CH 22.1

‘Why aren’t his memories coming back? It’s supposed to be a temporary partial amnesia?’

Since it’s temporary, then it shouldn’t last long—it should have been resolved soon. And yet, a week had already passed.

Theodore’s doctor suggested that we should just wait and see, but my patience was running out.

If someone were to come up and ask me, ‘Isn’t it nice that you’re on much friendlier terms with your husband now?’ I just might kick them.

How was any of this good? He couldn’t remember anything.

As long as he lost his memories, did that mean that he’s become a different person? He forgot everything, so let’s all forget about the past and improve our relationship—like that?

What a joke.

No one could escape from the past. Nothing would change if you aren’t facing each other.

The fact that he was being sweet while not remembering me was nothing but a house of cards.

Or a poorly built sandcastle that would easily collapse in the waves someday.

“The prize for winning this year’s hunting competition is Arendelle’s coral bracelet. It’s been donated by Her Majesty the Queen.”

“……”

I sipped my tea without even replying to his words.

Arendelle’s coral bracelet. It was one of the seven magic tools made by the mage Lokshvir, who famously cared very much for his daughter. Of course, it went without saying that his daughter was Queen Ellemiel.

Lokshvir Arendelle was a mage who had defected from a faraway country, and the previous king of the Francia Kingdom had given him a title and made him a state governor.

Lokshvir lost his wife early on, but he had a daughter who he raised very dearly. She soon fell in love with the prince and they became engaged.

That prince was now the current reigning monarch, King Roderick Lancius.

Shortly after he had ascended to the throne, Lokshvir passed away. That was the time that the king’s ‘love’ for the queen was set aside, then he began to reveal his carnal nature and indulged in many women.

He had as many as ten concubines.

All of which had been killed by the queen.

It was a famous anecdote that was spread not only in the Francia Kingdom, but also to several neighboring countries.

“For Her Majesty to offer a memento left behind by her father, she’s very generous.”

“I believe so, too. I think that’s how much she cares about the Crown Prince.”

To what I had murmured under my breath, Theodore replied in a slightly enthusiastic voice.

I immediately regretted speaking at all.

I was only talking to myself… But Theodore was delighted by even just that.

“I definitely want to win this time and give it to you, my dear. I’ll do my best, so please support me.”

“……”

He said that even though he knew that I was pushing him away. It’s amazing how he tried to win my favor by saying ‘my wife, my dear’ at the end of every sentence.

Did he have a split personality?

No, come to think of it, he wasn’t originally cold-hearted. It’s just that he had placed a special target on my forehead.

A person who’s gentle was not gentle to everyone. He could be as cold as he wanted depending on the person opposite him and depending on the situation. That’s what I realized after knowing Theodore Valentino.

There was once a time when I tried to get even a piece of that sweetness.

How ironic that it was being given to me only at the moment when I no longer wanted it. Even worse, it’s in the form that I did not wish for. A dream or even daydream of a situation like this was never anything I had kept before.

The past needed to remain in place. It could never disappear.

Only then will my feelings still remain valid.

But in this situation, there was nothing to direct them to…

“……”

“You will also need to ride on horseback for the hunt, so I was thinking that you could practice this evening together with me…”

I deliberately set down my teacup to make a loud noise. Theodore flinched and stopped talking. He glanced up with an anxious look in his eyes.

He seemed worried that I might break the cup again.

Somewhere in my mind, I thought that the emotions that were burning within me had to have a place where they could be directed to.

Just because I was the daughter of House Everett, the petty sense of guilt that resided within me was the one holding back those boiling emotions.

However, I knew the truth.

What exactly these emotions were, why his kindness continuously stifled me—of course, it was because of fear.

But that wasn’t all.

Emotions were fostered regardless of my will.

Indeed. Nothing but a disaster.

“I decided to go to the hunt…”

“……”

“Just because I had the Duchy’s external image in mind. Regardless of everything, I am still the Duchess of Valentino.”

As though he already knew what I was going to say, Theodore’s expression hardened.

I had nothing to fear.

I no longer wished for him to like me, that’s why I don’t even try to match his mood anymore.

I was still frightened at the possibility of him hurting me, but right now, I felt nothing about him other than that.

These were the emotions that began boiling up within me from the moment he lost his memories and started acting affectionately with me.

These emotions existed from the beginning, yet I’d been holding my breath this whole time—as if I was a volcano that might erupt at any given moment.

“I do not want to improve my relationship with you, Duke.”

“……”

“Until now, I feel uncomfortable whenever I face you…”

And as I saw his distorted features, a strange sense of delight surged.

——

t/n: i decided to do away with ‘darling’ and instead used ‘my dear’ or ‘my wife’ for Theodore whenever he calls Lily. sorry for the confusion, hope this is less cringe lol