Chapter 29
“Haah..”
She let out a deep breath.
“Yes.”
The simple answer didn’t come out as easily as she had thought.
As promised, Eshar didn’t ask “why” and instead posed a different question.
“What if I already have someone I love?”
Lynette lifted her head with a blank expression.
That possibility hadn’t even crossed her mind. In her previous life, when she had faced this woman just once, she had been smiling brightly as she stood at Euphen’s side.
“And what if His Highness Euphen already loves someone else?”
“He doesn’t! Not yet… He doesn’t love anyone.”
“How can you be so sure of that?”
“I just know. I… just know. Because he is the Crown Prince.”
“From what I’ve seen, it looks like His Highness already has someone in his heart.”
Her lips trembled as she bit down on them at those teasing words.
Lynette knew exactly who Eshar was referring to. After all, the woman’s gaze was fixed directly on her.
“You’re mistaken.”
If only she could speak about being a fake Guide, it would have been easier. But that was something far beyond her authority to reveal.
“I’ve already made it clear to His Highness.”
“A mistake, you say?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think so because you’re just a maid?”
The woman asked directly without circling around.
“No.” Lynette shook her head.
If the barrier had been nothing more than status, she would have found a way to break through it. If not, she could have begged him. Of course, even if she escaped being a mere maid, problems would still remain. But the obstacle was never only status.
“Even if I had been the daughter of a noble house, had His Highness told me he loved me… I would still have told him he was mistaken.”
As soon as she said it, she realized how useless such a supposition was.
If she had truly been a noble’s daughter, she would never have been made into a ‘fake’ Guide in the first place. Then, she would never have experienced that sweet, intoxicating sensation of guiding him. And in such a world, she would have been able to simply accept the loving gaze in his eyes.
…How wonderful that might have been.
She wouldn’t have needed to be a noble’s daughter. Even a plain countryside girl would have been enough.
As long as she hadn’t been a fake Guide.
If only she hadn’t been that.
She forcefully pushed away the thoughts that kept threatening to consume her. Lynette stared quietly into the woman’s blue eyes.
It was a different blue than Euphen’s. A paler shade, like the color of a flowing river.
“Regardless of what emotions His Highness may have held for me, I have already made them clear to him.”
That was why he had kept his distance since that day. The casual touches had ceased, and the familiar, warm words had disappeared.
“…Do you have someone you love, Miss Eshar?”
“No.”
Eshar smiled faintly and answered without hesitation.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, asking me to do something like that. But… it isn’t such a bad proposal for me.”
“It is a good proposal.”
“It would be, if it were truly possible. But do you really think things will go as you say?”
“I’ll help you.”
At those words, the woman gave her a light smile.
“When did you start planning all this?”
“…Pardon? What do you mean…?”
“Was even our meeting part of your plan?”
Lynette blinked.
“Or were you going to claim it was just a coincidence?”
“I don’t know what you’re imagining, but meeting you really was a coincidence, Miss Eshar.”
“Then are you saying you wouldn’t have cared if it were someone else beside His Highness Euphen?”
“No.”
If it could have been just ‘any woman,’ things would have been easier. But Euphen needed Eshar.
She was his destined match, the one who could awaken at any time. If it had to be anyone, then it had to be her.
If the two of them remained close, then the awakening could happen naturally. Euphen wouldn’t be confused over who he truly loved, and everything would fall into place.
“It has to be you, Miss Eshar.”
She was Euphen’s true Guide. The one Lynette had once wished so desperately to be.
No matter how hard Lynette struggled, no matter how much she wished, it would only ever end in tragedy for her. But for this woman, a perfect future awaited.
“…You expect me to believe it was coincidence that we met, but that it must be me nonetheless?”
“This proposal brings you no harm, Miss Eshar. And it’s not as if I stand to gain anything from it either.”
“Who knows? Perhaps you do gain something. Maybe in ways I can’t see.”
“You’re free to believe that I don’t speak from pure intentions. Think of me however you want. I won’t mind.”
She met the narrowed, pale blue eyes. Though Eshar wore her usual bright smile, her gaze was cold, as though it were dissecting her, trying to expose everything hidden within.
“All I want is for His Highness Euphen and you to fall in love with each other.”
“…Have you told His Highness this as well?”
“No.”
“Has His Highness ever chosen me himself?”
“Whatever you may think, Miss Eshar, nothing has happened. This is only my selfish wish. I have no intention of ever telling His Highness.”
Eshar fell into thought. Her expression remained calm, but it was clear her mind was running its own calculations behind it.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.