Hiding the Fact That We Are Dating From the Amnesiac Villain - Chapter 12
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 12
No, that couldn’t possibly be it.
I desperately rejected the hypothesis forming in my mind.
“This is my workplace.”
Amid the confusion, I responded to Hugho.
I needed to address the situation of being mistaken for a stalker first.
“Your workplace? Here, Miss Felt?”
Look at my clothes.
No one would mistake them for anything but a servant’s attire.
“I’m working right now. And what brings you here, exactly?”
“You?”
Hugho’s eyes narrowed at my form of address. It was as though he’d heard something peculiar.
“…Is something wrong?”
My gaze fell upon Hugho’s clothing. It was far too ornate.
He looked no different from the nobles standing in a grand hall.
Suddenly, I recalled our encounter at Leyton Bridge. Even then, his garments had appeared remarkably fine.
I’d vaguely thought that perhaps a fortunate commoner knight had succeeded in some task and obtained such precious clothing, but…
Now it was certain.
Hugho was no commoner.
‘…So that’s why he hid his identity from me!’
The realization struck me like a thunderbolt. Yet it came far too late.
“No, nothing’s wrong. Come to think of it, I never told you my name.”
…Don’t tell me!
“Would you like me to?”
“N-no, that’s quite alright.”
I desperately wanted to pretend this situation didn’t exist.
“Quite alright?”
“Y-yes, I’d forget it immediately anyway.”
“Your tone just became awfully formal.”
I flinched. This man didn’t miss even the smallest change.
“My name should be quite easy to remember.”
“My mind isn’t that sharp, I’m afraid…”
I was genuinely at capacity. My thoughts were far too tangled at the moment.
Hugho said he’d returned from a dangerous mission.
What if that was… the battlefield where Draven had gone?
Hugho at the Imperial Palace banquet. Hugho with Draven. Hugho trying to enter Draven’s guest room…
As all the puzzle pieces suddenly fell into place, a chill ran down my spine.
‘It seems Hugho… Hugho…!’
Is the knight destined to be assassinated in Draven’s stead!
And in just two days at that!
* * *
I wanted to believe it wasn’t true.
Yet denial proved futile.
Hugho’s appearance—black hair and crimson eyes—matched Declin’s description from the pamphlet perfectly.
And two days later, a knight resembling Declin died.
A knight named Draven.
‘If Hugho truly is Declin’s knight….’
How was I supposed to accept this situation?
I regarded Hugho with pity.
“You asked why I’m here, didn’t you?”
“….”
“I was invited.”
Of course he was.
Regardless of his role as a human shield, as the Grand Duke’s most trusted bodyguard, he naturally had the authority to enter the Banquet Hall.
“And like Miss Felt, I’m diligently fulfilling my duties. You could say I’m working right now as well.”
Of course.
He was faithfully attending to his master’s protection by remaining at his side.
“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”
Nothing else I’m curious about?
How did you end up serving under such a despicable master, Hugho!
But I swallowed those words.
“W-well, not really. I’m quite busy with work… I-I should be going now.”
I needed to leave this place.
Then I could gather my thoughts. My mind felt scattered.
It was already difficult accepting that Hugho had lost his memory, but learning his true identity made the situation feel infinitely heavier.
“You’re leaving already?”
Yet Hugho asked as though displeased by something.
‘Does he think I was eavesdropping on purpose?’
“I-I wasn’t intentionally listening. Besides, I was too far away to hear clearly… I have no interest in the affairs of your betters.”
Hugho was Declin’s knight.
Fearing he might misreport to Declin, I hastily added more.
If Declin found me troublesome, he could eliminate me whenever he wished.
“Right. If Miss Felt says so, what choice do I have but to believe her?”
That arrogant smile.
Hugho was definitely not a commoner. Now I was certain. He was undoubtedly a noble.
“But Miss Renia Felt.”
There it was again—that form of address.
“Do you really not know who I am?”
I froze.
My expression hardened at Hugho’s question.
“…Do I need to know?”
“You’re quite cold, Miss Felt.”
I had no desire to involve myself in this matter.
Especially not anything related to Draven.
‘But Hugho… he was kind to me before he lost his memory…!’
Could I really just leave him to die?
“Fine. Go ahead.”
The moment Hugho gave his permission, I hurried away.
My mind had become a tangled mess.
That’s when I heard a faint chuckle from behind me.
“Next time we meet, be a bit more honest, Miss Felt.”
Hugho’s parting words left me bewildered. Did he still think I’d been eavesdropping?
The moment I stepped out of Hugho’s line of sight, I released the breath I’d been holding.
“Ugh…”
To discover Hugho’s true identity in such a manner.
‘I really didn’t want to know any of this!’
My heart grew turbulent.
Not only had Hugho lost his memory, but now he was going to die soon!
What was I supposed to do about this?
* * *
Draven watched as the pink-haired figure fled in panic before his eyes.
It was strange enough that they’d crossed paths three times already, yet each encounter was far from ordinary.
Could this truly be coincidence?
There was no way.
That wasn’t the only peculiarity.
With such pure divine power, she could have earned as much money as she desired.
So why was she working as a servant in the Imperial Palace?
‘A spy?’
The possibility was quite strong.
And at this juncture, there was only one person who would assign a spy to him.
Count Seiton.
Just days ago, hadn’t he sent a spy to the Military Camp to track my movements?
I’d personally severed their head and sent it back as a gift, nicely wrapped.
If I assumed this woman was also a new pawn sent by Seiton, her appearance at such a perfectly timed moment would make sense.
The one thing that bothered me was that she didn’t seem particularly committed for a spy.
Rather, whenever she caught my gaze, she appeared desperate to flee.
Except for our first meeting.
She’d called me by some name—Hugel? Huey? Something like that.
But on our second encounter, the woman suddenly changed her approach.
She’d looked at me with fearful eyes and acted as though she wanted nothing to do with me.
Well, our second meeting wasn’t exactly pleasant circumstances. He killed someone right before my eyes, after all.
But if I’ve decided to become a spy, I should be prepared for that much, shouldn’t I?
Strangely, Decklin’s mood soured in an instant.
“…Your Excellency, I have delivered the ‘package’ to Count Seiton as you commanded.”
The knight who had departed earlier approached Decklin.
A knight named Draven.
He too was a spy sent directly by Count Seiton. It was almost laughable how many he had planted.
“Did the Count seem pleased with the gift?”
“….”
The knight said nothing.
Decklin seized his shoulder with a pressing grip.
“The Count should understand. Gifts are meant to be exchanged.”
Thus, the spy’s neck was returned to Count Seiton.
While Decklin was away, the sight of other branches desperately scheming to seize Caesar was almost amusing.
He observed his knight, whose head hung low.
“You’ve done well, Draven.”
Soon he too would pay the price.
A poisoned chalice would be prepared for him shortly.
“…No, Your Excellency.”
Decklin gazed beyond the window with a cold expression at the pitch-black sky.
Renia Felt.
Judging by her absence from the Sacred Registry, she was either unregistered or had lied to me. One or the other.
I believe in fate, but not in coincidence.
I would know which soon enough.
After this banquet ended.
She would have no choice but to stand before me in her true form.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————