While You're In Love

Aslan added a few more instructions.

“Contact Gus. Don’t write or meet him directly from here.”

Oscar, who was diligently trying to memorize Aslan’s instructions, suddenly asked.

“But why the sudden change of heart? You said you were only going to see your wife briefly.”

Up until now, Aslan had answered without hesitation, but this time, he remained silent for a while.

After a moment, he spoke slowly.

“There are several reasons. One of them is that the culprit behind the carriage accident hasn’t been caught.”

That’s right.

Even though a week had passed since the accident, despite the involvement of the Eres police, the culprit remained elusive.

‘Lord Langston is probably upset by all of this.’

Isaac, the escort knight, was still traveling around the city with the Eres police.

While Oscar was thinking about Isaac, Aslan continued.

“You said I came here because of my arbitrary whim, but I got into an accident as soon as I left the station. In that case, there are two possibilities. Either I became a target by chance in a crime that had nothing to do with me.”

Aslan tapped the armrest of the sofa.

“Or, it could be that an enemy from the shadows pursued me and seized the opportunity when they saw one.”

Aslan’s hand froze as he continued to ponder while gripping the armrest.

“If it’s the latter, we face further issues. I don’t know who’s relentlessly after me, I’ve encountered more enemies than those who favor me since I ascended to the dukedom and started my business, but it’s been a long time since anyone has been this blatant.”

He contemplated one potential suspect after another.

But who could it be, someone capable of such actions?

“If only I could have managed the situation right after the accident. A week later, there’s little we can do by openly confronting it.”

The culprit would have concealed their tracks by now, and the mysterious enemy likely achieved their objective.

“So, it’s better to lay low here for a while.”

“How long do you intend to watch?”

“Well, until we can filter out the troublemakers?”

Aslan’s slight smile as he spoke had an unsettling quality. Oscar swallowed hard.

“Moreover, in a situation where we don’t even know who the enemy is, we might as well try to find the culprits too.”

Oscar’s eyes widened.

“What are you suggesting? Are you planning to hire a competent detective from Central, or are you going to increase the police manpower to conduct a thorough investigation-”

“We can remain idle.”

“What?”

“If we remain quiet, they’ll come back to us.”

Aslan raised an eyebrow and added.

“The fact that they haven’t attacked while I’m incapacitated suggests they aren’t desperate for my life. They might have aimed for nothing more than keeping me bedridden, perhaps?”

Oscar gulped down hard.

Aslan muttered to himself.

“But if we’re right, they’ll attempt the same thing again. They’ll undoubtedly come for me once more. This time, they might either put me back in bed or, worse yet, eliminate me.”

“Really?”

Oscar was horrified.

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“It is risky, but it’s tolerable. Besides, some level of risk must be borne.”

Aslan raised the corner of his mouth.

Oscar, who had served Aslan for a long time, understood his words.

Aslan had started his business at a young age and amassed great wealth. He always said that for a greater reward, he needed to endure greater risk. He was accustomed to taking risks and even seemed to enjoy it.

However…

“Madam could be at risk as well.”

Aslan, who had lost his memory, didn’t know, but Oscar, who had spent the last few years working beside him, did.

He doesn’t even blink an eye at the threats to him, but he detests even the slightest injury to his wife.

“If I were the enemy, I would have tried to find the reason for coming to Eres, not anywhere else, over the past week. Eres and Ellwood are close, and it’s not a very large area, so I would have discovered the fact that my lady, who claimed to be on a medical trip, was hiding here.”

Oscar, who had been speaking cautiously, closed his mouth without reaching a conclusion.

He didn’t want to say that his wife might be harmed in front of Aslan.

Oscar stared anxiously at the silent Aslan.

“Isaac will also be brought here, and I’ll be by your side, so I don’t think there’ll be any problems with the lady’s safety.”

However, Aslan’s eyebrows furrowed. His expression showed that he didn’t quite like what he said.

“But…”

Oscar wanted to ask more, but Aslan remained tight-lipped.

At that moment, Lyla entered, carrying a tray with teacups filled with steaming tea.

“Here you go.”

Lyla placed the teacups in front of Aslan and Oscar.

“Thank you very much, my lady.”

“I will enjoy it, my lady.”

“Yes.”

Silence followed for a while as they each sipped their tea, lost in thought.

‘He’s lost his memory…’

Stirring the hot tea, Lyla tried her best to calm her confusion.

During the few minutes of preparing the tea, calming the turmoil was all she could manage.

She was slowly coming to understand the current situation.

Given that he’d lost all his memories, she could now comprehend why Aslan had appeared so uneasy. She understood that he was in an uncomfortable and anxious situation, and her high level of empathy made her sympathize with him.

However…

‘But I need to firmly refuse to let them stay here.’

It wasn’t beneficial for both Lyla, who needed to detach herself from him, and Aslan, who needed to regain his memory.

“It tastes great.”

Aslan said, and Lyla raised her head.

“It’s unique. The sweetness in the tea is unfamiliar, but it doesn’t bother me; instead, it feels rather special.”

“It’s a tea made from apples grown by our family. It’s quite popular even in other regions…”

A tea made from apples grown by family members held a special place in Lyla’s heart.

Therefore, Lyla momentarily forgot her discomfort and chatted cheerfully.

But then, aware of Aslan’s eyes on her, she belatedly closed her mouth.

“You can continue…”

“No, it’s alright. I think I’ve said enough.”

Lyla blurted out, flushing red with embarrassment.

Aslan let out a low, raspy laugh.

The small but clear sound made Lyla blush even more.

Biting her lip, she asked quickly.

“You’ve lost your memory, yes, I understand now, but why did you come to see me?”

“I need a place to stay.”

“So?”

“Please let me stay here.”

“No.”

Lyla refused firmly.

“Wife.”

“You’ve lost your memory, so you’ve forgotten this. I’m not your wife anymore, I hope you don’t call me that.”

Lyla lowered her voice and scanned her surroundings.

Even though her house was secluded from the rest of the village, there was always a chance that someone might pass by and overhear.

In a small town, rumors spread quickly. Once it becomes known that an outsider has arrived and called Lyla his wife…!

Lyla’s brow furrowed.

She hadn’t told her family about her past yet.

Her family didn’t ask either. The separation experienced at the age of fourteen had been a wound for all of them.

They’d put the hurtful past behind them, only guessing at how they might have lived, and she didn’t want Aslan’s sudden appearance to shatter that tranquility.

“I’m sorry.”

Aslan apologized meekly.

But it was an apology for hurting Lyla’s feelings, not for agreeing with her.

“Nevertheless, your statement that you are not my wife is incorrect. Legally and socially, we are undoubtedly a married couple.”

“No, that’s…….”

Lyla, who was about to speak frankly, fell silent as she looked at Oscar, whose presence beside Aslan was blurred but unmistakable.

The marriage contract was a secret between them. No matter how loyal Oscar was, she couldn’t tell him about it.

‘But, if I don’t discuss the marriage contract, it will be difficult for me to explain why our separation is a natural course of action.’

Faced with a difficult decision, Lyla redirected the conversation to another topic.

“You have a lot of work to do in Central, the council will be in session soon, you have business to take care of, and most of all…….”

Lyla took a deep breath. To say what she wanted to say next, she needed to be prepared.

“There would be people waiting for you, and it would be better for you to go home than to stay here.”

She couldn’t mention Rosalyn’s name. At the very least, she had to protect her own dignity.

‘The moment he reunites with Rosalyn, who has been eagerly waiting for him at the mansion, he’ll have a better chance of recovering his memory.’

As she mulled over facts she already knew, Lyla’s heart shattered.

Lyla bit her lip.

Surprised at her stubbornness, Oscar glanced over at Aslan, and was stunned.

Aslan had a frosty demeanor.

But it didn’t last long.

Before Lyla’s gaze could reach him, Aslan’s face warmed up again.

‘Wow, it’s like he has two completely different faces…’