Chapter 67

Lia sat up in bed, leaving the sleeping Rafaella behind.  

‘Maybe because it was such an exciting day in many ways, I can’t fall asleep.’  

She decided to take a short walk.  

Tap, tap.  

As Lia closed her door, she heard another door closing at the same time.  

Surprised, she turned her head and saw Johann standing with his hand on the doorknob of the next room.  

“…You still can’t sleep?”  

“…Isn’t it a bit early to go to bed yet?”  

He nodded toward the large grandfather clock in the hallway with his chin.  

She turned her head.  

It wasn’t even nine o’clock yet.  

‘Raffy must have fallen asleep early today.’  

She thought it was already ten.  

“…Then, would you like to take a walk together?”  

She couldn’t just keep standing there awkwardly, so she suggested it.  

“…Sure, why not.”  

They went down to the first floor and walked through the villa’s small garden.  

“It’s a relief that your memory is coming back little by little.”  

“At first, I only remembered little things.”  

He paused for a moment.  

“…But the more time I spend with Rafaella, the more things start coming back.”  

“Really?”  

“It’s mostly thanks to you. Whether I liked it or not, you made me spend time with Rafaella.”  

“I suppose I was a bit persistent.”  

“…That’s a compliment.”  

Johann added.  

“I’m glad my efforts paid off.”  

Lia bowed her head slightly with a smile.  

“Thank you.”  

“…For what?”  

She lifted her head.  

“For raising Rafaella so well on your own, and for bringing her back to me.”  

Johann met Lia’s eyes.  

“…….”  

Lia’s brilliant emerald eyes, reflected in the soft moonlight, looked at him silently.  

He couldn’t look away from those eyes.  

All the effort he made to avoid her gaze all day seemed pointless.  

‘…Why does she look sad?’  

He had only meant to say thank you.  

“…I didn’t expect to be thanked.”  

Lia touched the back of her head as she spoke.  

“I just said what I needed to say.”  

“I guess I don’t need to worry anymore.”  

She gave a faint smile.  

Was it because the moonlight was so dazzling tonight?  

To Johann, she seemed like a mirage that might disappear at any moment.  

He wanted to reach out and hold her right then.  

“…Still, keep worrying about me.”  

“What?”  

Lia’s eyes went round.  

“You never know what might happen to my memory again.”  

“I don’t think that will happen.”  

“Why couldn’t a guy who’s lost his memory twice lose it a third time?”  

“Why are you suddenly being so pessimistic?”  

Lia frowned.  

“I don’t know. Anyway, don’t neglect keeping an eye on me.”  

He insisted, uncharacteristically.  

“…All right. Well, if you want me to keep watch.”  

She answered reluctantly.  

Only then did he start walking again.  

* * *

The next day, Patrizia, who had slept in and eaten a late breakfast and lunch, dressed up and climbed into the carriage.  

Her younger brother followed behind her.  

“Don’t you have anywhere else to go?”  

She asked with a look of exasperation.  

“The Blumhart estate is where I’m supposed to go.”  

Florian replied shamelessly.  

“Are you still interested in that country girl?”  

“And what about you, barging in without an appointment?”  

He sneered.  

“Who says I’m barging in?”  

“That’s what the Duke of Blumhart will think.”  

“I’m going to deliver Mother’s invitation directly to the Dowager Duchess of Blumhart.”  

“What a convincing excuse.”  

Florian whistled and mocked her.  

“It’s better than you, who clings on like a leech with no excuse.”  

At his sister’s jab, Florian shrugged and leaned deep into the carriage seat.  

“…Ugh, when will he ever grow up. Tsk tsk.”  

Patrizia muttered, crossing her legs.  

But the hope Patrizia had, dreaming of seeing Johann under the pretext of the invitation, was shattered as soon as she arrived.  

“Her Grace the Dowager Duchess will be down shortly, Your Highness.”  

“What about the Duke of Blumhart?”  

Patrizia asked as she sat on the sofa.  

“His Grace is not here at the moment.”  

“…What?”  

She asked again.  

‘What was the point of dressing up more than usual to come here!’  

He’s not here? Are you kidding me?  

“Where did he go? Is he coming back today?”  

She glared at the butler with sharp eyes.  

“Yesterday, His Grace and the Young Lady went on holiday to the villa, so we’re not sure exactly when they’ll return today, Princess.”  

The butler bowed respectfully.  

“…Don’t tell me, the Young Lady’s birth mother went with them too, right?”  

Her lips twitched.  

Click.  

“She went with them, Your Highness.”  

Isabella, who had just entered, answered instead of the butler.  

“…Dowager Duchess, what did you just say.”  

“It was my granddaughter’s birthday wish yesterday, so I had no choice.”  

“…Birthday?”  

Patrizia half-rose and gripped the armrest of the sofa.  

Her sharp nails looked as if they might tear the fabric at any moment.  

“Yes, her birthday present was to spend time with her parents…. I hope you’ll understand with a generous heart, Your Highness.”  

“…….”  

Patrizia bit the inside of her lip.  

‘A generous heart? Like I would ever have that!’  

But if she made a fuss here, she’d only look strange.  

Patrizia had at least that much sense.  

‘If I act stingy over a child’s wish, I’ll just look like a petty adult.’  

Besides, if she acted that way, Florian would be thrilled instead of stopping her.  

She couldn’t let him see that.  

“…If it was a wish, then it can’t be helped.”  

Patrizia forced a smile onto her stiff face.  

Florian turned his head and snickered at the sight.  

“Thank you, Princess.”  

Isabella bowed politely and took her seat.  

‘…I don’t want to stay here any longer.’  

She’d rather vent her anger on someone than spend time with Isabella’s fake smiles and attitude.  

She was boiling with rage inside.  

‘How long must I, a Princess, feel this way over a man who already has a child?’  

No matter how outstanding a man is, she had no interest in a man who didn’t care about her.  

Forget courtesy—she’d keep it brief and leave.  

“This is the invitation Mother wrote herself.”  

As soon as she got to the point, the Princess’s maid handed the invitation to Isabella.  

“Now that Lady Penelope has recovered her health, Dowager Duchess, you should return to society as well.”  

“…Yes, I suppose I should.”  

“Well then, I’ll be going. I have a busy schedule.”  

Patrizia stood up from the sofa.  

“Sis, your schedule….”  

“I have one.”  

Patrizia gritted her teeth and whispered quietly to Florian.  

“Take care, Princess, Prince.”  

Isabella didn’t try to stop them and saw them off to the entrance hall.  

With a thud, Patrizia sat in the carriage seat and threw a cushion at Florian.  

“Why are you taking it out on me?”  

Florian caught the cushion that flew at his face.  

“Would it kill you to just get hit once?”  

Patrizia shouted in frustration.  

“Sis, are you this upset over a man who doesn’t even care about you?”  

He leaned against the wall and asked.  

“Yes, I’m upset!”  

“Why?”  

Florian looked genuinely confused.  

“Why? Because Mother always said so since I was young! That Johann von Blumhart would be my husband!”  

Patrizia screamed.  

“She said he was the perfect man for me, the Princess!”  

Her reddened eyes filled with tears.  

“…You’re chasing after him, swallowing your pride, just for that reason?”  

He opened his eyes wide.  

“I don’t get it.”  

“I don’t need you to get it!”  

She said that and threw another cushion at her brother’s face.  

“Come to think of it, you.”  

“Me? What?”  

“You said last time you’d help me.”  

“I did.”  

Florian straightened up.  

“Then, help me.”  

“…By any means necessary?”  

“Yes, by any means necessary.”  

“All right.”  

Florian gave a sly smile.  

* * *

“Daddy, let’s do this!”  

After a full lunch, Rafaella approached Johann with something in her hands.  

She was holding a puzzle box.  

She had found it in one of the rooms while exploring the house this morning.  

“All right, let’s do it.”  

There were two puzzles: one with a map of the continent, and one with the six heroes.  

They were things Johann often did when he visited the villa as a child.  

“Let’s do it here.”  

He placed the puzzle board on the drawing room table and poured out the puzzle pieces next to it.  

“Yes!”  

Rafaella settled in with Lia.  

“Now, let’s try to match it exactly like this picture.”  

Johann pointed to the picture on the box with his finger.  

Rafaella studied the picture of the continent closely.  

“…Hmm.”  

Rafaella hesitated, holding a puzzle piece.  

“Puzzles are easier if you start with the corners, Raffy.”  

Johann handed her another puzzle piece and brought it to the corner of the puzzle board.  

“Wow, it fits!”  

“Now, Raffy, you find one and put it on.”  

“Yes!”  

Rafaella turned her eyes to the puzzle pieces.  

Johann had changed completely from when he first played with Rafaella.  

Gently, slowly, joining in at her level.  

‘…Even though not all his memories have returned.’  

Lia watched him blankly.  

Johann now showed the side of ‘Hart’ that she had known, the one who had been with her.