Chapter 78
Lynette gazed quietly at Euphen, whose expression had hardened. Noticing her eyes on him, the man turned his head and gave a bitter smile.
Perhaps realizing there was no meaning in delaying any longer, he reached out without hesitation and grasped the pendant. It did not shine as brilliantly as when the female Esper had touched it earlier, but it certainly glowed.
The Emperor stared at it in silence. His expression was too complicated to put into words. Eshar rose of her own accord and slowly stepped back.
“Lynette’s words were correct.”
Her voice cut through the heavy atmosphere.
The woman, who had retreated until her back touched the wall, now approached Euphen again. When her knees brushed against his, the pendant flared with the same intense light as before.
“…!”
The Emperor let out a small sound and clenched his fists tightly. Then his gaze shifted to Lynette.
“Come here, Lynette.”
“…Yes?”
“Closer.”
Eshar gave a slight shrug of her shoulders, then obediently returned to her seat. The light dimmed again.
Lynette hesitated before slowly walking toward the man. Yet the pendant showed no change.
That fact brought another wave of bitterness. Even though she was the one guiding him right now, it was as if the pendant never lets her forget she was a fake.
Euphen bit down hard on his lip and gripped the pendant tightly, as though that alone might change its glow.
A suffocating heaviness filled the room, so quiet it was almost deafening.
The man glared at the small jewel with his blue eyes for a long time, then slammed it down harshly on the table.
Lynette, left standing awkwardly, didn’t know what to do. After a moment, she carefully took a step back.
“…Is it my turn now?”
Breaking the silence, Sillian retrieved his pendant again. Holding it so that the glowing jewel was clearly visible, he took one step after another toward Lynette.
The light grew stronger. Even Lynette, without trying, could only accept the fact.
‘I really am this man’s Guide.’
When Sillian came right up to her, he reached out and gently tucked a few loose strands of her hair behind her ear. The warmth of his skin brushing hers felt more vivid than ever.
‘Does he feel the guiding, right now?’
Lynette stared up blankly at him. Even if he had helped her yesterday when she was riding the horse, there was no way such brief contact could erase the aftereffects that had built up over several days. No matter how much an Esper tries to suppress it, the aftereffects will accumulate faintly every day.
“Stop.”
Euphen rose to his feet and, with an expression strained by suppressed anger, roughly seized Sillian’s wrist and pushed it away.
“Your Highness has seen it as well.”
His tone was far too composed for a mere guard speaking to the Emperor.
“Lynette is my fate. If you have awakened, then you should know how important she is to me.”
“Silence.”
“Every moment she spends with Your Highness is draining her life away-”
“Enough!”
Lynette yanked hard on Sillian’s arm. She hated hearing such words spoken while Eshar was present.
And hadn’t she said it countless times before? That even if she suffered, she had no regrets. That she wanted to live for Euphen, even at that cost. Yet this man spoke as though he could never accept it.
“Wasn’t it enough that you learned Miss Eshar is Your Highness’s Guide?”
Lynette raised her voice slightly.
“She’ll awaken soon, it won’t take long. Then everything will be resolved, won’t it?”
“Resolved? What exactly has been resolved?”
Euphen’s voice was harsh. He reached out as if to grab her shoulders, but in the end his hand never touched her, only curling into a tight fist.
“You would keep doing this until then, without knowing when that day will come?”
Sillian spoke as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Perhaps you think nothing of it because there’s no immediate change, but Lynette, this magic-”
“I know. I told you, no one knows it better than I do.”
“Isn’t it enough that you found the Prince his true Guide?”
“But Miss Eshar hasn’t awakened yet.”
“She will soon, just as you said. And once she knows who her fate is, she can begin guiding immediately. Lynette, that means you’ve already fulfilled your role.”
This time, unable to contain himself, Sillian shouted in a rough voice Lynette had never heard from him before. He even forgot to call Euphen ‘Your Highness,’ addressing him only as ‘the Prince.’
“What was all this for, then? If nothing changes, why did we even prove it?”
“That’s…”
At some point, his large hands had gripped Lynette’s arms tightly. She felt the heat of his anger through her skin.
Just as she parted her lips to speak, Euphen shoved Sillian back harshly.
“Let go.”
With his sword still in its sheath, Euphen pointed it at Sillian as if to threaten him. Realizing his own agitation, Sillian took in a deep breath and exhaled.
“Leave. Eshar, we’ll discuss this matter later.”
“Yes.”
Eshar, who had only been watching as though it were none of her business, obediently left the room.
But Sillian did not leave right away. He only stood still, watching Euphen.
“Leave.”
It was only after Euphen repeated himself that the room was left with just the two of them.
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.