Chapter 14

A particularly quiet couple. It was a tragedy waiting to happen.

The fact that they hadn’t had children in over three years wasn’t a big concern. A child could come anytime if the relationship was good. Even if they didn’t have children, if they loved each other, it wouldn’t be a problem.  

But if they didn’t even share the same room, it was a problem. Before that, they didn’t even live in the same building.

Kalik lived in the main house, and Marie in the annex. They lived in separate areas where they couldn’t even run into each other by chance. Typically, married children would be independent, but keeping them due to a promise with the Emperor seemed to have been the mistake.

Kalik didn’t want to do more than his duty and responsibility, and Marie, despite her polite and gentle nature, only tried to fulfill her duties. Honestly, it was hard to pinpoint the problem. If it were just one or two things, maybe.

They dined together about once a week. Naturally, they didn’t walk together or have tea together, behaving like strangers. No, even strangers would be more affectionate than this. They hadn’t even properly called each other’s names.

If they were going to be like this, it was better to divorce. Since only the parents were at odds and the children hadn’t accumulated any resentment, returning to their original positions would be a better way for both. Before the enmity continued to the next generation.

Moreover, Kalik had mentioned something similar around spring.

“You said you were doing something terrible to Marie, and that you’d find a way to resolve it amicably, you definitely said it yourself….”

“I won’t.”

Kalik’s voice was firm. Viola subtly probed while picking up the tea leaves and placing them on the saucer.

“Have you changed your mind?”

It was certain they hadn’t had a physical relationship. The thought that they might have secretly was unfounded, as it was clear and pure.

This was unfortunate information heard from Marie, who couldn’t lie, so there was no need to confirm it with her son. This was just three months ago, so it probably hadn’t changed significantly.

“I never said that.”

“Right. You didn’t explicitly mention divorce. I understand you’re being cautious.”

The son she knew didn’t know how to make empty promises. Not knowing how to make empty promises meant he also didn’t know how to avoid situations, and this ultimately reflected his attitude towards marriage. To him, marriage wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

Because this matter involved not only both families. He was concerned that divorce might lead to disobeying orders.

Moreover, considering Kalik’s personality, if he were going to change his mind, he wouldn’t have agreed in the first place. His approach was different from Odillia’s from the start.

Viola considered revealing Albrecht’s intentions but decided to keep it as a last resort. She wanted to avoid appearing to counter their divorce preparations. There was no need to stoop to their level. This side should present a normal and general reason based on free will.

Only then would the world side with Escael.

However, Kalik couldn’t understand why he was being told to divorce Marie. It had taken him a week to get back on his feet after waking up. Another week was spent dealing with the backlog of work that had accumulated while he was bedridden. He had just started to adapt, and now he was hearing this.

The reason he hadn’t gone to the main house right away was due to many people dissuading him. Dawson and other close associates suggested waiting, saying his memory might return. Even Marie seemed to hope for that.

So he spent about another week, and when nothing came back, he finally visited the main house. That’s all there was to it.

Losing his memory didn’t make him a fool. He remembered his background, accumulated knowledge, lifestyle habits, relationships, and everything else. Even the long-standing grudge between Escael and Odillia.

What he had lost were the memories from the year of the wedding to the accident, a span of three years. It was as if Marie Odillia was the only thing missing from his mind. He couldn’t remember how he had lived with her after marriage or what kind of relationship they had built. It was as if that part had been neatly removed.

Kalik was deeply lost in thought. His mother’s words about him mentioning divorce before the accident were likely true. 

When he first woke up and heard he had a wife, he naturally assumed it was a political marriage. Either that or the amnesia was entirely fabricated. It was impossible for someone like him, who had never even experienced a crush, to have married someone out of love.

That’s why he initially denied the amnesia, and after piecing a few things together, he denied the claims from close associates that his relationship with his wife was good. He figured it wouldn’t be too late to react after seeing the woman who was supposedly his wife.

The situation, which he thought was a bad joke, changed the moment he saw Marie. His first impression was of a beautiful woman with fair skin and a pleasant figure. Her hair was as bright and soft as spring flowers. Her eyes, slightly sunken at the corners, held a hint of tears, and her full lips were slightly upturned.

He was relieved she didn’t resemble Albrecht Odillia at all. Secondly, contrary to his expectations of overt hostility, her gentle and neat demeanor was likable. 

However, Kalik wasn’t captivated by Marie’s appearance alone. Having spent years in dangerous territories to receive his knighthood, he had learned to read people.

Marie Odillia, despite her seemingly aloof and fresh appearance, was a gentle and innocent woman. She was timid but had a strong moral, making her incapable of doing anything wrong. Yet, she was bold enough to endure years in the enemy camp of Escael.

The decisive factor was how she had cared for an unconscious man, a husband bound by political ties, every day. This drew him in significantly.

Perhaps he loved her because she was such a woman.

Being with Marie was comfortable, and any impatience vanished without a trace, making it difficult to express his love.

For the past three years, they had lived without major issues, like any other couple, because they were in love.

He liked her stubborn courage, which left a little room even while running away when he pushed for love. Her gentle nature, which tried to accommodate, and her determination to speak her mind in some form were also endearing. Her appearance was merely a device that made all these qualities shine a little more. Of course, her face perfectly matched his ideal type, especially her large, soft chest that kept catching his eye.

I really married this woman.

No, it was a blessing that she turned out to be such a woman after marrying her, but marrying a woman who seemed to embody his preferences—like turning his taste into a person—was beyond luck, close to a divine blessing.

Viola, observing her son’s ever-changing expressions, couldn’t endure the silence any longer and spoke up.

“Was it really just an empty word?”

“I’m not sure. Isn’t the important thing that I don’t want that now?”

The amnesia was a secret of the annex. Even within the annex, only a few close associates and Marie knew. To prevent the family from worrying, it was kept to a minimum. Therefore, it was better to think of it as a change of mind regarding his memories.

“It feels like I’m talking to someone completely different, not my son. So you’re saying you’ll continue living like this if you don’t divorce? Can you do that?”

“I don’t see why not. I love her, and she….”

Kalik paused. Come to think of it, he had never heard Marie say she loved him. Whenever a good opportunity arose, she was busy avoiding it, so he could count on one hand the times he’d spoken of love.

“Anyway, I have no intention of letting her go. Why should I?”

Viola made a strange face at the mention of love. It was surprising in many ways. Her son was talking about love! She had believed he wasn’t impotent, thinking he was just a late bloomer, but to confess love at this timing.

She squinted her eyes, suspecting Kalik might be lying. Her son was capable of sacrificing himself for the greater good.

“Suddenly saying that, I don’t know what to believe.”

“You don’t have to believe it. It’s enough for me to know that I love her.”

“You, did you take any medicine?”

Viola inadvertently asked before realizing her mistake. Why did she realize it now! Her son had only recently recovered from his injury. It was all because of the medicine.

“Is your head still not healed? Yes, that’s why you came after three weeks, right?”

“Mother.”

“Let me check your forehead.”

Viola hurriedly stood up and touched Kalik’s forehead. His skin was slightly warm and smooth, indicating good health.

“No, you’re fine….”

“I’m fully recovered. I’m healthy.”

“Then maybe you’re not my son?”

He could love, but not like this, not at this time. Who could purely accept a child who insists on love three months after experiencing a shocking accident?

“Marie, did Marie say she loves you too?”

“I’ll make her love me.”

His tone was filled more with determination than confidence. A resolute will that if he tried, it would surely happen.

“Could it be… a one-sided love…?”

“She’ll accept me soon.”

Whether Marie accepted Kalik depended on time. The first confirmation was her devoted care while he was bedridden, and the second was her lack of aversion when he touched her.

They were a loving couple. If only one person had said so, he might have doubted it, but two people said the same thing. Thus, cross-verification was complete. Unless they were conspiring to lie.

Kalik trusted his close associates, trusted Marie, and trusted his discerning eyes.

“You, you don’t seem like my son….”

That child wouldn’t use this tone.

And wouldn’t say such things.

Viola, holding her head, was lost in conspiracy theories for a while.

The idea that this was another new scheme seemed more plausible than suddenly falling in love after three years of marriage.

Kalik, who didn’t understand, resolved to come with Marie next time.