Chapter 81
Lynette stopped in her tracks.
‘That’s right. I need to apologize.’
She had spoken about the pendant without his permission, and hadn’t she also said cruel things about never wanting to see him again? Even though she knew what a Guide meant to an Esper, she had thrown those words at him just to wound him. It was only right to apologize.
She drew in a deep breath and turned around. Sillian was standing a few steps away.
“Sillian.”
“How have you been?”
He asked in a calm voice. Lynette’s eyes widened at the unexpected question, and the man gave a faint smile.
“It wasn’t until I came here that I realized I hadn’t even asked if you were fine. I’m glad to see that you’ve been comfortable these past few days.”
“Have you… also been well, Sillian?”
The words felt foolish even as she said them. He hadn’t gotten any guiding, so of course he couldn’t have been at ease. For her, as his Guide, to ask such a thing… it felt like mockery. Lynette faltered, letting her voice trail off, lowered her head, and clasped her hands tightly together.
“I managed to endure.”
The reply came as though he had forced himself to suppress everything inside.
“…I’m sorry.”
Lynette lifted her head.
“About the pendant, I-”
“If you don’t mind, shall we take a walk for a while?”
He cut her off midway, smiling faintly. Only then did Lynette glance around. No one seemed to be listening in on their conversation, but one maid passed by in quick steps. When she gave a small nod, Sillian began walking slowly.
She stole a glance at his profile. There were far too many things that didn’t add up for him to be just a mere guard.
The fact that he possessed a magical pendant.
That he had mentioned the word ‘family,’ implying some sort of background.
That even before the Imperial Prince, he had shown not the slightest hint of submission.
His upright posture and graceful bearing that made it hard to imagine he had ever lived as a commoner.
‘And he even knew how to dance.’
It hadn’t been the clumsy imitation one might pick up while working as a guard. His skill had been refined, almost as if he had been formally trained.
Lynette found herself staring at the man walking beside her. His long hair was tied back loosely.
It was always such a soft and beautiful color. If she were to have blonde hair herself, she would have wished for that exact shade.
‘Eshar also has blonde hair.’
Subconsciously, Lynette toyed with her own strands. To think she had nothing but such an ordinary, dull shade of brown… it felt shabby when she imagined standing next to Euphen.
When Eshar stood beside him, they looked like a match made in heaven.
Was it because of their hair color?
Lost in thought, she suddenly felt a gaze and turned her head. Her eyes met directly with his red gaze. Though she had done nothing wrong, she flinched in surprise. Then she felt a large hand grip her firmly.
“I like it because it’s a gentle color.”
“…What?”
“Your brown hair.”
Heat rose faintly to her cheeks. It was embarrassing, as though he had read her very thoughts. She turned her head away without a word, only to hear the quiet sound of his chuckle.
As they stepped into the garden, the sweet scent of flowers drifted to her. She glanced around, but no one was following them. After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke.
“Sillian.”
“You don’t need to apologize for speaking about the pendant.”
He spoke first. Yet hearing that didn’t truly set her heart at ease.
“But I still spoke without permission. I should have asked you first…”
“If the Imperial Prince had gone on about keeping you by his side, I would have revealed it myself.”
“….”
“But how did you know that woman, Eshar, is the Imperial Prince’s fated one?”
“…What?”
“I heard it was you who said, ‘The Prince and her are bound by destiny.’”
Lynette blinked.
Did he speak with Miss Eshar while he was outside?
She parted her lips several times before repeating the lie she had once told Euphen. Perhaps because it was her second time telling it, the words came more easily.
“I had a dream.”
She inhaled deeply, exhaled, and quickly continued.
“I dreamed that His Highness and Miss Eshar were connected by fate. It was so vivid I couldn’t help but believe it.”
Sillian’s expression shifted faintly before twisting into a bitter smile. He had clearly seen through the lie.
But, like Euphen, he did not press her.
“In that dream, was there a scene of you being bound by destiny with me?”
“…There wasn’t.”
“Is that why you didn’t believe it? Because I didn’t appear in your dream?”
Lynette gave a small nod. In her life before returning, there had been no Awakening, no trace of this man’s existence. How could she have believed otherwise? Only when she had seen undeniable proof with her own eyes had she been able to accept it.
“And in your dream, you still played the role of the Prince’s fake Guide, didn’t you?”
She didn’t answer, but her silence seemed enough. His brows furrowed slightly.
“So, what happened?”
“What do you mean?”
“You must not have seen the end of that dream.”
“The end…?”
“Tell me how far you saw.”
Lynette’s lips parted, but no reply came easily. She had never expected to be questioned in this way.
“You said you saw Eshar bound to the Imperial Prince by fate in your dream.”
His voice was deep, it was almost accusing, pressing her without pause. She nodded faintly.
“And in that dream, you lived just as you do now, as the Prince’s fake Guide.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“I’m asking what became of you in the end.”
“What could have become of me?”
“Did you live happily for the rest of your life? Was that why you chose this path?”
His tone, as though reproaching her, made her falter and step back slightly. Sillian’s expression was stiff.
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