Chapter 83
She thought he would be pleased.
But unexpectedly, the man only looked at her.
As if asking whether that was really possible.
It was hard to meet those red eyes straight on, so Lynette lowered her head slightly.
Her face flushed hot.
Everytime, she only pushed Euphen away with words, but when it came to action, she couldn’t even do anything properly.
Though Sillian said nothing, it felt as if he was piercing right into her sincerity.
She gripped the hem of her dress tightly.
“…It’s true.”
Lynette added quietly, then pressed her lips together and raised her head.
The man’s expression remained calm.
“Either way, even if I stay here, His Highness the Imperial Prince……”
Again, Euphen.
She stopped speaking and let out a faint sigh.
There was no need to explain everything in detail.
‘And Sillian is… my Esper.’
Even if perfectly Guiding Sillian wasn’t possible yet, this man was gaining comfort and stability just by being with her.
So of course, it was only natural that he would feel some affection for her.
And in front of such a person, to keep talking about Euphen felt foolish. After all, they would be together for the rest of their lives now.
Of course, that ‘together’ didn’t mean marriage, but in one way or another, they would inevitably be bound for life.
Lynette gazed quietly at those crimson eyes.
Not wanting to speak of Euphen any longer, she steered the conversation elsewhere.
“When we leave here… do you know somewhere we can go to?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Where is it?”
“A faraway place.”
“That’s not what I mean. Where exactly?”
At that, Sillian brushed back his hair with a slightly troubled look.
He had said before that they should leave, but perhaps nothing was actually decided yet.
They could start thinking now, but the uncertainty was still overwhelming.
After all, she had never once left the Empire… strictly speaking, never beyond her rural hometown and the Imperial Castle.
‘Ah. But when I died, it was in another place.’
She didn’t even know where that was.
Whenever she came to her senses in the midst of suffering, there had always been an unfamiliar scenery outside the window.
After arriving at a small villa-like place, she hadn’t set a single foot out of bed.
“We will go to Calles.”
The man spoke, then watched Lynette as if searching for her reaction.
Calles.
She had never even heard of such a place.
‘Does it even exist?’
When she showed no particular response, Sillian smiled faintly.
“You don’t know about it, do you?”
“…It must be far from here.”
“Yes. A country very far away.”
“A country?”
So he meant to leave the Empire altogether.
She had vaguely expected some remote corner of the countryside, but Sillian seemed to truly mean someplace far beyond.
“It will be far better than staying here.”
Lynette gave no reply.
No matter how comfortable and happy that place might be, she would spend her whole life yearning for the moments she had shared with Euphen.
“…Alright. I’ll go to Calles. Once Miss Eshar awakens…”
“Do you know when that will happen?”
Lynette quietly shook her head.
“But it won’t take long.”
“Won’t take long, you say.”
The man frowned.
A deep sigh slipped through his lips.
“Each day that passes, more of your life is reduced beyond what you’ve lived.”
Lynette shot him a faint glare.
“I said I would leave, didn’t I? Isn’t that enough?”
Sillian gazed at her for a moment, then let out another long sigh, closing and then opening his eyes.
His golden lashes sparkled in the sunlight.
“…Understood. The fact that you’ve resolved to leave at all is progress enough. I won’t press you for further answers.”
After a brief silence, the man extended his hand.
“May I hold your hand?”
“Ah..”
At the sight of it, another matter she should apologize for flashed through Lynette’s mind.
“…I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
“At the party… I told you I would never see you again.”
At that, he let out a short laugh.
“I never truly meant it.”
“I didn’t take it to heart, so it’s fine.”
But hadn’t they really not met for days afterward?
She couldn’t help but wonder if he had been alright in the meantime.
Last time, he had been in such pain, was he really fine this time?
“Were you alright?”
She thought that it was a little strange for her to be asking something like that, but Lynette couldn’t help asking.
“As I said earlier, it was bearable.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Then please, take my hand.”
She held his large hand tightly.
Though embracing him earlier had already been enough to Guide him, she had no intention of using that as an excuse to avoid it.
She could feel his long fingers close firmly around hers.
Sillian let out a small sigh, as if reassured.
When the silence between them had become a little more comfortable, he leaned closer with a faint smile.
“…I wonder if you feel a little better now.”
“…Pardon?”
“You were crying.”
Sillian gently touched her cheek with his other hand, his fingertips tracing the still-swollen skin around her eyes.
Why was it that in front of this man, she kept showing her emotions like this?
Getting angry, crying… things she had never once done in front of Euphen.
‘Well, of course. He always made me happy.’
Before the thought of Sillian being ‘special’ could take root, she quickly smothered it with thoughts of Euphen.
With Euphen, she had been so happy that she smiled every single day.
Her joy had been enough to brush aside any amount of pain without a second thought.
So naturally, there had never been any reason to get angry or to cry.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.