~Special Side Story 9~
His heart was now pounding so hard it hurt.
“……In that sense, can you tell me what kind of style you like? Not that I have any ulterior motives or anything…….”
Style? Did it really need to be specified?
After all, you already have everything.
Khalid, trapped in a giant bean pod of emotion, averted his gaze to hide his flushed face.
Even though they were in the bustling middle of a lively street, he didn’t notice a thing around him.
“Huh? Tell meee.”
Clinging like that… it’s cute.
“Just…….”
You.
Khalid bit his lips tightly, almost letting the words spill out.
“……Never mind, let’s go over there.”
As they walked, their hands brushed slightly.
Khalid noticed that the ring he was wearing was also on her hand. A strange sense of satisfaction washed over him.
A sense of being connected to someone.
The feeling of being treated specially by someone.
His fingertips tingled.
He kept feeling thirsty for more.
They happily wandered around Jelrox together.
They visited the blacksmith where he used to make the tower bell as a child, and met Medix, who yelled for new blueprints.
At the magical gem shop, they saw Asha yawning bored, who, upon hearing that Khalid had amnesia, became unexpectedly excited.
“This is kind of ridiculous……! After making such a flashy proposal……!”
Proposal?
What on earth had happened?
Curiosity flickered, then quickly disappeared.
“Khal! Let’s go here next!”
Seeing Ruby sparkle beside him, honestly…
Right now, he felt completely satisfied.
They visited a famous cake shop in the alley, a place where Ruby had painted instant portraits as a child, and more.
They went to bedding shops, doll shops, jewelry shops.
Ruby said these were all places she had been with Khalid before.
‘I don’t remember any of it.’
But as they visited the shops, Khalid realized one thing:
‘……I supposedly liked shopping.’
Yet the one shining with excitement while looking at the items was Ruby.
Not because she necessarily wanted them, but because she was curious.
‘Maybe that’s why I bought things without realizing it—just to see her like that.’
Because he wanted to see her happy.
He wanted to buy everything Ruby touched and hold it in his arms.
‘But I don’t have… any money……’
Khalid dug into his pockets, then paused absentmindedly.
‘……Money….’
A lot?
Before leaving, the servant had given him a small pouch. It felt strange to find it filled with gold coins.
He had never even had a single copper coin before.
But stranger still, he didn’t feel greed or attachment to these coins.
What he wanted most right now was…
“Wow, that was fun! Khal, shall we rest at that tea shop?”
“Go ahead first. I… need to use the restroom for a moment.”
“Hmm?”
Khalid immediately revisited all the shops Ruby had stopped by.
“Eek! What is all this?”
And he carried Ruby’s bright smile with him.
Khalid thought.
‘……Maybe this is fine as it is.’
He didn’t dislike it.
Especially after hearing from Void the reason for his amnesia before coming to see Ruby, his feelings had become more complicated.
“You were on a business trip, then heard Ruby was sick, so you got the medicine and got into an accident.”
“Business trip? I was away? ……We’re engaged, aren’t we?”
“You and Ruby were both busy with work. How could you be together all the time like when you were kids?”
‘If I get my memories back, will this closeness end?’
The gentle way he became when she called him “older sister.”
The careful attention he gave her, treating her like fragile pottery…
What if it all ended when his memories returned?
Khalid thought absentmindedly.
Somehow… he didn’t want that.
The headache that had been tormenting him was gone.
Two more days passed.
Unfortunately, Khalid’s amnesia showed no signs of improving.
I glanced at Khalid sipping tea elegantly across from me.
I was starting to get anxious.
‘Am I going to have to postpone the wedding?’
No, considering how he followed me around all day, even amnesiac Khalid must like me…!
‘Why, why doesn’t it go as far as “I want to regain my memories!”?’
His symptoms were becoming stranger.
Table manners, tea etiquette—habits ingrained in him—remained.
‘Sometimes, the body memory seems to disappear in odd places.’
Even when he rode a horse the day before yesterday.
“Huh? Khal, why do you look dazed?”
“Ah… I think I forgot how to ride this horse.”
“Impossible. You did sparring with Brother Void perfectly……”
“That’s different.”
“Huh?”
“Can’t you help me, sister?”
“……Hehe. Alright~”
Eventually, I had to teach Khalid how to hold the reins step by step.
Later, when he seemed to understand, I let him ride alone.
“Ah, it’s a little scary being up high……”
“Hmm?”
“I need something to hold onto, something to lean on. Can’t you ride with me?”
“……”
“Sister.”
A small smile.
‘Instead of regaining his memories… it feels like he’s content with the present!’
I truly didn’t know what to do.
I could only pray that Liam would bring the remedy soon.
“What are we doing today?”
Then, clatter. Khalid put down his teacup.
“Hmm, shall we visit the knight order building?”
“Together?”
At that moment, a letter that arrived this morning popped into my mind.
It was a request to return briefly to the magic tower… but I postponed it. Couldn’t be helped.
“Yes, together!”
Khalid smiled.
“Oh? Senior Obron!”
On the way to the knight order building, we ran into a familiar face.
“Rubian! No, Princess!”
The sudden formal title made me burst out laughing.
“Huh? Where did the strict Zibert Knight Order go?”
Obron scratched his head.
“But I’m currently on parental leave from the Knight Order.”
“You didn’t quit. I’m still part of the Zibert Knight Order too!”
“Well then…”
Obron looked relaxed.
“Long time no see, Rubian.”
“Yes! But what brings you to the castle?”
“Ah. Lady Rosetta wanted to play with the children, so I brought them along.”
“The twins?!”
“Yes.”
“Where, where…! Adorable little ones, where!”
I turned my head quickly. Oborn chuckled, pointing toward the herb hill.
“Khal! Can we stop by the herb hill for a bit?”
“Uh… sure.”
I ran ahead quickly.
“Kyaaaaa!”
“Ah, young lady, you’re here?”
“Babyyyies!”
Indeed, the garden had become a massive playground.
Mother was excitedly searching for old wooden dolls that Void or I used to play with.
I bounced the plump little bottoms running across the picnic mat happily, then suddenly realized.
“Ah, Khal. Sorry.”
Khalid had been pushed aside while I took care of the babies.
“It’s fine.”
Khalid, standing like a shadow behind me, replied.
‘Come to think of it…….’
There were still things left unsaid between Khalid and me.
The other day, I had been planning to have a serious talk about having children with him—it felt like a dream now.
I sat down on the mat, tapping the spot beside me. Khalid awkwardly lowered himself beside me.
A cool breeze blew, and the babies’ laughter spread like song.
Far away, I saw them crawl toward the toys Mother brought.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“So cute. Right?”
“Yes, they’re adorable.”
“……You saw them, right?”
Only then did his cyan eyes glance away.
“I saw them.”
“Hmm, how is it?”
What changed because Khalid lost his memory was this.
‘Reading his expression is easier. More honest, perhaps…….’
Even now, his cyan eyes were icy, cold.
Wow, they looked frozen.
“They never stop moving. Constantly noisy. Messy.”
It was truly an evaluation devoid of emotion.
Khalid suddenly turned his head.
“……Do you like them?”
“Huh?”
“The babies. Do you like them?”
“Well… yeah?”
“Why?”
I smirked.
“Just because. Babies are cute and lovable just by existing.”
Khalid’s gaze was strange.
“……Weak, helpless, and only noisy.”
“Hey, you went through that tiny stage too, and now look,”
I stopped mid-sentence.
Suddenly, it hit me like being struck on the head.
‘Ah, no way.’
Had Khalid… grown up hearing those words?
From that mercenary group.
Hearing he was weak, helpless, noisy…
“Why does your expression suddenly change?”
Khalid glanced at me slightly.
“No way… did he like kids?”
“……He?”
Khalid looked at me calmly. For a moment, an emotion flickered across his otherwise indifferent eyes.
“The one you’ve been searching for all along.”
A twisted smile appeared.
“The one you were engaged to.”
“No… that’s you, isn’t it?”
But Khalid just turned his head with a huff.
“I don’t remember.”
I swallowed dryly, choosing my words carefully.
“Khal, you don’t want to remember much, do you?”
“……I don’t know. Just…”
“……”
“I like it as it is now.”
A soft breeze blew.
I didn’t know where to start. So I asked what I most wanted to know.
With Khalid now slightly more honest after losing his memories, maybe I could hear the truth.
“Um, you know…”
“Yes.”
“Are you… afraid of babies?”
