Chapter 80
“What am I supposed to do with you?”
The man whispered low and quietly gazed at her. Lynette forced a bright smile.
“You’ve learned that Miss Eshar is your fated Guide.”
Euphen’s expression twisted slightly. Seeing the look on his face, as if asking what she was trying to say, Lynette tried her best to act as if nothing was wrong.
“When Miss Eshar awakens, Your Highness will receive guiding from her.”
“You’re trying to say that again.”
He cut her off.
“That it’s just an illusion caused by the sensation of guiding.”
“No. This time it’s not an illusion. It really-”
“Enough.”
“You will come to love her.”
“Don’t decide my feelings on your own.”
Just speaking those words felt utterly miserable. Euphen, loving another woman… how could she even endure the thought, when her chest ached just imagining it.
“But… that’s the right thing.”
It had come full circle in the end. All those times Lynette had meddled, urging, “The two of you should love each other,” were now becoming reality, right before her eyes.
“As you keep guiding, you’ll surely grow close.”
“And if we don’t?”
She quietly gazed up at him. Their eyes met.
If she could continue to be loved by him, she thought she might be happy. But it was obvious that the despair would only deepen.
Eshar stood naturally by Euphen’s side, while she herself could do nothing. She could not even hold his hand, and all she could do was endure, hoping his love would never change.
She wanted to believe his heart would not waver so easily… but truthfully, she had no confidence.
‘His partner is truly destiny.’
Someone whose very touch brought comfort to both body and soul, how could she ever hope to win against that? If it were only that, perhaps she could find a way, but Lynette carried a devastating penalty.
The more she touched him, the more she suffered. Even her lifespan was being eaten away.
If Euphen had never learned the truth, perhaps they could have been as happy as before, but Sillian had revealed everything. And Lynette had even been seen sprawled pathetically on the ground, screaming and gasping while Shirin erased the aftermath with magic.
“…I hope it turns out that way.”
Lynette clenched her fists and spoke firmly.
“Lies.”
Euphen pierced straight into her heart without a shred of hesitation.
“Nothing will change.”
He leaned in slightly. His blue eyes appeared even larger.
“No. It’s better this way.”
“…”
“Once Eshar awakens, I won’t have to be guided by you anymore.”
It was hard to accept that this could truly be a ‘good’ thing. For now, since he had no Guide, she could still make excuses to touch him at least once a day. But even that excuse would vanish.
Hesitating, Lynette finally spoke slowly.
“If that happens…”
She would never be able to touch this man again.
A wave of sorrow came over her, and she clasped her hands tightly together.
“You won’t ever make contact with me again.”
Her voice came out strained and tight.
After a long silence, Euphen finally spoke slowly.
“I’ll find a way to undo the fake Guide spell.”
Lynette gave a bitter smile. She was certain there was no such method. If one had existed, Shirin would have gladly used her dying self for her last experiment.
“If there’s a way to create it, then there should be a way to undo it.”
“And if… you don’t find one?”
Do you mean to go your whole life without touching me? To be content only with conversations at my side. Is that enough to keep your love unchanged? Even with your ‘true’ Guide right beside you?
She wanted to spill all of it, but she held back.
“Even so, I have no intention of letting you go.”
His hand came close enough to brush her cheek. She could faintly feel his warmth.
How fickle the human heart was… despite knowing full well that his words meant torment for them both, Lynette felt relief.
Was this the same feeling Euphen had earlier, when he rejoiced that Sillian hadn’t appeared in her dream?
His large hand hovered, as if to caress her cheek. He couldn’t bring himself to touch her, and only the faint warmth passed between them.
Lynette closed her eyes and felt all of him. She could sense that he had come closer.
Their breaths tangled faintly together.
If it had been anyone else, they would have exchanged a light kiss in this moment.
But all they could do was search for traces of one another drifting in the air.
When she carefully opened her eyes, the blue gaze before her was so close it was frightening.
It was more heartbreaking than exchanging a hundred words.
She stayed still for a long while, meeting his eyes.
“So don’t entertain foolish thoughts.”
Euphen smiled a little mischievously. When Lynette’s eyes widened, he straightened his back as if nothing had happened.
“What you fear, I fear as well.”
“…What?”
She tilted her head slightly.
“Go rest now, Lynette. Since it’s come to this, I’ll need to clarify our ties with the Lera Merchant Guild as well.”
His last words were little more than muttering to himself.
Kindly, he even opened the door for her, leaving Lynette unable to remain any longer.
Eshar, who had been waiting outside, entered the room as the door closed.
‘He said… he was afraid?’
Just as Lynette feared Euphen might fall in love with the awakened Eshar, he too feared that the awakened her might fall in love with Sillian.
‘There’s no way it could change so easily.’
Her heart had endured so much pain, yet never wavered.
As she turned away with a faint smile, a deep voice stopped her.
“Lynette.”
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