Chapter 19
The woman with her golden hair tied back in a knot sprang up with a flushed face and reached out her hand.
“I’m sorry. Are you all right?”
Eshar. Euphen’s Guide. The daughter of the head of the Lera Merchant Guild.
Lynette blinked.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
The woman, asking in a worried tone, stepped closer.
The one time she had seen her before, Eshar had been dazzling, flawless enough to stand by Euphen’s side. But now, unexpectedly, her golden hair was simply tied back, and she was dressed in plain clothes.
“Are you in a lot of pain? Can you get up?”
When Lynette didn’t answer, Eshar’s voice grew louder.
‘This is my chance.’
Hadn’t she just been wishing for an accidental encounter? She couldn’t let it slip away like this.
Lynette clutched her ankle and let out a faint groan.
“My ankle hurts so much.”
“I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry!”
Eshar’s voice trembled with panic as she bowed her head in apology.
“I think it’ll be fine if I rest a little…”
“Yes, yes! I’ll help you. The guildhouse is just ahead. Please rest there.”
When Lynette deliberately stumbled as she rose, the woman quickly reached out to support her.
Lynette hobbled along exaggeratedly, following wherever she led. As expected, they arrived at the main branch of the Lera Merchant Guild.
“Miss! Where have you been?”
“Sorry. This lady was hurt, please call for a doctor.”
“What trouble have you caused this time!?”
“I knocked her over.”
“Sigh.”
The maid, her hair loosely tied up, let out a sigh and shook her head.
“This way, please.”
Eshar guided Lynette into a rather luxurious drawing room.
“A doctor won’t be necessary.”
“No, don’t worry about it. Pain should be treated right away.”
The sofa was deeply plush. As comfortable as the ones in Euphen’s detached palace.
Though Lynette hadn’t said much, Eshar fidgeted anxiously, apologizing again and again.
“It’s fine. I think I’m already better.”
“I’m so sorry. Oh, right! my name is Eshar.”
So it really was Eshar.
At that, Lynette couldn’t help but let out a faint laugh.
Even though a doctor had been called, Eshar knelt on the floor, inspecting Lynette’s ankle herself. Her unhesitant manner made Lynette’s feelings stir.
As expected, she was a good person. This was only their second meeting, yet it was obvious at a glance that she wasn’t someone bad.
‘She suits Euphen, doesn’t she.’
Wasn’t that enough? It was clear they were the perfect pair, without a single space for someone like her to wedge into.
It had to be that way. So she wouldn’t foolishly start entertaining other thoughts.
Because Eshar was truly a good person, better than the insignificant human ‘Lynette’ in every way. It was better if there was no room for her to interfere.
“I’m Lynette.”
A lowest-ranked maid of the Imperial Castle. A test subject of the Magic Tower. The temporary Guide of His Highness the Imperial Prince.
She didn’t say those words aloud. She would realize soon enough once she meets Euphen, but there was no need to bring it up now.
Perhaps because it was at Eshar’s request, the doctor arrived shortly after. Hearing Lynette’s complaint of pain, he diagnosed it as mere shock, saying it would be fine after some rest.
“I’m glad it isn’t serious.”
“Sorry for startling you over nothing.”
“No, it’s my fault for running around without watching where I was going.”
Now that she was relieved it wasn’t anything major, Eshar finally sat across from her. A maid entered, serving simple refreshments and tea.
“Please rest before you go. Where is your home? I’ll get you there.”
“The Imperial Castle.”
“The Imperial Castle…”
Eshar’s face briefly showed surprise, then she smiled brightly.
She didn’t ask further, but she must have assumed Lynette was a maid working there. After all, she would certainly know the faces of the Imperial Princesses.
“I’ll take you all the way to the Castle.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Things had gone well. Lynette had been wondering how to bring Eshar to the Imperial Castle to meet Euphen, but Eshar had offered first.
‘If I tell him she was the one who helped me, that should do it.’
There was no way Euphen would let Eshar go once he heard. After all, she was his temporary Guide right now, an important person to him.
If she said she had received help, Euphen would surely try to repay it somehow… and from there, a connection would naturally form.
Lynette quietly studied Eshar. Before her regression, she had thought of her as a gentle young lady, but meeting her like this, she seemed closer to lively and cheerful.
A wry smile tugged at her lips.
How could she be such a perfect match for that man?
Exactly the kind of woman he would like. Cheerful, a little quirky, fascinating.
‘Is this what it means to be fated partners?’
Would the two of them fall in love at first sight?
Lynette stared blankly, lost in thought. In her previous life, her own presence as an obstacle had been too overwhelming for Euphen and Eshar to fully focus on one another, but now, it wasn’t too late.
Suddenly, Sillian’s face came to mind.
A fated partner.
If she hadn’t regressed… if this really were the beginning of her meeting with Euphen… could she have allowed Sillian into her heart? Could she have believed him when he said she was his ‘fated partner’?
She tried to imagine it, but it wasn’t easy. Euphen already occupied too much of her heart.
“But what brought you out today? Didn’t you have something you were supposed to do?”
Eshar tilted her head curiously.
“Ah… I just wanted to look around outside.”
Lynette brushed it off vaguely. She couldn’t very well say she had been wandering about hoping to run into her.
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