Chapter 10

As the oar cut through the water, the boat slowly drifted forward. The lukewarm summer breeze blew, sending Rosalie’s red hair fluttering. Her lips remained firmly shut as she gently tucked a strand of hair from her cheek with slender fingers.

Not a single word was exchanged between them until the boat had drifted quite far from the dock. From the moment she boarded, Rosalie’s expression had frozen like a statue, her gaze fixed on the distant grasslands without wavering. Anyone could see just how uncomfortable she was in this situation.

It was only natural to feel uneasy when riding a boat with someone you didn’t want to be with—but the same could be said for Kenneth. She smiled easily with others, so why did she freeze up like a frightened girl in front of him? Still, Kenneth rowed slowly for the woman seated across from him.

He was the first to break the silence.

“You don’t seem to be very good at hiding your emotions, my lady.”

At his subtly critical tone, Rosalie’s shoulders flinched.

Since her first ball, she had done everything she could to avoid Kenneth—even barely attending parties. But the ever-noticed duke always seemed to end up in her line of sight, no matter where she went.

She had thought that if she simply avoided looking at him, she could maintain a calm expression when forced to confront him. But clearly, that wasn’t the case.

She glanced around. The boats bobbed gently across the wide lake, spaced far apart from one another. People’s lips moved animatedly, but no sounds could be heard.

No one could tell what anyone else was saying. All one could do was read the atmosphere from visible expressions. In high society, where eyes and ears were everywhere, this was perhaps the only place where honest words could be safely spoken.

That realization finally loosened Rosalie’s tightly sealed lips.

“There’s something I want to ask you, Your Grace.”

“Go ahead.”

“I can understand that you don’t remember me. But what about Riden Cailon?”

Kenneth recalled the conversation they’d had on the balcony.

“Even after hearing my name, truly nothing comes to mind?”

It was as if she expected him to know both Rosalie Cailon and Riden Cailon.

But unfortunately, Kenneth couldn’t give her the answer she wanted.

Because there was no trace of them in his memory.

“I’m not sure.”

Rosalie’s large eyes trembled, as if shaken by shock.

“How can you say you don’t remember?”

Her voice trembled like a blade of grass swaying in the wind.

“You were the duke’s closest friend. Even if it was during childhood, there’s no way you could not know.”

It had been difficult for Rosalie to start speaking, but once the words began to pour out, they flowed endlessly like a stream breaking free.

“Or are you pretending not to know? But this isn’t something you’re allowed to forget. You—”

The end of Kenneth’s usually composed brow twitched.

“Young Lady.”

The weighty voice, heavy with authority, cut off Rosalie’s rising emotions.

“It seems we knew each other in the past. You seem extremely angry with me now. I must have done something despicable.”

“Yes. So despicable I can’t even bring myself to say it out loud.”

Kenneth let out a faint laugh. To everyone else, he was the image of a perfect nobleman. He had worked hard to uphold the family reputation that had been passed down for generations. And yet, he had committed something that disgraceful?

“In that case, I shall share a secret with you, and only you.”

“……”

“Ten years ago, I fell from a galloping horse and hit my head. The physician said I lost all memory from before the accident. So this despicable act you speak of—it never happened, at least not to the current me. I can’t atone for something that doesn’t exist in my memory, simply based on your words.”

If it were possible, Kenneth would have dragged those lost memories back at any cost. But the more he tried, the more pain stirred deep inside his head. As the familiar headache returned, Kenneth’s eyes flinched.

Rosalie’s eyes, burning with anger, gradually filled with emptiness. Seeing the expression on her face, as if she couldn’t accept a single word he said, left Kenneth just as confused.

‘Who are you, that I must not forget you? If you’re truly so important, why is there no trace of you in my mind?’

“It was a most delightful boat ride, Lady Cailon.”

At some point, the boat reached the dock. Wanting to get off as quickly as possible, Rosalie stood before it had even fully stopped, causing her to lose her balance and stagger. As one foot lifted off the floor, she inevitably fell toward Kenneth. He caught her with his entire body.

The rocking boat splashed water high into the air, soaking both of them. Kenneth’s arm, wrapped around her waist as if holding her close, radiated heat.

Rosalie braced herself against his chest and pushed herself upright. Water trickled down her wet hair, slid along her cheek, and dropped onto Kenneth’s lips. The water that flowed into his mouth had a faintly salty taste.

He could tell that the thing soaking her face wasn’t just river water.

Rosalie wiped the water trickling down her chin with the back of her hand and stepped off the boat. Without looking back, she walked away from the dock.

***

Since that day, Rosalie hadn’t been able to shake her thoughts. Wanting to verify whether Kenneth’s words were true, she agonized over it for a long time before finally sending a letter to Duchess Carindia Vinzetten. The duchess gladly agreed to meet her.

“We’ve arrived, my lady.”

Stepping down from the carriage, Rosalie took in the sight of the familiar mansion she used to visit often with her mother.

“Even after all this time, nothing has changed here.”

Ten years ago, Rosalie had claimed on her way from the temple to the Kinson estate that Kenneth was the true culprit. But a child’s plea had been dismissed as confusion from the shock of the accident.

It wasn’t entirely unfounded—considering the condition of the bodies, the evidence clearly pointed to something inhuman, and the duke and duchess had stated that Kenneth had never left the estate during that time.

Although the ducal couple had sent letters filled with concern, Rosalie had never once replied. Based on their letters, it seemed even they were unaware of what Kenneth had done, but Rosalie hadn’t believed they would accept the truth even if she told them.

Upon entering the mansion, a butler led her to the drawing room.

She had only been seated on the sofa a short while when Grand Duchess Carindia Vinzetten entered the room. As she faced Rosalie, her expression was difficult to read. Rosalie rose from her seat and offered a polite greeting.

“Good day, Grand Duchess Vinzetten.”

“It’s been a long time, Rosalie. You’ve grown into such a beautiful young lady.”

“……”

“I recognized you at once when we met in Victoria Park. How could I not recognize that face—so much like Viscountess Elicia Cailon’s?”

At the mention of the dearly missed name, a faint smile appeared on Rosalie’s lips.

The two sat facing each other on the sofa, and shortly after, a maid brought in warm tea.

“I was shocked when I heard about the accident years ago. I worried about you greatly, but seeing you like this eases my heart.”

“How have you been, Your Grace?”

Carindia immediately understood what Rosalie truly meant to ask. A shadow of sorrow crossed her face before disappearing.

“I’m doing my best to endure.”

Rosalie understood all too well how painful it is to lose someone you love—yet she couldn’t bring herself to fully console Carindia, for Rosalie’s own grief had been carved into her by Carindia’s son.

“I asked for this meeting because there’s something I need to know, Duchess.”

“Ask me anything, Rosalie.”

“I’ve heard the duke lost all his memories in an accident. Is that really true?”

A deep sigh slipped from Carindia’s lips.

“I suppose I can’t hide it from you… Everything the duke told you is true. After the accident, he couldn’t even recognize his own parents—he’d forgotten his very name.”

Which meant, of course, he had also forgotten the day he destroyed Rosalie’s beloved family.

Rosalie could hardly accept it—no, she didn’t want to accept it.

“I still believe that someday his memories will return—his memories of you as well. Once, we were all very close, you know.”

Only then did Rosalie understand Kenneth’s blank indifference. Realizing she alone still remembered that awful day, the tempest of emotions inside her dispersed, leaving behind nothing but a hollow sense of helplessness.