18: Happiness That Could Break at Any Moment

Aside from frequent headaches, Kael had no other issues after regaining consciousness a week after his fall.

However, the head injury left him with amnesia regarding his wife, whom he had once despised to the extreme, turning him into a pure-hearted boy seemingly in love.

This news quickly spread among the household staff, and the one most upset by it was Rensi.

“D*mn it!”

Rensi, who had been anxiously praying for her master to wake up ever since he returned covered in blood—going so far as to call upon a god she normally denied—felt an uncontrollable fury rising within her.

“I have to find a way to bring back the Duke’s memories!”

Biting her nails furiously, Rensi stood before the head maid who had summoned her outside.

‘As if I wasn’t annoyed enough already.’

Suppressing her irritation, Rensi bowed her head politely to the head maid and asked, “Did you call for me, Head Maid?”

“Remember that I am keeping a close eye on you.”

“…Yes.”

“For the sake of those who rely on you, refrain from any reckless behavior from now on. Understood?”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Starting today, Rensi, you’ll be assigned as a kitchen assistant.”

Grinding her teeth in frustration, Rensi bowed and replied, “Understood.”

Click, click, click—

Only after the old woman’s heels had faded into the distance did Rensi lift her head, her face twisted in anger. She glared at the back of the head maid and muttered under her breath.

“Hah! Acting like she owns this mansion! That old pig! Ugh, seriously! So infuriating!”

Unable to contain her rage, Rensi kicked the wall repeatedly before exhaling deeply and looking up at the sky.

“Lost memories always come back eventually. So don’t get too comfortable, Aella Blueanz. You murderer’s daughter! I’ll make sure to drive you out of this mansion!”

Clenching her fists tightly, Rensi left the area, unaware that Ian had quietly emerged from the shadows, his brow furrowed deeply.

“What a lunatic.”

Ian had also been keeping an eye on her.

From the moment Rensi set foot in the Hormons mansion, she had dared to harbor feelings for the young master, Kael. While it wasn’t unusual for a servant to admire someone as handsome as Kael, Rensi had gone a step further by envying Aella, whom Kael had secretly cherished.

A mere commoner maid envying a noble lady might not have been strange, but the problem lay in how Rensi expressed her jealousy through actions.

“How should I report this?”

After a moment of deliberation, Ian decided to observe her further.

Following his father’s orders to monitor Rensi’s behavior, Ian resolved to catch her in the act of doing something that would warrant her expulsion.

“She’ll slip up soon enough.”

Ian knew Rensi well.

She was the second most influential woman in the Hormons mansion after his mother, the head maid. Thanks to her instigations, many of the staff had turned against the Duchess, mocking and disrespecting her.

“Ungrateful wretches.”

Most of these people had been healed by the Duchess, the empire’s only healer. Ian’s own mother was among them.

Though Ian and his parents were forced by Kael’s orders to turn a blind eye to the unfair treatment Aella endured in the mansion, Rensi and her followers went as far as to slander and belittle her openly.

“You’ll all pay for your sins someday. Even I…”

Bound by Kael’s orders to simply observe, Ian felt his heart grow heavier.

What weighed on him even more was—

“…Kina.”

Ian had developed romantic feelings for Kina for the first time in his life.

But given the situation, she now harbored deep resentment toward him.

“Haa…”

Once again, Ian could only let out a heavy sigh that seemed to sink into the ground.

***

When Mai burst into the office, Derek greeted her warmly.

Seeing his son, Ren, crying behind her, Derek sighed deeply.

Unlike his lively sister, the timid and overly tearful younger twin made Derek worry whether he would grow up to be a proper man.

“Father! Is it true that Kael has regained consciousness?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“That’s correct…? Does that mean there’s something wrong with him?”

“He seems to have memory issues.”

As Derek met his daughter’s worried gaze, he sighed before continuing.

“I’ve been informed that he has forgotten about the late Duke’s death and his current wife.”

“Oh my… How could that happen?”

“I don’t know either.”

“Then I’ll go see Kael right away!”

“Mai, I understand your concern, but wait until the Duke of Hormons returns to the palace. Besides, the Duchess has been nursing him day and night for the past week. Let him rest.”

“Alright…”

Derek offered his daughter a gentle smile and spoke in a soft voice.

“Don’t worry too much. The Duke of Hormons is in good health now.”

“Yes. I’ll take my leave.”

“And Ren? Why is he crying so much?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Oh! Father! I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

Derek, who would do anything for his beloved daughter, listened attentively.

“Those arrogant noblewomen! They dare to disrespect Princess Roden!”

“…”

“And it’s not just them! Even the servants and maids gossip about Aella—no, the Duchess—and treat her like a mere friend! If I had overheard them, I would have—”

As Mai’s voice grew louder, she noticed her father’s expression twist into something unrecognizably grim, and her words came to a halt.

“F-Father.”

“Mai.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll handle this matter myself. Now return to your quarters. Ren, stop crying. How can the
Prince of this empire be so tearful?”

“M-My apologies, Father.”

Mai comforted her sniffling brother and assured her father she trusted him before leaving the room.

“Your Majesty…”

With the twin prince and princess gone, the office fell silent.

The chancellor cautiously addressed the Emperor, who was staring into the void with a piercing gaze.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes, Chancellor.”

“Did you already know?”

“Unfortunately…”

“Haa…”

“The Prince has feelings for Princess Roden…”

“I’m aware.”

Covering his forehead with both hands, Derek let out a series of deep sighs.

When the chancellor asked whether he should summon the court physician, Derek waved him off.

‘I’ll have to settle this matter soon.’

Though the chancellor remained silent, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy seeing the Emperor radiate an even more menacing aura.

‘It feels like the rift between the Emperor and the Crown Prince is growing wider.’

As the years passed, the chancellor felt the tension between the Emperor and the Crown Prince escalating toward catastrophe, leaving him increasingly anxious about the situation.

***

Laura read the letter Kina had sent her and then burned it in the fireplace.

“So he’s only lost memories of the Duchess. And yet… this isn’t something to celebrate.”

Running her hand through her hair, Laura frowned when a servant informed her that her master was looking for her.

‘How unusual…’

Laura was surprised to hear that the man who usually confined himself to his dirty harem was calling her to the office.

Knock, knock.

“Master, I’ve come as summoned.”

“Come in.”

Even hearing his voice made her frown as she opened the door and entered, bowing respectfully.

“You called for me?”

“Have you heard from Aella?”

“Other than the fact that the Duke regained consciousness after a week…”

“There must be more, no?”

Faced with the Count of Blueanz’s piercing gaze, which seemed to know everything, Laura could only bow her head and give him the answer he wanted.

“It seems he has lost memories related to the late Duke of Hormons and the Duchess.”

“Hmm~ What a pity.”

“…”

“If that bastard had died, all his wealth would have gone to our Aella.”

Laura was left speechless by the Count’s cruel honesty.

‘This man is undoubtedly a demon in human skin. Otherwise…’

Shaking her head in disbelief, Laura lowered herself further under the Count’s scrutinizing gaze.

“Let Aella know that I’ll be visiting her soon.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Oh, and two of the girls died from disease. Have the butler deal with it.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Replace them with fresher ones.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

After leaving the room, Laura clutched her nauseous stomach tightly.

‘Does God even exist? If He does, why would He allow someone like him to exist?’

Glaring at the tightly closed door, Laura let out a short breath and walked away.

“I wonder how the Duchess feels right now.”

Thinking about it made Laura’s chest ache, and she pounded her heart as she walked away heavily.

***

Five days had passed since Kael regained consciousness.

Aella stayed by his side as he requested, claiming that being near her made him feel better and eased his headaches.

“My wife.”

“Yes?”

“The more I see you, the more unbelievable it feels.”

“What do you mean?”

“That I’m married to someone as beautiful as you.”

“…”

Though Kael’s gaze made her heart race, Aella also felt a heavy weight on her chest.

For now, he had only lost his memories of her, but she could vividly imagine how his attitude toward her would turn colder than ever once his memories returned.

The warm smile, the gentle voice, and the soft touch on her cheek—all of it was as fragile as a candle flame that would vanish with the slightest breeze if Kael regained his memories.

The happiness she felt now seemed so precarious that Aella’s anxiety grew deeper.

“My wife.”

“Yes?”

“May I… kiss you?”

“…”

“We’re married, after all. Of course, I’m not forcing you.”

The Kael before her now resembled the pure boy he had been in the past.

The only difference was that they were now husband and wife.

Aella closed her eyes.

“T-Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Aella, I love you very much.”

A soft kiss sent shivers throughout Aella’s body.

‘What am I supposed to do from now on?’