Chapter 2

Despite his composed nature, Kyle used to throw himself into anything related to April without hesitation. He should have denied the question furiously, but now he couldn’t answer at all. At least he didn’t say out loud that he didn’t love her—that was probably out of consideration for Miss April.

“Just because I don’t remember doesn’t mean it never happened. Running away would be irresponsible. And…….”

“And?”

“Could I have a glass of brandy?”

“Knew you’d say that.”

Joseph went to the cabinet and brought out a bottle of brandy and two glasses. Kyle stared blankly at the brandy in his glass. Joseph waited patiently as Kyle swirled his drink.

“To be honest, it bothers me a little.”

Kyle confessed almost as if making a confession, then drank the brandy in one gulp. The burning sensation down his throat made him grimace.

He recalled April’s face as she rushed into the mansion. The blonde, green-eyed lady who barged into his office without knocking was a complete stranger to him. At that point, he hadn’t even heard he had a fiancée.

So he didn’t think she was his fiancée at all. But seeing that no one stopped her and that she entered the office as if she belonged, he figured she must be someone close to him.

She was crying as she looked at him, and she was one of the rare beauties even in the capital. But beautiful women never made an impression on him. So he thought he wouldn’t feel anything for this unfamiliar beauty either.

But honestly, Kyle was a little shaken. A strange woman whispered his name and cried, and instead of being bewildered, his first thought was to comfort her.

That had never happened in his twenty-one years of life.

‘Or is it twenty-five years?’

Kyle thought dryly, as if it were someone else’s story. Even after hearing that he was twenty-five now, it was hard to accept.

“Hm? You’re bothered? How so? Hm, hm?”

Joseph asked curiously. Kyle gently rubbed the surface of his empty glass with his thumb.

“It’s just…… hard to explain.”

“That’s fine. Say it however you want, I’ll understand.”

“I keep remembering that crying face.”

Even if the memory was gone, maybe the feelings remained. Joseph watched Kyle’s thoughtful face and sighed. Knowing his friend’s dullness to his own emotions, Joseph felt maybe Kyle needed a little shock.

“Then let me ask you differently.”

Joseph pushed his untouched glass away and asked again.

“What if you didn’t have to take responsibility?”

“What?”

“It’s not just a political marriage, you feel more responsible because Miss April truly loves you. Then what if Miss April no longer loves you…?”

Kyle, who had been staring at his empty glass, suddenly glared at Joseph.

‘Wow, this is intense.’

Maybe it was the war experience, but before, his glare just seemed stern. Now, it felt like he could k*ll with just his eyes. Joseph swallowed dryly, trying not to show he was intimidated, and continued calmly.

“It’s been two years. They say absence makes the heart grow cold. Miss April’s feelings might not be the same. If that’s the case…….”

Thud! Joseph couldn’t finish his sentence and closed his mouth. Kyle, who had just set his empty glass down on the table, was now glaring at him as if he might burn him alive. The hand holding the glass trembled with anger.

“What did you say?”

Kyle spat out each word, as if chewing them.

Joseph didn’t show it, but he felt overwhelmed by his friend’s raw anger for the first time. Unlike Kyle, who had trained in martial arts since childhood and fought in a war, Joseph was a civil servant to the core. He’d learned basic self-defense, but he was no match for Kyle.

They used to joke that the pen was mightier than the sword. As a kid, Joseph would tease Kyle with that, but now he saw it wasn’t true. The pen could never be scarier than the sword—you could just cut someone down with the sword.

“Calm down. I know better than anyone that Miss April’s feelings haven’t changed. Just a few weeks ago, she was so worried about you.”

Joseph hurried to smooth things over, but Kyle’s expression didn’t soften.

“Why did you meet Miss April?”

‘Oh dear. He claimed he couldn’t remember anything, and now he’s trying to police the men Miss April met?’

Joseph grumbled inwardly but answered faithfully. Otherwise, for the first time in their long friendship, he might really get grabbed by the collar.

“Why do you think? Before you left for the front, you asked me to look after Miss April. To make sure she wasn’t sick, that she was eating properly. I met her because you asked me to.”

“Because I asked?”

“Of course. If she wasn’t your fiancée, why would I have any reason to meet her? Besides, Miss April hadn’t heard from you in weeks and wondered if I knew anything about you, so she asked to meet.”

After Joseph’s detailed explanation, Kyle finally relaxed his expression, though his face remained stiff.

‘It’s like seeing him in the old days.’

Joseph loosened his tightly knotted cravat and watched Kyle. Ever since childhood, Kyle rarely showed emotion on his face. After meeting April, he gradually became more honest with his feelings, but now that he’d lost his memory, it was as if he’d reverted completely.

Joseph never doubted Kyle’s honesty, but he had to admit it: his friend truly had lost his memory.

In truth, Joseph never intended to force Kyle into anything. He felt sorry for April, but his old friend was more important to him. If Kyle had no feelings for her, Joseph would have tried to stop the engagement.

But seeing Kyle like this, the situation changed. Since his friend was always slow about romance, Joseph realized he’d have to step in.

“If you’re marrying just to keep your promise because Miss April’s heart hasn’t changed and you’re already engaged, do you think she’ll be happy? I don’t. I think both of you will end up miserable.”

“So what should I do? I…”

“You don’t want to break off the engagement, do you?”

Kyle buried his face in his hands, then nodded.

“Right.”

“It’s not just out of responsibility, is it?”

“Right.”

“So what are you hesitating for?”

Joseph stood up and pulled Kyle’s arm, trying to rouse him from his agony.

“Why aren’t you going to Miss April right now?”

“What should I say to her?”

Joseph clicked his tongue. It felt like he’d gone back three years, when he’d helped Kyle, who’d fallen for April at first sight.

Back then, as now, there was only one thing Joseph could say.

“What do you mean, what should you say? Just go and tell her exactly how you feel. Isn’t that right?”

Joseph pushed Kyle’s hesitant back and finally got him out of the room.

‘It’ll work out.’

Even now, there was only one thing he wished for.

His friend’s happiness.

And, if possible, April’s too.

* * *

“Miss, if you keep this up, something terrible might happen. Madam is really worried about you.”

April heard Anna’s anxious voice as she pulled the blanket over her head. Having gone without food all day yesterday, Anna had tried to get her to eat something, but April wasn’t hungry. She just wanted to be left alone in silence.

Truthfully, she wished she could sink straight into the earth and disappear from this world, so she wouldn’t have to think about anything. That way, she could forget the awful reality that Kyle had forgotten her.

But contrary to her wishes, Anna forcefully tugged at the blanket. April tried to hold on with both hands, but a well-bred young lady could hardly match the strength of a maid hardened by chores. The blanket, stretched tight and about to tear, was soon thrown to the floor.

“Anna, please just leave me alone.”

“I’ll go after I see you eat something.”

Anna approached with a steaming bowl of soup. Looking down at April, curled up like a fetus, Anna’s own face had grown much darker in just a day.

‘Poor Miss.’

Anna took a deep breath through her nose to keep the tears from spilling out. For the past two years, she had watched April suffer up close.

Outwardly, April acted carefree and smiled, which led to unfair criticism—how could she laugh when her fiancé was at war? But inside, April was rotting away a little more each day.

Even if she looked fine on the outside, Anna, who had known her since childhood, knew exactly how much April had worried. If a letter was even a little late, she’d agonize over whether Kyle was hurt; if a letter was short, she’d worry he was struggling physically or emotionally.

No letter—worry. A letter—worry. In other words, there wasn’t a single day in the year she felt at ease. Anna feared April would collapse before anything happened to Kyle.

Then Kyle returned. Anna thought only a beautiful life awaited April from now on.

But things turned out this way. Even the gods seemed indifferent. Anna finally shed a tear as she forced the soup bowl and spoon into April’s hands.

“I won’t leave the room until I see you finish it.”

April looked at Anna’s determined face, then slowly moved her hands. Kyle was one thing, but she couldn’t keep troubling her family and those around her. Yet, as soon as she took a sip of soup, her empty stomach twisted painfully.

April vomited everything she hadn’t even eaten. After she threw up yellow bile, Anna couldn’t urge her to eat any more. She rolled up the soiled blanket and left the room.