213 — Oblivion (7)

“……”

Rurin suddenly turned her head away. Her lips were puffed out. She was sulking badly. I expected it, but seeing it in reality was terrifying.

“Rurin.”

“……”

“More importantly, if I really lost my memory, what were you planning to do?”

The question I hastily blurted out, wondering what to do, was the worst, even when I thought about it.

“I don’t even want to think about that. I…I got angry because you forgot about me! Don’t talk to me!”

Of course, that wouldn’t work.

Without turning her head toward me, though still sitting with her legs crossed.

Rurin continued to sulk, not even looking in my direction.

“What would you think if you lost your memory?”

“Me? You think I’d forget you?”

“Yes.”

“That will never happen! No matter how the world changes, I will never forget you. My memories of you aren’t just in my brain. As I’ve always said, they’re engraved in my DNA, in my blood, in my heart, in my organs, and even in the skin you’ve embraced. I can never forget you. Never.”

“Ah. Is that so? Same here. Even if I lose my memory, I wouldn’t fall away from you like before. We’ll still live the same life in the end.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Rurin turned her head toward me slightly. Not all the way, just about a third.

“And if, even though all this is engraved in you, you forget me, I’ll make you fall in love with me again.”

“I’m not that easy of a dragon.”

Rurin sulked again, just like before.

“Right. How hard was it to open your heart? Just thinking about the days you spent in your mother’s lair shows that. But even if it’s harder than that, I’ll make you open your heart. Even if it takes a hundred years, or a thousand years, I’ll never stop. If you lose your memory, I’ll make you like me again, build new memories, and when your memories return, you’ll have double the love and double the memories.”

“……”

Maybe she liked what I said.

At some point, Rurin turned her head and stared into my eyes. Then, after hesitating for a moment, she relaxed her puffed-out lips and said,

“What… What’s that…! But now… I kind of want to try it.”

“What?”

“I’ve lost my memory! I don’t know who you are!”

“What are you saying?”

“Who are you? You.”

“No, I think you’re already out since you’re calling me ‘you’.”

“You are you! Why is it ‘out’?”

“Why are you acting so innocent? The first thing you called me was ‘you’, and you even called me ‘human’.”

“I don’t know. I can’t remember! You. No, human!”

“Is that so?”

“Kyaaa! Kya hahahaha! Don’t do that! It tickles!”

I was so dumbfounded that I tickled her side, and she started laughing uncontrollably.

“I can’t remember! Who are you? You, you! Hey! You! So stop tickling me! Euhhh?”

So, I kissed Rurin on her laughing lips.

Rurin struggled at first but soon calmed down. She gently accepted my kiss, and her tongue intertwined with mine.

As I hugged her tightly, she embraced me even more fiercely.

“Hah, hah… What is this… You! You lost your memory, and then immediately kissed me…this is…! Instant death!”

“But why is your face and ears all red?”

“Hehehe. I don’t know. So just die!”

“What do you mean, die…!”

“Hahaha! I told you not to tickle me! Kya! Kya hahahaha! I don’t like this…ugh…”

Eventually, she pushed me away, and we ended up rolling on the grass, laughing like crazy in the middle of the night.

---

Two days later.

A person arrived at Greek’s manor. Greek, who had been restless due to little progress in Siena’s memory recovery, tried to avoid meeting outsiders.

But this was someone he couldn’t avoid meeting.

Greek greeted the visitor with a furrowed brow.

“My Lord, I have come with a request from my Master.”

“A request? What kind of request could there be between two families with no regular interaction?”

“I thought you might already know about it.”

Greek’s anger flared at the slightly provocative tone.

‘What nonsense! I don’t know anything!’

He wanted to kick him out, but that was impossible, so he just simmered silently inside.

The man who introduced himself as Baron Gerin was someone from the noble family Siena had been moved to. Despite his politeness, his words were so sharp that Greek couldn’t help but feel anger rise within him.

“The child you’ve been protecting through the clinic is a member of the Lutyian family. Therefore, I request that you return her to us.”

“That’s incorrect. You surely know that she and her mother have worked for the Greek family for generations.”

“That’s a matter of the past, My Lord! The exchange of servants was carried out with the permission of His Majesty.”

Greek gritted his teeth.

Count Dedran.

A man who was truly despicable. Although he was Berna’s father, he shared no blood with Greek, making him a figure of hatred in Greek’s eyes.

Greek stared at Baron Gerin while chanting peace in his mind.

“But when I inquired about Siena’s life and death, didn’t you clearly say she was dead? Then why is this supposedly dead person alive? Surely you can’t just return a dead person.”

Greek pointed out the flaws in their story, but as expected, Baron Gerin immediately opened his mouth and began to answer.

“There was some kind of mistake. We will punish the person who gave the wrong answer. I apologize for this misunderstanding.”

Bang-!

Greek, unable to contain his disbelief, slammed the chair down.

When he had desperately inquired about Siena, he had been told she had died of illness in a single sentence. And now it was a mistake?

Apologize?

Greek was speechless at how ridiculous this was. There was no way he would send Siena back.

Back then, he didn’t know anything, and he was completely oppressed by Count Dedran. Moreover, Siena had left without Greek’s knowledge, so he had no choice but to send her away.

During those dark days, when Berna turned away, his father had collapsed, and El was absent, it was Siena who supported him. Now, he wanted to protect her.

Having thought this way, Greek had no intention of agreeing to Baron Gerin’s request.

She was merely returning to where she belonged.

If she truly wanted to return, it would be a different matter. But that was a matter for after she recovered her memories.

Greek answered while glaring at Baron Gerin, his determination clear.

“Anyway, she’s currently sick with a minor illness, so my wish is to keep her until she recovers. Will you pass this message to Count Lutyian?”

“My Lord, what do you mean by that? Are you implying that you intend to break the Empire’s laws?”

“What?”

“Even if she is ill, since she is a member of the Lutyian family, she must be treated under their care. If you are detaining a member of another household, it is practically kidnapping. If you continue like this, it will cause serious trouble. Would you reconsider?”

“Kidnapping! She’s currently in no condition to move. I’m only asking for you to wait on humanitarian grounds!”

“So, Count Lutyian is saying he cannot wait and is demanding her immediate return.”

“I cannot hand her over. My mind won’t change.”

“My Lord, I’ve made myself clear. If you persist, this matter will be handled according to Empire law!”

Greek shrugged, a gesture that said he didn’t care.

“Guards!”

As Greek called for the guards, Baron Gerin sighed and left, muttering one last piece.

“My Lord, once again, it is impossible for another family to intervene in matters of the Lutyian family! You will regret this.”

Those last words only served to anger Greek further.

Greek slammed the table, stood up, and cursed at the spot where Baron Gerin had just left.

“My Lord. But…”

Beren, who had been watching, asked with a worried expression.

“As they mentioned, by Empire law, refusing the request for her return is…”

“Back when they claimed she was dead, I thought there was something more to it. Siena losing consciousness in Greek City could have been because she was fleeing from the Lutyian family. Until we figure out the truth, I’ll hold my ground.”

Count Lutyian would undoubtedly appeal to the dukes, and Greek would be under attack.

Greek thought this over as he clenched his fist.

He didn’t have political power.

But he had one thing—he had the power to sway the dukes.

If he could shake them up and turn them to his advantage.

He couldn’t maintain an independent position forever anyway.

Choosing a faction might be the way forward.

Of course, no duke was willing to serve him as a master.

That was the worst-case scenario.

What he needed to do now was to use the right conditions to sway the dukes to his side and then change the conversation. That was the skill of a politician.

Greek bit his lip, thinking this over.

---

“You have arrived?”

“Are you feeling better?”

Greek asked Siena. She slowly nodded her head.

“Yes. I’m feeling much better.”

“Really? If you feel uncomfortable, just let me know anytime.”

“There’s nothing uncomfortable at all! Actually, it feels very familiar and comfortable. I walked around as you said, and everything felt so familiar.”

“Really?”

“Yes. And, My Lord…you don’t feel like a stranger at all, it’s strange.”

“That’s expected! You never thought of me as a stranger. You used to call me ‘oppa’!”

Greek explained with shining eyes.

“I heard that I was a maid. Did I really call you ‘oppa’?”

“Well, it’s because you don’t remember! We’ve been close since we were young…”

“Really?”

“Do you remember this?”

Greek took out the medallion that Siena had left behind from his pocket. He opened Siena’s hand and placed it in her palm.

“What is this?”

“It’s something like a treasure you left me before you left.”

“A treasure?”

Siena began to examine the medallion from every angle. Then, her expression scrunched slightly.

“Does it remind you of anything?”

“I’m not sure. But it feels familiar!”

“I see… Well, do you want to rest comfortably for now? If anything comes to mind, just tell me right away.”

“Then maybe I should do something….”

“Work? This isn’t the old manor. The head maid who used to scold you isn’t here. Everyone is new.”

“But…”

“Besides, you’re recovering right now, so it doesn’t make sense for you to be working. You can walk around freely and try to recall your memories. I’ll come back later.”

“Lord?”

Greek wanted to talk more, but he had a lot to do, so he reluctantly left the room.

He thought that he wished she would call him ‘oppa’ again, rather than the formal title of Lord.