Chapter 89
“You want to go to the Imperial Library?”
When Euphen tilted his head slightly and asked, Lynette nodded. She thought he would casually say to go ahead, but he didn’t say anything.
Before the regression, he had given her separate permission to come and go freely. Why was he hesitating now?
“If there’s a book you want to read, write it down. I’ll have a servant fetch it for you.”
“I want to go and see for myself.”
“What do you want to read?”
“I’d like to look up things about Espers and Guides.”
At those words, the man faintly furrowed his brows.
“You’re searching for a way, aren’t you? I want to help too.”
She was certain there could be no such way, but even so, wasn’t there at least the slightest chance, the smallest shred of hope? Even if she had to leave in the end, until then she wanted to do everything she could. If she was going to sink into deep waters, then at the very least she ought to struggle.
Euphen tapped the desk with his fingertips.
“Then take a guard with you.”
“A guard?”
When Lynette asked with a grimace, he summoned his own knight.
“There’s no need for that. It’s only the Imperial Library.”
“If you’re going outside, you must report to me. Going alone is forbidden.”
“Nothing’s ever happened up until now.”
“Just because nothing has happened doesn’t mean it won’t in the future.”
With a knock, a man she only vaguely recognized entered. He had also served as Euphen’s guard before the regression. If she remembered correctly, they had known each other since childhood. Euphen, who was kind yet did not easily trust others, counted him among the few he relied upon.
“Eric, I’m entrusting Lynette to you.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Eric didn’t ask why, nor did he refuse.
“If Sir Eric goes with me, then who will guard Your Highness the Imperial Prince?”
“Eric isn’t my only guard. Don’t worry, Lynette.”
“Are you going far, Your Highness?”
At the man’s question, Lynette quickly waved her hands in surprise.
“Please, speak comfortably. I’m… just a maid.”
“Ah, is this your first time meeting? Eric, this is the young lady I told you about. My guide.”
“I’ve heard much about you.”
“Lynette, he’s one of the people I trust. You can rely on him.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust him, but really, I don’t need a guard.”
“Just take him with you. Eric, since Lynette wishes to go to the Imperial Library, prepare a carriage as well.”
Euphen took out a sheet of paper and began to write something.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Eric gave a slight bow, then strode out of the room. Since she hadn’t encountered him often even in the past, Lynette only felt awkward.
Euphen folded the letter, sealed it, and handed it to her.
“Here. Just show this.”
“Thank you.”
His lips parted as if to say more, but he only gave a faint smile and shook his head.
“Take care.”
“Yes.”
Lynette answered softly.
She doubted she would gain much even after combing through all the books in the Imperial Library. Still, perhaps this time she might discover something.
***
Sitting across from Eric in the carriage felt suffocatingly awkward. She didn’t know him well, but as she had heard and briefly seen before, he was a very reserved man.
‘Really, I don’t know anything about anyone besides Euphen.’
A wry smile tugged at her lips. Lynette had lived with her eyes fixed solely on Euphen.
She hadn’t cared who else was around. She hadn’t even needed to know. Euphen had never gone out of his way to introduce her to anyone either.
Now that she was going through things “different from before” after regressing, she could feel just how ignorant she had been.
Despite living in the Imperial Castle for years, she hardly knew how things operated. She knew nothing of various incidents, and even less about people.
Lynette glanced at Eric, sitting upright across from her. Noticing her gaze, he lifted the head he had been slightly lowering. His expression seemed to ask if she had something to say. Lynette fidgeted with her fingertips.
“Should I call you Sir Eric?”
“Whichever you’re comfortable with.”
“You don’t have to be so formal with me.”
“But you’re His Highness Euphen’s guide. That makes you nearly his equal.”
Had he not heard that she was a fake, or was he saying this even knowing it? She searched his expression, but found no answer.
Before she could think of anything more to say, the carriage stopped. Fortunately, the Imperial Library wasn’t far.
The librarian broke Euphen’s seal, glanced at the letter, and told her to call if she needed anything before disappearing. Lynette, well used to the place, walked inside. Their footsteps echoed through the quiet halls.
‘Ah, there it is.’
Of course, nothing had changed.
She lifted her gaze to the bookshelf lined with familiar titles. When she went to look for a ladder, Eric brought one over.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
Climbing up, Lynette began scanning through the books one by one.
‘The contents are the same.’
She couldn’t recall every single letter perfectly, but nothing differed from the memories in her mind.
After skimming through a dozen books and snapping one shut with a thud, she let out a sigh.
If the books here were the same as before, then no matter how much she searched, there would be nothing written about a so-called “way to turn things back.”
As she pondered, she stopped reading further and instead began thinking of something else.
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