Chapter 1

My husband, who once hated me, has lost his memory.

Sisse

1

My husband suffered a severe head injury.

I knew he would dislike it if I visited, but as his wife, I had to go and see him, so I steeled myself and entered his room.

"...The smell of medicine."

His room, which usually had a faint forest scent, now had a bitter smell of medicine. It seemed the attending physician had just prepared a decoction.

"Ah, you're here."

The attending physician, noticing me standing awkwardly at the doorway, spoke.

From his relaxed attitude, it seemed my husband's condition wasn't serious.

Well, I thought it wouldn't be...

'He's always been so strong.'

I couldn't see my husband's face, which was hidden behind the canopy.

As I hesitated to approach the bed, the attending physician raised an eyebrow and began to explain.

"When he was first brought in, he was bleeding heavily, but he's fine now. His Excellency has an exceptional recovery rate."

"Yes, that's true..."

I answered in a small voice and tightly clasped my hands together.

My husband, Theodore Valentine, is a descendant of a mythological hero, possessing physical abilities and recovery powers that far exceed those of ordinary people.

When I heard that he had been severely injured while closing a rift that spewed monsters on the battlefield, I was shocked, but it seems my worry was unnecessary.

'He needs to rest, so it might be better if I leave quickly.'

Fidgeting with my hands, I quietly backed away.

Seeing this, the attending physician got up and moved aside, asking,

"Are you leaving already?"

"Um, yes."

"You should see His Excellency..."

"..."

This attending physician... Now that I think about it, he is a military doctor. He must not know the full details since he has only been in the military.

"Not seeing him will be better for the Duke's recovery. Then, I'll be on my way..."

"Huh? What do you mean..."

The flustered military doctor took a step towards me at that moment.

Swish!

Suddenly, the canopy was pulled back. I froze in place, stiffening.

A pair of vivid blue eyes stared directly at me.

It was the first time I had seen my husband's face in four weeks.

He was still devastatingly beautiful. His deep, night-black hair and high-purity blue sapphire eyes. His chiseled features were perfectly balanced.

My husband, Duke Valentine, Theodore.

I was the only blemish on his otherwise flawless perfection.

"Y-ou..."

I almost called him "honey" without thinking, but I hesitated. Calling him by his name or using a familiar term between spouses was taboo. ...Because we weren't that kind of relationship. So.

"...Your Excellency."

That was just right. A position where I could easily become a stranger. A fitting title. I called him "Your Excellency" or "Sir," and he called me "Miss Everett." Everett is my maiden name.

"..."

Half-raising himself from the bed, my husband, who was holding the canopy with one hand, stared at me with eyes that grew wider and wider.

One second, two seconds, three seconds... Time passed aimlessly. I hesitated, expecting a sarcastic remark, but none came.

Why isn't he saying anything?

My husband, who had been quietly staring at me, slowly frowned. Then, he tilted his head slightly and opened his mouth. I wiped cold sweat from my forehead and fidgeted with my hands.

Should I just turn and leave quickly? Before my husband says anything. I could say, "I'm sorry for disturbing your rest, I'll be on my way..." and...

I was used to his sharp, cold words, but I still feared them. The sensation of his blade-like, cold voice piercing my heart was terrifying. Having heard his insults every day for a year and six months, except when he was on a campaign, I should have been used to it.

My lips were dry. I moistened them with the tip of my tongue and opened my mouth.

"For disturbing your rest..."

"Who are you?"

"Excuse me?"

What did he just say? I stood there, blinking my eyes. My husband was looking at me with a confused expression. I was taken aback when I saw a hint of warmth in his eyes.

He always treated me like a nuisance. I was a perpetual outsider in this household, never welcomed.

When I noticed the unusual warmth in his eyes, which usually only showed coldness, I wondered if I had finally gone mad.

Perhaps I had finally reached the point where I could interpret his gaze as I wished. I often had delusions that he treated me kindly, so it wouldn't be strange if I had developed a grand delusion.

"I am..."

Your wife, at least for now. It felt strange to say it. We were technically a married couple, but our relationship was no different from strangers. My husband had never consummated our marriage. I had been living as a single woman since our wedding.

"His Excellency?"

The military doctor, seeing that I couldn't answer, cautiously called out to my husband. My husband, who glanced at the doctor, didn't take his eyes off me. His gaze, which seemed to take in every detail of me, made me shrink back involuntarily. Why is he acting like this? Could he really not recognize me?

"His Excellency, don't you remember? This is your wife."

"Wife...?"

My husband, who repeated the word as if he had never heard it before, quickly blinked. He opened his mouth to speak to me, then covered his mouth with one hand and asked in a whisper,

"Did I get married?"

The military doctor's eyes widened in shock. He tried to remain calm despite his flustered expression and asked,

"Do you really not remember? You got married more than a year ago. You recognize me, but why...?"

The military doctor glanced at me. I was standing there, staring at my husband in a daze. My heart was beating so fast and hard that I could feel the pulse in my neck. ...What is happening? My husband doesn't remember me?

"...I don't remember."

The military doctor murmured, "Oh no," in a low voice. He placed a hand on my husband's shoulder, as if trying to calm him down, and asked a few questions.

After about ten minutes, the military doctor, looking at me still standing there like a tree, said with a perplexed expression,

"His Excellency seems to have lost his memory."

"Really...?"

"Fortunately, he remembers everything important... but about you... "

"..."

The military doctor left the sentence hanging, but I immediately understood what he meant.

My husband seems to have lost his memory.

Specifically, his memory of me.

It felt surreal.

"It seems to be a temporary partial memory loss. We'll have to observe to see if the memory of you returns..."

The military doctor, who was watching me, slowly backed away towards the wall. He seemed to want me to talk to my husband, perhaps thinking that it might help his memory return.

However, I wanted to run away rather than talk to him. It all felt like a dream. He had come back with a head injury and forgotten everything about me, the person he once hated so much. Could it be that he hated me so much that he forgot me?

"...Can you come a little closer?"

My husband, still sitting on the bed, extended his hand towards me. I flinched and felt a sinking feeling in my stomach as I hesitated. I was afraid to look at him and even more afraid to get close. What if I went over and he suddenly remembered?

"Please."

"..."

His pleading voice was unfamiliar. He was always sharp and cold when dealing with me. But now, he looked very gentle and kind. His sincere curiosity and the warmth in his eyes made my head spin.

Why is this happening? I had been living a dead life until now. I had planned to divorce quietly when the time came...

"Madam."

The military doctor called out to me, urging me to comply with my husband's request. He probably meant well, not realizing that this situation was pushing me off a cliff...

"..."

I sighed softly and approached my husband, half in a daze. I decided to think of myself as crazy, as I couldn't do this in my right mind. When I stopped beside him, he gently tugged at my hand.

I grabbed his hand, my mind completely blank. It had been a long time since I had held his hand. It was large, warm, and calloused. In contrast, my hand was much smaller. If he squeezed hard, it would easily crush.

"..."

My husband, who was looking at our hands, ran his thumb over the back of my hand. When I tried to pull away, he held my hand tightly, preventing me from escaping. I stared at him, my mouth slightly open in shock.

He smiled softly, as if trying to reassure me.

"It's okay."

"..."

"May I ask your name?"

...If he doesn't remember, he wouldn't know my name. It didn't matter much, but he should know who he married. I slowly opened my mouth.

"Lily."

"Lily, that's a beautiful name."

"Lily Everett is my maiden name."

My husband, who flinched slightly, muttered in confusion.

"Everett...?"

He frowned and blinked, then chuckled softly.

"I didn't know I had married someone from the House of Everett."

"Really, you don't remember anything?"

"Nothing."

I tried to pull my hand away as I spoke.

"If you can't remember the detailed process of how we got married, or if you can hear it from someone else, you might get a sense of how to treat me."

"Wait."

"I'll be on my way. Let go."

"Don't go."

My husband grabbed my other arm and pulled me into his embrace. I struggled, shocked. He paused, surprised by my reaction, but didn't let go.

His vivid blue eyes carefully examined my face. I clenched my teeth, trying to avoid his gaze. I wished I could melt away like snow in this spot.

"Did I do something wrong to you?"

No, it was my father and the House of Everett who did wrong. My husband, Theodore Valentine, was the victim.

"Can you tell me how we ended up getting married, and what you... what the Lady did? Is that too much to ask?"

I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh. Is it too much to ask?

Telling him in detail what my family did to him, through my own mouth, would be like self-flagellation.

I felt a familiar pain. I am the daughter of a villain, but I have never committed evil deeds like my father. I often felt wronged. I had once hoped that my husband might understand my wrongs.

But now, it doesn't matter anymore.

"Ask someone else. I have my pride. Let me go now."

The strength in my husband's hand, which had been holding me, suddenly loosened. I quickly left the room, not looking back.

I, Lily Everett, met Theodore Valentine two years ago. At that time, my father was eagerly looking for an opportunity to吞并瓦伦蒂诺家族。