Chapter 18

18

Calvin remained silent for a moment, then crossed his arms and spoke.

"Why didn't you ask? You've been asking all sorts of questions to the head steward and the servants of the castle."

"…I wanted to hear your opinion last. I planned to ask Aunt afterward."

"…To be honest."

Calvin paused, closed his eyes, and sighed. His gaze, now fixed on Theodor, was complicated.

"Theodor, your way of dealing with her was extremely rational. For Valentine's sake, of course."

"…"

Calvin's tone became more casual. Though they had grown from childhood friends to duke and advisor, they often conversed like this, as they did in their younger days.

"But from the perspective of Lily Everett's life, it was irrational. Still, I don't think you were wrong. She was from the Everett family, after all. You had no choice but to keep your distance."

"…Lily Valentine. She married me."

At this, Calvin looked bewildered, shook his head, and chuckled.

"I don't know everything, but I know you suffered a lot because of that woman."

"…Suffered?"

"Yes. The stories you confided in me were vague, making it hard to grasp the full picture."

Calvin shook his head, took a candy from his pocket, and ate it. After neatly folding the candy wrapper and putting it back in his pocket, he offered another to Theodor. Theodor took it absentmindedly but didn't eat it, placing it on the desk instead.

"So… in my opinion, it's best to wait for your memory to return. Don't get too close to Lily Everett, or the duchess, too hastily. You might regret it later."

"First, I want to hear what you know. I'll make my judgment afterward."

"…"

Calvin sighed deeply and began to speak after a while, his expression complex.

"You first met her two years ago at the Everett duchy. At that time…"

* * *

Despite listening to Calvin's story for over an hour, Theodor gained little insight.

He couldn't understand why he had pushed Lily away. Calvin seemed unaware of these deeper, more intricate details. However, he could grasp the general idea of his feelings toward her, though he couldn't be entirely sure.

He also learned how he had treated her and how she had lived at the Valentine castle.

"…"

Theodor walked down the corridor at dusk, gazing out the window. The red sunset filled the western sky. The marble pillars cast long shadows on the floor, and the setting sun's light filled the wide corridor.

He paused, habitually touching the coin in his pocket. He recalled the stories told by the head steward and the servants. …They had indeed been cautious. Everyone had ostracized Lily more than he could imagine, but they had restrained themselves in his presence. Calvin's conversation had made this clear.

Consistent and subtle harassment. Lily had endured it all without saying a word to him. The servants had tried to hide their mistreatment of the duchess from each other.

'I don't know everything, as you know, I'm always busy with official duties. I don't have the time to pay attention to the details of the castle. But about a month ago… I found out something really wrong. Some of the servants were leaving dead birds or mice at the duchess's window or door. When I asked a servant, it turned out they had been doing this for six months… It was really severe. I thought about telling you, but I dealt with it myself. I scolded them, so I don't think they'll do it again…'

It was an unbelievable story. Most of the servants at the Valentine castle had been with him since he was a child. They were from families that had served the Valentine family for generations in Veronice. They were known for their strong loyalty and good morals. …Or so he thought.

But everyone has a dual nature. He had overlooked this. Even good people can sometimes commit evil deeds. It would be even easier if they considered the other person 'cheap.'

"…"

Theodor leaned on the windowsill and sighed deeply. It wasn't just the fault of the servants. The way he had treated Lily harshly…

"…Why did I…"

He suddenly remembered how she had looked at him. The cautious expression, the shoulders that seemed to shrink in fear, the face that seemed to scream, "Don't come near me."

…One and a half years, no, two years, is a long and short time.

If someone had hurt another during this time, would it be difficult or surprisingly easy to heal the wound?

'…It won't be easy.'

He had a strange certainty that the darkness in her heart was deeper than he imagined. It felt like a premonition.

Theodor started walking again. His teacher, who had taught him swordsmanship and many other things, said that misfortune is self-inflicted. People can be happy with a piece of bread but often desire more, and by hating and envying others, they nurture unhappiness in their hearts.

He didn't entirely agree with this, but it seemed true that people sometimes bring misfortune upon themselves. Whatever had happened in the past, he should not do anything he would regret later. He wanted to ask his pre-amnesia self why he had treated her so harshly.

Even though he had been drawn to her from the moment he first saw her.

'When you came back from the Everett castle and talked about that woman, I had a feeling. Wow, the great Theodor Valentine fell in love at first sight.'

'…'

'You kept talking about her, remembering even the smallest details. Her nails were too short and it looked painful, there was a small mole between her index finger and thumb, oh… are you a pervert? Who would observe and remember such things? I was really going crazy.'

If it had been him, he would have realized his attraction to her sooner. But he would have tried to restrain himself, thinking that a daughter of the Everett family was out of bounds. But he would have given up soon and eventually acknowledged his feelings, plotting to take her away from the Everett family.

Yet, unexpectedly, he had treated her cruelly and pushed her away.

There must have been something. Someone must have interfered, leading to a misunderstanding…

"…"

Theodor stopped abruptly. He had unknowingly reached Lily's room. Lost in thought, he had ended up here without realizing it.

He stood in front of the door for a while but couldn't bring himself to knock and turned away. He had many questions. He wanted to talk more and learn more about her. But he couldn't approach her easily. He suddenly felt afraid of how she might see him.

Just as he turned to leave without seeing Lily, a familiar silhouette appeared at the end of the corridor. Theodor recognized it as his aunt, Lady Seymour.

'Why is Aunt here…'

He hesitated for a moment, then changed his expression and approached Lady Seymour. Greeting her with a smile, she looked at him with her usual pleased expression. Theodor observed her demeanor and asked casually.

"Aunt, why are you here?"

"I came to check on Lily. She fainted and returned, so I wanted to see how she was doing. It's my duty as a family elder, isn't it?"

That's true, but… Theodor felt strangely uneasy. Perhaps it was because Calvin had told him that Lady Seymour was not friendly toward Lily. …Somehow, he had a premonition that he shouldn't let Lady Seymour and Lily meet now. After a moment's hesitation, Theodor smiled and said to Lady Seymour.

"I checked earlier, and it seems Lily has already gone to bed. It would be better to meet her another time."

"Is that so? Then… I made a wasted trip today. I'll meet her another time, as you suggest."

"Yes, I need to return to my office and continue my work."

Theodor and Lady Seymour walked down the corridor and descended the stairs together. As they reached the second floor, where the duke's office was located, Lady Seymour spoke casually.

"Theo, have you recovered your memory yet?"

"…No, but it's fine. You don't need to worry."

"That's good… It wasn't an important memory, so don't strain yourself to remember it."

Theodor almost stiffened at her words. Not an important memory?

"However… I'm worried. Try to get along with Lily as you did before you lost your memory. She'll leave our family soon anyway."

"…Thank you for the advice, Aunt."

Theodor answered reflexively. Lady Seymour smiled kindly, gave a light greeting, and walked away.

Theodor stood there, lost in thought.

'Not an important memory, she'll leave our family soon…'

Her words were very unsettling. The more he thought about it, the more it felt cold. Lady Seymour had taken care of him for a long time, but… he knew her shadow. Her desire for him to think of her as a mother was not just because of the previous duchess's will.

'Maybe…'

Once started, the suspicion slowly grew. He couldn't be sure yet, but he had a hunch that something was amiss.

* * *

When one gear is out of place, everything starts to go wrong. The first sign of this was a week after Lily Everett's marriage and departure from her family.

Hessen plopped onto the sofa with a sullen expression. Owen, who was already sitting in front, offered him a cigarette.

"Want one?"

"Nah."

When Hessen declined, Owen nodded and put the cigarette in his mouth, lighting it. As he took a deep drag and exhaled, a spicy aroma filled the air.

"You met Lily and Theodor Valentine, right?"

"Damn, it's already in your ears?"

"Call me brother."

"Brother, you can freeze in hell…"

While Hessen grumbled, Owen took another drag. He crossed his legs, leaned back into the sofa, and exhaled a long stream of smoke, exuding a sense of languid ease.

He tapped the ash into the ashtray and leaned back on the sofa, asking,

"How was it?"

"Same as usual…"

…It wasn't. Theodor Valentine seemed different when he saw him after a long time. Lily Everett was the same as before.

'Except for her new hobby of wandering around in a maid's outfit.'

After a moment's thought, Hessen grabbed Owen's cigarette case from the table and spoke.

"Something was off with that guy."

At this, Owen's eyes lit up, but Hessen didn't notice as he was lighting the cigarette. He took a deep drag like Owen and immediately started coughing.

"Choke…! Cough, cough! What the hell, who finds this stuff tasty?!"

After spewing out a string of curses, Hesen threw the cigarette away in a fit of nerves. A wisp of smoke rose from the cigarette that landed precisely in the crystal ashtray.

"Did he seem different to you?"

"What are you talking about?"

In response to Owen's question, Hesen frowned and asked back. He thought Owen was talking nonsense. As he searched for water to rinse his mouth, Owen smiled with his eyes curved into a crescent and added in a subtle tone,

"He seemed to have lost his memory…"