~Special Side Story 12~
“Your memory came back?”
Everyone in the family was stunned.
Khalid’s memory, which had seemed never to return, suddenly came back.
“How on earth?”
“W-we just……”
I rolled my eyes and dodged the question.
How could I explain that it came back because we had been kissing so passionately?
“Just like that?”
“We visited some places from our past, and it came back,”
“…….”
“It’s back……?”
Father and Mother exchanged looks that said they understood.
“So it happened.”
Khalid said calmly.
The anxious boy they had seen was gone, replaced by his usual relaxed face.
“I’m sorry for worrying you in many ways. And…… thank you.”
Khalid awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
“Thank you for taking care of me all this time. Not just now, but… since I was little. Always.”
Shockingly real.
Khalid, shyly saying thank you, was real.
“He just casually says cute things, huh?”
“Maybe his memory hasn’t fully returned? We should try shock therapy (physically) again!”
“Father! You can’t use that as an excuse to torment Khal~”
“Hmph.”
At that moment, the door suddenly swung open.
“Your memory came back……? I didn’t even drink the antidote?”
It was Liam, his glasses slightly askew.
“……My four days of research……”
He staggered as he walked. I felt a little guilty knowing he had stayed awake, pouring himself into his experiments.
“Brother Liam, you worked hard… but still……”
“My test subject……! I could have studied the mechanism of the antidote, its reaction speed, future research topics—what a great opportunity!”
“Ah, that’s what you’re upset about?”
As expected of someone who sacrifices their body for research.
I stretched with a sigh.
Khalid, as if he had already predicted what I would say, turned and asked the maid for this and that.
I watched him with a fond smile.
‘Well… little-bird Khalid was cute too.’
But, after all, 23-year-old (marriageable) Khalid, the one who had gone through everything with me… is the best!
“I’m hungry! Let’s all eat together!”
After the meal, I sat in the garden next to Khalid.
Sitting in the cool shade, sipping a refreshing drink, felt like heaven.
“Rubian.”
“Hmm?”
Before I could turn my head, his large hand touched my forehead.
After confirming my temperature was normal, he gently stroked my cheek before pulling back.
“Don’t get sick.”
“…….”
“If you get sick, I really won’t know what to do.”
“Ah… okay……”
I silently vowed to avoid drinking from now on.
Then, I suddenly glared at him.
I remembered that he had overexerted himself because of my cold!
“And you! Don’t do reckless things either.”
“It’s not reckless.”
“Huh!”
Khalid quickly turned his head.
“Not answering?!”
“I’m not.”
……I was starting to miss little-bird Khalid a bit.
When I glared at him, he glanced at me nervously.
“……Alright. I’ll try not to carry around Lord Liam’s magical beast traps from now on.”
He didn’t promise to stop reckless acts completely.
I realized that taking good care of myself was probably the quickest way to keep Khalid safe.
“Sigh, fine, fine!”
I rested my head on his shoulder, sipping my soda with floating lemon slices.
“By the way, how’s the estate work going?”
“It’s done well. I still have a few trips to make, though.”
“Hmm.”
I pouted, and he chuckled, kissing my head.
“Don’t worry. Everything will be finished before autumn comes.”
He intended to wrap everything up before the wedding.
Khalid became a marquis and the master of the Edenndorf estate, which had previously been under direct imperial rule.
It was near the north, where I would soon call home.
Fertile land, but due to an old monster den, no one dared covet it easily.
‘The emperor is oddly stingy sometimes.’
If he’s going to give land, give something splendid.
‘Feels like he just passed on a little trouble……?’
Rumors said the land contained hidden minerals and gems.
And young Lord Khalid was busy establishing his base, so hunting monsters was essential!
“Pffuuuu.”
Still, seeing my fiancé work hard made me feel unsettled.
“Why are you sighing like a Balrog?”
I glanced at him.
“Khal, do you regret becoming a marquis? You don’t like being tied down, after all.”
“No.”
“Wow… straight answer.”
Khalid fiddled with my fingers, smiling. After we exchanged rings, he habitually checked my hand.
“But… no.”
“He’s hesitating again.”
“I became a noble because… I wanted to be someone worthy of being your husband.”
“…….”
“I’m glad it turned out this way. It’s just annoying that I can’t be close to you because of it.”
My cheeks burned.
“I would’ve been fine if you were a commoner……”
Status doesn’t matter between us.
But Khalid seemed to think otherwise.
“No. You must have the best things in the world.”
It sounded like he was doing his best to qualify as one of those “best things.”
“……Of course. I know you love me as I am. Still… good is good.”
Khalid hesitated, adding that he remembered my passionate speech on the proposal hill.
I couldn’t help but giggle.
A pleasant breeze blew.
Khalid glanced at me, then suddenly changed the topic.
“……And, Rubian.”
“Hmm?”
“About the child I mentioned then.”
He seemed to remember the story he told while he had amnesia.
“People naturally do as much as they’ve been given. I wouldn’t be able to do it.”
“…….”
“All I know is hitting and scolding. What if those actions come out unconsciously?”
Khalid seemed okay now.
But emotional wounds can’t heal instantly.
“Well, there’s no need to rush, right?”
I said casually.
“Hmm?”
“After all, we’re not really married yet… we should enjoy being newlyweds. There’s no harm in thinking slowly!”
“……”
“When your fear and burden about being a parent lessen, we can think about it again then!”
“……It wasn’t just because of that……”
He muttered something, then pressed his lips together.
“Okay. Let’s do that.”
I followed, smiling softly.
‘Yes, there’s plenty of time to think about it.’
A person’s heart could change so unexpectedly.
What was scary yesterday could be overcome today, and what felt fine today could be hard tomorrow.
“The important thing is that we’re together, isn’t it?”
“……”
“Together, we can break through any difficulty! If you struggle, I’ll handle it all!”
“You……”
He hugged me tightly, unable to hold back any longer.
“You always make me fall for you.”
“Hehe. You’re hopeless too.”
What a huge love bubble we were in. Lines that might make others cringe were whispered into my ear in the softest voice.
“I love you, Rubian. You’re the most precious to me. Even if…….”
“…….”
“……we have a new family. I’m sorry, but that will never change.”
“Hmm, actually me too!”
I buried myself firmly in his strong arms.
“Honestly, you’re my favorite in the whole world!”
It was a peaceful, perfect moment.
