It’s Time to Stop Clinging to the Fake Guide - Chapter 30

‘As expected, a sudden proposal only raises suspicion in many ways.’
But there was nothing else she could do.
Perhaps she should have pretended to be a prophet instead.
Now, the thought only felt useless.
No matter what she said, she didn’t believe she could fully convince the woman before her. Who would trust someone talking about things that had not yet happened? Things no one could even imagine?

“No. I should say it.”
Eshar took a sip of the lukewarm tea and smiled as if amused.

“Yes? Say what?”
“You should tell His Highness the Prince.”
“Tell him… what?”
“To fall in love with me.”

Lynette blinked blankly. The woman let out a small laugh.
“Wouldn’t that be simpler? Or how else were you planning to bring His Highness Euphen and me together?”
“That is…”
“Go tell him. Tell him to fall in love with me.”

Her lips parted slightly.
Go to Euphen and tell him to fall in love with Miss Eshar?
She had never even imagined such a thing. Just thinking about that moment made her chest ache painfully.

“Can’t you do it?”
Eshar tilted her head slightly as she asked.
“N-no…”
Her throat tightened, and she had to clear it with a cough. Her face grew hot, as though her feelings had been exposed.

Wouldn’t she look ridiculous? A mere maid who dared to love a prince, and yet went to another woman, asking her to make him fall in love with her.
She knew well enough that her actions were contradictory. Having it pointed out so directly only deepened her shame.

“I will tell him.”
She tried to sound indifferent, but she could feel the slight tremble in her voice.
“Will that be enough?”
“You won’t regret it?”
“No.”

She met those blue eyes straight on. Eshar, looking a little surprised, soon smiled.
“So you do have His Highness Euphen in your heart. And yet you say you won’t regret it.”
“Because His Highness needs you, Miss Eshar.”
“And what about me?”

The woman leaned back against the sofa.
“Do I need His Highness Euphen as well?”
Her expression hardened slightly as her smooth fingers brushed against her lips.

“Every word you’ve spoken is about His Highness Euphen. He needs me, you want him to love me, you want me to love him in return.”

It was a point she hadn’t considered.

“I can see you think of His Highness Euphen very deeply. I won’t ask why. And I understand that you’ve judged he needs me in some way.”
Her voice turned cold.
“But what about me? Do I also need His Highness Euphen?”
“Yes.” Lynette answered firmly.

“You don’t even know me well, Lynette. So on what grounds did you decide I need him?”
“That is…”

Because you will one day be his destined partner.
An Esper does not necessarily need a Guide, but Euphen was fated to become the only one who could completely fulfill her.
But how could she say that now? That she had regressed, and had seen with her own eyes that Eshar would become his Guide in the future?

And besides, with Eshar’s sharp suspicion and clear thinking, a clumsy excuse would never convince her.

“I can’t say.”
Lynette chose silence.

Eshar let out a soft hum and smiled faintly.
“I thought you might try to distract me with pointless words, but this is unexpected.”

She leaned in slightly closer.
“Lynette, you’ve surprised me in more ways than one.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Hmm, a little.” The woman laughed softly.
“Predictable people are easier to deal with. The unpredictable ones are harder to bend to my will.”
“Even so, I won’t bring you any harm, Miss Eshar.”
“That remains to be seen.”
“So, will you accept it?”
“Do I have to answer right now?”
“Yes.”
“And if I say I don’t want to? Will you back down then?”

Her lips trembled slightly at the sudden question, and Eshar laughed.
“You’re desperate.”
“Is it wrong to be desperate?”
“I am curious why you feel the need to go this far… but I won’t ask. I doubt I’d get a real answer anyway.”

“……”
“Alright.”

She tossed her golden hair over her shoulder and smiled.
“On one condition. You must persuade His Highness Euphen as well. Tell him to love me.”

Lynette lowered her gaze slightly.
“I will.”
“If His Highness agrees, then whether you strive for it or not, we’ll naturally fall in love.”

Fall in love.
For the first time, she realized how painful those words could be.
It was what she had wished for ever since her regression. And yet, now that it was right before her eyes, her heart wouldn’t move as she wished.

She took another sip of the tea that had already gone cold. It was sweet, but the bitterness that lingered at the end filled her mouth.