Chapter 6 – The Chaotic Party

Vivian Dallas, the only daughter of Earl Dallas, was having tea time with close noble ladies. If April was called the pure white lily of society, Vivian was known as the thorny rose.

With hair and green eyes suited to the name ‘rose’, and eyes sharp as a cat’s, she captivated the young men of society with a charm different from April’s.

The only person she couldn’t win over was Kyle Landen. And unfortunately, the only person she’d ever given her heart to was also Kyle Landen.

That was why Vivian built a wall between herself and April.

Vivian was quietly sipping tea, listening to her friends’ stories, when someone brought up a topic that was both welcome and unwelcome.

“By the way, did you all hear? Sir Landen has returned to the capital.”

Vivian elegantly set down her teacup. Her movements were so precise that the sound of porcelain barely registered, but the ladies present could easily sense her discomfort.

Only the lady who’d spoken seemed oblivious, continuing,

“There’s a strange rumor going around.”

“……”

No one replied, but she pressed on.

“They say Sir Landen lost his recent memories due to a head injury.”

At the shocking news, others finally reacted.

“What does that mean?”

“Is it true?”

Amid the commotion, only Vivian maintained her composure—or at least appeared to. Under the table, her hand clutching her dress was trembling, but no one noticed.

“Yes. Someone who trades with the Landen family said so. Apparently, Sir Landen treated him like a stranger. And someone saw him with Miss Myles recently, and said the two seemed awkward.”

When April’s name was mentioned, Vivian’s grip on her dress tightened.

“If the rumor is true, what happens to Miss Myles and Sir Landen’s engagement?”

“If he can’t remember, surely they’ll break it off?”

“Then…”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Vivian, then scattered. Sensing Vivian’s mood, one lady stood up.

“Oh my, I just remembered I have something to do today. If it’s not rude, may I leave?”

One by one, the rest followed. Soon, Vivian was alone in the wide garden. She bit her nails hard.

‘Lost his memory?’

To continue an engagement with someone who’d lost his memory? Kyle would be unhappy marrying a woman he didn’t love. She couldn’t allow that.

Now was her chance to take Kyle from April.

This was a chance given by the heavens.

* * *

“Did you hear?”

Layla, the socialite, rushed to find April. At the time, April was getting ready to attend the party with Kyle.

April couldn’t turn her head, so she met Layla’s eyes in the mirror and asked,

“What news?”

“There’s a rumor going around society that Sir Landen lost his memory.”

“What do you mean?”

April forgot the maids were fixing her hair and jumped up. The maids shrieked in surprise.

Layla quickly signaled them to bow and leave the room. Kyle’s amnesia was still a secret, and the servants had to be kept quiet.

Of course, now that the rumor was out, keeping quiet might not matter.

Layla sighed and sat April down again, brushing her hair herself.

“I only just heard it from Lady Alberin, so I don’t know the details. We’re not close, so it was strange for her to come find me, but she was obviously trying to get information. I knew she was cunning.”

“……”

“Anyway, Lady Alberin asked if things were good between you and Sir Landen. I wondered why she cared about someone else’s love life, and said everyone in the capital knows you two are closer than any couple. Then she admitted it—there’s a rumor going around society.”

Layla gritted her teeth.

“To be honest, I’m not worried about the rumor spreading. The Landen family will handle it. But I’m worried about you.”

“……”

“I’ve watched you for a long time as a friend. I’ve seen you cry and laugh over Sir Landen more than anyone. You cried a lot when you heard news about him, but you also smiled so brightly when he asked you out. So I want you and Sir Landen to be happy. But…”

Layla bit her lip.

“I’m afraid you’ll get hurt if the rumors spread.”

April smiled at Layla in the mirror.

“Thank you for worrying, but why would I get hurt? I won’t. As I’ve said so many times, I’m just grateful and happy that Kyle came back safely.”

“…Alright.”

Layla swallowed the words she couldn’t say and hugged April from behind.

“If you say so, that’s enough. But remember, if anything happens, you have me and Chloe on your side, no matter what.”

“Yeah, I will.”

After Layla comforted her for a moment and left, April was once again receiving the maids’ attention, lost in thought.

‘It was something that couldn’t be kept secret forever.’

Kyle’s attending physician said his memory might return, but couldn’t guarantee it. Even if it did come back, it could take quite a while.

Even if she tried to block the rumors now, if his memory never returned, eventually she would have to reveal the truth.

It would be gossip in society for a while, but it wouldn’t be a big problem for Kyle. There would be no issue with him inheriting the Landen family.

But would it affect their engagement?

She thought over and over, but couldn’t reach a clear conclusion. It wasn’t a question that had an answer.

It was an unprecedented situation, so there was no one to ask for advice.

“My Lady, Sir Landen has arrived.”

But there was one thing she was sure of.

“Yes, I’ll go right away!”

Even in such a complicated situation, whenever she thought of Kyle, her heart still fluttered as if she were meeting him for the first time.

Soon, April went down to the first floor and smiled at Kyle, who was waiting at the door. Her fiancé was, as always, perfectly handsome today.

“Shall we go?”

He was still reserved and rarely complimented her, but April liked that about him.

Was it selfish?

Honestly, it seemed selfish.

But for the first time in her life, she wanted to be selfish, just this once.