Chapter 47
Lynette stared at him with a slightly dazed expression.
“So, Sillian… what you’re saying is…”
She paused to gather her thoughts. Hadn’t he just told her that everything she believed up until now was wrong? Denying something she had taken for granted since childhood was not an easy thing to accept.
“You mean Espers didn’t just suddenly appear one day. That the first one was someone loved by a dragon who received power from it?”
“Rather than calling them an Esper, it would be more accurate to say they were a hero.”
“Fine, hero or Esper, whatever. What you’re trying to say is that you’re a descendant of that person, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
She crushed the grass in her hand and tossed it forward. The blades fluttered and drifted slowly to the ground.
“And what does that have to do with guiding?”
“You don’t seem very surprised to hear that I’m a descendant of the hero.”
“Well…”
Was she surprised? Maybe a little. After all, wasn’t Sillian just one of the palace guards? Yet here he was suddenly claiming to be the descendant of some centuries-old hero.
“Or do you simply not believe me?”
“I believe you.”
After all, she had regressed. What reason did she have to doubt him? He had no reason to lie about something like that anyway.
Lynette nodded without hesitation.
“After the hero’s death, as time passed, many things began to change.”
“You mean the appearance of Espers and Guides? Since you said the hero suffered no side effects.”
“That’s right.”
“…Hmm.”
What was he trying to get at this time?
“So the hero’s descendants devoted themselves to finding a way to return to the ‘original state.’”
By that, he must have meant the ability to use power without suffering side effects.
Expressionless, Lynette gave a small nod to show she was listening.
“As a result, our country advanced in ways others did not.”
“You mean things like that pendant?”
She recalled the object that had convinced him she was a Guide.
If Shirin ever found out about it, she would surely try to snatch it away.
If the item was truly genuine, it would be revolutionary, being able to find an Esper’s Guide. Although people said that such destined meetings would happen eventually, relying on nothing but that hope felt far too uncertain.
“I didn’t think you would remember that.”
“Of course I remember.”
“Yes. There are several such items.”
Her eyes lit up at his words.
“Then my being able to guide… is also thanks to one of those items?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
“Oh.”
Her excitement drained instantly. If it had been due to some magical artifact, she could have begged for it, or stolen it if necessary, and given it to Euphen. That would have solved everything.
Lynette sighed.
“I told you, didn’t I? That I’m a descendant of the hero.”
“Yes.”
“My family… worked hard to preserve the hero’s bloodline as purely as possible. As I said before, those with the strongest blood among the descendants often awakened as Guides or Espers. Of course, now so many generations have passed that Espers and Guides appear everywhere in the world.”
“And so?”
“Hundreds of years ago, when some in the family failed to awaken, our ancestors felt threatened. Until then, they had taken pride in being the direct descendants of the hero. But if some didn’t awaken, then it meant our family was no different from ordinary people. From then on, they made sure to marry only their fated partners. Over time, the scattered blood was drawn back together and grew stronger again.”
Family? Does that mean he comes from some great house?
Had she ever heard his surname?
She thought carefully, but no, she only knew him as Sillian.
“It’s only a small benefit, nothing more.”
“So what you’re saying is… because your blood is still strong, you can manage some degree of guiding even if the other person hasn’t awakened?”
“That’s right.”
Lynette let out a long sigh once more.
So this was why he had gone on with that endless story from the beginning. She felt foolish for having listened so seriously.
Well… if he had suddenly just said, ‘I can guide you because my bloodline is strong,’ I would’ve demanded an explanation anyway.
The hero and his descendants.
Resting her cheek against her knee, she gazed at Sillian quietly.
“Sillian, what kind of family are you from?”
If they were so concerned about the “purity” of their bloodline, then he clearly couldn’t be a commoner. Even if he hadn’t said so, he must be from a noble house.
But then why is he serving as a guard? A fallen noble, perhaps?
As Lynette’s imagination ran freely, the man gave no clear answer.
“Does who I am really matter?”
“You’re a noble, aren’t you?”
“No.”
“…A commoner?”
Sillian gave a faint laugh.
“I’m just Sillian. Nothing more.”
“You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
“If I were a noble, would that make you more interested in me?”
“…No.”
When Lynette shook her head, he smiled bitterly.
“You really only care about the Crown Prince, don’t you?”
At that, Lynette rose to her feet.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Lynette.”
He gently caught her hand.
“Why him?”
“And why me, for you?”
“……”
“My answer is the same as yours.”
“…You really won’t change your mind?”
“No.”
Her firm reply made Sillian let go, his bitter smile returning as he watched her back.
Why Euphen?
There were countless reasons. Because he had been kind to a mere maid like her. Because he had treated her well. Because he had smiled at her. Because he had called her by name. Because, because…
There were far too many reasons to put into words.
But the moment she regressed, all of those reasons vanished. They became things that had never happened.
What remained was only the love itself. A love without any reason, clinging to him blindly.
Because that was what she was meant to do. Even if Euphen had forgotten everything, she remembered it all.
Lynette clenched her fists, then opened them again.
So it’s only Sillian’s bloodline that’s like that?
That meant an unawakened Guide really couldn’t perform guiding. In other words, she could only hope that Eshar awakened soon. Which also meant Lynette had to stay by Euphen’s side a little longer.
“Haa…”
She tilted her head back and let out a deep sigh toward the sky.
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Obsessive peony