I Picked Up My Amnesic Ex-Husband - Chapter 27

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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 after he’d lost his memory.
Chapter 27

3. A Tumultuous Birthday Celebration

Every event has a cause.
And naturally, if there is a protagonist, there exists a villain to drive them into crisis.
For one, the Elision Empire had four great ducal houses: House Dermis in the south-southeast, House Seilot in the south, House Molli in the northeast, and House Jervan in the east.
According to the founding myth, they were beings who had earned the recognition of the Founding Dragon, the first emperor, and had been granted a portion of the dragon’s power.
Passed down from ancient times, inherited only through bloodline, and fundamentally different from ordinary magic—these special arts were what scholars, including historians, collectively termed Inherent Magic.
Of course, though the term was bloodline inheritance, not every member born into a noble house possessed Inherent Magic. There were countless cases where the ability skipped a generation entirely, only to manifest in the next.
Moreover, the Inherent Magic that symbolized each house was as difficult to manifest as it was formidable, and while the nature of the ability was known, the conditions for its awakening were kept secret.
Because of this, one’s standing within the family rose or fell depending on whether you possessed Inherent Magic—and naturally, for someone like me who had absolutely no magical talent, it was a story from another world entirely.
In the original work, which was set ten years later, multiple villains appeared. Among them, House Jervan was the one that had joined hands with House Dermis and plotted the revival of Draeken itself.
“Ah, I suppose I ought to address you as Duchess Consort now.”
The man held his chin thoughtfully, tilting his head slightly as his glossy hair fell softly across his shoulders. The smile playing at his lips suggested he knew exactly how to present himself as charming.
If Kaien resembled a tree rooted firmly in the earth, this man before me was like the wind itself.
His house, his appearance, his temperament, his abilities—even the ambiguity of his position as a third son seemed unable to dim his reputation.
“I would appreciate it if you would show me proper courtesy.”
I had barely cleared my throat before Lihardt answered in a gentle tone.
“Ha, I meant no disrespect. I do hope you’ll forgive me.”
The man winked playfully and stepped toward me. I barely managed to anchor my feet to the ground as instinct screamed at me to retreat. The moment I did, the lines of his eyes curved elegantly as he gazed down at me.
“I heard you were tired, but fortunately your expression looks quite good now.”
I could not afford to be fooled by this kind and composed nobleman’s face. In the original work, he moved as if helping the protagonist before delivering a devastating betrayal!
But wait—hadn’t I just greeted him when I was with Kaien? Why was he here? And alone, no less.
“That said, is it proper for me to stand here idly? Elena will be coming to look for you soon.”
His question, as if reading my thoughts, made me furrow my brow without meaning to. His violet eyes gazed at me with evident curiosity.
“Shouldn’t you yourself head back soon? Lady Elena must be looking for you.”
So please—let us both go our separate ways.
As I drew the line with genuine firmness, the corners of Lihardt’s mouth curled up a bit further, and a dimple appeared on his left cheek.
Just as when I first met him.
‘What an amusing little song.’
In the summer of my eighth year, there had been a garden party held at Dermis Ducal Castle. Naturally, as I was not permitted to show myself, I played in the back garden as I always did.
I was humming idly beneath the shade of a tree when I felt an uncanny, prickling sensation. The moment I lifted my head, my eyes met those of a boy who appeared to be my age.
Beneath ashen hair lay large violet eyes, and delicate features arranged in a way that was startlingly beautiful. Had he not been wearing trousers, one might have struggled to discern his gender.
I simply blinked at the boy as he made some excuse about being lost. Aside from Elena and Clyde, I had never encountered a peer before.
‘Would you mind if I sat beside you? Little lady.’
The boy, examining me with the curiosity one might show a fascinating object, spoke with a hint of amusement in his voice. I frowned slightly and answered curtly.
‘I’m not little.’
‘But you’re smaller than me.’
‘You haven’t even stood up! And if I’m small, then you’re small too!’
I blurted it out impulsively, then immediately regretted it. Father had told me not to draw notice from the guests!
‘You’re Wendy, aren’t you?’
‘…You know who I am?’
‘How could I not?’
Though he smiled gently as if to reassure me, caution preceded any warmth. I couldn’t shake the prickling sensation—like a mouse before a cat.
‘Ah, my name is Lihardt. Lihardt Jervan.’
I stared blankly at the small hand the boy extended toward me. His violet eyes glimmered with an almost playful light.
‘You know, I’d like to become friends with you.’
He spoke these oddly sudden words with a smile. I tilted my head in confusion.
‘Why?’
‘Well, that’s…’
“You’re wary of me now, just as you were then, Duchess Consort.”
The voice pulled me back from my reverie. For a moment, the handsome boy’s face from long ago seemed to overlap with the face of the man looking down at me now.
He hadn’t changed at all, not then and not now. I swallowed an inward sigh.
How could I not be cautious.
From our first meeting, I’d felt an inexplicable urge to avoid him. But once my memories from my past life returned, I finally understood why Lihardt rubbed me the wrong way.
Lihardt Jervan. He was born by combining with the Demon Ring, one of the Sacred Artifacts of Draeken itself.
And at this point in time, he would be one of Kaien’s most trusted companions.
In fact, throughout the original story’s midpoint, he was meant to serve as the protagonist’s spy and collaborator, only to reveal his true colors in the Sacred Palace by stabbing Alec’s group in the back and stealing the Fairy’s Sacred Artifacts—a shocking twist that would establish his presence in the narrative.
Looking back, he’d always been someone whose thoughts I couldn’t quite read, even as a child. It was as if I could never tell whether his smile was genuine or merely a mask.
“Still, I never imagined you’d actually end up marrying His Highness Kaien. It seems your father possesses considerable skill as well.”
How amusing.
My father, the Duke of Dermis, had behind nearly everything he orchestrated the backing of House Jervan. They must have had a hand in arranging my marriage to Kaien as well.
“Well, Father is simply very capable, you understand.”
Rather than reveal my true thoughts, I responded to his remark with a bright, guileless smile.
There was no profit in drawing Lihardt’s interest more than necessary.
I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. He appeared approachable and unassuming, but that was merely surface—a man who would drive a knife between a friend’s ribs without hesitation, all while wearing a smile.
“And you, My Lord, I heard you were quite occupied. I never expected to encounter you here.”
Truth be told, my memories of our first meeting had burned themselves into my mind, yet our encounters could be counted on one hand. The last time I’d seen him was three years ago—he hadn’t even graced my wedding with his presence.
You know I’m busy, so why are you lingering here?—I’d posed the question in that roundabout way, and Lihardt had responded with a soft chuckle and glib charm.
“You remain quite unchanged, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
“People don’t change easily.”
“Do you speak to His Highness Kaien in that manner as well? Earlier, you seemed rather unlike yourself in several respects.”
“Well, one must be respectful in the presence of someone one admires.”
I answered with unaffected candor, and Lihardt’s eyes traced slowly across my face before a light laugh escaped him.
“You speak of His Highness the Grand Duke?”
“He is the most flawless man I know. How could I not harbor affection for someone like that?”
Goodness, I was spouting such things without batting an eye. I’d become quite shameless myself.
I met his suspicious gaze head-on, silently congratulating myself for the performance, when Lihardt unexpectedly lowered his head toward me instead of withdrawing his smile.
As our eyes met at a distance where I could hear his breathing, he whispered something meant for my ears alone.
“You’re truly entertaining.”
What?
“A rabbit thrown into a beast’s cage—that’s what you resemble. Trembling all over, yet never at a loss for words. It’s rather fitting.”
As he added this in his leisurely manner, I had no time to feel offended before his low voice continued.
“A word of advice: don’t grow too close to the Grand Duke.”
……
“It seems that both you and I are fated to bring only misfortune to those around us.”
*You might be someone who could understand me.*
Suddenly, his words from our first meeting surfaced in my mind—how he’d said he wanted to befriend me. My heart began to hammer violently.
It was as if my very instincts were warning me of something.
“What exactly are you—”
Tap-tap-tap.
Just as I was about to press him further, the sound of polished shoes echoing down the corridor reached my ears. My expression hardened as I caught a glimpse over Lihardt’s shoulder.
Wait.
Voluminous waves of pink hair undulated gently with the woman’s movements. The way she walked with her back straight and her bearing confident seemed to perfectly reflect her character.
Beside her, a man with chestnut-brown hair whose face was equally familiar walked at ease—I barely suppressed the urge to squeeze my eyes shut at the sight.
Elena and Clyde. My father’s pride and joy, his most treasured children.
Unlike me.
The moment the red-eyed woman’s gaze fell upon me and Lihardt, who had now turned to face her, her pomegranate-like crimson eyes narrowed sharply.
“I wondered where my fiancé had wandered off to so suddenly…”
Damn it.
“And here you are?”
What in the world was this situation?

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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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