Chapter 63
Sillian. Why had she forgotten about that man?
Lynette straightened her back.
‘There’s the pendant.’
The pendant that was said to shine whenever one’s fated Guide drew near came to mind. With that alone, it could be proven.
“I can prove it.”
Lynette answered urgently.
“That His Highness the Imperial Prince and Miss Eshar are destined, there’s a way to prove it.”
“What way is that?”
“The pendant……”
She closed her mouth before finishing. She couldn’t just freely talk about Sillian’s magic tool. Magic tools were exceedingly rare, and besides, it was questionable whether he would even lend it to her.
‘I already told Sillian that I didn’t want to see him.’
After having poured out every hurtful word she could think of, now she was trying to borrow the pendant just because she needed it. It was nothing but selfish.
Even so… there was no other way.
Lynette looked at Eshar’s face, who was waiting calmly for her answer.
“I can’t give a definite answer on my own, but if that person allows it, it can be proven.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“That… I’ll tell you later.”
The woman rested her chin lightly on her hand and tilted her head. Her expression still held a trace of doubt.
“If I prove it, you’ll believe me, right?”
“If there’s evidence, there’s no reason not to believe.”
Eshar replied brightly.
“So, in the end, it’s because of that.”
“…Pardon?”
“You thought I would become Euphen’s guide. That’s why you made such an absurd proposal, isn’t it?”
Hesitating, Lynette nodded her head.
“Even if it’s destiny, there are cases where they don’t love each other. Don’t you think it’s too little to say it’s simply because of that?”
“That is true, but……”
She had no words to counter that. Eshar was right. While it was indeed very common for an Esper and a Guide to fall in love, it wasn’t always the case. Even among those remembered in history, there were examples of people who had remained nothing more than good friends.
Lynette bit down firmly on her lips.
If only she could say that she was a fake Guide, that each time she guided Euphen it shaved away at her life, and that was why she had no choice but to leave him. That she had done something so absurd only because she hoped Euphen wouldn’t grieve. She wanted to spill everything.
“I cannot stay with His Highness Euphen.”
When she spoke evasively, Eshar gave a small laugh.
“Because you’re a maid?”
Status was a problem for later, but since she couldn’t say everything, Lynette only nodded.
“Certainly, that’s quite a significant obstacle.”
“I can’t be of any help to His Highness.”
You lack the spirit to believe that love can overcome everything.”
“I know reality far too well for that.”
Once again she felt the pain and death approaching. She had to leave him behind and go first. That reason alone was more than enough to leave Euphen.
“Then you shouldn’t have loved Euphen in the first place.”
At the reproachful tone, she lifted her head and met her gaze. Seeing Lynette’s face, Eshar smiled lightly.
“The human heart isn’t so simple. Love is even less so.”
With those words, the woman rose from her seat.
“I’ll take my leave. I only came because I was curious about how things ended after the party, and what Lynette’s plan had been.”
“Miss Eshar.”
“Saying this may even be a breach of contract.”
Eshar put on a mischievous smile as she stepped closer to Lynette.
“Euphen was just a little angry, that’s all.”
“……”
“Yes, we gave each other some help here and there, but there was never anything between us as a man and a woman.”
Lynette’s face flushed hot.
“Just as you can’t hide it, Euphen doesn’t seem intent on hiding it either. Don’t you think it’s better not to turn away from it?”
“Th-that’s……”
How was she supposed to respond? It was awkward. Anyone watching would surely think the two of them clearly had feelings for each other but were only circling around it, and realizing that embarrassed her.
“No one knows how long this peace will last. While you can still live happily, enjoy it.”
Lynette bowed her head deeply. Eshar was right. No one knew how long things could remain this way. If she continued to live on as a fake Guide, at most a few years remained.
Her clumsy plan to tie this woman and Euphen together had already fallen apart, and in the end, she had even confessed her love. Even if she were to leave later, perhaps the right answer was to at least enjoy the brief happiness.
Eshar lightly tapped her shoulder before leaving the guest room. Lynette only gazed blankly at her departing figure.
‘At this point, it might be impossible to leave without causing pain.’
Euphen was already wounded. He had learned that guiding hurt Lynette. Not only that, but the fact that it even consumed her life, she could tell from his voice alone how deeply that had shocked him.
‘To live happily with him again like this?’
Nothing could be better. If she could live just as she had before her regression, simply loving him, then she wouldn’t mind dying again.
The only problem was in what way she should leave the man’s side.
Lynette let out a short sigh. Knowing the end made her thoughts swirl in confusion.
Her heart ached at this reality, where a ‘happy’ ending could never exist for the two of them. Even while wanting to be happy, she couldn’t help but worry about their parting first.
“Haah.”
She drew in a deep breath, then exhaled, shaking her head firmly.
‘What I need right now is only to prove that the two of them are destined.’
If Euphen and Eshar could recognize that they were each other’s fate, perhaps something would change. Perhaps she could even find the key to unraveling this tangled heart.
Lynette resolved that she would have to meet Sillian.
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