Chapter 42

The faces of the two women as they turned away were polar opposites. Their oddly similar backs carried regret and awkwardness over the interrupted conversation. Viola, who hadn’t gotten her answer, and Marie, who was unfairly misunderstood, shared a lingering misunderstanding.  

“Did I do something unnecessary?”  

Natalie, guarding Marie’s back, quietly asked. She seemed determined to ensure Viola wouldn’t follow.  

Marie, lost in thought, replied a little late. Whether it was unnecessary or not, Angelica’s bombshell was far more significant than Viola’s misunderstanding.  

“I might have been wrong in my thinking.”  

“Excuse me? What do you mean?”  

“I thought that as long as the person involved was fine, the outcome would be good, and there wouldn’t be a problem…”  

After that day, Angelica never brought up the topic again. Not that Marie had any intention of discussing it either. There was no need to hear more about lies or memories.  

The one thing that mattered was the simple fact: Kalik knew the truth.  

Kalik—why, why?  

As soon as they entered the room, Marie collapsed as if her legs gave out. Natalie crouched beside her. Surprisingly, Marie’s face looked fine. Her complexion was good, her eyes clear, her breathing steady.  

Even so, the weight of her lie caught up with her, and she crumbled. Along with that came shame and regret.  

“His memory returned.”  

“…His memory returned?”  

Natalie’s eyes widened. The way she glanced at the door was proof that she didn’t believe her master had figured this out on her own.  

It returned.  

Someone had told me so. Someone with credibility.  

“I don’t know how to take it…”  

“What do you mean?”  

Marie grabbed Natalie’s arm, leaning on her for support. Her neatly manicured nails scratched at Natalie’s sleeve as if they might tear it. Even so, the sturdy maid didn’t flinch and listened intently to Marie’s words.  

“Why… why does he stay quiet even though he knows my lie?”  

The fact that he had acted normally on the day he learned the truth wasn’t because the shock hadn’t hit her yet. The shock was fine. She hadn’t heard exactly when his memory returned, but that was fine too.  

What wasn’t fine was the heart of her husband, who said he loved her despite knowing everything.  

“He must have realized it was all fake, right?”  

“Madame Marie.”  

“He must have known it all started with my lie…”  

“Madame Marie.”  

“Then why on earth would he say those things to me?”  

“Madame Marie! For now, stop overthinking and try to stand up slowly.”  

Marie slowly stood up, following Natalie’s guidance. It felt as though she had no legs. Though her feet were on the ground, her toes curled, and she felt like she was flailing.  

She couldn’t help but worry. 

Why hadn’t he confronted me about my deception, even after regaining his memory? Why was he staying quiet despite knowing he had been deceived?

Negative thoughts filled her mind. There must be a not-so-good reason for pretending to have amnesia.

Finally, seated on the bed, Marie clung tightly to Natalie’s hand. She needed to hold onto something to feel secure. Otherwise, she felt as though she might scatter into the air.  

“I think I know the reason.”  

“What is it?”  

Natalie gently rubbed Marie’s shoulder as if comforting her. The sensation was entirely different from Kalik’s touch, ironically helping her regain her composure.  

“Because he loves you.”  

“…”  

Marie pursed her lips and looked around. Then she stared blankly at Natalie.  

“Sometimes, a simple conclusion can resolve a complicated issue.”  

“But that’s too… too convenient of a conclusion.”  

She barely managed to argue back. Not that Natalie’s words were wrong, but it was too convenient a simplification. Moreover, the problem was that Kalik Escael didn’t seem like the type of man who would overlook such an unreasonable and humiliating situation just because of love.  

“Cutting out unnecessary assumptions is the right thing to do.”  

“Then are you saying love is necessary?”  

No matter how much she thought about it, Natalie’s words only seemed like an attempt to reassure her.  

Natalie smiled faintly and straightened her posture.  

“It’s necessary for you, isn’t it, Miss?”  

Marie lowered her gaze at those words. Her reaction was already an answer.  

“But love doesn’t solve everything…”  

When she imagined reversing their roles, she didn’t think she could just let it go. At first, she’d tremble with anger and frustration at being deceived. Then, she’d ask why he lied. She’d need to hear the reason before deciding whether to forgive him and continue the relationship.  

“That’s true. Perhaps he’s also trying to resolve things for himself.”  

“And the reason he’s trying to resolve it is love?”  

But to Marie’s mind, the premise itself was wrong. Natalie had said love was the conclusion. Therefore, for love to exist in this situation, he must have loved her even while knowing the truth. But what kind of madman could still love someone after discovering they had been deceived?  

“In that respect, I think Sir Kalik might be more mature—or perhaps more flexible—than you, Miss.”  

No matter how things started, if the outcome was good, then everything was good. That kind of pragmatism wasn’t exclusive to Marie.  

In the end, Marie nodded at Natalie’s suggestion that she wouldn’t know for sure until she asked directly. Though she might use embarrassment as an excuse to confront him first, her reasoning hadn’t reached that point yet. What she needed to do before Kalik returned was reflect on the fact that this situation had all started with her lie.  

She considered even lying down to be too lenient a treatment for herself, so she sat upright. In that position, she resolved to endure her shame and reflect on her actions until Kalik arrived.  

That was the lightest punishment she could give herself.  

When Kalik returned, his face was brighter and more relaxed than ever. He looked peaceful and happy, without a trace of worry. Even his perpetually furrowed brow was smooth, and his lips curved gently upward.  

Because of this, Marie hesitated for a moment, standing at a distance. She couldn’t bring herself to match his steps.  

The reason for Kalik’s joy was simple: Angelica, the thorn in his side, had left. No matter how much he considered her a fellow knight and childhood friend, having a woman like her as a guest was bound to make him uncomfortable.  

Unlike other ordinary couples, they had been through many ups and downs.  

Angelica, like a ticking time bomb, wandering around was more stressful than anything else.  

“Now we can finally have some time to ourselves.”  

After calling for their meal to be brought to the room, Kalik intended to enjoy a rare moment of relaxation. It had only been a few days, but it felt like they had been interrupted for an incredibly long time. Marie seemed to feel the same way, as she had forgotten what she had resolved to do until close to midnight.  

She suddenly came to her senses when Kalik closed his book and stood up to wash.  

She had been sitting on his lap while he read, fiddling with a handkerchief she was making for her nephew.  

“Shall we bathe together?”  

If it meant finding the right timing to talk, she could bathe ten times over.  

With that thought, Marie undressed. For now, she didn’t care about her belly or thighs. If it could slightly offset her anger, she would wring herself dry as much as necessary.  

Layer upon layer of thoughts connected and developed. The handkerchief was for her nephew, the nephew was her brother’s child, her brother was her father’s son, her father was Albrecht Odillia, the Odillias were rivals with the Escaels, the Hinswards were mediating between them, and then there was Angelica Hinsward’s words…  

The temperature of the bath was perfect. It was so comfortable and just right that all her thoughts mixed together, leaving her aware of how foolish she was being.  

Marie worried that her lie wasn’t a momentary impulse but rather an unconscious manifestation of a hidden talent. If that were the case, it meant she might do something similar again in the future.  

“Why… is something on my face?”  

Kalik touched his face under Marie’s steady gaze. She sat still, her knees dipped in the bath, her upper body covered with a towel. Thinking she couldn’t get in because the water was too hot, Kalik carefully pulled her into the bath. Her milky skin, faintly visible beneath the rippling water, wasn’t indecent because she was so tense.  

Marie grabbed Kalik’s arm, holding her breath until he noticed something was wrong. She stayed in a position neither fully in nor out of the bath.  

If he asks what’s wrong, I’ll tell him.  

If he asks what’s wrong…  

“You’re acting quite strangely today.”  

Kalik leaned down slightly as he spoke. With his long arm, he embraced her back, tilting her as if to lay her down. As Marie, who had lost her balance, felt his warm chest against her, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.  

“Kalik.”  

At her soft call, Kalik responded with a kiss.  

“Don’t you have something to tell me?”  

“Something to tell you?”  

He was either very stupid or a liar.  

Marie ran her fingers over Kalik’s lips as he feigned ignorance. He didn’t realize how this sensual atmosphere was urging him to tell the truth.  

I heard from Angelica.  

What did you hear?  

That your memory has returned.