But Lue made it clear as much as this saying. She hoped that Hayden didn’t feel guilty for pulling even the sins that weren’t his. If he didn’t feel guilty, that would make Lue even more sorry, and if that happened, what would she do?

“It is because of me.”

Hayden laughed with a suppressed voice.

“I hope so.”

With a voice containing a strong pressure to make it so, the curse was cut off again. Lue closed her eyes as her sight became distant.

Since when did the curse start? Lue couldn’t remember. The memory of that time was dark. She only remembered the feeling of being bewildered when everything that was possible suddenly became impossible.

Before that was ‘nothing’. It remained blank as it was cut off. There was no feeling, no taste, no smell, no touch.

Was it such an ordinary day that she couldn’t remember? Maybe. All tragedies happen suddenly without any warning, so there were no exceptions to the tragedy of Rustica Genesis.

“Ah…!”

However, between the sharp pain and the soft touch that followed, Lue remembered some emotions. The longing and emotions she had embraced when Rustica Genesis was still a genius knight were mixed with a sense of loss.

… I have to find it again.

It’s not about surviving; it’s about the desperate sense of loss that makes her more desperate.

Over the barrier, I have to find everything.

Lue, caught in the grip of this profound sense of loss, didn’t know what to do before losing all her strength.

Dad, mom, Hayden, everyone.

What Lue didn’t expect was that Hayden was included in that sense of loss.

She escaped from the scream of surprise and the forgetfulness that covered her. The man who had been holding her all along hugged her tighter, leaving traces on her shoulder. Lue’s sharp brain didn’t miss a single newly realized fact even in the situation of shock.

“Are you okay?”

Hayden asked, pressing his lips against her.

“Mm.”
“Hurt?”

“Yeah, it seems my memory has become even fainter because of the curse.”

“That’s right.”

“I thought it was because of lethargy and depression.”

Lue hugged Hayden with a feeling that she might cry due to the just-recalled sense of loss.

“There might be an influence.”

He nodded, giving a gentle response.

“I lost you.”

“Once upon a time.”

“I lost you, and I tried to find you somehow.”

Hayden laughed unintentionally.

“Is that so?”

“I really tried. So…”

Lue narrowed her eyebrows at the sudden thought that came to her. Her eyes turned red.

“So, I tried to cross the barrier… That’s what I tried to say to Carlos, pointing fingers at the young lad full of enthusiasm.”

“I forgot you.”

Tears, which had been held back, poured out as soon as Hayden felt the wetness. Hayden quickly detached Lue, who was trying not to show her face.

Lue tried to stay bowed with her head down, but she couldn’t resist Hayden’s skillful strength. His large hands wiped away the falling tears.

“You remembered. It’s okay.”

“I even forgot what I lost.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“I swore to find you… How could I forget that? I was obsessed with that thought day and night. It was so difficult that I couldn’t breathe. But how did I forget?”

“Me too, Lue. I did the same. That’s why we met because I thought of rediscovering you first. If I had been late, you would have found me.”

“I forgot everything, how could I have done that? I had no strength at all.”

Tears welled up in her reddened eyes. The forgotten sense of loss overwhelmed her. Tears fell as much as she had drawn Hayden and her parents.

Maybe Lue survived because she forgot. Could she have lived without any strength while remembering this sense of loss? Perhaps she chose death instead.

“No. You eventually found out. Even if it took decades, you would have found out. And you already made me.”

He shook his head, looking straight at Lue. Tears flowing incessantly entered his hands and disappeared.

“I already made you to find you.”

Hayden emphasized clearly, interrupting his words.

“From the moment we parted, I only thought of recovering you. It’s okay. Don’t cry.”

When a curse is cast, break it one by one. When memories are lost, revive them. Since he awakened her as a Southern Sage, her memories will not be taken away again. So, it’s okay. Hayden wiped the wet cheek of his fiancée.

“Whatever happens, even then, trust me.”

In fact, Hayden didn’t mind if she didn’t trust him. Lue wouldn’t break. Even if her knees collapsed and she lost the strength to stand, she wouldn’t break. And at that time, he would handle her.

Of course, he knew that the two of them preferred different ways of solving problems. What Hayden preferred, Lue probably wouldn’t like. But Lue entrusted everything to him.

“Trust me.”

He mumbled, staring at her with dangerous gray eyes. Suddenly, Lue realized that Hayden didn’t worry at all. There was no anger or worry in his eyes.

“Aren’t you anxious?”

“Not at all.”

“Okay, then neither am I.”

Lue nodded. Even if her head kept hurting and new curses appeared, she wasn’t afraid. Even if Hayden had inhuman eyes, it didn’t matter.

“I trust you too.”

Even if he did something, Lue knew that she would only briefly regret this moment and then forget about it.

In the moment of realization and laughter, another curse was cast on her head. Hayden looked at the curse and laughed.

He was happy.
The nobles flocked to Belua. The title of Belua Grand Duke was traditionally bestowed upon the children of the emperor. The current emperor was unmarried, and therefore, he held the title of Belua Grand Duke for the time being.

The beautiful palaces in Belua and the surrounding estates were filled with nobles seeking refuge from the heat. Even the Eastern nobles, who rarely ventured near this area, arrived at the hotels, glancing around.

“Madam, why did you come here instead of attending the dance hosted by Viscount Svenya?”

“Our lord said that the horse racing competition here would be more enjoyable than the dance. Actually, I find pleasure in seeing Her Majesty’s face.”

“I heard a rumor that no one attended the dance except for the Eastern aristocrats.”

“Indeed. Who told the Noralis Marquis not to invite the Flachet Count and Countess to his wedding? Even ordinary nobles, trampled by the grand nobility, have their pride. They are all gathered.”

Various stories circulated in the upscale hotels and mansions where the nobles stayed. There were rumors that Viscount Svenya couldn’t break even at the dance and that the emperor poured all of Marquise Monquifel’s assets into the horse racing competition.

The former was a confirmed rumor, but the latter was unknown to anyone. Matters concerning the emperor were always shrouded in mystery, and people didn’t even realize that much.

“Wow, there are so many people.”

“Isn’t it? I would have been very lonely if I came alone. I’m so glad to be here with you.”

Among them, Lady Godeau, who had just arrived at the Vue’Tang Hotel in the center of Belua, patted the arm of her niece who had come with her, having spent her long-postponed vacation.

“I can’t let my aunt spend the vacation alone.”

While Belua was buzzing, the horse racing competition hosted by the young emperor finally began.