Chapter 1
“What?”
Shai’s face turned pale.
What kind of nonsense was this?
Was she still dreaming? Or was this some sort of surprise party? Maybe everyone was playing a trick on her? But why would the Grand Duke lie like that?
Was today some kind of national day for telling absurd lies?
She had never even been engaged to the Grand Duke—let alone married to him. Not once had they even held hands.
And yet… they were married? That was impossible.
Shai denied it firmly.
“I’ve never married you, Your Grace.”
Everyone around her looked stunned. Benjamin bit his lip and then ordered one of the maids nearby.
“It seems her head’s been affected. Call the doctor again.”
The maid dashed out in a hurry. Even in that moment, he still hadn’t let go of her hand.
This imposing man, tightly gripping her hand with a firm expression, sent a shiver down her spine.
Feeling the urgent need to clear up the situation, Shai cried out,
“There’s nothing wrong with my head, Your Grace! I’ve never married you!”
Raising her voice made her head throb. She tried to pull her hand away, but Benjamin held on too tightly, so she gave up. Instead, she used her free hand to touch her head. It was hot beneath the bandages—apparently, the injury wasn’t a lie.
Pain and confusion surged together like a boiling stew.
As Shai winced from the pain, Benjamin gently tried to calm her.
“You shouldn’t shout in your condition. And yes, we were married a year ago, Shai.”
“A year ago?”
Startled, Shai tried to sit up, but his hand gently held her down. She turned her head toward the window. The heavy curtains only allowed a sliver of light in—likely out of consideration for her while she was unconscious.
Feeling stifled, Shai addressed him politely,
“Could you please open the curtains, Your Grace?”
At his signal, the maids moved quickly. Benjamin added another instruction.
“Don’t open them too suddenly—she may be startled.”
The maids slowly pulled back the curtains. As Shai’s eyes adjusted to the light, the view outside came into focus.
Her last memory had been of snow falling beyond her window, the fireplace crackling, and herself curled up on a couch in the library, reading by the warm light, wrapped in furs.
It had been a rare moment of peace—quiet and uninterrupted.
But now, the garden outside was filled with green leaves and blooming flowers, like mid-spring, just before the onset of early summer.
Shai stared blankly out the window, unable to look away.
If time were a string and she a doll resting on it, it felt like someone had picked her up and moved her from winter to spring in a single leap.
With a bewildered expression, she asked,
“What’s today’s date?”
“It’s May, Imperial Year 342, Shai.”
Her last memory was from January, Imperial Year 341.
A year and a half had vanished from her mind.
“When exactly… did we get married?”
“May 23rd, Imperial Year 341.”
“Ha…”
Shai let out a short breath of disbelief. So they’d been married for about a year.
It was hard to believe, but the most rational explanation was that she’d fallen from a balcony and lost her memory of the past year and a half. Amnesia—something she’d only read about in novels or seen in plays—had happened to her.
This is unreal.
She struggled to stay calm.
Among nobles, marriage was often a matter of necessity. Most likely, hers had been one of those cases. They’d never even spoken before; it certainly wasn’t a love match.
Her father had probably arranged it.
Despite his cold reputation, the Grand Duke of Riversta was highly sought after by noble ladies. He had everything—lineage, status, looks. Women had fallen for him at first sight or pursued him with calculated ambition.
It didn’t matter how the marriage had come to be. Among nobles, not even a marriage to a Grand Duke could be undone.
With a tone of resignation, Shai asked,
“Did we… get along well?”
They were likely distant. She wasn’t the warm, affectionate type, and neither was the infamous Grand Duke. A couple cold as ice—ironically well-matched.
Benjamin paused before answering.
“…We did.”
Huh? What did he say?
Shai looked at him, startled by the unexpected answer. He added,
“We couldn’t live without each other, Shai.”
As if to prove his point, Benjamin looked down at their hands—still entwined.
Only then did Shai realize that he hadn’t let go of her hand since she’d woken up.
Yet despite this, he hadn’t shown any other signs of affection. His expression remained stern, though worry flickered in his eyes.
I don’t believe this.
But she didn’t voice her doubt. It wasn’t that she accepted his words—it was simply that she had no desire to irritate someone so far above her in rank.
“I see.”
With that, Shai winced from the mounting headache. It felt like jagged stones were rolling around inside her skull.
“Are you in pain?”
His voice was flat—distant, even. Like someone unfamiliar. Yet he continued to hold her hand, which made the contrast all the more ironic.
“…I’m fine.”
It was a lie. The pain was sharp.
But she couldn’t bring herself to be honest with this man.
Her own family had always dismissed her struggles—so how could she trust a stranger just because he offered his hand?
Just then, the doctor entered.
“It seems the pain relief is wearing off. I’ll prepare another dose.”
The doctor handed her a liquid analgesic. As she reached out with trembling hands, Benjamin moved faster.
He gently supported her and brought the liquid to her lips, helping her drink. Though the gesture was foreign and strange, Shai closed her eyes and didn’t resist.
A blink.
When she opened her eyes again, the man still sat by her side—her husband, whose face she couldn’t even remember.
Needing rest, Shai soon fell into another deep sleep. When she next awoke, it was morning.
The first thing she saw was flowers—everywhere. Their scent filled the room.
“What on earth…”
Still groggy, Shai spoke to a maid arranging the flowers nearby. The maid jumped and quickly bowed her head.
“His Grace sent these flowers for you, Your Grace. He hoped they would brighten your mood when you woke.”
“Where’s my nanny?”
In this unfamiliar place, Marilla was the only face that felt familiar.
She had left when Shai turned fifteen, claiming her grandson was ill—but Shai had always suspected her father’s involvement.
Marilla had been deeply missed.
“The Madam’s nanny stayed by your side late into the night. She’s resting now. Shall I call for her?”
The maid looked nervous. Marilla was quite old now—if she’d kept watch all night, she deserved some rest.
Shai shook her head lightly.
“No, it’s fine.”
The elegant room was filled with vibrant flowers. Despite the abundance of colors, the arrangement was tasteful and refined—clearly done by someone with excellent skill.
Shai’s gaze swept gently across the flowers, her thoughts offering a quiet remark.
‘They’re beautiful.’
Yesterday had been… overwhelming.
To learn, in one fell swoop, that nearly a year and a half of her memories had vanished — and that she was now a married woman — was enough to leave anyone shaken.
The physician had concluded that it was likely trauma-induced amnesia. After examining the wound on her head once more, he had taken his leave.
‘But why did I fall from the balcony in the first place?’
Shai had never been the reckless type — nor was she particularly outgoing.
Restricted since childhood, she rarely stepped outside except for the occasional formal outing.
So the idea of her falling from a perfectly solid, well-structured balcony seemed absurd.
And yet, no one knew why she had fallen.
They said there had been no one else on the balcony with her at the time.
At least it was the second floor.
Had it been any higher, her life might’ve been in real danger.
‘And the irony is… I’m the one who’s supposed to remember, yet I’m the one who forgot it all.’
As Shai sat there, lost in her thoughts, the maid beside her cautiously spoke up, her expression tinged with apprehension.
“His Grace, the Grand Duke… He had to leave early this morning to attend to matters he couldn’t finish yesterday. He deeply regretted not being by your side and asked us to convey his feelings with these flowers.”
Ah, yes.
The Grand Duke.
The man who was now — apparently — her husband.
⊹˙⋆ ༶˖♡ by: Cyn ♡˖ ༶ ⋆˙⊹
