The physician explained several methods for accessing lost memories.

Keeping familiar objects close by or visiting places one used to frequent.

Then he took out headache medication and nerve stabilizers from his medical bag and prescribed them.

Since an entire period of memories had disappeared, he explained that severe headaches might accompany the process of recovering those memories.

Roina thought she could endure that much. After all, she couldn’t continue wandering through this hazy fog forever.

That’s why she felt increasingly anxious and impatient.

“Is there any way to recover my memories as quickly as possible?”

To her desperate question, the physician seemed to ponder for a moment before cautiously answering.

“There is one method.”

“What is it?”

“You could visit the place where you were staying when you lost your memories, or experience a situation similar to when you lost them.”

When Roina blinked slowly while looking at him, the physician added an explanation.

“It’s not uncommon for people to recover parts of their memories when they return to the place where they lost them or face similar circumstances.”

“…I see.”

Seemingly believing he had fulfilled his role, the physician rose from his seat.

Left alone in the bedroom, Roina sat quietly on the bed, lost in thought.

‘The place where I lost my memories…’

She had been too disoriented when she woke up from her fever.

Moreover, for some reason, Conrad hadn’t explained the details about that place.

‘I should ask him again.’

In a situation where three years of memories had completely disappeared, even adapting to the new environment was overwhelming.

But now she felt she needed to visit that place to find her lost memories.

To the place where she supposedly stayed last summer.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Clatter-clatter—.

Inside the carriage racing across the plains, only the sound of hoofbeats could be heard, while the interior was filled with hired silence.

Roina’s gaze, which had been fixed on the window, eventually turned toward the man sitting across from her.

‘I didn’t expect Conrad would insist on coming along.’

Roina had thought it would take more time before she could go to the place where she supposedly stayed last summer.

After all, she had already heard from him multiple times that there was no need to go there, and that not going would be better.

But this morning, Conrad had unexpectedly appeared and suggested she prepare for an outing.

Contrary to her expectations, he had given permission quickly.

Roina kept her eyes on the man before her, recalling their conversation.

“Why are you trying to find those memories?”

Wariness had flashed through Conrad’s golden eyes as he spoke those words.

As if he found the idea of his wife recovering her memories rather unpleasant.

‘What is it that displeases you?’

Roina thought that if she recovered her memories, she might no longer need to bother Conrad.

While she was deeply absorbed in these thoughts, the man who had been looking out the window turned his gaze toward her.

“Do you have something to say.”

At the sudden dry voice, Roina gathered her thoughts and answered calmly.

“I didn’t think you would come along.”

Conrad slightly pulled one corner of his mouth and murmured in a low voice.

“Well… who knows if you might run away again.”

At the man’s voice, cold as ice, she chewed on her lower lip.

Then, tightly clasping her hands on her lap, she said.

“I won’t do that anymore. Really.”

Roina couldn’t fully understand what emotions had driven her past self to choose escape.

But at least now, she had no such intentions. She wanted to stay by Conrad’s side and help him.

“I wonder. What is your reason for wanting to recover your memories so badly.”

Conrad seemed to have judged that Roina must have some ulterior motive.

“As I told you before, I don’t want to burden you anymore.”

“……”

At her answer, Conrad seemed to sink into thought for a moment before turning his gaze away.

After that, there was no further conversation between the two.

How much time had passed? The wind coming through the window gap gently ruffled Conrad’s neat black hair.

The man, sitting with impeccable posture and eyes gently closed, must have been working late the previous night.

Since becoming the head of the family, he probably hadn’t had a day to rest comfortably.

‘Eden….’

As Roina quietly took in Conrad’s face, she called out in her heart. His name that she could never call again.

Once, Roina had wanted to become Conrad’s only one.

She believed that she could soothe his wounds.

‘Could there be any greater arrogance?’

In the end, she had only cut deeper into his unhealed wounds.

Looking at her husband with eyes that seemed about to crumble at any moment, Roina finally averted her gaze.

Then, with an empty stare fixed on the wide fields outside the carriage, she repeated the question he had asked.

‘He asked what my reason was for wanting to find my memories….’

To that question, Roina couldn’t reveal her true feelings.

She simply believed that finding her lost memories would be more helpful for what was to come.

More than holding onto happy memories with Conrad.

While she was deeply immersed in thought, the coachman informed them through the sliding window that they had arrived near their destination.

Conrad, who had opened his eyes, silently offered his hand, and Roina took it as she stepped down from the carriage.

“From here, we need to walk up.”

As he said, the alley was too narrow for the carriage to enter.

So the two of them and their entourage decided to walk in procession to their destination.

As she gazed at the man walking ahead, a distant memory suddenly flashed through Roina’s mind.

“Eden, why are you following me?”

“…The night streets are dangerous.”

“What? But it’s only evening.”

“Let’s walk together a bit more.”

Perhaps because she recalled the days when she was accustomed to Conrad’s kindness, the tip of her nose stung.

She knew well that those days would never return. Yet she couldn’t let go of that lingering attachment.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

‘Did I really… stay here?’

Upon arriving at the place where she supposedly stayed last summer, Roina couldn’t close her mouth.

True to the description of a dilapidated place rarely visited by people, the cabin looked like it could collapse at any moment.

The outskirts, far from the capital, was also a place she had never visited in her memory.

‘Why did I seek out this place with no connection to me?’

Roina couldn’t shake the countless questions about how she had managed to find this place.

If someone had helped her stay here, she would need to find out who that person was.

While Roina was caught up in these thoughts that kept multiplying, the man who had approached her side frowned.

He didn’t seem pleased at all about setting foot here again.

Conrad glanced at Roina before speaking in a low voice.

“Look around as much as you wish.”

“Yes, thank you.”

At his nod, a burly knight opened the locked door.

Swallowing hard, Roina carefully stepped inside the cabin.

Perhaps because no one had stayed there for a while, there was no warmth to be felt in the house.

All that was inside were old furniture, bedding, dishes, and a few sets of clothes.

‘This is truly a lonely place for someone to live.’

There seemed to be no clues to find in this place where she had stayed for a season.

A soft sigh escaped through Roina’s lips as disappointment showed on her face.

Suddenly, she recalled her lady’s maid saying that she had left the duke’s residence without taking anything.

‘Does that mean I left without any lingering attachment?’

Somehow, she could envision herself leaving without any regrets.

Soon, as she opened a wooden door that seemed to lead to a small room, the sound of hinges grinding together was heard.

Entering the room and looking around, Roina asked in a calm and composed voice.

“May I have a moment alone?”

After quickly scanning the room, Conrad must have judged there were no threatening objects, as he quietly answered.

“It would be best not to do anything rash.”

“I’ll do as you say.”

When the door clicked shut, Roina hurriedly approached the mahogany desk.

She had a feeling that something might be hidden here.