I Picked Up My Amnesic Ex-Husband - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I picked up my ex-husband, who had lost his memory.
Chapter 25

Surprising as it was, this prickly little prince seemed to have fallen for me at first sight.
Flushed cheeks, sparkling eyes, even a slightly flustered tone—there was no missing it unless one had absolutely no sense of the obvious.
To be honest, my face wasn’t objectively unpleasant. The problem was having an extraordinarily wonderful husband like Kaien; even my father, who disapproved of me, acknowledged that my face was worth something.
But still, even saying that…
“Your Highness, I’m eleven years older than you.”
“Age doesn’t matter in love.”
“It does. Very much.”
If my friend suddenly told me she’d met a man eleven years her senior, I’d smack her on the back without hesitation!
“But my mother is eight years older than my father.”
I nearly choked. Was this questionable taste for older women hereditary?
“When Your Highness comes of age, there will be many lovely young women your own age.”
“But that person won’t be Wendy.”
Did this little boy really just say something that romantic? And in such an emotionless tone!
Facing a boy who showed no sign of budging, I finally gave up trying to convince him gently and resorted to the one solid reason I had.
“That’s still not possible.”
“Why?”
“I’m already married.”
The moment those words left my lips, remembering the expression that crossed the boy’s face made me feel a little guilty.
Wait—he didn’t know I was the Grand Duchess? No matter how clever he was, he was still just a child, after all.
“I’m sorry, Wendy. If I’d known I’d bother you like this, I wouldn’t have brought you here.”
After settling my quarrel with Sergei, I shook my head at Alec as he awkwardly offered his apology.
“It’s fine. At that age, people usually have a crush on their kindergarten teacher anyway.”
“Hmm? Kindergarten? What’s that?”
“Oh, it’s… something like that.”
As I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and dodged the question, Alec gazed at me quietly before letting out a small sigh.
“Now that I think about it, the boy was far too casual with you, considering propriety. I’ll make sure to remind him, so I hope you’ll forgive him?”
“Ah, yes, I’d appreciate that.”
“Usually he’s the one nagging me about observing proper etiquette, so I suppose he really is tactless sometimes.”
“It was a fresh experience. I’ve never had anyone tell me they liked me quite so directly before.”
Even if that someone was a boy who’d only just turned ten.
“And my uncle—is he still the same?”
I shrugged at Alec’s question, the gesture meant to say: You already know, so why ask?
“Don’t worry too much, Your Highness. The world has room for all kinds of relationships.”
Even if I had recently come close to being suspected of being a spy.
‘…His Highness carried her to her bedroom? And held her in his arms the whole way?’
‘Yes! I was so shocked! Has His Highness finally opened his heart to her? Though, really, it’s hard not to like someone as charming and elegant as the Lady…’
A few days ago, he had indeed carried me to my room when I’d dozed off while he was working in his study.
Fiona chattered on about it with sparkling eyes, as though hoping that something had progressed between us, while I could only laugh awkwardly.
Sorry, Fiona. That’s not at all what happened.
It had genuinely surprised me that Kaien would show me such kindness—especially since it happened the very night he showed me Momo.
I’d wondered briefly what his intention might be, but I’d let the thought go. If it was genuine goodwill, that was fine in its own way; and if there were other designs at play, they hardly seemed worth dwelling on.
After all, it was only natural that he’d be wary of me, and there was nothing to gain from fretting over it.
“For now, rest well until evening. If you need anything, just ring the bell here and a servant will bring it to you.”
“Hmm? You’re leaving already?”
“There are still quite a few things I need to attend to. And wouldn’t it be better for you and the Grand Duke to have time to catch up without me here?”
“Well… not that your uncle and I matter, but you do look tired, Wendy.”
With a remarkably mature response for a boy his age, Alec saw me out of his quarters cheerfully.
I turned away from Alec and walked slowly down the corridor, then rounded the corner immediately ahead. I opened an empty room, stepped inside, and closed the door—then looked up.
The blue-haired man who had been standing behind Alec moments before was now standing before me. I called out his name with genuine warmth.
“Siael, it’s been so long!”
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other in person, Wendy.”
I smiled broadly at his composed greeting.
“You recognized the signal right away though, didn’t you?”
“That’s what we agreed on, isn’t it?”
We had arranged signals in advance for situations where we might need to contact each other discreetly.
For instance, Siael would clench his fist with only his thumb extended, showing the back of his hand, while I would brush my hair behind my ear.
The gestures had to be simple and unremarkable, nothing that would draw suspicion. I never imagined we’d need to use them the moment we met again.
Siael crossed his arms and spoke in a flat tone.
“So, what exactly did you summon me for? Give me the short version.”
“Momo’s been kidnapped!”
“…Then start from the beginning and explain it all.”
As I laid out everything that had happened recently, a crease deepened between Siael’s brows.
“What a mess.”
I couldn’t deny it.
“What if His Majesty decides to torture Momo while searching for the spy? And I didn’t even manage to bring the item back.”
Momo’s safety mattered, but retrieving the item was crucial too. These were things I’d managed to obtain only with difficulty through Siael’s help.
“When was the last time you saw Momo?”
“I report on the banquet preparations to His Majesty every day, and I see Momo then. Right now His Majesty is too busy with the banquet to pay much attention to Momo, but…”
“Once the banquet ends, who knows what will happen.”
“Presumably.”
Siael stroked his chin thoughtfully as he listened, and his nose wrinkled slightly.
“Extracting Momo alone wouldn’t be difficult, but what comes after—that’s the problem.”
His anguish showed through the set line of his jaw. I shook my head immediately.
“That should be fine. I’ve already thought up a contingency plan.”
I’d barely managed to devise it yesterday, but if executed well, we might resolve this without any commotion. Looking ahead, I couldn’t think of a better option.
“What is it?”
“Well…”
After hearing my explanation, Siael fell silent for a while. I pressed on despite my mounting anxiety.
“What do you think?”
“…It’s not bad. Though there’s the problem of requiring His Majesty’s cooperation.”
“Oh, that should work out.”
Probably.
“The circumstances might not align perfectly.”
“That’s why I’ve thought through various contingencies! You just have to present this to His Majesty along with my explanation.”
I handed him a crumpled, folded piece of paper. Siael stared at me with an almost pained expression.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…It’s just that whenever you’re quiet, you have a talent for getting tangled up in trouble.”
“And that’s why I’m now plotting and scheming with this remarkably eccentric and disagreeable sorcerer.”
I answered with a hint of jest, and this time he let out a laugh of genuine exasperation.
“Drop the ‘eccentric’ part.”
“Why? An eccentric sorcerer and a stubborn grand duchess—seems like a fitting pair. Sounds like a novel title, actually.”
Especially given that we both carry memories of a past life, we’re in similar circumstances in a way. Though it’s a secret I could never tell him.
Then Siael added, as if at a loss for words.
“But judging by how you speak of him, you don’t seem particularly resentful toward His Majesty.”
“Well, you can’t resent someone you’ve never expected anything from in the first place. As you well know, this marriage of ours is nothing but a political arrangement.”
Recalling how my father had even wagered the Crown Prince’s life on this marriage, I was actually grateful that Kaien hadn’t locked me away at the top of the Western Tower. It was more than I deserved.
Even now our relationship was more that of superior and subordinate than husband and wife, and that suited me fine. At least I was treated as a person, not as chattel.
“…Still, you should be careful. Rumors are already spreading quietly through the Capital.”
“What kind of rumors?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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