Chapter 44
Had they already become that close? Were they planning to get engaged? Or were they going to announce that they were lovers?
Her mind became a complete mess.
“Con… congratulations.”
Lynette barely managed to force the words out.
Wasn’t this what she had wanted all along? For the two of them to fall for each other, to love each other, and to forget her completely.
She tried to smile, but the corners of her lips refused to lift properly.
“You were the one who brought it up first. That means you’ll have to attend as well.”
“I… I’m only a maid…”
She stammered as she made excuses.
That she didn’t belong in such a dazzling place. That she would bless them without needing to attend. That it would be far better if she wasn’t there at all…
Lynette blurted out everything that came to mind, clumsy and disjointed.
“And if I permit it, who would dare oppose you?”
But Euphen had no intention of backing down in the slightest.
“Your Highness…”
“You will attend.”
His hand gripped hers firmly. The pain, whether from his too-tight hold or the aftereffects of guiding, blurred together in her mind.
The prince’s blue eyes gleamed, darkened with resolve.
“…Understood.”
Reluctantly, she nodded.
Even before her regression, she had never once attended a party. Later, she had lived as though she were Euphen’s official lover, but even then, it wasn’t as if a lowly maid could mingle freely among the nobility.
Well, it wasn’t entirely impossible. If she had wanted to, Euphen would have been more than capable of backing her entrance into high society. But Lynette had never desired that. No matter how much she basked in the Crown Prince’s aura, she was still a maid. And more than that, she was destined to leave him someday.
‘Besides, Euphen never liked me mingling with others either.’
She understood why. It wasn’t out of obsession or possessiveness. Euphen feared most of all that she would be hurt. He knew better than anyone how easy of a target a woman was when all she had to her name was the Crown Prince’s love.
…And yet now, that same Euphen was pushing her into society.
‘Does he no longer care what happens to me?’
Was he saying it didn’t matter if she got hurt? Or was he simply so deeply absorbed in Eshar that he wanted to thank her by allowing her this much?
Her thoughts grew tangled.
As the guiding session slowly came to an end, Lynette stole a sideways glance at the man.
“It seems you and Lady Eshar are getting along quite well.”
“Thanks to you.”
Euphen let go of her hand the moment the guiding was done, replying in an unhurried tone.
She couldn’t even understand why she had asked that question. If he was hosting a party to introduce her, of course things were going more than well.
Clenching the hand that still faintly ached, she listened as he continued.
“The party is in a week.”
At his words, Lynette bowed her head slightly instead of answering.
“If there’s anything you want to say to me, you should do it before then.”
“Th… congratulations,” she murmured again, stumbling over the words.
Euphen propped his chin on his hand and tilted his head, studying her with a faintly crooked expression.
“Not that.”
“……”
“Think carefully, Lynette.”
His last words were unexpectedly gentle. The voice he had once used when things between them were still good, before she had begged him to love Eshar instead.
Why was he calling her name like that now? Didn’t he know it would make her waver?
Euphen clearly wanted a particular ‘answer’ from her. But Lynette had no idea what it was.
What was she supposed to say? What expression was she supposed to wear? What feelings was she supposed to hold?
“…I’ll be going now.”
Bowing her head hastily, she left the room. She could feel his gaze lingering on her back until the very end.
It was only after she fled that she belatedly remembered Sillian.
‘Ah… I was supposed to tell him about the guiding.’
But she had been distracted, lost in the familiar scent that clung to Euphen, and everything else had slipped her mind. With a short sigh, she ran a hand through her hair.
There was no need to rush now anyway. Euphen and Eshar’s relationship couldn’t have been going any better. Outside of guiding, she had no reason to see him anymore.
‘That’s enough. That’s all I need.’
With less contact came less burden. Before her regression, her body had crumbled quickly because she had chosen to endure all that pain just to stay by Euphen’s side.
He hadn’t known she was burning away her own life, and he had loved her with all he had. And Lynette… for his sake, she hadn’t thought twice about giving anything. Even her very life.
But now, if all they shared was one or two brief guiding sessions a day, she might be able to last until Eshar awakened without her body collapsing.
That was better. It was for the best.
She repeated that to herself over and over, as though to convince her own heart.
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