Chapter 61
“Haah.”
Lynette let out a sigh as she sat down on the edge of the bed.
She had confessed everything to Euphen. Even her feelings of love.
‘I didn’t want it to turn out like this.’
Nothing was different from before. Living in the Detached Palace, loving Euphen, burdening him again.
To think she had gone so far on regression, only to fail to change anything.
She slowly collapsed back onto the bed. She didn’t know how long she laid with her cheek pressed against the soft pillow before the sound of someone knocking at the door reached her.
“Yes?”
“Miss Eshar has come to see you.”
Eshar? Such an unexpected visit.
To come right after she had changed her residence, what could it be for?
The thought that it might be because of Euphen made her uneasy. She had selfishly asked her to love him, only to confess her own love afterward… From her perspective, Lynette must have seemed the worst kind of person.
She hastily straightened her clothes, running her fingers through her disheveled hair.
“Where is she?”
“She is in the small guest room on the first floor.”
As soon as she stepped outside, the attendant waiting there led the way. As she walked slowly along, countless thoughts crowded her mind.
How should she explain? Would it be better to simply beg for forgiveness? Or should she honestly admit that she loved Euphen, and then try to persuade her even though Euphen’s fated partner was her?
Before she had sorted through her tangled thoughts, the door to the guest room opened. Sitting on the sofa was Eshar who smiled faintly as she looked at Lynette.
“Miss Eshar.”
“Come in, Lynette.”
Not knowing what kind of expression she ought to wear, Lynette bowed her head low and stepped inside. The sound of the door closing behind her rang unnaturally loud. She stole a glance at the woman’s face, but could read nothing from it.
“Sit.”
She carefully took a seat across from her. An unbearably awkward silence hovered in the air.
Eshar drank a little tea with a calm expression. Lynette only opened and closed her lips, unable to decide what words to say.
If only she would tell her whether she wanted an apology, or at least an excuse. But the woman’s face revealed no trace of emotion.
“You slipped away from the party with Euphen, didn’t you?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Can you tell me what happened?”
At those words, Lynette lowered her gaze. She’s at a loss on how to explain. No, where should she even begin?
From the part about becoming a fake Guide? Or when Sillian spoke the truth? Or simply with her confession of love?
Even though Lynette kept silent for a long while, Eshar did not press her.
“I… I’m sorry.”
It was all she could say. The woman set down her teacup and let out a short sigh.
“I didn’t come to hear apologies. I want to know what happened.”
Would it be alright to speak about Guides and Espers? Even if she told her that Eshar would become Euphen’s Guide in the future, would she even believe it?
As Lynette failed to bring out a single word, Eshar brushed her hair back.
“Anything at all, say it. I believe I have the right to hear it.”
“……”
“Did you tell Euphen that you love him?”
How could she know?
Lynette’s eyes trembled violently. Seeing her shocked expression, Eshar gave a light smile.
“So, you finally said it.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
Wasn’t it only right to apologize? To have made such an absurd request of her, and then gone and confessed her love to Euphen. This is nothing short of betrayal.
“I already knew. Isn’t it nothing to be surprised about?”
“Wh… how?”
At that, Eshar laughed again.
“How? Did you ever even try to hide it? You’re not very skilled at concealing your emotions.”
Lynette’s face flushed hot.
“I knew from the very first moment I saw you two together. Not only I, but anyone would have known.”
She couldn’t lift her head. Only now did she realized how little talent she had for lying. First Euphen, and now even Eshar had said as much.
But perhaps it was only natural. Until now, she had never needed to hide her feelings.
Before she was sold off to the Imperial Castle, she had lived a life where individual emotions meant nothing. Before the regression, she had only lived happily by Euphen’s side. The only thing she ever had to hide was her ‘pain.’
Simply because she could endure pain well, simply because she did not show when she was hurting, did not mean she was skilled at controlling her emotions.
If she had known it would come to this, she would have learned to better conceal herself while she was with him. Regretting it now was far too late.
“His Highness has gotten what he wanted, after all.”
Eshar spoke leisurely as she raised her teacup. Lynette’s head was too tangled with thoughts for her to do anything but press her lips shut.
‘She had known all along…? Had this all been part of a plan?’
“Lynette. If you have no resolve to let him go, then you should hold onto him.”
“…I wanted to let him go.”
Even saying such words now felt absurd, but her wish to send Euphen to someone else had been genuine.
“I truly wished… for His Highness to love you.”
Lynette bit her lips hard.
“I mean it.”
“Why?”
“……”
“I know we promised not to ask, but right now, I want to know. Even while loving Euphen so much.”
Their gazes met.
Would it be better to tell the truth? Was it even permissible?
The fact that the Prince is an Esper is already a secret, and on top of that, to reveal she was a fake Guide… if others were to find out, it would certainly cause outrage. Though of course, ordinary people would not even understand what it meant to create a fake Guide.
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.