Did the doctor hear the voices of the two from inside the carriage? He peeked inside with a startled expression.

“Your Grace, you’re awake?”

Upon closer inspection, it was the physician of the duchy. He must have been summoned in the middle of the night because of her. Delis noticed that he looked much more haggard since she lost her memory. Reflecting on her memories, she realized that he had been coming every day to check on her condition. Delis felt an inexplicable sense of pity and guilt.

“Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?”

The doctor asked her the same question Roan had earlier. It seemed Roan’s questions weren’t unfounded.

“Yes. It hurts a little where I hit my head, but other than that, I’m fine. But where are we going right now?”

“We’re on our way to the temple.”

The answer came from Roan. Delis’s eyes widened in surprise.

“The temple? Why?”

At this hour? She soon let out a small “Ah.” The temple was where the priests were. If they were heading there at this hour, it must be because they were seeking someone who could heal her.

“Haha, there’s no need to go now that I’m awake.”

“We need to check for any aftereffects. You may feel fine now, but that might not be the case later.”

Roan’s tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. Was this the same man who had been crying earlier? His voice was so resolute that Delis couldn’t help but agree.

But there was something else that had been bothering her since earlier.

“…Roan, could you let go now?”

Delis had been lying or sitting on his lap, looking up at him the whole time.

“…Roan?”

She called his name, but he only tightened his grip around her shoulders, showing no sign of letting go. She tried to wiggle free, but it was in vain.

“…It still doesn’t feel real.”

“What?”

It felt as if she might disappear like a mirage if he looked away, as if she would drift away again at any moment, even though he knew the danger that had always loomed over them was no longer there.

And he realized once more what she meant to him. Did she know that he was still anxious about a future that might never come?

Noticing the uncertainty on his face, Delis felt a mix of surprise and sympathy. So much had happened to her that she hadn’t considered the feelings of the person closest to her. Delis took his hand in hers.

“Roan, I’m sorry for worrying you.”

He didn’t understand. Why are you apologizing? It was my fault for letting you be in danger.

“You’ve been through a lot because of me. I promise it won’t happen again.”

Delis clenched her fist and spoke as if making a vow. He found it incredible how quickly she had recovered.

His stern expression softened, and he let out a small laugh as he whispered in her ear.

“I’ll make sure it doesn’t. …I promise.”

His whisper tickled her, and Delis couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Although she didn’t see it, she knew he was smiling along with her. Then, the grip on her shoulders loosened, and he gently lifted her up.

Their lips met lightly. In her widened field of vision, she could see his long eyelashes. He was always so tender. Delis closed her eyes.

***

Today is the first day after I went through something big and regained my memory. Oh, soon it’ll be the second day. How did I regain my memory…

“Duchess!”

Huh? I closed the diary I was diligently writing in to commemorate getting my memory back when I heard Mary’s voice. She had been the one holding me earlier, looking like she was about to cry.

“The temple just sent a gift to celebrate your recovery.”

Mary was holding an ornament shaped like wings.

About an hour ago, at the temple where we visited, they had checked my condition and fortunately said there was nothing to worry about. They saw no signs of dangerous symptoms like a brain hemorrhage. It was such a relief. Especially since Roan’s face had seemed much more at ease after hearing that.

“They said it’s a silver ornament imbued with divine power. If you place it in your room, it’ll make your sleep more comfortable.”

“Oh, really? That’s nice.”

Should I give it to Roan? To be honest, I could fall asleep easily without even dreaming as soon as my head hit the pillow. It seemed like a gift better suited for Roan, who struggled with insomnia. Seeing the sparkle in my eyes, Mary, who would normally scold me for staying up late, simply smiled and wished me a good night.

“Good night, Your Grace.”

“Yeah, you too.”

She placed the silver winged ornament on the shelf in my room before leaving.

Being a patient has its perks, I guess. Everyone’s so kind to me. Though I didn’t really feel like a patient anymore.

Even so, I knew I needed to get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, there were quite a few people I needed to meet. Some I wanted to see, and some I didn’t.

The next day, we had breakfast together as a group for the first time in a long while.

Alexandra, Jude, the fairies, Reb, Roan, and I all shared the meal together.

‘I guess I’m pretty happy.’

Almost losing everything made me appreciate a simple meal shared with everyone so much more. In prison, I spent all my time either sleeping or waiting for the guard’s shriveled-up meals. They were so awful.

And there wasn’t anyone there to share a meal with.

Whether we were quietly focused on eating or making noise as the fairies and I chattered, this moment felt so peaceful and serene.

The fruit I almost lost tasted incredibly sweet. When I was choking to death in the fire, I never thought I’d have a moment like this again. But in the end, life had given me another gift.

After coming so close to death, I found myself thinking more positively, which is a good thing. Of course, it would have been better if I hadn’t gone through it at all.

Anyway, just thinking about how I almost lost everything made my heart ache.

*Sniff.*

Everyone in the room turned to look at the person who made the sound.

“……”

“Are you crying?”

“Right in the middle of eating?”

“What’s going on?”

“I’m not crying.”

Jude, the dwarf, and the fairies asked in turn. Embarrassed, I sniffled again. Jude carefully observed my eyes and made another comment.

“But you are crying.”

He had no idea how to pretend not to notice. This is when you’re supposed to just look away and let it slide. Feeling embarrassed, I quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, right. By the way, Jude, aren’t you nervous?”

Jude was supposed to meet the Crown Prince today, who had recovered along with me. It was Jude who knew about the antidote made from the root of the Easter Sea plant, which saved the Crown Prince.

As a result, Jude’s presence in society was revealed sooner than expected. Rumors had already spread among the nobles that the second son of the Bannister family had saved the Crown Prince.

Whether fortunately or unfortunately, this incident was so significant that people focused more on the fact that the child had saved the Crown Prince rather than on the fact that the Bannister family had hidden him. In a way, the rumors about his identity were overshadowed. Although some still whispered about it, it wasn’t as bad as expected.

“Well, I don’t see why I should be nervous.”

Seeing Jude’s calm expression, completely devoid of any tension, I couldn’t help but agree. After all, I should have known when he spoke so freely after learning that Jafflin was a prince. Honestly, whether it’s a prince or a crown prince, they’re essentially the same. The two brothers had this subtle similarity.

***

Returning to the place where I almost lost my life was somewhat emotional. Fortunately, the trauma or panic attacks that Roan feared didn’t manifest in me.

Roan wasn’t with me because he had already left for the palace. He had rushed out of the estate right after breakfast, citing urgent business.

Despite being in an unfamiliar place, Jude remained as indifferent as ever. He was quite a contrast to how I had looked around nervously the first time I came here, like a girl from the countryside. Ahem. That made me realize Jude was no ordinary child.

Honestly, I think I’m more nervous than Jude right now. It’s probably because I feel a sense of guilt towards Cameron. Even though it was all part of their scheme, I was the one who handed Cameron the poisoned wine. If something had happened to him, I would have felt immense guilt, even if I survived. For that reason, I was grateful to Jude for saving him.

When we arrived at the Crown Prince’s palace, Cameron was there, seemingly waiting for us. It was the first time I had seen him since that day when he was carried off after drinking the poison and I was taken away.

“Oh, you’re here.”

Cameron had lost a lot of weight.

It seemed like he had been through a lot. You almost died too, huh?

“How have you been? ……Ah,”

You haven’t been well, have you? I scolded myself for the formal greeting.

“It’s been a while, Duchess. And……”

“I’m Jude, Your Highness.”

That’s right! I praised Jude in my heart. It seemed that all my efforts in reminding him throughout the morning had paid off as Jude spoke more politely than I expected. Even though it was just five words, it was better than three. While Jafflin had let it slide, Cameron, as the Crown Prince, might have taken issue with it, especially in an official setting.

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