I Picked Up My Amnesic Ex-Husband - Chapter 26

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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 26

“It’s just talk that the relationship between the Grand Duke and his wife seems rather distant.”
The moment I heard Ciel’s words, my eyes went wide with surprise.
“Wow, we’re only hearing about this now?”
It had been over half a year since the wedding, and I was amazed that rumors of discord hadn’t spread yet.
Just look at Kaien and me—since our marriage, we haven’t once spent the wedding night together in each other’s chambers. We’ve barely spent any private time together at all.
So no matter how tight-lipped the people at the Grand Duke’s Residence are, word shouldn’t have held this long.
When I visited the Imperial Palace, I did play the part of being somewhat affectionate, but I’d thought that act had worn thin long ago.
“The Grand Duke has never been particularly warm to others in the first place, and the fact that he conducts himself rather gently toward you is also true.”
“Toward me?”
Ciel answered my bewildered echo with an expressionless face.
“Isn’t it remarkable that someone bearing the title of a nobleman’s daughter is being treated as the proper mistress of the Grand Duke’s Residence? If I’m being honest, I doubt I’m the only one who expected you to become nothing but a figurehead Grand Duchess.”
“I did intend to live that way originally…”
Once I assumed the position of Grand Duchess, I’d already confirmed during my visit to the Imperial Palace that living quietly wasn’t an option. Even if I hadn’t wavered at Alec’s request, the choice would have been the same in the end.
“Is it because of that Precognitive Dream where you saw yourself dying?”
“Well, that’s part of it.”
When I persuaded Ciel, I’d drawn on several details from the original work I’d seen. I made excuses about what I’d glimpsed in a dream, and he seemed to believe me, probably because the information was so precise.
After all, I’m likely the only one who’s seen through his true nature.
“There’s no need to live being downtrodden, after all.”
Truth be told, I hadn’t suffered any violent treatment at House of Dermis either. My father, who valued his authority and honor above all else, wouldn’t tolerate servants treating me—his own blood—as someone expendable.
But he wouldn’t allow anyone to grow close to me either. The person I was closest to was my governess, which says it all. Even my mother offered nothing but meaningless glances instead of warm words.
Compared to that, how peaceful the Grand Duke’s Residence is. There’s a maid like Fiona who follows me well, the servants are generally kind, and I even exchange greetings now and then with Kaien’s retainers.
By any measure, I’m living well enough.
“Besides, I haven’t lived doing anything so shameful that I need to shrink away. I ought to hold my head high and live proudly. Don’t you think?”
My house is one thing, but I am myself.
Since my father raised me to be this independent, I felt no guilt about my plans going forward.
Really, who raises their daughter like this anyway?
“Indeed, it doesn’t seem easy to intimidate you into submission.”
“Ha, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Ciel, watching me respond so brazenly, shook his head with an air of resignation.
“By the way, how is Sheri faring?”
Though Ciel’s letters occasionally mentioned Sheri, hearing it directly from him was different.
“She’s doing far better than you might think. The problem is that she and Alec bicker constantly—like every other day.”
He grimaced openly as if recalling something troublesome.
“They, they fight that much?”
“Don’t even mention it. What’s worse, both of them are absurdly strong, and after every fight, the surroundings are left in ruins. It’s almost miraculous they haven’t been caught yet.”
As Ciel blinked, recalling these incidents, the corners of his eyes looked particularly dark. Even the great sorcerer of legend apparently found child-rearing to be no simple task.
“In any case, everyone will be watching this birthday celebration carefully. It’s the perfect opportunity to gauge what your relationship with the Grand Duke is like.”
“They’re sizing things up to decide whether to side with you.”
Honestly, if it weren’t for Kaien’s birthday, I would have declined such a tedious affair without hesitation, but there was no help for it.
‘May I sit beside you, little lady?’
Particularly because I’d have to encounter that tiresome connection once more.
“There’s likely a good chance they’ll try to find some flaw in you.”
“What does it matter if they find a flaw? There’s no one I need to look good for except the Grand Duke.”
As I answered with indifference, Ciel narrowed his eyes suspiciously. With a look like he was dealing with trouble incarnate, I continued in a bright voice.
“So, I’m counting on you!”

* * *

“Uncle, do you dislike Wendy?”
At the sudden question, Kaien froze with the teacup raised to his lips. Fortunately, he swallowed the tea quietly before any awkward incident could occur, then asked formally.
“Why do you ask such a thing so suddenly, Your Highness?”
Alec, sitting on the sofa across from him, tilted his head curiously as he bit into a cookie. The boy’s eyes were full of questions as he chewed and swallowed.
“Well, your eyes look pretty off whenever you talk about Wendy. Did you two fight?”
“Fighting, reconciling—there’s no reason for us to get along.”
Despite Kaien’s disapproving gaze, he pressed on with his persuasion, undeterred.
“Your Highness, I urge you not to let that woman draw too close. Surely you’re aware that House of Dermis….”
“That duke? I dislike him too. But Wendy is different.”
What on earth could be acceptable about such a suspicious woman?
Alec responded seriously to Kaien’s questioning gaze.
“…Intuition?”
“Yes, precisely.”
“What’s with that expression? I’m serious.”
After all, even that sharp-tongued Ciel had fallen for her at first sight.
They’d grown close quickly once their conversation flowed naturally, but even by Alec’s assessment, Ciel’s temperament was extraordinary. True to his reputation as a prodigy, his eye for people had already proven unusually keen.
‘What sort of emperor does Your Highness aspire to become?’
After asking that question and hearing the answer, Ciel had declared that he needed capable advisors—and promptly appointed himself as the first of them.
Alec had brought Wendy partly out of curiosity about what Ciel would think of her, but he’d never seen that boy’s eyes shine with such fervor before. Had Wendy not been a married woman, he suspected it would have been considerably troublesome.
Of course, even Alec possessed enough tact to know better than to broach such matters with Kaien directly.
Instead, he offered his counsel lightly.
“Uncle, don’t regret it—treat her well from the start. Women like Wendy can be frightening when they’re angry, you know.”
That woman, frightening?
Kaien tried to imagine Wendy’s bright, gentle face twisted in anger, but the image wouldn’t come. He’d never witnessed such an expression since they’d met.
A woman of peculiar optimism, radiant only in her brightness. Had she ever even cried?
And yet—a few days ago, those eyes had turned sharp and penetrating when directed at him. He pushed the afterimage away and answered flatly.
“It doesn’t concern me.”
“Truly?”
Before the boy’s eyes, bright as polished glass and seeming to measure him, Kaien cast off his hesitation and replied.
“Yes, truly.”

* * *

And then, at last, the evening of the banquet arrived.
The Grand Duke’s Residence’s main hall, ordinarily sparse, now overflowed with guests who had come for the occasion.
Above the heads of people adorned in fine raiment and jewels, an enormous chandelier sparkled brilliantly. Fully bloomed dahlias, autumn roses, and marigolds decorated the banquet hall, creating an atmosphere of radiance.
Efforts had been made to arrange everything as elegantly as possible without appearing extravagant, and judging by the guests’ expressions, the intention seemed to have succeeded.
“We offer our heartfelt congratulations on your birthday, Your Highness!”
“It is an honor to celebrate this occasion with you.”
“Your Highness grows more imposing with each passing year. Is it true you’ve just returned from suppressing those bandits encroaching on the border?”
“And such valor at that! The empire’s future looks bright indeed!”
Among the nobles exchanging pleasantries with animated warmth, Kaien remained unchanged. His blunt, icy countenance carried an air of intimidation, yet he seemed to feel no need to manage his expression.
After all, aside from the Emperor and Alec, there was scarcely anyone whose regard he needed to consider.
But I was not among those few. After a long while of maintaining an innocent, pitiful guise and modest smile, the corners of my mouth had begun to twitch from the strain.
The distant chiming of the clock marking three o’clock echoed from outside. Satisfied that I’d fulfilled my obligation, I executed my secret technique.
Blink, blink. Fluttering my eyes slowly, then touching my brow with a slight gesture of distress, one of the noblewomen turned to me with concern.
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess, are you well?”
“Oh, I’m feeling a bit dizzy…. Would it be acceptable if I rested for a moment, Your Highness?”
In other words: feigning illness!
Health concerns had always been the most convenient excuse for declining invitations, so my public image was firmly established as a frail and demure grand duchess. Therefore, there was nothing awkward whatsoever about uttering such words.
Of course, as someone who knew my true nature, Kaien regarded me with eyes full of unspoken objections, but either he was too lazy to voice them or simply indifferent, for he answered curtly.
“You have my permission.”
“Thank you.”
I barely managed to suppress the bubble of excitement threatening to rise in my voice and bowed respectfully before departing. As I left his side, I felt his gaze drilling into the back of my head, but I pretended not to notice and slipped away.
I felt somewhat guilty leaving Kaien behind, but I had more than enough reason to escape the banquet hall quickly. I had no desire to engineer more opportunities to exchange words with troublesome relatives, and besides….
“Might you need assistance?”
They weren’t the only people I’d prefer to avoid.
The moment I stepped toward the corridor leading from the banquet hall to the garden, a voice as soft as silk brushed against my eardrums—not particularly high or low, but perfectly pleasant to hear.
The instant I recognized who it was, my stiffened neck moved slowly toward the source of the sound, as though rusted in place.
A nobleman with frayed short champagne-colored hair and violet eyes, bearing sharp, aristocratic features, smiled at me.
Rihhard Zervan.
The moment that name came to mind, a chill ran down my spine, but I managed to keep my expression composed. And well I should have, because this man was….
“It’s been a while, my lady.”
…the third son of House of Zervan and the final boss of this entire story!

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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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