Chapter 87
Later in the evening, Lynette knocked on the door of Euphen’s office.
She had intended to guide him whenever he had some spare time, but since he seemed too busy to meet her that day, she had come looking for him first.
He looked very busy lately, and although she didn’t want to disturb him, she had no choice. The advantage and disadvantage of guiding was that it required frequent meetings.
Even if there were arguments, they still had to meet and make contact. Sometimes that helped. Other times, it only made things worse.
‘They said he was in his office.’
Why wasn’t there any answer?
She knocked again. After waiting a little, a deep voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
When she opened the heavy door and stepped inside, the sight of his back seated in a large chair came into view. Euphen, facing the window, was faintly reflected in the darkened glass.
“Your Highness the Imperial Prince.”
“Ah, Lynette.”
As if only just realizing it was her, the man let out a sighing murmur and turned halfway toward her.
“Are you all right?”
“You didn’t do the guiding today, did you?”
Instead of answering her question, he gave an unrelated reply.
The door closed without a sound. As she walked closer, step by step, she could see how exhaustion filled his face.
She had never seen him look like this before.
“You look tired.”
At those words, Euphen rubbed his face with his hand and gave a faint laugh.
“It’s nothing.”
“What exactly have you been doing?”
Even though she knew he wouldn’t answer, she asked again.
His blue eyes only stayed fixed on her in silence. Lynette pressed her lips together and stood before him.
“Am I not supposed to know?”
“Mmm.”
He made a sound.
Whether it was a groan or a reply, she couldn’t tell.
Euphen leaned heavily against the backrest.
Instead of asking another question, Lynette let out a short sigh and extended her hand. Yet Euphen did not take it.
“Your Highness the Imperial Prince.”
“…”
No matter how long she waited, he did not reach out, so she tried to take his hand first. Euphen drew away slightly.
Would they have to go through another tiresome argument?
That he didn’t want the guiding, that she should stop, that he hated it, that he didn’t want to see her in pain… all the conversations that they had repeated countless times flashed through Lynette’s mind.
She frowned faintly, and just as she stretched out her hand again, the man spoke.
“Does the guiding work the same no matter how we make contact?”
“What?”
“I mean whether we hold hands or embrace, does it guide at the same level?”
Lynette blinked at the question. It was something she had never thought deeply about.
“I… I’m not sure.”
A somewhat reluctant answer slipped out. Euphen brushed back his slightly disheveled hair and asked another question.
“And the level of pain?”
Why was he asking that?
Not understanding his intention, she tilted her head. He pressed again.
“Is it about the same? Or does it hurt more when the area of contact increases?”
“I think… it’s about the same.”
When the contact spread, the pain seeped through her whole body, but the degree of pain itself seemed no different.
“And when the guiding is over? You don’t feel anything?”
She wanted to lie, to say she was fine, that it was nothing. But she already knew it wouldn’t work on him.
Lynette clasped her hands tightly together and shook her head.
“Even after the guiding is over, as long as there’s been contact, I still feel pain.”
“…”
“When you stayed in contact with me for a long time, you kept feeling the sensation of guiding, didn’t you? It’s the same thing.”
“Right. That’s true.”
Euphen answered with a sigh.
“So no matter what, I always end up hurting you.”
“I don’t mind.”
Though she answered with sincerity, he was already lost in his own thoughts.
After a moment, his chin propped on his hand, his expression slightly strained, Euphen closed his eyes tightly before opening them again. His blue eyes glimmered faintly in the dim light.
Suddenly, he rose from his seat and stepped toward her. The distance between them closed in an instant.
“I didn’t use my ability. So guiding for a few seconds is enough, isn’t it?”
“What? Y-yes.”
He came so close he was just a breath away from touching her.
Should she step back? Or remain still?
Truthfully, she didn’t want to avoid him. Lynette lifted her head. His neck and jaw came into view.
In the past, she had leaned her cheek there and embraced him.
Just as a wry smile crossed her face, she felt his strong arms wrap her body into a firm embrace. Her eyes widened.
The shock of being in his arms passed quickly, and a faint ache bloomed. Yet, strangely, she felt relieved. It was like she had returned to the past.
As she gripped his clothes tightly and pressed her forehead against his chest, a large hand seized her shoulder and pushed her away.
Though she tried to hold on, her grip was undone too easily.
“Ah.”
Euphen stepped back.
The moment had been so brief it almost felt like she had only imagined being held. Only the faint lingering pain, like residual warmth, told her that it had truly happened.
Lynette blinked.
“Ha.”
A dry laugh split the silence between them.
“Utterly disgraceful.”
The man muttered so faintly it was nearly inaudible, bowing his head. The expression on his face reminded Lynette of what she had glimpsed earlier, when she returned from her walk with Sillian.
“Your Highness the Imperial Prince.”
When she took a step closer, Euphen took two steps back, as though the most terrifying thing in the world stood right before his eyes.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.