Chapter 62
A Truly Strange Thing…
‘Hmph, this seems… a little different from what I expected.’
Smooch!
“Hm? Oh…”
Kylian smiled and lightly kissed Himena on her puffed-up cheek.
“I’ll let it slide for today. But next time, I’ll make sure you pay for it twice over. Be prepared.”
“Uh… okay…”
Flustered by the sudden kiss on the cheek, she answered meekly without thinking.
‘What the heck… I was bracing myself, thinking he’d grab my cheeks and squish them! Ugh, I’d better be careful next time. When I was little, my father used to pinch my cheeks affectionately whenever he drank — and now, when I’m drunk, I go around doing the same to anyone nearby. Poor Kylian must’ve been completely thrown off…’
Even as she walked hand in hand with Kylian, Himena blushed and covered the cheek he had kissed.
“By the way… you seemed to have quite a long walk with Father. What did you two talk about?”
“Well… he brought up the donation for tomorrow’s Imperial Beast-Hunting Tournament charity event. It seems His Grace feels awkward after refusing the prince’s proposal. So he’s trying to smooth things over with a generous contribution to the Emperor.”
“Ah, I see…”
“Normally, each noble house contributes its own share, but His Grace kept insisting on covering the Acticos family’s portion as well. I had to refuse him several times.”
“Why? He could’ve just done it. My father has plenty of money.”
“Hm. Himena, I don’t want anyone to think there’s another motive behind our engagement. Have you already forgotten? We need people to see us as a couple truly in love.”
“Oh… right. You’re right…”
‘True… if word got out that Father paid Kylian’s donation too, the other nobles would gossip. They’d say Kylian bowed to our family’s wealth in the end. Still, it’s something Father and I could’ve kept secret if we wanted. But Kylian is so upright… maybe that’s why he seems even more admirable. Ugh, so frustratingly perfect…’
Himena quietly watched Kylian’s profile as he walked beside her, holding her hand tightly.
“And… I heard about your mother. It sounded like your father cherished her deeply.”
“…Yes, I think he did. He never remarried or saw another woman after she passed…”
“You must’ve missed her a lot. Losing your mother so young…”
Kylian sat down on one of the garden chairs, pulled Himena between his knees, took her hands, and gazed up at her tenderly.
“Well… I don’t really remember. It’s all kind of hazy…”
Avoiding his gentle gaze, Himena mumbled awkwardly.
“I also… lost both my parents when I was ten. Back then…”
He paused, his face shadowed with sorrow. Then, after fiddling with her fingers for a moment, he smiled faintly.
“I can’t tell you everything just yet… but someday, I want to be honest with you. I’m sorry, but… could you wait until then?”
“Kylian…”
Himena’s chest tightened. Hearing him bring up his painful past first — something she already knew — made her heart ache.
“…Of course. I’ll wait. Until you’re ready to tell me.”
Looking down at him with concern, Himena spoke softly.
“But in return, Kylian… could you remember just one thing?”
“…What is it?”
“Your parents’ happiest moment. Not the painful or sad ones — just the moments when they were happiest. Please remember those the longest… for their sake.”
Kylian stared up at her, stunned, while Himena smiled gently.
“Himena…”
“I don’t really know them, but… I just have this feeling your parents must have been wonderful people. I don’t know why — it just feels that way.”
Kylian released her hands and silently wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his face against her.
Himena gently stroked his hair as he leaned into her.
It was such a strange thing.
Two painful memories — each locked away deep inside and never spoken aloud — somehow met and comforted each other without needing words.
And that warmth between them drew their souls together…
…far more powerfully than either of them realized.
As the crisp morning air began to soften under the warmth of a spotless autumn sun,
in the green garden, the two held each other — their shadows merging into one.
And from a second-floor window of the mansion,
someone watched them quietly… with an inscrutable gaze.
***
“You mean… you don’t remember how to dance at all?”
“Ha ha… no. Not at all.”
That evening, while discussing the royal banquet scheduled for the next day, Himena and Kylian sat across from each other in the parlor, both looking awkward.
“Then what shall we do? Shall we practice tonight? Sometimes the body remembers better than the mind.”
“What? N-no… that’s… can’t we just not dance?”
“Well… as an engaged couple, wouldn’t it seem strange if we didn’t dance even once at the banquet?”
“Ah… then maybe I could just say I sprained my ankle or something?”
“That’s a good idea, milady,” said Mari, entering the room with tea.
“If you say that, everyone will understand.”
“Oh, come on, that won’t do,” Sophia objected sharply as she followed behind with a dress in her arms.
“Sophia, why not? If I say I hurt my ankle, people will just believe it.”
“No, milady. Think about it — tomorrow is the first time you and His Lordship will attend a banquet together as an engaged couple. Everyone will be watching you.”
“Well… that’s true.”
“And if the Marquis dances with other ladies but not his own fiancée, what will people think?”
“Our… first dance? Is that really such a big deal…?”
“I agree with Sophia,” said Kylian. “If you truly don’t remember, that’s fine. But we should at least try.”
“But… um…”
“Come now, milady,” Sophia insisted. “Change into this dress and practice with His Lordship tonight. Once you start moving, it’ll come back to you. Even with memory loss, muscle memory doesn’t vanish overnight. Up you go!”
“No, Sophia, I really don’t know how to dance—”
Ignoring her protests, Sophia dragged Himena upstairs.
As Mari set the teacups on the table, she frowned slightly, watching them go. But when she felt Kylian’s gaze, she straightened and gathered the tray again.
“I’ll take the tea to the lady’s room.”
“Mari, was it?”
“…Yes, my lord.”
“About yesterday… I may have spoken too harshly. Royce told me you and Himena are quite close.”
“…Yes.”
“I’m sure you were only worried for her. I shouldn’t have dismissed your concern. I was a bit on edge yesterday — perhaps the drink made me blunt. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
Mari looked at him quietly for a moment before smiling softly.
“There’s no need to apologize, my lord. It’s not my place to deserve such courtesy. It’s fine. Everything will return to its proper place soon enough. Please, go ahead. I’ll reheat the tea.”
She bowed politely and left the room.
Her voice was kind, yet still tinged with something cautious — and Kylian found it oddly unsettling.
“My fiancée seems to attract rivals from every direction. Is this… what they call a fatal charm? Hah. Well, I can’t deny I’m falling deeper myself…”
He chuckled faintly and made his way up to Himena’s room.
“What do you mean, dance in this thing?!”
“Oh, milady, this is exactly the kind of dress you used to dance in! You just don’t remember — you once danced like you were flying, in gowns even heavier than this!”
“No way! I can barely walk without tripping over all this fabric! How am I supposed to dance?!”
“Stop complaining and give it a try! The gown for tomorrow’s banquet is almost the same!”
“Tomorrow too? You’ve got to be—”
Knock knock!
The two were still bickering when someone knocked.
“It’s me, Himena. May I come in?”
“Oh my, it’s His Lordship! Of course, please come in.”
As Kylian entered, Himena quickly let go of her bundled skirts.
“Well then, I’ll leave you two to it. Please train her thoroughly, my lord! Oh — but don’t keep her up all night. She needs rest for her skin. Actually, the banquet’s in the evening, so maybe that’s fine? Anyway, I’ll make sure no one comes near this room. Good luck, you two, hoho!”
“Ahem, understood.”
“Then I leave my lady in your capable hands!”
“W-wait, Sophia—!”
“Just do whatever His Lordship tells you! Bye!”
Click. Thud!
‘Hah, at least someone in this mansion is on my side.’
Kylian crossed his arms, smiling at the tightly closed door before turning to Himena.
“Um… well…”
Wearing a sky-blue gown cut low at the shoulders and cinched at the waist, Himena stood stiffly in the middle of the room, clutching her skirt in embarrassment.
“Shall we start with a waltz, then?”
“W-waltz…?”
‘Waltz? Who even names their dog that…?’
“Don’t be so tense. Come here — give me your left hand, and rest your right hand on my arm.”
He slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her gently closer.
“The waltz isn’t difficult. Imagine a square drawn on the floor — you just move along its lines. Once you get used to it, we’ll move beyond the square. For now, keep it simple.”
“…Alright…”
Her voice trembled slightly.
“I’ll start with my left foot. Match my movement with your right. Ready?”
“Okay… I’ll try.”
Her feet, hidden under the layers of fabric, shifted uncertainly.
“One, two, three. One, two, three…”
Kylian led softly, guiding her steps with the light pressure of his legs.
