Episode 59

Why did he have to wake up the one moment I wasn’t there?
Rosanna’s moment of dismay passed quickly—she gathered herself right away.

“This isn’t the time to be panicking.”

She yanked the summoning bell repeatedly and bolted for the dressing room. All she could think about now was getting dressed as fast as possible, letting the maids fix her up, and rushing to see Kyle.

But by the time she arrived at the hospital, night had already fallen. She had wasted too much time trying to perfect her appearance, thinking first impressions matter. The maid had dolled her up like she was attending a ball.

“I’m late… Think he’s asleep?”

Rosanna paused at the hospital entrance and looked up. The outer wall looked like a shortcut. Besides, hadn’t Kyle once mentioned that he’d seen her come in through a window in his dream? Whether it truly had been a dream, or he’d seen her sleepily during one of her secret visits, didn’t matter. She’d liked the shy look on his face when he brought it up.

He denied it then, but if he really did have a window-entry fetish, then making that dream real would be quite the impression.

“Now, which one was it…”

After locating the room, Rosanna jumped without hesitation. Perched on the narrow window ledge, she peeked through the glass—Kyle was lying in bed. She’d found the right one.

The latch was unlocked. Lifting her skirts to keep the hem from catching, Rosanna swung a leg inside and slipped down gracefully. The light noise of her landing stirred Kyle from his sleep.

“Hello. Sorry—I woke you, didn’t I?”

“…Who are you?”

Kyle sat up defensively, tension in his voice.

“You came in through the… window?”

Rosanna approached the bed. As the distance closed, Kyle’s throat bobbed with unease. He was afraid of the unfamiliar woman approaching him. A natural reaction, considering he had no memory at all.

“Please don’t come any closer! J-Just stay there!”

He raised a hand firmly, signaling her to stop. Rosanna paused and turned toward the nearby oil lamp, lighting it.

Once there was light, Kyle could finally see her face. She was beautiful. And she didn’t seem like she had come to hurt him. Judging by their size difference, even if she did try to attack, he figured he could hold his own.

Still, the tension didn’t ease.

“How did you get in through the window?”

“Does it really matter?”

“…If you don’t tell me who you are, I’ll call a nurse.”

“The red-haired one?”

Her icy gaze sharpened. Kyle could practically smell the threat in the air. No—this wasn’t right.

Rosanna took a breath, calming herself, then slipped on a more gentle mask.

“Poor Kyle… I heard you lost your memory. It’s okay. It’s normal to be confused.”

“My name… it’s Kyle?”

So, the doctor hadn’t told him. Good thing she had left instructions to keep Kyle’s name a secret until further notice.

“That’s right. Kyle Mason. That’s your name.”

Kyle repeated it to himself a couple times, then let out a weary sigh.

“I don’t know… I really can’t remember. Myself, or you… We do know each other, right?”

“Of course we do, sweetheart.”

Kyle flinched slightly, avoiding her eyes.

Calling him sweetheart was a deliberate move. She’d read that using terms of endearment helped break down emotional barriers. It was in the very book that had inspired Rosanna to plan how to make Kyle hers.

“I don’t remember any of it… It’s hard to believe we’d call each other that. We don’t really seem like a match.”

“Why not?”

“You seem… out of my league.”

Rosanna walked up to the bed and sat gently at his feet.

“Did they tell you who your guardian is?”

“They just said she’d be coming soon… someone who cares about me deeply.”

“That’s me. I’m your guardian,” Rosanna said with a sweet smile. “My name’s a secret. Telling you everything would be no fun.”

“Maybe… I’ll remember it if I get curious enough.”

Kyle gave her a doubtful look. Rosanna gently patted the blanket covering his legs.

“For now, just get some rest tonight.”

“…What about you?”

Rosanna paused thoughtfully, then her eyes lit up with an idea.

“I’ll visit you every night. Each time, I’ll give you one clue about who I am. Like a riddle. If you keep thinking about me to solve it, it might stimulate your brain enough to bring back your memories.”

There was a hidden motive behind the offer: she wanted to fill his thoughts, occupy his mind completely. Sure, she could stay at the hospital all day—but once he was discharged, they’d be glued together anyway. For now, she wanted to build curiosity. Mystery. Fascination.

Kyle didn’t seem to catch on and simply nodded in silence.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, sweetheart.”

“Okay. Uh, wait, why are you going that way—?”

Seeing her head toward the window, Kyle paled. Before he could stop her, Rosanna leapt out.

Panicked, Kyle jumped barefoot from the bed and rushed to the window, peering down. It was too dark to see anything clearly—no figure in sight. The mysterious woman had vanished.

This feels like… a dream.

Kyle wiped his face, feeling like he’d been enchanted by something not entirely human.

That night, Kyle barely slept, and when the nurse came to check on him the next morning, she was startled by his drawn expression.

“Oh dear! You look exhausted. Did you not sleep well?”

“I couldn’t fall asleep.”

The nurse followed his gaze to the window.

“Too warm, huh? Still, even if it’s summer, you shouldn’t sleep with the window open. All right?”

“…Okay.”

“Your doctor will do rounds in the afternoon, so try to get some rest.”

Kyle nodded. She left a small vase of flowers on the bedside table, instantly brightening the room.

“They’re artificial. The doctor bought a bunch outside the hospital and gave them to all the nurses—to help cheer us up.”

Her smile this time was different—not the polite kind, but a genuine one. Kyle sensed the feeling behind it.

“Why are you giving them to me?”

“I thought you could use them more. They might lift your spirits.”

Kyle watched her leave after saying, “Get some rest.” He thought for a moment about telling her what had happened during the night—but missed the timing.

It was the same when the doctor came by in the afternoon. Other staff were present too, and Kyle held back. If he brought it up, they might think he was delusional. Memory loss was enough of a diagnosis; he didn’t need another one added.

And so, the secret nightly visits continued.

Just as she promised, the woman came every night and told him a little more about herself—
That she was from a foreign place called Lumanó.
That she’d come to Britna to be near her brother’s family and her adorable nephew.
That she had a townhouse and pet plants she adored.
That she had prized personal collections she cherished.

But not a word about her incredible jumping ability. When Kyle pressed her about how she got in through the window, she only smiled and said, “It’s the power of love.”

That smile was unsettling. The next night, Kyle locked the window.
She shattered it with her bare fist.

That’s when Kyle finally understood:
If no one was going to get hurt, he had to keep this secret from the hospital staff—
And he had to go along with whatever she wanted.

On the seventh night, Kyle left the window open.

* * *

“Hi, sweetheart.”

As usual, Rosanna entered through the window. Kyle, seated on the hospital bed, flinched instead of greeting her.

His reaction was understandable—her eyes, still flushed red from heightened physical exertion, glinted in the darkness. But it had been a week. Shouldn’t he be used to this by now?

‘My timid little attachment toy. Like a nervous herbivore.’

With a wave of her hand, Rosanna lit the room. Candles placed all around flickered to life, casting a warm, moody glow. The hospital room had oil lamps by default, but she’d ordered her butler to deliver elegant candle holders instead.

Kyle still looked startled.

“Why are you so jumpy?”

“…Because normal people would be. This is the sixth floor.”

That probably wasn’t the only reason he was uneasy, but Kyle didn’t mention the others—the way her eyes changed color or how the flames danced unnaturally. He was trying to ignore his gut instinct whispering, This woman isn’t human. How endearing.

“Weren’t you waiting for me? You even left the window open.”

“If I didn’t, you’d just break it again.”

Kyle inhaled sharply, clearly tense.

With the moonlight behind her, Rosanna pushed aside the caregiver’s chair and perched on the bed. Creak. The old frame groaned under her weight.

“Tsk. I’ll have to stuff some bills into the hospital director’s pocket and get this thing replaced with something top-tier. Or… maybe it’s fine as it is. If we roll around on this thing, the bed will shriek and wail, and the nurse who hears it will burst in and gasp in horror. That could be fun.”

“……”

“Actually, thinking about it… not that fun. I don’t want anyone else looking at your body. I might pluck their eyes out and twist their neck. That nurse assigned to you—what was her name again? Something sewer-like… Anyway, I’ll tell her not to come near you anymore. If she values her life, she’ll get the message.”

“Please don’t joke like that. Besides, she hasn’t been coming around since my treatment’s almost done.”

“Are you… disappointed?”

Rosanna’s eyes narrowed to slits. It was the red-haired nurse again.

The moment Rosanna had heard the nurse left a flower vase in Kyle’s room, she’d torn the bouquet to shreds that same night. She’d even told the doctor to remove the nurse from duty, though he’d pleaded with her to let it slide just once.

She had, reluctantly. But had that girl tried anything again since then…?