CH 5

“What should I explain?”

“How are you going to retrieve my memories?”

“Oh, I’ll tell you how to do it. I didn’t say I’ll find them for you.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Listen to me until the end. I said I’d help you. I know a person who can retrieve your memories.”

The conversation between them went up and down just like a ship in tumultuous waters.

Right this moment, all of a sudden, Alei realized just how many times this woman had dropped his heart.

But despite this, the conversation continued.

From what she’s saying, it didn’t seem like she was lying.

Maybe she really could find his memories.

Alei’s eyelashes, which were close to the color white, fluttered down when he closed his eyes, casting a long shadow over his cheeks. As if he were carved from marble, it looked like there were tear marks running down his face.

Alei continued with a grim look.

“This person who can retrieve my memories. Is it someone I know?”

“I can’t say.”

He made a face again.

However twisted Alei’s impression on Ophelia became, Ophelia remained calm.

“I’m not going to show you everything up my sleeve right now.”

“So you intend for me to be indebted to you.”

“That’s the only reason, really.”

As if Alei wasn’t about to laugh at Ophelia earlier for telling such a blatant lie, Ophelia’s expression was as tranquil as her serene voice.

And yet, even though she was maintaining a neutral face, when their gazes met, Alei somehow felt like she was smiling.

Was it perhaps because of this nonchalance… that he couldn’t quite wrap his mind around the fact that she was the same woman who threw herself so boldly over the balcony just a moment ago?

Or was it the tone of her voice that kept pulling him and then pushing him away?

The question was answered right away.

When the woman’s blue eyes, which resembled the sea’s temperament, turned toward him, he realized the answer.

“The day after tomorrow, I’ll leave for Ladeen. I’ll see you there again. I’ll let you know then.”

A certain kindness expressed through an indifferent gaze.

A mixture of intimacy and longing as if greeting an old acquaintance.

Those blue eyes were saying,

I’m glad to see you again.

What’s the use of doubting what’s right in front of him?

“…Haa.”

Alei eventually sighed, raising a hand to push back his hair.

“Alright. How can a mere mage deny Her Highness’ words?”

“You’ve done a good job pretending not to know me so far.”

“Let’s just say I didn’t know it before, Your Highness.”

Alei approached Ophelia, then opened a fist that had previously been closed.

On his palm was a ring that was the same as what he had on.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a threat.”

Although she looked up inquisitively at him, wondering what he was talking about, Alei asked for her hand anyway.

The ring that looked like it should have been too big on her soon turned into the perfect fit as he put it on her finger.

“So that you won’t get seasick on the way to Ladeen.”

“If I don’t get seasick anyway, what will happen?”

“Who knows?”

After calmly kissing her hand over the ring, Alei raised his head.

He had frowned all day after feeling so apathetic, but now he laughed fiercely.

“I also have no intention to show everything up my sleeve.”

Alei was sure she’d understand.

Without saying anything else, Alei left.

It was worth mentioning again that Alei did not have a good personality.

* * *

After Ophelia was left alone, she crossed the garden.

‘A ring?’

She couldn’t take it off.

She knew that Alei didn’t trust people easily, so this was something she expected.

‘I don’t care.’

Ophelia had no plans of betraying Alei anyway, so Ophelia lowered the hand that was wearing the ring.

The important thing here was to find his memories.

And she felt remorseful to Alei, but she wasn’t doing this purely for his sake.

As soon as she knew this wasn’t a dream…

The moment she didn’t want to die…

She realized.

‘I need to find a way to survive here.’

Before meeting Ian, Ophelia had no future.

She lived a life that had no hope in it, to the point that it would be merciful to sell her off to an old nobleman in an arranged marriage.

Nothing had changed from the past and now.

If she wouldn’t marry Ian again, it was natural that she’d be forced into an arranged marriage just as scheduled.

As long as she was in this continent, it would be hard to get rid of the label as an Imperial Princess of the Milescet Empire.

But what if she left the continent?

What if she left for a place where she wouldn’t be reached by the influence of any country and have little connection with civilization?

Was there such a place?

…There was one.

In the middle of the sea, surrounded by intercrossed boundaries that they wouldn’t be able to cross easily…

“Ophelia Milescet.”

Ophelia stopped in her tracks at the voice that suddenly called out to her.

As she turned around, she saw the face of the man that broke her.

“I remember it correctly and I know I wasn’t mistaken, but I’m glad you’re safe.”

The face that once sneered at her.

The face of the man who once loved her, who in turn she loved as well…

“…Grand Duke Ronen.”

It wasn’t an illusion that their eyes met.

She was hoping that it was only a trick of the light.

Of course, when did the world ever take her side?

Ophelia was glad that she didn’t cry. She thought this as she looked up at the man who was walking towards her.

Black hair. Bright eyes. A child-like innocence that swallowed the night greedily, making it easy for anyone to have a good impression of him.

But Ophelia knew…

“Do you know who I am?”

Whenever he smiled, the sharp daytime would look gentler than the spring sun.

As if the intense impression that he carried with him was a lie, he would wear an amiable mask in front of those around him.

“…There is no way I don’t know you. You are the most important guest here.”

“It’s an honor. I thought you didn’t know who I was because you didn’t talk to me at the banquet.”

This was a conversation that never happened in the past. Ophelia held her breath so that her voice wouldn’t tremble.

“Did you wait for me to talk to you?”

“Does it seem like I didn’t?”

“There’s no reason for us to talk.”

In fact, it was only at Ladeen that Ian in the past began to show interest in Ophelia.

And it was only because he thought she saved his life.

‘If you knew the truth from the beginning, you wouldn’t have even looked at me.’

There was a bitter taste in her mouth.

If she hadn’t met his gaze back in the banquet hall, then she wouldn’t have run into Ian here. But it already happened. If she wanted to blame someone, she could only blame herself for calling attention to herself like this.

‘Oh well.’

Ian must have just been shocked by the incident.

Ophelia didn’t want to read into it and was now just focused on going back.

She let out a small breath and told herself to keep things light.

“…Anyway, thank you for your concern. I understand that you must have been surprised that someone jumped off a balcony.”

“Yes, I was. This isn’t a very good place to die.”

“That wasn’t… my intention. As you can see, I’m fine, so if you don’t have any business with me, would it be alright if I leave first?”

Ophelia could only do so much to keep her composure. Then, she added in a dry voice.

“Being here with me would only trouble you.”

Ian was quick to catch on.

In fact, Ophelia’s intent could be felt even if the other person wasn’t quick-witted.

She didn’t want to be associated with him.

‘There’s no reason for me to hang onto her in the first place…’

Her words weren’t out of place.

He certainly wasn’t interested in her in the beginning.

His aide kept showing him portraits of key figures in the Imperial family, pointing out to him their personal information and saying that Ian must remember.

His first impression of her from afar was that she looked gentle.

‘Her red hair is a rare shade.’

Recalling the portrait that Maniche kept showing him, it occurred to Ian that the artist didn’t capture Ophelia’s essence properly.

This could be one reason why she piqued Ian’s interest, but it wasn’t necessarily the only reason why he followed her out here.

It’s just… the gaze he saw right before the balcony door closed.

It felt like he needed to know who she was.

It felt like he had to see her gaze again.

That was the reason why he left the banquet hall fully knowing that Maniche would later grab him by the collar. But the woman he saw up close was more composed than he thought.

An indifferent look. An indifferent tone of speech.

These overshadowed his initial interest.

He knew that she wanted to leave right away, and he would have normally let her go, but Ian gave a rare crooked answer.

“If I don’t leave after you’ve dismissed me, what will you do?”

“Didn’t you come with your aide?”

“You knew that?”

“There were only two people with dark hair among all the guests.”

With its population composed of mostly northern migrants, people from the Principality of Ronen were generally known to have black hair.

“Your aide seems quite strict. Is it okay that you’re out here?”

“You have a good eye for people. I’m sure you didn’t hear us talking, but you guessed right away.”

“I’m glad my observations were correct.”

Rather than having a good eye for people, Ophelia could say this only because she personally knew Ian’s aide. But what she didn’t know was why Ian kept trying to talk to her.

Outwardly, she was conversing with him calmly, but inside, it felt like Ophelia was on the verge of collapsing.

The closer Ian was to her. The closer his voice became.

“As you said, he’s not usually so fastidious, but if I went back now, I’m sure he’ll grab me by the collar and will demand to know where I’ve gone.”

The same kind of sweet, sharp words that he said in the past that made her feel like she was walking on eggshells.

She didn’t realize that he had come closer to her, and when he reached out, he looked into her eyes.

“So Ophelia, I’m sorry, but…”

Anxiety struck her.

“If I told you I didn’t want to be held by the collar… would that be enough reason to hold onto you?”

Ophelia knew that look.

He had the same gaze when they met at Ladeen in the past.

…When he approached Ophelia unhesitatingly.