The Untamed: Game of Hearts
Chapter 345: My Unbiased Support

Chapter 345: My Unbiased Support

Even as the party went into full swing and the general feel of the atmosphere turned into one of cheer and merrymaking, Lyne still couldn’t help but feel nervous about what she was supposed to say to that one question niggling at the back of her mind.

Boris’s sudden offer had taken her completely by surprise. She didn’t even know what she was thinking when she said that she wouldn’t say no to him, but what was done was already done. She had pretty much accepted Boris’s offer already, all that was left for her to do was to decide when to officially give him her answer.

Lyne uncharacteristically sighed, nursing the glass of wine in her hands as she found herself standing a ways away from the general group. Standing by the balcony, she didn’t really want to involve herself in singing karaoke and doing other party games at the moment. Seeing everyone having fun was great. She just wished that she was in the right state of mind to join them.

"Lyne?"

Turning around, she almost gasped when Raine had suddenly appeared beside her.

"Oh, Boss," she quickly greeted with her usual cadence. "Welcome back."

"Thanks, Lyne. But anyway, what’re you doing standing all the way here?" Raine asked with a frown, a glass of what was hopefully grape juice in her hand as she took a sip. "Everybody’s having fun and you’re out here brooding. What’s wrong?"

Taking a rather sizable sip of her wine, Lyne sighed as she began, "Boris had proposed to me."

"What?!-"

"Please not so loud," Lyne quickly shushed her boss with a pleading look. "Nobody knows about it, and I’d prefer it to be that way until I come to a decision."

"You mean you still don’t know what to say?" Raine asked, her tone taking on a more serious lilt as she leaned beside her. "Did you say no?"

Lyne shook her head.

"...Did you say yes then?"

Again, Lyne shook her head, taking another hefty gulp from her glass of wine.

"Then what did you tell him?"

"...I told him that I wasn’t ready to answer his question," Lyne truthfully replied. "I just... I was so off-guard that I didn’t know what to say."

"So that’s why you two seemed so aloof with one another..." Raine nodded in understanding. "I guess you still don’t fancy him..."

Lyne almost glowed red as she quickly turned to face Raine. Her eyes conveyed so much emotion despite her lips being closed shut that her friend immediately got her drift.

"Wait... So you do like him."

"Y-Yes..." Lyne nodded.

"Then why not just say yes?" Raine asked in confusion. "There’s nothing stopping you anymore, right? Danos is dead, and... Do you still have some prejudice left in you?"

Shamefully, Lyne nodded her head. It was just too hard for her to get rid of it completely. Sure, Boris had done wonders to chip away at her fears and misconceptions, but years of trauma weren’t that easy to undo.

"It’s just... I still can’t see it," Lyne admitted, her eyes watering as she forced herself to speak. "I mean, I can see myself being with him, but I can’t see myself living in... Living with a whole pack of them."

"Then why not just request him to accommodate you for a bit while you familiarize yourself?" Raine suggested.

"That would be unfair to him... After everything he had done for me..." Lyne shook her head. "The least I can do is reciprocate his enthusiasm, and I’m more than fine with marrying him, but being a Luna..."

Raine, to her credit, quickly came to a conclusion that hit close to what Lyne was feeling about the situation. "So you’re worried that you wouldn’t do a good enough job at helping him lead, especially since you still hold little love for his kind."

Again, Lyne shamefully nodded, tears starting to fall as she kept her head down. "I’m getting better... I know I’m getting better... But I don’t feel like I’m ready yet..."

Sobbing, Lyne raised her hands up to her face, wiping off the tears on her cheeks. Raine then moved to give her a warm hug, and she took it as an invitation to cry on her friend’s shoulder.

"It’ll be fine, Lyne," Raine soothed. "You can do it. You’re one of the toughest women I know, and I’m sure you can step up to the task."

"T-Thank you, Boss..."

"It’s Raine, Lyne," Raine chuckled. "Take this as permission for you to leave my squad."

Lyne gasped, her heart seizing up as she looked at her boss’s face. "N-No... I shouldn’t... I can’t!"

"Don’t make me fire you for your own good, Lyne," Raine shook her head with a smile. "Besides, it’s not like we won’t see each other again. I’m pretty sure I’ll still keep you on dial whenever I might need your services, or if I just wanna talk to you."

"But..."

"Look at it this way, with Danos dead, what other goal do you have to achieve being a part of my squad?"

Lyne frowned as she pondered her boss’s question. Try as she might, except for her friendship and loyalty, there was nothing else for her to do with her revenge target dead.

"See? You’ve hit a dead end under me," Raine chuckled. "It’s time for you to grow, maybe start a family while you’re at it."

"Boss..." Lyne weakly pouted.

"Hey, I’m just saying, if our kids are compatible, why not give it a spin?"

Lyne couldn’t help but chuckle as she gave Raine a light shoulder tap. "That sounds awfully like eugenics, Boss."

"Well, I tried," she jokingly shrugged. "But seriously, you don’t have to stifle yourself like this. Do what you think is best, and you’ll have my unbiased support."

Lyne took one last sip from her glass. Taking a deep breath, she gave Raine the most grateful smile she could muster. "Thank you, Bo- Raine..."

"Anytime, Lyne," Raine nodded warmly with a smile. "Now go and get your happiness out there. I placed bets on your love life, so get to it."

Lyne shook her head with a chuckle. Truly, Raine was the best friend she could ever have.