Chapter 12 – Troubled Hearts (II)

Lately, Lucius has been busy, so he couldn’t come often. He had been here a month ago to see her. Every time he came, her hair was the first thing that caught his attention.

She has the best view of the center of the garden, from the window in her room. He stares vacantly at her closed window, hoping she would open it and see him. He would be so happy to see her, but he knew he would be sad if she looked away immediately.

Tiana had become a completely different person in that accident two years ago. This time, she had lost her memory again. Lucius does not know what he would do if he is once again rejected by Tiana.

Will she scream that she doesn’t want to see me? Maybe she will once again look at me with contempt.

He remembers her indifferent eyes and it breaks his heart.

Even if she kept rejecting him, Lucius couldn’t leave. He didn’t want to leave. Lucius did not want to abandon hope. He wanted to believe in the hope of that little smile that she shows him.

*

“My Lady, would you like some tea?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Leaving Inabelle, who tries to read her countenance, she sits in her bed thinking about what had happened in the living room.

First of all, what were they hiding? Is it possible that the marriage has been decided? She didn’t think so, but what else would make Lucius visit? A lot was going on that she did not know. If the wedding was close, they would have mentioned it.

They were probably trying not to bother her. It was however too obvious that everyone was hiding something.

Why? She beckons to Inabelle at the door. “Nabel. Can I ask you something?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“The Grand Duke has come to see me and I do not know him. Do you have any idea why he came to me?”

“About that…”

“My father did not let me see him. Do you know why?”

“Eeer…” Inabelle feels she is trapped and avoids her gaze. She is Tiana’s personal maid. She would know better than anyone what had happened to Tiana.

“Do you think he did that so I would not make a mistake because of my lost memories? It is so annoying that I do not know what is going on. The Grand Duke is a respectable man, but I’m worried that I have put my father in a difficult position.”

“My lady…”

“I’m so sorry that everyone seems to be in trouble because of me. This is why I need to know what is going on.” She tries to keep tears from clouding her sight. Without her memories, she wants to try her best and not be a bother.

Fortunately, Inabelle replies, “You and Your Majesty are engaged.”

“Engaged? So, are there any wedding plans?”

“Yes. Originally, you are to be wedded in mid-May, in two months. But the lady was in an accident. Perhaps the reason the Grand Duke visited is because of the wedding date.”

Soon, their conversation would end well. She was satisfied with her maid’s reply. The date fits with what she had read in the novel. The wedding would have been the same if she hadn’t been in an accident.

Why will they discuss the date of the wedding without me? No matter how much of my memories I have lost, it isn’t right.

The family of the Duke of Celeste was famous, and Tiana, the young Celeste, was also widely known. The news that she suffered an accident from a fall would have been known to the empire by now. Perhaps the fact that she lost her memories had spread.

In the novel, the wedding was magnificent. Lucius and Tiana’s marriage was such that no one would not know of the empire. However, the news that Young Lady, who is about to marry, has lost her memory, would count as a fault.

Is he hiding something about the marriage from me? It is right that he explains the situation clearly to Lucius.

Even though she did not have Tiana’s memories, she knew she had to let the Duke know that there was nothing wrong with getting married to him.

She knows there is more to it.

The reason why she wasn’t allowed to meet Lucius. The reason why he had to postpone the marriage.