“Why are you so shy?”
Christine giggled as she saw Pristin’s visibly red face.
“We are all old enough where we know what’s happening.”
“…Could you please keep it down, Christine.”
Pristin muttered, running her fingers over her reddened cheek.
“As expected, people don’t change even if they lose their memories.”
“What do you mean?”
“You said you’re old enough to know everything that’s happening anyway.”
Pristin explained, staring at Christine.
“You’ve told me the same thing before.”
“Oh, really?”
Christine looked amazed, and then stared at Pristin like she realized something.
“That means… this isn’t the first time, is it?”
“Shh. Let’s stop talking about this.”
Pristin, who was red-faced again, quickly concluded the conversation. Christine giggled at Pristin’s overly shy appearance and closed her mouth as Pristin wanted.
“Actually, I feel like I might regain my memories soon.”
“Really? Is there any sign?”
“Well… sometimes I get headaches, and memories of things that happened in the past occasionally come to mind.”
“Wow, that’s great news!”
Pristin asked Christine with noticeable delight,
Have you remembered anything?
“Just… little things. Like conversations with the countess or… trivial stuff like that.”
“Anything else… anything you remember besides me?”
Pristin’s voice trembled slightly as thoughts of their parents came to mind. But Christine did not notice it and replied,
“I don’t know… As of now, I’ve only remembered things related to the countess.”
“…I see. That’s a relief.”
Pristin breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that Christine hadn’t asked about their parents. Pristin tried to hide her complicated feelings and changed her words.
“Still, if the headaches get worse, make sure to visit the palace doctor. Okay?”
“Yes, Countess, but it’s not that bad.”
“That’s a relief.”
Pristin mumbled with a light smile.
“I hope I regain my memories soon.”
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
At the same time, the central palace.
“…So you’re saying…”
Jerald tapped his finger on the desk looking tired.
“No one has been found? No one?”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Does that make sense?”
Jerald’s voice raged.
“There’s definitely a spy in this palace. It doesn’t make sense that we’ve looked into everyone’s handwriting and there’s no answer.”
“There is only one possibility.”
“What’s that?”
“Different handwriting.”
“Is that possible? For someone to maintain two different handwriting styles?”
“With persistent effort, it is entirely possible, Your Majesty. Perhaps we should consider alternative methods.”
“…For now.”
Jerald sighed briefly, looking troubled.
“Monitor the movements of those entering and leaving the palace carefully, and conduct thorough inspections. No exceptions for anyone. Understand?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
However, once exposed, it’s likely they are also on alert, searching just as vigilantly from their end. So, Jerald had to be cautious for the time being.
“We need to find their base of operations…”
The empire was vast, and finding a hiding place was no easy task. Had that been possible, his uncle would have kept a low profile until he gained power. Jerald didn’t expect retaliation like this; his expression remained stern.
“Your Majesty, Head Herbalist Bachell is here.”
At that time, other news came from his servant. Jerald instructed him to let Bachell in. Shortly after, Akkad appeared with a bottle of herbal potion in hand before Jerald.
“The sun of the empire, I see His Majesty the Emperor.”
Jerald had been taking fatigue-relieving potions regularly since his coronation. However, for this week, Jerald had decided not to take them. He quickly eased his expression, as if he hadn’t been feeling bothered at all.
“Another fatigue potion?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. This is today’s dosage.”
“I’ll give the lord a break for a week or so.”
“Why…”
“I’ve already received something as a gift.”
“…Ah.”
What followed made Jerald feel pretty uncomfortable.
“You mean the one given by Countess Rosewell.”
“…How does the lord know that?”
“Because I helped her make it.”
Akkad replied quietly.
“From the side.”
“…Oh, from the side.”
Jerald realized the implication and felt a bit sour.
“You two must be very close.”
“It’s not a bad relationship.”
“That’s good. You’re colleagues, after all.”
Jerald answered as casually as he could.
“It’s only natural to be close to each other.”
“Yes. It will probably be effective. Considering the countess’s considerable skills.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yes. She is a great help to our herbal garden.”
“That’s great.”
Jerald smiled and made eye contact with Akkad.
“I’ll be counting on you in the future too, lord. I look forward to your special consideration.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I hold her in high regard as well.”
“…You hold her in high regard?”
“She’s diligent and hardworking in everything she does. It’s hard not to admire someone like that.”
“Thank you for your kind words, but…”
Jerald raised the corner of his mouth slightly, as if implying something risky.
“I hope that admiration doesn’t turn into favoritism.”
“…”
“Were you at the birthday celebration yesterday?”
“…No, I wasn’t. I wasn’t feeling well. My apologies, Your Majesty.”
“That’s regrettable. If you had attended yesterday, you would have known for sure.”
Jerald clicked his tongue slightly, then picked up the glass that Akkad had put down.
“I’ll leave you alone. I’ll drink what you gave me today anyway.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Akkad promptly withdrew, and Jerald’s gaze turned back to the vial of fatigue-relief potion he received from Pristin. He gazed at the green liquid lovingly as if it were Pristin herself, then opened the lid and drank it all in one gulp.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
The princess’s palace in the middle of the day.
“He was so romantic yesterday.”
Claret spoke to Pristin in an excited voice.
“I can’t believe he shook off Princess Gennant’s dance request and went straight to Pristin! My brother was so cool yesterday!”
“Ahaha, you saw it all…”
“Of course. Who didn’t see that yesterday?”
Claret asked with a proud look.
“How do you feel, Pristin?”
“Just… a bit overwhelmed. Nothing has changed much.”
Pristin said with an awkward smile.
“Everyone already had an idea about it anyway.”
“Of course. I told you. I’m sure everyone knew.”
“I thought you were just saying it to reassure me.”
“Oh my! Pristin, I’m disappointed. Do I say something without thinking about it?”
“I know. I should have listened to your Highness.”
“So, is the only thing left for the two of you to get married? Did my brother say anything?”
“His Majesty did suggest getting married right away.”
“Then why not just do it? What’s the problem? Everyone is waiting.”
“I suppose…?”
Pristin expressed her feelings carefully.
“I think it might be because of me. It felt a bit sudden, even though I’ve been thinking about it.”
“Well, it’s not a typical marriage after all. You’re becoming the Empress of Limburg.”
“In fact, I do feel some pressure about that position.”
“But that doesn’t mean you won’t marry my brother.”
Claret smiled and held Pristin’s hand.
“So, if you’re going to do it, let’s do it quickly. I can’t wait to have a sister-in-law.”
“Do you really like me that much, Your Highness?”
Pristin looked at Claret with a calm smile on her lips.
“I actually thought you would lose interest in me soon after you entered the palace.”
“Yeah, I thought so too.”
“But as time passed, I was surprised.”
“I brought Pristin here because I wanted to consider you as family from the beginning.”
Claret giggled and said to Pristin,
“So, there’s no way I could lose interest in you. You’re such a wonderful person to me.”
“Thank you for seeing me in a good light, Your Highness.”
“It would be great for you to marry my brother, Pristin. I’d be a very good sister-in-law. If my brother bothers Pristin, I’ll scold him for you!”
“Haha.”
Pristin burst into laughter at the words.
“Thank you, Your Highness. I feel very reassured.”
“I know.”
Claret replied calmly, then said to Pristin,
“So, marry my brother soon, Pristin. I hope the three of us become a family as soon as possible.”
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
“Your Majesty, I have received a message from Camer Palace.”
It was around sunset that the words were heard. Jerald, who was looking at the documents, raised his head.
“What is it about?”
“If you don’t mind the time, she says she wants to have dinner with you.”
“Countess Rosewell?”
What could this be about? Jerald found it quite intriguing. After last night’s embarrassment, he had expected Pristin to avoid him for a while. A smile flickered across his lips without him realizing.
“Let her know I will attend.”
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
Jerald went to Camer Palace just in time for their meal.
Aruvina, who found him, greeted him kindly.
“Your Majesty, are you here?”
“What about Pristin?”
“She is waiting in the dining room. This way.”
Jerald moved to the dinner room under the guidance of Aruvina. Moments later, his footsteps reached the entrance of the dining hall.
“Countess Rosewell, His Majesty has arrived.”
“Bring him in.”
As soon as Pristin’s voice was heard, the door opened, and Jerald slowly stepped inside. Along with the splendidly furnished dining table, he could see Pristin standing gracefully beside it. She smiled, looking slightly shy, without taking her eyes off Jerald.
“The sun of the empire, I see His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Oh, come on.”
Jerald approached Pristin with a strange expression on his face.
“I wanted to hear what I heard last night rather than such a formal greeting.”
“Yes?”
“Jerald, or something like that.”
“…Ah.”
“Oh, come on.”
In response to the silent request, Pristin hesitated with a smile before finally speaking up.
“Jer…Oh!”
Before she could finish her sentence, Jerald wrapped his arms around Pristin. Surprised, yet quickly adapting, Pristin reciprocated the embrace. With his face buried in her shoulder, Jerald murmured contentedly,
“I’ve missed you all day, Pristin.”
“…Me too.”
With a faint smile, Pristin gently rested her cheek on his shoulder. And with sincerity in her voice, she whispered,
“I missed you too, Your Majesty.”
In that moment, there was nothing but peace.
