Chapter 38

“Is there a war going on?”  

Dallos grabbed Vincent’s shoulder as he peeked out of the entrance.  

First, Albrecht Odillia had stormed out on horseback, practically tearing through the gates. His disheveled hair and furious demeanor, with his shoulders raised in anger, made him look like a lion from hell.  

Then Kalik had followed, chasing after him with equal ferocity. He looked like he had just emerged from a battlefield.  

The knights, who had been training, stopped in surprise at the commotion. These days, the only person who stirred up such excitement in the knight order was Kalik.  

“Well…”  

Vincent, deep in thought, cautiously spoke.  

“Wanna bet?”  

The knights, who had been staring grimly at the door, nodded solemnly.  

Soon, money began exchanging hands again.  

“Oh, you’re back quickly.”  

Kalik ran into Angelica halfway up the central staircase. He had been so focused on running forward that he hadn’t noticed her coming down.  

He gave her a quick nod and tried to pass her, but Angelica grabbed his arm and stopped him.  

“She’s in the bathroom right now.”  

“Is she okay?”  

“If you mean your wife, she’s fine.”  

Then Angelica let go of his arm with a sharp slap and stopped him again.  

“Spare me a moment.”  

“Can’t it wait?”  

“No, it can’t.”  

His gaze was fixed anxiously on the upper floor where the bathroom was. Talking to the wall might have been more productive at this point.  

“You…”  

Fortunately, Angelica was just as stubborn as Kalik. Once she made up her mind, she stuck to it.  

“Do you love Marie?”  

Finally, Kalik turned his head. Angelica’s lips twisted into a crooked smile, as if she weren’t sure whether to laugh or be angry.  

Kalik sighed briefly, as if he were thinking, and clicked his tongue before replying.  

“That’s a question unworthy of an answer.”  

“Why? Because you love her? Or because you don’t?”  

“What’s your point?”  

“Your mother said otherwise, so I was curious.”

“My mother? My mother said that?”  

Kalik stepped closer to Angelica, demanding an answer. He thought to himself that this wasn’t the right place for such a conversation, but he couldn’t always stay rational.  

“Does that really matter?”  

“…Maybe I didn’t before, but I do now.”  

“So, do you love her or not?”  

Angelica pressed him persistently, as if trying to provoke him into revealing his true feelings.  

“I don’t know why I have to tell you this, but yes, I love her. If I don’t love my wife, who else would I love?”  

Angelica’s expression turned strange. The atmosphere around her seemed to shift as well. Kalik, oblivious to this change, was still fidgeting, his toes pointing toward the stairs, eager to go to Marie.  

“If you’re done asking questions, can I go now?”  

“Wait a second.”  

Kalik stopped with an irritated expression. But before he could turn around, Angelica leaned in close and smiled.  

“You. Your memory has returned, hasn’t it?”  

“……”  

“You still can’t lie, huh.”  

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”  

“You said, ‘Maybe I didn’t before.’ That’s based on the premise that things were different before the accident. How do you know that?”  

“……”  

Kalik couldn’t answer easily. He was clearly conflicted. Other than Dawson and Lily, he hadn’t told anyone that his memory had returned. In the first place, he hadn’t even told anyone that he’d lost his memory.  

In such a situation, was there any need to reveal that his memory had come back? Especially to Angelica, who was an outsider. It might be better to continue pretending that their relationship had naturally improved over time.  

But the real issue was how she, a sudden intruder, seemed to know everything.  

“I’m not saying anything. What would I gain from telling you?”  

She preempted his question and, as if she had forgotten their entire conversation, tapped her forehead with her finger and made a spinning motion as if throwing it all away.  

Kalik, annoyed, spoke sharply.  

“Why exactly are you here?”

“Why I’m here? Everyone keeps asking me that.”  

Judging by his expression, he’d be furious if she said she’d been invited. But knowing her personality, she couldn’t resist saying it.  

“My father was supposed to come. But he was busy, so I came instead.”  

Or perhaps she was planting the seeds of conflict in her own elegant way. If their relationship was weak enough to be shaken by one woman, she could use that to tear them apart.  

However, the Earl of Hinsward had accepted Viola Escael’s request because he had seen a glimmer of hope in her letter. The Escaels had never allowed any third party or outsider to intervene before.  

“They want to reconcile.”  

“That’s impossible.”  

“You don’t trust them? What kind of child doesn’t trust their parents?”  

“If my father had said it, maybe. But I can’t imagine my mother saying such a thing.”  

“You’re right. It’s conditional.”  

“Conditional?”  

“Escael must take the lead, or something along those lines. For now, they want us to mediate.”  

At the mention of mediation, Kalik nodded as if he understood. Even if his mother had other intentions, as long as he acted before her, it wouldn’t be a problem.  

Angelica gestured and pushed Kalik forward.  

“Alright, from now on, it’s time for the couple to spend together.”  

Kalik hesitated for a moment, worried about her involvement, but eventually moved.  

“But if you love her even after regaining your memory…”  

Angelica, now running down the stairs, raised her voice.  

“That’s truly admirable, isn’t it?”  

With those words, she left, leaving behind a faint trace of envy.  

***

The door opened cautiously.  

Marie, who was sitting on a chair catching some fresh air, didn’t turn her head. She brushed her hair back and spoke softly.  

“Where did you go?”  

She naturally assumed it was Natalie. Her stomach was fine now, but for some inexplicable reason, she lacked the energy to do anything and had been sitting idly.  

It wasn’t that she wanted to act spoiled. Nor was she pretending to be sick. It was just a matter of will and motivation.  

For that reason, she wasn’t even trying to blame Angelica.  

“Marie. Are you alright?”  

“Kalik?”  

Marie hadn’t expected him to come, so she stared blankly at him for a while, even after seeing his face. Then, realizing herself, she tried to stand up.  

“I heard you collapsed.”  

“Well… I did, but it’s nothing serious.”  

The doctor had said it was a combination of extreme tension, dizziness, and anemia. Marie didn’t know how Kalik had found out, but calling him back for something so minor would only give Viola an excuse to criticize her.  

“Go back quickly.”  

“How can I leave when my wife is unwell?”  

“I’m not sick. I was just a little too tense.”  

Marie immediately regretted her words. It sounded like she was blaming Angelica. She shouldn’t have said it was because of tension.  

Kalik placed his hands on her shoulders.  

“Don’t worry and rest. It’s almost time to finish up anyway.”  

“But because of me…”  

“I chose to stay.”  

Overwhelmed by his firm tone, Marie unknowingly nodded. If only she were truly sick, she could accept his care without guilt. But being perfectly fine, she couldn’t even look him in the eye.  

It felt like she was pretending to be sick to keep him by her side, and the guilt made her mouth dry.  

As she avoided his gaze, Kalik gently touched her cheek.  

“Is there anything you want me to do for you?”  

After hesitating for a moment, Marie grabbed his hand and awkwardly made a request.  

“It’s not related to caregiving… but can I ask anyway?”  

“Anything.”  

“Then… hug me.”  

For the first time, she asked for something like this. It was so embarrassing. But she felt it was necessary to look him in the eye and clearly convey how much she wanted him.  

Kalik chuckled softly and pulled her into his arms. Marie’s hands slid across his broad back, searching for the leather straps tightly wrapped around his waist. His firm, toned figure felt smooth and taut under her touch.  

Her heart raced as she realized he was still in his training uniform.  

Marie stood on tiptoe and stole a kiss from his lips. Startled, Kalik flinched slightly but then held her waist and pulled her closer.  

“Are you sure?”  

Marie thought it was amusing that he asked such a question, but she realized she would have begged him even if she weren’t anxious.  

“Yes.”  

“Really?”  

“I want you.”