Chapter 2 (Part 3)

On the way to the village, Cardin kept asking about her. What she liked and disliked, and he observed her reactions carefully. 

She was puzzled by his interest, but she answered sincerely. Then, as a courtesy, she asked him.

“What food do you like?”

“I…”

Cardin thought deeply and looked at her. When their eyes met, his smiling face was beautiful. It was as if he was delighted by her question, his face bright.

As she waited for his answer, he spoke kindly.

“Chickpea soup.”

“But that’s my favorite.”

“I like it too.”

Cardin lifted the corners of his mouth. A lie. Previously, when they ate at his mansion, Cardin said he didn’t like bean dishes. 

When she didn’t speak, Cardin tilted his head.

“Why, does it seem like a lie?”

“It feels like you’re just saying what I like.”

And you don’t like bean dishes. 

She didn’t say the latter part. She thought it might be awkward if Cardin recalled the past. 

Although she promised to help him find his memory, her selfish heart wished his memory would remain as it was. She felt Cardin’s gaze. He looked at her and spoke.

“Actually, I didn’t really like bean dishes. But since you like chickpea soup, I grew to like it.”

“Why?”

It felt strange. Why? As she looked at him curiously, Cardin laughed. His handsome face caught her attention even more. As he kept smiling like this, her heart felt warm.

“I just grew to like it.”

A warm breeze brushed past her forehead. Could ‘just’ be a reason? Or should she focus more on the fact that he grew to like it? 

She had already kissed Cardin, so could she expect more? 

Cardin wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. The sweat trickling down his neck particularly caught her eye. Then their eyes met slowly. 

His gaze was unusually deep. Her face flushed with heat. She immediately looked ahead. She took a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped the sweat from her neck and forehead.

“It’s hot.”

It wasn’t this hot when she went alone.

When they arrived at Romseed Village, it felt different. It was a place she always visited alone, and she never thought of coming here with someone else. But now, thinking that she would say she was married to Cardin, she felt nervous.

‘Was it a mistake to agree to this?’

She wondered if she had gone too far. Suddenly, she looked up at him, but Cardin didn’t seem particularly interested in the village. He glanced around a bit, then looked back at her.

“Where do they sell glass?”

“At Arten’s General Store.”

She took the first step. The tension lingering in her heart didn’t easily subside. The owner of Arten’s General Store was a talkative person. If they went to her, it was obvious the whole village would hear about it. 

As she clasped her hands, deep in thought, Cardin’s body brushed against her arm. Startled, she looked at him as he tilted his head and met her eyes.

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

She spoke honestly.

“The owner of Arten’s General Store is a talkative person. If she finds out, the rumor will spread everywhere. She might ask a lot of questions too.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“A good thing?”

Cardin nodded lightly.

“She’ll spread the rumor everywhere, so we won’t have to visit other places.”

As she stared at him silently, Cardin naturally took her hand. She was about to pull away because her hand was sweaty. In the distance, she saw Luten. He glared at her and went into the herb shop. It felt strange. Luten’s gaze seemed to say he was watching her.

‘Come to think of it, Luten would have spread rumors, but it seems like he hasn’t yet.’

At that moment, Cardin’s hand wrapped around her waist. The gesture was deeper than she expected. When she looked at him, Cardin lowered his head and met her eyes.

“I thought we should be more affectionate.”

Then he lowered his face close to her ear. His warm breath scattered for a moment, then crept into her ear.

“So they’ll know I’m your husband.”

Cardin slowly pulled his face away. As she watched nervously, he lazily lifted the corners of his mouth.

“Let’s go buy the glass quickly.”

She belatedly nodded and looked ahead. The general store was already in sight.

“There it is.”

She pointed to the left, and Cardin smiled.

“Unlike Fern, the village here is small, so everything’s close by.”

She stopped and looked at him. Fern was where Cardin lived and the region his family governed. Cardin met her eyes, looking puzzled.

“Why?”

Her heart fluttered like it was caught in a storm. 

Could it be that Cardin’s memory was already returning? 

She managed to calm her trembling heart and asked.

“Do you remember anything?”

Their eyes met. He looked at her for a moment and then slowly spoke.

“No.”

“Then how do you know Fern?”

A light breeze blew. The air was hot and sticky. As she hurriedly tried to wipe her forehead with her hand, a soft handkerchief touched it. She paused and saw Cardin wiping her forehead, naturally meeting her eyes.

“It just came to mind. Isn’t that where Stern Academy is?”

He stared at her, seemingly wanting an answer.

‘How should I respond?’

Should I say it was where Cardin was born, the place his family governed? 

If she did, it would become obvious that she hadn’t told him everything. Her heart sank heavily. Cardin’s memory hadn’t fully returned yet. Anyway, she planned to leave before his memory returned.

“Yes.”

So she lied. Because she hoped Cardin’s memory wouldn’t return as much as possible.

Cardin smiled brightly at her.

“My memory was right.”

He seemed pleased. 

Was it because he was gradually remembering? 

She felt guilty for lying to him.

“Cardin.”

He turned to her. She spoke without looking at him.

“Don’t you miss your home?”

Contrary to her expectations, Cardin answered immediately.

“I only think of my oppressive father, so I don’t miss it.”

“……”

“I don’t miss it at all.”

His tone carried a force as if to emphasize his words. The guilt that had been wrinkling her heart eased a little. It was a relief that Cardin didn’t miss his hometown now.

“Still, if you ever miss it, let me know.”

“Why?”

“I can help you find your home.”

She was sincere. She knew where the Messerode family’s mansion was. If he asked, she would tell him and then leave.

“You’re already helping me. I’m thankful for that.”

The slight upward curve of his lips looked particularly fresh. For a moment, she forgot about the clinging heat.

“And right now, I like it here. I don’t want to go anywhere else.”

Not wanting to go anywhere else meant…

At that moment, someone called her name.

“Brienne?”

She turned and met brown eyes. It was Modene Arten, the owner of Arten’s General Store. 

looked at her and then at Cardin. Her eyes were full of curiosity. Cardin smiled and hugged her waist tightly.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Brienne’s husband, Cardin.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Husband. She had heard him say it earlier, but it still felt strange. Modene’s eyes widened like a surprised rabbit.

“Husband?”

Cardin nodded with a smile. Modene, seemingly not believing it, tapped Brienne’s arm.

“Brienne, you never mentioned having a husband.”

She was about to speak, feeling embarrassed.

“Perhaps she thought people wouldn’t believe her. Since I was away for a long time due to work, it’s hard to prove.”

Only then did Modene nod and relax her expression. She gently took Brienne’s hand.

“Still, you should have told me. I thought you lived alone in that deep place. Probably everyone in the village thinks so too.”

“Then I hope everyone knows I’m her husband now.”

Cardin’s body pressed closer. It was hot and sweaty. Yet he didn’t seem to mind, hugging her waist even tighter. She tried to keep her expression bright, despite all her senses being on edge because of Cardin’s hand. Modene looked at Cardin with lively eyes and smiled broadly.

“By the way, your husband is quite handsome. How did you meet?”

She hadn’t thought that far ahead. She quickly thought on her feet.

“We met at Stern Academy.”

Her heart felt strangely stirred. It felt like they really met that way. It was a situation she had always imagined. 

As she stood there dazed, Cardin spoke.

“By the way, do you have any glass?”

“Oh, it’s inside. Come on in.”

She finally came to her senses and entered the store with Cardin. It wasn’t new, as she had been there many times. 

Piles of paper, knitted bags, wooden toys for children—all quaint and charming items. Modene went to the counter and asked Cardin.

“What size glass do you need?”

“About 30 cm by 30 cm.”

It was surprising. She hadn’t seen Cardin measure the glass, so how did he know the exact size? Modene leaned forward. 

After a moment, she pulled out a sturdy piece of glass.

“Is this the right size?”

“Yes, it is.”

Modene smiled and wrapped the glass in brown paper. Brienne took out money from her pocket and handed it over. Modene watched Cardin intently rather than her. A faint smile never left her face.

“Oh my, such a handsome and reliable man. My daughter should bring home someone like him.”

Cardin gently lifted the corners of his mouth. Suddenly, Modene turned to Brienne.

“If I had married such a man, I would have spread the word all over the village.”

Having nothing to say, Brienne just lifted the corners of her mouth. She understood Modene’s feelings. Indeed, Cardin’s face was exceptional, and his physique was noticeably more striking than others.

Moreover, he was her first love, and the current situation was what she had always dreamed of.