After returning to the mansion as if fleeing, I headed straight to my bedroom.

I heard Avina calling me midway, but I didn’t have the presence of mind to answer her.

After entering the bedroom, I immediately threw myself onto the bed.

“What’s with this… Both last time and this time…”

The sound of my heart pounding echoed in my ears.

My face, which had heated up, showed no signs of cooling down.

I rolled around on the bed, trying to cool off the heat.

But my excited feelings wouldn’t subside.

Then suddenly, I realized something strange about the words I had carelessly uttered and raised my head.

“…Last time?”

I had no ‘last time’ with Duke Berzel, considering I had lost my memories yesterday.

Yet I mentioned the previous time so naturally.

That must be because a similar experience remained in my memory.

As I thought that far, my head started to hurt as if it was about to split.

I raised both hands to hold my head.

It was as if someone was squeezing my head, that kind of pain.

I wanted to call for help, but I couldn’t move to the bedside table with the bell pull.

I rolled around on the bed, unable to breathe properly, engulfed in pain as if my head was about to burst.

It felt like my eyeballs were about to pop out, and my body seemed to be constantly feverish.

I seemed to have let out screams that weren’t quite screams several times.

I was so desperate that I tasted blood in my throat.

A long time of pain continued.

The sun that had been high in the sky was now disappearing over the horizon.

Although it was clearly spring weather, I shivered as if it were the middle of winter.

Only then did the pain start to fade.

***

“…Madam! Madam! Are you alright?”

Avina’s familiar voice reached my ears, which had been muffled as if underwater.

I nodded slowly, trying to steady my rough breathing.

“Thank goodness, really. I heard a sound and forced the door open, and you were…”

Watching Avina swallow her tears, I smiled faintly.

“Avina, could you… get me some water?”

“Yes!”

At my request, Avina hurriedly ran to the table to fetch water.

Then suddenly, she stopped in her tracks and turned to look at me.

“Madam?”

When I raised my tired gaze to look at her, she poured water into a glass and approached me.

I drank the water with Avina’s support.

Only after the cold water cooled my heated insides did a sigh of relief escape.

“Thank you, Avina.”

“Um, Madam… did your memories… perhaps return?”

Avina asked me hesitantly.

I nodded with a small smile.

“It seems so. They’re still a bit hazy, but I remember.”

“That’s wonderful! Then I should quickly tell the master this news…!”

“Wait a moment, Avina.”

I stopped Avina, who was about to run to Alex.

“Yes?”

“Just stay put for now.”

“Why? The master would be overjoyed to know this.”

Avina asked me, puzzled.

Certainly, as she said, it was clear that Alex would be happy if he knew.

“I’ll reveal it myself.”

“You will?”

I answered by nodding with a smile.

“Claire!”

Not long after finishing my conversation with Avina, Alex entered my bedroom.

“I heard you were sick. Are you alright?”

He ran towards me and examined me up and down with a worried look.

He seemed ready to personally fix anything if there was something wrong.

His appearance felt quite cute.

“I’m fine, Duke. It was just a severe headache.”

“I see. That’s a relief. I was worried it might be something serious.”

Alex smiled, considerably relieved.

But soon his expression darkened again.

“It seems your memories haven’t returned yet.”

Hearing his bitter voice, I just smiled silently.

Avina, who knew that my memories had returned, looked at me with a puzzled expression.

I winked at Avina, meaning not to worry.

I clearly remembered the difficult days I had when I first came to his mansion.

Although I ended up enjoying a happy married life with Alex, I recalled that there were really many things that happened until we got there.

Getting kidnapped, and being imprisoned in a dungeon after coming to Alex’s side.

Of course, none of those things were his fault, but I thought this much would be okay as my small complaint to him.

“You’ve sweated a lot. It would be good to wash up first to avoid catching a cold.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

After answering, I got up with Avina’s support.

And I entered the bathroom and soaked my tired body in the bathtub.

“When are you going to reveal it? The master was very worried.”

Avina asked, puzzled.

“Don’t worry. I’ll reveal it right away.”

“Ah, I see.”

After confirming that Avina was reassured, I left the bathroom.

Then I went out again after changing into a neat dress.

On my way back to the bedroom, I saw Alex standing on the landing.

He was quietly gazing out the landing window with a complex expression.

He must be troubled because he’s worried about me.

Even if he doesn’t express it well outwardly, he’s a person who thinks a lot about me.

“Avina, and everyone. Please wait here for a moment.”

“Yes, understood.”

Avina and the maids stopped and waited in place after I finished speaking.

I left them behind and started to approach Alex stealthily, even taking off my shoes.

Fortunately, because I was wearing a light dress, there wasn’t even the sound of fabric rustling.

And finally, I went behind him and hugged him tightly.

“Claire?”

He seemed to have been so deep in thought that he didn’t even notice me approaching.

I couldn’t help but smile at the sound of him calling my name in surprise.

“What are you doing here alone, Alex?”

“Just thinking for a moment…”

Alex, who was about to answer unconsciously, froze.

Then he loosened my hands that were hugging him and turned around.

Faint joy was visible in the blue eyes facing me.

“Your memories… have they returned?”

Alex asked me carefully, as if he couldn’t believe it.

I nodded to indicate yes.

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t call you Alex. Right?”

His nickname that only I could call him.

Only after realizing that my memories had returned did Alex strongly embraced me with both hands.

His embrace still smelled of roses.

***

“So, have all your memories returned?”

Sister Veronica asked me, narrowing her eyes.

She still seemed unable to believe it.

“Of course, Sister. They’ve all returned.”

Only after I confirmed did Sister Veronica’s expression soften.

“That’s really a relief. Do you know how worried I was?”

“I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“No, it’s fine. As long as your memories have returned, that’s what matters.”

Sister Veronica hugged me once in relief and then let go.

I smiled and gently stroked Cain’s cheek, whom she had brought along, with my finger.

“Cain seems to take after you, Sister. His pink hair color and pretty features clearly show he’s your son, don’t they?”

“Of course. He’s my child after all.”

“Ah, I see.”

As I spoke with a bright smile, Sister Veronica smiled along with me.

Eventually, I moved away from Cain and sat on the sofa.

And I elegantly picked up a teacup to eat the prepared refreshments.

At that moment, I quickly covered my mouth and nose due to a sudden wave of nausea.

“Claire?”

Sister Veronica, who was looking at me curiously, tilted her head.

“What’s wrong?”

“The smell of this is too strong, I can’t drink it.”

I put down the cup and held my nose.

Even though it was a tea I liked, I couldn’t drink it at all due to the sudden nausea rising.

What’s going on?

As I was confused, Sister Veronica’s eyes widened.

“Claire, you, could it be…!”

“……!”

Only then did I realize why Sister Veronica was so surprised.

***

“You’re pregnant.”

I covered my mouth with both hands, startled at the doctor’s words.

It was because I heard the unbelievable news that the child I had been waiting for so long was now in my womb.

“Is it true? Is she really pregnant?”

Alex, seeming to feel the same as me, asked the doctor again in an excited tone.

“Yes, I’ve confirmed it.”

Only after the doctor confirmed it again did he relax his expression.

Then he hugged me tightly.

“Claire, thank you, really thank you. Your existence always gives me hope.”

I smiled brightly and buried my face in his chest.

“I’m the one who should be thankful, Alex.”

Becoming a mother was still a bit scary, but I felt confident that with Alex by my side, we could overcome everything well.