Chapter 31
Asking Euphen to fall in love with Eshar.
It sounded like such a simple thing to say, but her heart couldn’t take it so easily. Lynette stopped in place, bent her waist, and curled her body in on itself.
‘To tell him to love another person.’
She felt this must be Eshar’s “test.”
Eshar had realized right away that Lynette was in love with Euphen. Lynette briefly reflected on whether she had shown it that obviously, but when she recalled the man whose hand she had so naturally held, she concluded it wouldn’t have been too hard to guess.
As a lowly maid, she should have been burdened and fled or continuously stepped back, but under the excuse of guiding, she had once clung to him in full view of others. Of course, she hadn’t had the courage to wrap her arms around Euphen’s back.
‘She’s asking if I can give him up.’
It was surely to see whether she could truly abandon her feelings for the Imperial Prince Euphen and sincerely wish for Eshar to be loved.
“Haa……”
Lynette buried her face deep into her arms. A throbbing ache pounded in her head.
She knew in her mind what she had to do. If she couldn’t even tell him to love another woman, that would mean she could never let Euphen go.
But just imagining the moment she would have to say to him, “Please fall in love with Eshar,” made a sharp pain flare deep inside her chest.
Ever since she met that woman, every time she worried about how to deliver these words to Euphen, her heart hurt. And she could never grow used to that pain. Maybe because it was a feeling closer to wanting to cry than to scream.
“Lynette?”
A hand tapped her shoulder, startling her into lifting her head. Mari was standing before her with a large basket hooked under her arm.
“Mari?”
“I thought you were someone else. What are you doing here?”
“Ah, just……”
Forcing a casual expression, she rose to her feet and dusted off her clothes.
“On your way to the palace?”
“Yeah. And you?”
“I was heading there too.”
When Lynette offered to help carry the large basket, Mari firmly refused.
The two of them walked side by side in silence. Having exchanged names, recognized each other’s faces, and even shared the experience of being imprisoned together, there was a certain sense of camaraderie, but it didn’t mean closeness would suddenly bloom.
As they walked quietly, it was Mari who first spoke.
“What exactly are you?”
“Hm?”
“You’re close with His Highness the Prince.”
“……”
“Are you his lover or something?”
“No!”
Lynette denied it in a hurry. Things were already overwhelming enough, she couldn’t afford the additional misunderstanding of being called his lover.
“Do others say that? That I’m His Highness Euphen’s lover?”
“There are quite a few who think that way.”
Mari answered lightly, as if it were no big deal. Before Lynette could try to explain herself further, Mari shrugged her shoulders and spoke words that sounded almost like consolation.
“I don’t think it’s bad. I mean, really. How many people working as maids haven’t once imagined catching the eye of someone high up and turning their life around? If anything, it’s worse that His Highness keeps you tied to the Mage Tower.”
“His Highness and I are not in that kind of relationship.”
With a sigh, Lynette corrected her again. Mari turned her head, meeting her eyes as if to gauge whether she was telling the truth.
There was nothing to feel guilty about. After all, it was the truth. The two of them were only in a relationship of “Esper” and “Guide.”
‘Though the word “fake” does tag along.’
They had never gone beyond that. Euphen was simply unusually kind, and she admitted his actions might have caused others to misunderstand, but their relationship was truly innocent.
‘It would be best to hurry and advance the relationship between Eshar and His Highness.’
That way, the ridiculous rumors of her being the Prince’s lover would vanish. Besides, she knew better than anyone how deeply and tenderly Euphen loved someone once they became his true partner, so those false words would quickly disappear.
“Then why do you come to the palace every day?”
“That’s……”
She parted her lips but couldn’t immediately think of an excuse.
In her past life, she had never had a maid who stayed this close to her. The only ones near her were Euphen’s closest confidants, who all knew her secret as the “fake Guide,” so she had never had to hide it from them.
Struggling desperately, Lynette finally managed to come up with a somewhat plausible excuse.
“His Highness… asked Shirin, that woman, for something.”
“Shirin? Who’s that?”
“The strongest mage in the Mage Tower.”
“Ah, right. You said you were a maid there.”
“Mm.”
“What did he ask her for that makes you come back and forth like this every day? Sometimes even several times in one day.”
“Well, um. I don’t really know either. You know how it is. The nobles rarely explain things to us.”
It was flimsy and full of holes, but Mari seemed to accept it and nodded without pressing further.
Silence fell again. They hadn’t spoken much, but before long, they arrived in front of the Detached Palace.
The guard checked their faces and let them inside.
“You’re going to His Highness, right?”
“Yeah. See you later.”
“Alright.”
Mari turned and walked away quickly without a trace of hesitation.
Lynette walked down the familiar corridor, taking in a deep breath before letting it out. Her heart pounded heavily, thudding in her chest. She pressed a hand against it, but it refused to calm down.
She still hadn’t decided how to say it to Euphen. What words to begin with, or with what resolve she should ask him to love another woman.
“Huuh……”
She exhaled deeply and carefully knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
When she opened it, Euphen glanced at her with an indifferent expression, then lowered his gaze again.
“Your Highness.”
The moving pen suddenly stopped. The man slowly raised his head. The moment their eyes met, Lynette couldn’t think of anything at all.
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