Chapter 70
Alferen gripped my waist, calling my name with evident worry.
“Delly. Are you okay?”
His face was utterly flustered.
Just moments ago, he’d been acting like a stone, refusing to even glance my way.
But as soon as he realized I was in pain, he wore that world-crumbling expression, fidgeting restlessly.
‘He rejected me so coldly, yet he’s still so kind-hearted.’
I was glad for his concern, but my pounding heart left me completely scattered.
Thankfully, once we left the drawing room, I started to feel a bit more alive.
That’s when Mei rushed over to me.
“Miss! Are you alright? Follow my lead and take deep breaths!”
She rummaged through her pouch-like pocket, spilling out its contents, and held something up to my mouth.
I relied on it to breathe, and thanks to that, my respiration returned to normal.
“Hoo… Thanks, Mei.”
“No problem. Whew, no… ha.”
Mei glared at the drawing room door with a face full of things she wanted to say.
From inside, faint laughter—haha, hoho—filtered through the single wall.
“Mei, could you help support me?”
“Yes? Me?”
Mei glanced at Alferen nervously. It was because his face had hardened the instant my words left my mouth.
“I’ll do it.”
Alferen nodded her away with his chin. Once Mei obediently stepped back, he extended his hand to me.
“I’ll take you.”
“You don’t have to, oppa.”
“Why? Because I’m not your boyfriend anymore?”
Mei gasped at Alferen’s sharp question.
I shot him a glance and clenched my fist tightly.
“Yeah. I don’t want to look pathetic being supported by my ex-boyfriend.”
“Rodellia.”
“Mei, what are you doing?”
At my command, Mei hesitantly came to my side.
I was just about to grab her hand when.
Alferen scooped me up in one swift motion. With my view suddenly elevated, my voice rose involuntarily.
“Ren oppa!”
“Stay still. You can barely walk on your own, and you’re telling me to just leave?”
He spat out the words in an unusually heated tone, ignoring me as he headed toward the carriage.
His anger was evident in the prominent clench of his jaw.
Insisting further here would clearly do no good.
Mindful of listening ears and watching eyes, I stayed silent and let myself be carried in his arms.
When we reached the carriage, he climbed inside as if he’d been waiting for this.
“You can go your own way now.”
“I’m going to make sure you get home safely.”
He stubbornly replied and closed the carriage door.
Mei, unable to bear the chilly atmosphere, went to the coachman’s seat.
Left alone together, Alferen stared straight at me.
His gaze was meticulous and sharp, like examining a patient.
Normally, I’d have smiled, cracked a joke, and brushed off his worry.
But due to the inexplicable reaction in my body, my nerves were still stuck back in the drawing room.
‘I definitely know that woman.’
Yet I couldn’t remember her at all.
It was as if someone had erased all memories related to Jessica Miranda, leaving holes riddled throughout my mind.
And yet, it hurt this much.
Anyone could see this was abnormal, and the only people who might know the inside story were my family at home.
By the time I’d thought about interrogating them, we’d arrived in front of the mansion.
Alferen got out first and held out his hand. I placed mine lightly on it.
“Thanks.”
“…I’ll contact you.”
He seemed to squeeze my hand firmly before getting back into the carriage.
He must have been quite shocked too.
In the fleeting moment as the door closed, I muttered cowardishly.
“I’m sorry, oppa.”
* * *
Mei moved me to my bedroom and then hurried off somewhere.
No doubt to tattle to the family.
Since I had questions for them anyway, I didn’t bother stopping her.
After changing out of the stifling clothes into indoor attire and drinking some water, I felt much lighter inside.
That’s when Adrian burst into the bedroom.
“Delly!”
Mei trailed behind him, looking anxious.
From her expression, she seemed worried sick about me but also angry about something.
She’d been wearing that face ever since the name “Miranda” came up during tea time.
“Are you okay?”
Adrian asked, gauging my reaction. His face was unusually tense.
His eyes seemed intent on scrutinizing me for any changes.
“Yeah.”
I replied calmly, wiping my face with the damp cloth he’d brought.
“I just suddenly felt really nauseous.”
“Any other symptoms?”
His face was full of concern as he gently held my hand.
“More than that, there’s something I want to ask.”
As I broached the subject, Adrian swallowed hard.
That alone was enough to fuel my suspicions.
“Today, Nanael introduced her new maid. But strangely, as soon as I saw that woman, my chest felt tight and my heart lurched.”
“…”
“I feel like I’ve never seen her before, but she seemed to recognize me.”
“Delly, it’s weird for a noble not to know Lady Peris. Even if she’s from the provinces, she’d have memorized your portrait on her way to the capital, right?”
The longer the explanation, the higher the chance it’s a lie—he must know that.
I didn’t bother asking how he knew she was from the provinces.
Because a surefire witness was trembling behind him.
“But no. Mei seemed to know her too.”
“…”
“And you seem to know her as well?”
At my question, Adrian bit his lower lip hard.
Even Mei shrank her shoulders in premature alarm.
“How would I know?”
“Oppa.”
“You must have been really shocked today, so get some good rest. I’ll explain everything to our parents when they get home.”
His face looked affectionate at first glance, but there was a strange menace seeping through.
It felt like once he left this room, he’d go finish off that Jessica Miranda or whatever her name was.
I grabbed Adrian’s hand as he tried to flee.
“Adrian Peris.”
“…”
“I’m not a kid anymore. So explain. Why are my memories gone?”
Mentioning the vanished memories precisely made Adrian’s face contort.
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll interrogate Mei until she talks.”
Mei, who usually chattered away, keeping her mouth shut meant it was a crucially important secret.
Revealing it would likely mean punishment for her.
Adrian probably thought I wouldn’t let my cherished maid get punished.
But knowing how my brother couldn’t bear to see me hurt, I could hold Mei hostage to threaten him.
“I’ve heard that oblivion magic erases memories but leaves emotions behind. Did you use oblivion magic on me?”
Bringing up oblivion magic made Adrian unable to hide his dismay.
Seeing that expression confirmed my hypothesis was right.
“The way my heart races just hearing Jessica Miranda’s name means we must have known each other quite well.”
“…”
“And the way she looked at me like I was a ghost—does that mean I was the one who did something wrong?”
At that moment, Mei, who’d been listening silently, cried out in a shrill voice.
“Wrong? Miss, you didn’t do a single thing wrong! If that venomous snake of a woman hadn’t broken her promise and come to the capital…!”
Adrian raised his hand to stop the agitated Mei.
“Enough… stop.”
“Hic.”
Mei couldn’t hold back her grievance and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
I’d only meant to probe a little.
But their intense reactions made it clear that this Jessica or whatever had done something truly awful to me.
To the point of erasing memories, no less.
‘Nanael seemed to know too.’
I remembered her smile right before leaving.
She’d deliberately brought Jessica Miranda in front of me.
Solely to cause me pain.
‘She’s really a leech like no other.’
