Chapter 70
Alperen’s arm tightened around my waist as he called my name in alarm.
“Deli. Are you alright?”
His face was stricken with worry.
Just minutes ago, he hadn’t so much as looked at me, acting like a cold, unfeeling stone.
But the moment he realized I was unwell, he wore the expression of a man whose world had collapsed.
So kind, even after I cut him off so cruelly.
A mix of gratitude and the pounding of my frantic heart left me dizzy.
At least once we left the reception room, I could finally breathe again.
That was when Mei rushed over.
“My lady! Are you okay? Please, follow my breathing!”
She upended her little pouch, spilling its contents until she found what she wanted, then held it to my lips.
I breathed with its help, and slowly, my breathing calmed.
“Phew… thank you, Mei.”
“It’s nothing. Ugh, no… ha…”
Her face was full of words she couldn’t say, and she glared back at the reception room door.
From behind the wall, I could still faintly hear laughter and chatter.
“Mei, can you help me walk?”
“M-me? Shouldn’t the Duke—”
She glanced nervously at Alperen, whose expression had hardened the instant I’d spoken.
“I’ll do it,” Alperen cut in, nudging Mei back with his chin.
Mei stepped away obediently, and Alperen extended his hand.
“I’ll take you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Why? Because we’re not lovers anymore?”
Mei audibly gasped at his sharp tone.
I clenched my fists and gave him a sidelong glare.
“Exactly. I don’t want my ex carrying me around pitifully.”
“Rodelia.”
“Mei, what are you waiting for?”
At my command, Mei edged back to my side. I reached out to take her hand—
But Alperen swept me into his arms in one motion. My voice rose automatically as my view tilted upward.
“Ren!”
“Stay still. You can’t even walk on your own, and you expect me to just stand aside?”
His voice was unusually heated, his jaw clenched tight as he strode toward the carriage.
I could see how furious he was.
Arguing now would only make things worse, especially with so many eyes and ears nearby.
So I stayed quiet, letting him carry me.
When we reached the carriage, he climbed in immediately with me still in his arms.
“You can go back your own way now.”
“I’ll see you safely home first.”
He spoke stubbornly and shut the carriage door.
Mei, unable to stand the icy air between us, quickly climbed onto the driver’s seat.
That left just the two of us inside.
Alperen studied me carefully, his gaze sharp and precise, like a physician checking a patient.
Normally, I would’ve laughed it off and teased him for worrying too much.
But my thoughts were still stuck in that reception room.
I know that woman. Jessica Miranda. I know her.
And yet—I couldn’t remember how.
It felt as though someone had carved holes in my memory, deliberately erasing everything tied to her.
But my body still remembered. The fear, the dread, the pain.
It was too strange to ignore.
The only people who might know the truth were my family.
Lost in thought, I realized we’d already reached the mansion.
Alperen stepped down first and offered his hand. I set mine lightly atop his.
“Thank you.”
“…I’ll be in touch.”
His grip lingered on my hand, pressing tightly before he let go and climbed back into the carriage.
He must have been shaken, too.
As the door closed, I whispered cowardly under my breath:
“I’m sorry, Ren.”
* * *
After Mei helped me back to my room, she darted off.
No doubt she’d gone to report to my family.
That was fine—I had questions for them anyway.
I changed out of my stifling clothes into something more comfortable, drank some water, and felt a bit steadier.
Then Adrian burst in.
“Deli!”
Mei trailed behind him, fidgeting guiltily.
His face was taut with worry but also with anger—ever since the word Miranda had come up, he’d worn that same expression.
“Are you alright?” he asked, voice tense, as if searching for signs of change in me.
“I’m fine,” I said calmly, wiping my face with the cool towel he’d brought.
“It just felt like I couldn’t breathe all of a sudden.”
“Any other symptoms?”
He took my hand gently, his face drawn with concern.
“More importantly, I need to ask you something.”
At my words, Adrian swallowed hard.
That alone deepened my suspicion.
“Today, Nanael introduced a new maid. The moment I saw her, my chest tightened and my heart skipped like crazy.”
“…”
“I could swear I’d never met her. But she looked at me like she knew me.”
“Deli, it’s not strange. You’re a noble. Even someone from the countryside would at least know the portrait of Lady Ferris before coming to the capital.”
The longer he talked, the more obvious the lie became.
I didn’t bother asking how he knew she was from the countryside.
Because I already had a better witness: Mei, standing there trembling.
“No. Mei recognized her too.”
“…”
“And you, Adrian—you know her as well, don’t you?”
He bit down on his lower lip.
Mei’s shoulders hunched, her eyes wide with panic.
“How could I possibly know—”
“Adrian.”
I cut him off sharply.
“You can’t just brush this aside. If you won’t tell me, I’ll force Mei to. And you know what that would mean for her.”
Mei flinched, her eyes filling with tears.
If she kept a secret this important, she’d face punishment.
And Adrian knew me well enough to know—I couldn’t stand seeing Mei hurt. Which meant I might push her on purpose, just to force his hand.
“I’ve heard of memory-erasing magic. They say even if memories vanish, the emotions remain. Did you use it on me?”
At that, Adrian’s mask cracked. His shock was plain as day.
And with that, I knew I was right.
“Even hearing her name—Jessica Miranda—makes my heart pound. That means we must have been close once.”
“…”
“And the way she looked at me—like I was a ghost—that must mean I was the one who wronged her, right?”
Before Adrian could answer, Mei burst out, her voice sharp with outrage.
“Wronged her?! My lady, you did nothing wrong! It was that snake who betrayed you! If she hadn’t dared break her promise and show her face here—!”
“Enough.” Adrian raised a hand, silencing her.
Tears welled in Mei’s eyes as she wiped them away with her sleeve.
I had only meant to test them.
But their violent reaction left no doubt. Jessica Miranda had done something terrible to me.
Terrible enough that my memory had to be erased.
And Nanael knew, too.
I remembered her smile just before I left.
She had paraded Jessica Miranda right in front of me—deliberately.
Just to make me suffer.
That leech. She really won’t ever leave me alone.
