The elders donned their loyal masks and shook Aiden with their words.
They skillfully mixed lies into the truth, distorting the narrative to suggest that Erin had been acting tyrannically on her own accord within the Lienster household and conveyed this warped version to Aiden.
It was a story interpreted solely on the terms of the elders.
Even though he could not remember, Aiden’s wariness towards the elders had started even before this point.
Thus, Aiden didn’t take everything the elders, led by Diarn, said at face value.
However, that didn’t mean he could completely ignore them.
As Aiden’s expression grew more complex, smiles began to surface on the elders’ faces.
***
As soon as the elders arrived, Erin met them in the sitting room.
She wanted to caution them for fear of unsettling Aiden, who had just woken up.
“I have something to say.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“This is a time when I think it’s best for everyone to maintain as much calm as possible. So, I ask you to please refrain from visiting Aiden and causing him any confusion for the time being.”
Erin gave the warning seriously.
However, her warning had no effect.
“Ahem.”
Elder Diarn cleared his throat and looked at Erin.
“It appears we need to say the same to you.”
“…?”
“The confusion for the Duke is not because of us, but because of the Duchess. It might be best if you kept your distance for a while.”
“…”
The tables had unexpectedly turned.
Currently, Aiden is wary and rejecting of Erin.
The elders probably considered this fact a rare opportunity that wouldn’t come twice.
The attitude of the elders, who seemed to be thinking this was their last chance, was evident.
The elders seemed poised to press on Erin as if to corner her.
“Furthermore, as elders, we cannot merely stand by regarding this recent kidnapping incident.”
“Additionally, since the incident is related to the Duchess’s family, it’s awkward to entrust the matter entirely to you.”
In essence, they were saying they couldn’t trust Erin to handle the situation.
Erin’s eyes sharpened.
She could guess what they were going to say next.
“We must intervene in this matter.”
“….”
“The Duke has given his consent.”
Elder Diarn drove the final nail in with his words—it was, in effect, a notification.
The elders held their chins high; they were pressuring Erin.
Erin slowly opened her mouth.
“Then do as you must. We can’t have any doubt or suspicion, after all.”
The elders seemed taken aback by Erin’s easy agreement, unable to hide their surprise.
“Just so you know.”
Erin began speaking firmly, drawing a line.
“I have no intention of showing leniency just because it was my own family. Gael will receive the punishment he deserves.”
“Of course, that’s how it should be.”
“But before that….”
Erin paused, then continued more carefully.
“There’s something we need to get straight. This incident isn’t merely the result of an individual’s wrongdoing.”
The real problem wasn’t just Gael Zahard; it went beyond him.
At Erin’s remark, the elders either frowned or looked puzzled.
Erin’s eyes sharpened as she observed the elders.
“There’s someone behind this.”
“…And who might that be?”
“Well, that’s the most crucial issue now, to find out who this ‘behind the scenes’ is.”
“I see.”
The elders nodded in agreement as well.
“We will also look into who is behind this matter.”
“Please do.”
Erin scrutinized the elders’ faces closely.
She was gauging the truth behind their words, trying to assess how sincere they were.
As soon as the elders left, a sneer spread across Erin’s face.
Her eyes had grown cold and detached without notice.
‘The search for the mastermind is probably just a pretense for the sake of appearance.’
Their intentions were transparent.
They wanted to create a pretense to restrain Erin’s actions and carve out a sphere for themselves to maneuver freely.
‘And perhaps….’
It could be to sabotage Erin’s efforts in uncovering the person behind the scenes.
Because if Erin succeeds, they would be the ones in trouble.
But these were still only strong suspicions.
To convert her suspicions into certainty, Erin too had accepted their seemingly transparent proposition.
‘I’ll find out based on how they act from now on.’
From that day forward, the elders began to stir more actively within the Lienster family.
***
Aiden’s memory had stopped at the time when his marriage to Erin was decided.
Fortunately, after reading some books and practicing with the sword a few times, his knowledge and skills in swordsmanship remained intact.
Even with lost memories, Aiden managed to start his daily life without much difficulty.
He especially grasped work-related matters quickly.
Although Filix was still playing a significant role, it seemed that soon Aiden would be able to handle his duties as before.
Thus, to the outside world, it appeared as though the Lienster family had returned to its usual routines.
However, internally, there were still a multitude of issues piling up like a mountain that needed to be addressed.
Moreover, with Aiden regaining consciousness, there were continuous requests for visits.
It was impossible to accept all these requests.
In the end, the first to visit the Lienster family was Crown Prince Fedrerick.
The emperor, having heard the news, felt the gravity of the situation and had influenced the decision to send the crown prince to assess the matter personally.
Erin, who was escorting him, stopped in front of Aiden’s room.
Fedrerick looked puzzled and asked,
“Are you not coming in with me?”
“He’s still uncomfortable,” she responded.
“…”
Fedrerick fully understood the situation from just that much. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he nodded lightly.
“We’ll talk later.”
Fedrerick entered the room where Aiden was.
Dressed in his uniform, Aiden greeted the Crown Prince with proper respect.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.” Fedrerick looked at Aiden’s concise but weighty actions as if seeing something unexpected.
It really struck him.
‘So it’s true that he lost his memory.’ It felt as if they had gone back to a time long before the two had become close.
“Wow, it’s been a long time.” Fedrerick intentionally spoke lightly, cracking a smile.
“You don’t need to be so formal. After all, we’ve been maintaining quite a close relationship for a while.”
“I’ve heard as much. But honestly, I don’t remember.”
“…Haha. Is that so.”
Fedrerick laughed awkwardly, examining Aiden carefully with narrowed eyes.
He recognized it at a glance.
Even though Aiden wasn’t openly showing it, he was on guard against him.
It was the strongest impression Fedrerick got as he talked to Aiden.
‘Well, can’t be helped.’
He thought it was a natural response, considering that no matter what tales of their closeness he heard, they were absent from Aiden’s memory.
‘It’s definitely strange.’
They had been friends for a long time, indeed.
And that meant, just as much, in the last ten years, Aiden had become a completely different person.
Fedrerick’s face, previously lit with a smile, gradually became serious.
Then he started speaking gravely.
“Seeing you now, it seems you really don’t remember Erin.”
He murmured softly to himself afterward.
“At least Erin should remember, even if you don’t.”
Aiden upset, raised an eyebrow.
“Will you be alright?”
“…What do you mean?”
Aiden asked with narrowed eyes.
“If you don’t want to have regrets, try to recover your memory as soon as possible.”
“…?”
“I’m telling you because you said you don’t know, you….”
Fedrerick’s gaze narrowed as his voice dropped to a secretive whisper.
“You loved Erin more terribly than your own life.”
Aiden was confused, watching Fedrerick assert knowledge about feelings Aiden himself didn’t know.
“So, remember before you make a mistake.”
Fedrerick spoke unilaterally and then stood up.
“Moreover, the longer the Duke of Lienster doesn’t recover his memories, the more difficult it will be for Erin.”
Aiden’s expression grew even more complex and subtle.
But Fedrerick had already left the room.
In fact, Fedrerick hadn’t fully grasped the seriousness when he first heard that Aiden had lost his memories.
But seeing his eyes in that moment, he realized it.
The last ten years were gone.
There was a boy in front of him, filled with nothing but distrust and wariness of everything from his past.
It was clear that nothing he said right now would get through.
In that case, a single most important sentence would suffice.
That was Fedrerick’s judgment.
He was walking down the hallway when he overheard Aiden instructing his aide, Felix, from across an unclosed door.
“I will not receive any visitors from now on. If there are any, kindly send them away.”
“But Your Highness, the crown prince has just arrived.”
There were other scheduled visitors awaiting behind.
Felix was about to suggest that at least meeting some of them might be advisable.
However, seeing Aiden’s gravely serious gaze, Felix bowed his head.
“Yes. I will make arrangements accordingly.”
In the end, Fedrerick became his first and last visitor.
