Chapter 72
There were many things he couldn’t understand.
How could a woman who was born a commoner, so poor her family sold off their own children, possibly be in love with him? Euphen was only a minor Imperial Prince, and he had hardly ever appeared in official places where commoners might see him.
He once suspected it might have been love at first sight, but Lynette’s emotions were far too resolute. They weren’t feelings that had arisen in just a fleeting moment.
Seeing such a woman, with such a sorrowful expression, ask him to love another woman instead, he couldn’t help but doubt what she was thinking. Perhaps she had some other plan?
He had gone along with what she asked, gauging her reaction, but he had noticed nothing particularly strange, except that whenever she saw him with Eshar, she would glance down with a pained expression.
If she was going to look like that, why had she done such a thing in the first place? That question remained.
‘The reason was… because of my true fated partner, wasn’t it?’
Euphen ground his teeth. He did not fully believe those words, but neither could he truly dismiss them.
He simply… didn’t want to confirm it. That Lynette was the “false” one, and Eshar was the “true” one.
But… he could not put it off any longer.
‘There was even an assassin.’
It wasn’t that his life had been without danger until now, but this was the first time there had been such a clear attempt on his life.
He knew the reason well. Because Eshar had suddenly appeared.
The heir of the Lera Merchant Guild. She had no noble title, but she was not someone to be dismissed. Lera was the largest merchant guild in the Empire, moving the most money, and through its wide, intricate network of distribution, it also held solid control over information.
Since he had been seen close to that woman, it must have looked as though he had some interest in the throne.
Euphen clicked his tongue lightly. He knew well that even if he denied it, no one would truly believe him. That was the nature of power. To suspect everyone, and to cut down potential threats before they could grow… That was the simplest way to hold one’s place.
He had lived quietly, shut away in the Detached Palace for many years, but in less than a month, Euphen had become a “dangerous figure” among his siblings.
‘Lynette would never have thought of something like that.’
Though she often seemed as though she was thinking in complicated ways, it was plain to see she had no talent for politics. How could someone who couldn’t even hide her own emotions possibly “calculate” in order to turn him into a dangerous figure? Considering Lynette’s openly devoted gaze, he was certain she would never do anything that might put him in danger.
In the end, was he supposed to sort everything out himself?
Euphen let out a long sigh, closing his eyes tightly before opening them again.
‘I’ll have to decide what to do about Eshar, too.’
That woman was surely waiting for him to make up his mind soon. Quick-witted as she was, she must already be planning her next move.
In the end, it was Euphen alone who was lingering indecisively, averting his eyes from the situation.
‘Pathetic.’
With another long sigh, he lifted his head. Lynette’s face was still pale as snow, but her breathing had steadied.
The murmur of unintelligible incantations from Shirin finally ceased.
“Is it over?”
At that question, the elderly woman merely inclined her head slightly, left behind a formal farewell, and swiftly departed. Just as she always had, leaving Lynette alone. The other mages, too, exited the room without so much as a glance at the woman collapsed in the center.
Euphen clenched his teeth. He never wanted to use his power again. Once for guiding, and again for erasing the aftereffects. Did Lynette have to suffer twice over?
The price Lynette paid for his casual use of power was far too great. Even if it wasn’t visible to the eye, he had heard her very lifespan was being chipped away bit by bit.
“Lynette.”
He lowered himself onto one knee at her side. In his heart, he wanted to lift her into his arms, but he knew too well that if he did, it would only bring her more pain. So he couldn’t do anything.
He couldn’t even brush away a single strand of hair clinging to her pale cheek.
“Lynette.”
In a low voice, Euphen called her name once more.
Her eyelashes trembled, and slowly Lynette opened her eyes. Her vision still clouded, she stared blankly at him with those green eyes, then belatedly showed a startled expression.
“Uh.. hhht-”
She tried to push herself up from the floor, but as though her strength had failed her, her slender arm buckled and collapsed. Seeing this, Euphen instinctively reached out his hand, but with tightly pressed lips, he pulled it back.
She fell back to the floor again, breathing in and out deeply several times. The way she seemed so accustomed to all of this was even more dreadful.
How many times had she screamed in this place? How many times had she thrashed in pain?
Euphen silently clenched his fist. Once she had steadied herself, Lynette pressed her hands against the floor again and managed to rise.
“I’m fine.”
Another lie.
Euphen’s teeth ground together. Unaware of this, Lynette, with a weary face, began to stagger forward.
That he couldn’t even bring himself to support her was pitiful.
Gazing at her back, which looked more frail than ever, he slowly followed behind.
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