Chapter 65
“Why? Once I prove it, then…!”
“Enough.”
The man cut her off, letting out a long sigh as he pressed his forehead.
“Why are you so obsessed with proving it?”
“……”
“Does it change anything? You’re still my Guide. And even if Eshar is my ‘true Guide,’ the fact remains that she hasn’t awakened.”
“But…”
“And if that magic tool is telling the truth.”
Euphen clenched his fist.
“Then it would mean you are that man’s fate.”
Only then did Lynette clearly feel that he simply did not want to confirm that fact.
He was afraid. Afraid that Lynette’s ‘fate’ might truly appear. That while he could give her nothing but pain, another man would give her that satisfying and tender sense of guiding. It was obvious how unbearable that was for him.
“Your Highness.”
She wanted to hold his hand, but the fact that she couldn’t left her a little sad.
“I… love you, Your Highness.”
Once more, the hand that had reached out fell away before touching her.
She wanted to embrace him. Surely, it was the same for him.
But instead, their eyes alone met, unable to touch.
“That will never change.”
Wasn’t it the very feeling she had failed to discard even in death? It wasn’t something that would easily change just because another man was labeled as her ‘fate.’
“That’s why… I want to prove it.”
“Lynette.”
“Even if it’s only for me to know what i must do from now on.”
“Nothing will change.”
“Yes. Nothing will change. But…”
Looking into his dark, sunken eyes, Lynette continued.
“So I can at least prepare my heart, to some extent.”
“You mean, prepare yourself for being another man’s Guide?”
“For the fact that Your Highness’s ‘true’ fate might be another woman.”
Euphen gave a bitter smile. Lynette dared to imagine that perhaps his heart felt something similar.
‘No matter how many times I think about it… it hurts.’
The fact that she could never be his ‘true’ fate. That he might one day feel the fulfillment of guiding with another woman. That for her, touching him would forever only bring pain. Admitting all of that… it was nothing but sorrow.
Euphen must have been thinking the same.
He didn’t want to acknowledge that there could be another man who would not make her suffer, who could give her the true sensation of guiding. That must be why he was rejecting it like this.
“Haah..”
He let out a sigh heavy with despair, his shoulders drooping.
“Even if you really are that man’s Guide… you are my Guide.”
Lynette lowered her head slightly. Saying so, and yet, he could not truly reach her.
Ever since he realized that guiding caused her pain and that she was putting her very life on the line each time, he had been unable to touch her properly.
Even if they stopped the training he usually did using his power, there was a limit to how long he could endure. At some point, he wouldn’t be able to withstand it anymore, but even then, if she guided him, he would only grow angry.
‘But… I don’t want Euphen to suffer.’
If she would die in a few years regardless, she would rather guide him fully. Didn’t Eshar say it herself, to enjoy happiness while you can?
Because she knew she couldn’t stay by his side for a lifetime, she could throw herself into it more easily. After all, the pain would be brief.
“Lynette.”
“Yes?”
Lynette lifted her head.
“If you love me… then be a little greedier.”
“……”
“Even if Eshar becomes my fated partner… will you really be fine with that?”
How could she possibly be fine? When she was troubled like this.
Her vision swayed faintly. Euphen saw it and gave a faint smile.
“Even so, I think it’s something to be glad about.”
“That she’s my Guide?”
“Yes. It means there’s someone who can guide Your Highness without worry.”
“You…”
He cut himself off there, clamped his mouth shut, then closed and opened his eyes.
“No. Rest. I’ll do as you said. I’ll ‘prove’ it.”
The moment he turned away, Lynette called out urgently.
“Please wait, Your Highness.”
Euphen tilted his head slightly and turned back. She hesitated, then reached out her hand.
“Please… hold my hand.”
“No.”
“You know the backlash builds up even if you don’t use your power.”
“I still feel fine.”
“But…”
“If Eshar is truly my Guide, then I only need to endure until she awakens.”
“You don’t know when that will be.”
“Even if the backlash builds, it won’t kill me.”
“I hate it.”
With a mischievous look, he threw her words right back at her.
“I hate it too.”
Lynette bit down hard on her lip. Seeing her expression, he gave a light laugh before turning away again.
“If you lose consciousness, I’ll have to guide you anyway.”
“I’ll just order you not to guide me, so don’t worry.”
“Do you think Miss Shirin will just sit quietly?”
She rushed forward and blocked his path.
“And the more backlash builds, the greater the pain when you are guided.”
“That doesn’t mean you need to suffer every day.”
“Are you saying it’s better to suffer terribly all at once than a little every day?”
“No. I’m saying there’s no need for you to suffer at all.”
She glared at him as fiercely as she could, but he didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow. Lynette realized that arguing with him all day long would be pointless.
Whether before her regression or now, he was just as stubborn. While he let her have her way in most things, when it came to what he thought was ‘wrong,’ nothing in the world could make him yield.
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