It’s Time to Stop Clinging to the Fake Guide - Chapter 6

Right now, the only thing she could do was guide him as a substitute. But soon, she planned to have him meet the person truly suited for him.
‘It would be best if they met as soon as possible.’
Before Euphen could once again harbor feelings for a fake.

As she thought that, a faint chuckle slipped out.
In this life, he might not love her at all, so where was this confidence to imagine such things coming from?

Forcing herself to push away the thoughts branching out endlessly, Lynette tightened her grip.
“That’s enough now.”
Shirin’s cold voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

She wanted to stay like this a little longer. Pretending not to hear, she continued holding his hand, until she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Enough.”

But the guiding wasn’t completely finished yet.
Lynette looked up at the woman frowning down at her.
“But…”
“Stand up.”

She pressed her lips together. It felt like Euphen might open his eyes any moment now.
If she could meet his gaze, that would be nice.
If that moment came, she knew she would surely fall in love with him again.

As she hesitated, Shirin lifted the staff in her hand and struck her roughly across the back.
“Ah!”

It was nothing compared to the pain of guiding seeping out from deep within her body, but it was enough to jolt her back to her senses.
“How insolent!”

Anger tinged Shirin’s dry voice. She was trying to keep it down because Euphen’s eyelids were trembling as if he might wake, but Lynette could clearly feel the emotion behind it.

Lynette slowly released his hand and stood. While she’d been still, she thought it was bearable even for a first guiding, but the moment she straightened her knees, her vision felt dizzy.

She squeezed her eyes shut and barely managed to stay upright as she staggered. Shirin eyed her with clear displeasure.
Lynette glanced at Euphen from the corner of her eye. His complexion was still deathly pale, but the fact that his expression had relaxed was something to be grateful for.

The pain spreading from head to toe dulled slightly for a moment. Almost like she had taken a powerful painkiller.

Still unable to leave his bedside, Lynette felt Shirin press her staff firmly into her back. As she took a step as if being pushed, a low, subdued voice reached her ears.
“…Shirin?”
“Your Highness.”

Shirin sighed lightly and turned to offer her greeting. Lynette followed suit.

The moment her gaze met the man’s blue eyes, her mind went blank. She couldn’t remember a single bit of the etiquette she had painstakingly learned before her regression.

He slowly sat up, a faintly surprised expression on his face.
“So you said you’d find a way, and you really did.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“What magic did you use, Shirin?”

At his words, Shirin glanced at Lynette, but she didn’t notice. She couldn’t take her eyes off Euphen.

She was happy that he wasn’t suffering, whether in body or mind, sad that he had forgotten everything, and relieved that he didn’t love her.
“I created a temporary Guide. It should buy us some time until your true fated partner appears.”
“A temporary Guide?”
“I adjusted her to match Your Highness’s wavelength, so she should serve as a usable Guide.”
“So this young lady is my temporary Guide?”
“Yes.”
“What’s her name?”

At that, the older woman turned back. Lynette stood dazed under his direct gaze, until Shirin jabbed her hard on the foot with her staff, snapping her out of it.
“L-Lynette, Your Highness.”
“That’s a lovely name.”

She remembered that he had said that before, too. Euphen was the first and last person to ever tell her that her name was beautiful.
‘Ah… this man is exactly the same as before.’

The realization made her chest ache a little. Unaware of anything, he smiled warmly at her.
“Come closer. I want to take a better look at you.”
“…Yes.”

Lynette slowly approached the side of the bed. The man reached out and gently took her hand.

As always when they touched, it hurt. Unused to the pain, her body almost let out a groan, but she forced it back.
“So this is guiding?”

Euphen looked surprised as he asked Shirin.
She might be fake, but he was the one who would be at ease.

Lynette curved her lips into a faint smile, pretending to feel the same.
…It wasn’t easy. If she had been the version of herself from just before her regression, she could have done it effortlessly.

“That’s right. From now on, you’ll need to guide before the aftereffects build up. You have a temporary Guide now, after all.”
“Then why not just make this young lady my Guide?”
“Temporary means just that, temporary. You must find your true ‘fated partner.’”
“…Alright.”

Lynette tightened her fingers slightly, holding his hand more firmly.
“I look forward to working with you, my… temporary Guide, Miss Lynette.”
“Please, just call me Lynette, Your Highness.”

Perhaps because of the prolonged contact, her vision blurred for a moment. She steadied herself with strength in her legs so she wouldn’t stumble.

It seemed Euphen was too potent a painkiller for her to cover everything with.
‘Still… just a little longer…’

She gritted her teeth, trying to endure, but the pain dominating her body made her sway briefly.
“Your Highness, I believe you should take your rest now. It has been a long time since you’ve properly rested.”

At Shirin’s words, Euphen reluctantly released her hand.

Though she felt regret, Lynette also thought it was for the best. If they had stayed in contact any longer, she might not have been able to stop herself from crying out.
“Lynette, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

At his warm words, she bowed deeply. She felt as though she might burst into tears at any moment.