Chapter 54 – Part 1

‘Missus Seymour always seemed like a perfect person. But…’

No one was actually perfect in this world.

…Yes, well… She didn’t know what would happen in the future, so for now, she should just comply with the investigation. Anyway, it was the head of the household who ordered the investigation.

‘Even if he can’t remember.’

As she came to that conclusion, she felt a little at ease. Carmen quickly ate the rest of her dinner and got up.

The investigation, which had been postponed due to the rift, was to be resumed from tonight.

Calvin was a little annoyed with Theodore. Even if he was Theodore’s childhood friend and aide, it was just too much.

Not too long ago, he lost his entire memory of Lily, and after asking about this and that, he had lost all of his memories of that period of time. It was truly astounding.

“Here! I sorted it all out. Read it, judge it by yourself.”

“…….”

Instead of chattering with Theodore, Calvin organized the documents with about fifty pages.

It was clear to Calvin of Theodore’s feelings for Lily. The opposite of love was indifference, not hate. If he really didn’t have any feelings, he would just be indifferent.

Theodore was not indifferent to Lily. He was rather clearly expressing his feelings. That complex and subtle emotion, Calvin did not want to refine it any further. He just wanted Theodore to figure it out on his own.

After all, no one could be a third party between lovers. Please, he wanted Theodore to realize it on his own. That Theodore actually has feelings for Lily but was just currently in denial.

If he’d continue to deny his feelings, one day he would fall into contradiction. Maybe his memory had an effect. It’s just his own speculation though.

Anyway, it wasn’t his part to help. Such an epiphany was of no use unless Theodore would realize it himself. If someone else interfered, it would only ruin things.

“Ah! And take this too!”

“…What?”

Calvin suddenly remembered it, and took out a notebook from the safe and threw it to Theodore. Theodore, who had received it and examined it, paused in surprise. Gold letters engraved on a black leather cover.

…It was his own name.

“This…”

“This is the journal you wrote when you lost your memory. You left it to me before you went to close the rift this time.”

“…….”

Theodore quietly looked down at the black leather-covered journal. …It was an indescribable feeling. After reading the entries written there, that sentiment could be felt even more.

“…Yes, thank you.”

After briefly greeting Calvin, Theodore left his office and headed for his room.

Arriving soon, he placed the thick stack of papers on the bedside table. Then he sat down by the bed and opened his journal.

The handwriting on it was clearly his own, but it felt strangely unfamiliar.

Theodore read the journal with a strange feeling, as if he was reading an essay written by someone else.

He briefly admitted in his journal his feelings for Lily, and then tried to win her favor.

And he firmly believed that there must have been some misunderstanding between Lily and himself.

‘…It can’t be a misunderstanding…’

But the moment he thought so, an inner voice followed immediately.

What if it is a misunderstanding?

All the ‘evidence’ he saw… What if it was all fake?

‘…It can’t be. It was clear evidence.’

…But then… He himself was confused. Looking back at it again, it was like that.

It was unusual, and whenever he saw Lily, he was tormented by a surge of emotions.

Theodore closed the journal and buried his face in his palms.

Maybe he wanted to run away from the pain of those feelings.

Theodore thought quietly. Why was his ‘self when he lost his memory’ so relaxed?

He wasn’t like that.

The first time he met Lily was two years ago. If there was a difference between the past and now, it would definitely be ‘belief in one’s abilities’, a sense of stability, and a well-organized environment.

Having lost his memory, he met Lily for the first time again with all of that. Actually, it’s not the first time, but perhaps it was like the first time. Because he couldn’t remember her.

…But what was his past self like? Seraphim, his older brother’s spirit, did not listen, and because of that, the rift that could not be closed, yet continued to grow. Hundreds of villages were attacked by monsters, and to make matters worse, there was even a drought in the entire territory.

He had never been educated as an heir. Because this position belonged to his older brother from the very start. He knew his own inadequacies better than anyone else. So he was obsessed with perfection.

In order not to disappoint the vassals who follow him, as the only Valentino left.

He had to be thorough in everything, and it was difficult for him to relax.

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