.”
Lynette took several steps back.
She understood why he did it.
Even if people talked about the imperial family for amusement, it wasn’t something that could be spoken of so openly.
And her reaction to Euphen’s name had been far too intense. It would’ve looked strange to anyone watching.
‘They’ll think there’s some connection between us.’
They were already being hunted by an unknown enemy, the last thing they needed was to draw unnecessary attention.
Who knows, those people might even be looking for Sillian and Lynette right now.
“Are you upset? I couldn’t help it. I’m sorry, Lynette.”
Sillian spoke calmly, letting out a quiet sigh.
Lynette lowered her head, lips pressed tightly together.
She walked toward the inn in silence, and only after some time did she finally force herself to speak.
“No. You were right to do that.”
“…I’m sorry.”
He apologized once again.
With her fists clenched tightly, Lynette stepped inside the inn.
The smell of food filling the first floor reminded her that she hadn’t eaten since evening, but she wasn’t hungry.
It wasn’t just her mind, her entire body felt consumed by the words she had just heard.
‘It must be just a rumor.’
She bit her lips hard as she slowly climbed the stairs.
Heavy footsteps followed behind her.
Even after they entered the room and sat facing each other, silence hung between them for a long time.
Finally, Lynette exhaled a trembling breath.
“It’s just a rumor, right? Isn’t it?”
If this man agreed, if he said it was nonsense, she would believe him.
But Sillian only sat deep in thought, his expression rigid.
“That’s impossible.”
“……”
“Sillian, you know as well as I do. His Highness the Imperial Prince is an Esper. He’s awakened, and his Guide is right beside him. There’s no way he could have been hurt.”
She was afraid that if she said the word ‘dead’ out loud, it might somehow make it real.
Nervously clasping her hands together, Lynette stared at the man’s lips.
She thought he would nod and reassure her, but unexpectedly, he answered in a serious tone.
“I’ll go and find out what happened.”
Lynette’s lips parted faintly.
It was clear from his words, he thought it might be true.
“It’s just a rumor, isn’t it? It’s not true right?”
She spoke as if pleading, praying for that answer.
The man gave a faint, bitter smile.
“I’ll find out for certain. Please wait here, Lynette.”
“Let’s… let’s go together.”
She shifted in her seat, then stood abruptly. She couldn’t just sit still and wait.
But looking up at her, Sillian cut her off firmly.
“It would be best if you stayed here.”
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