When the One-Sided Love Female Lead Loses Her Memory - Chapter 25

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“I have never dared to cast a disrespectful gaze upon Your Highness, but since it’s an order, I shall comply.”

Seeing her throw her weight around as ‘Princess’ and give orders like that, it seemed the palace etiquette and basic common sense remained intact…

‘Can one really carve out just the memories so cleanly from the mind?’

It was a bit suspicious, but he had to trust the doctor’s diagnosis. Above all, if she hadn’t lost her memory… how else could he explain her attitude of no longer craving affection from him?

Diana, who had lost her memory, had forgotten even her feelings for Viern along with her past.

‘Do emotions vanish along with memories when they are lost?’

After all, emotions are the result of accumulated memories shared between people, so perhaps it was only natural that she no longer liked him as before. Nevertheless, Viern found her eyes, no longer shining with rising affection when she looked at him, utterly unfamiliar.

‘The doctor said that with enough rest, her memories might return someday…’

But that statement also implied they might never return. Viern, who disliked uncertainty, found this situation extremely unpleasant. More than anything, that utterly indifferent gaze that didn’t recognize him at all kept grating on him.

“So… when will Sir Aisen be back?”

“He should be back before dinner.”

Aisen, who had been put on temporary house arrest, managed to keep his position as the Princess’s personal knight thanks to her repeated pleas. However, as punishment for failing to protect the Princess, he had to stand guard with lower-ranking members at the outskirts of the capital during the day.

“Hmm, I see…”

Diana nodded quietly.

“You seem quite interested in Aisen.”

It was a casual, offhand remark. For the past few days, she had asked about Aisen several times a day.

‘Did she seek him out that often before?’

He wondered, but couldn’t know.

“D-Does it seem that way?”

But then, Diana flinched and covered both her cheeks. Startled by the unexpected, intense reaction, Viern’s fountain pen, which hadn’t stopped scratching throughout their conversation, came to an abrupt halt.

‘What? That reaction…’

Viern narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at her intently.

“Actually, I have something to tell you, Duke…”

Then, she glanced around furtively, a shy blush rising to her cheeks, and spoke in a voice that somehow felt ticklish.

“I think… I’ve fallen in love at first sight.”

Freeze.

Caught off guard by this unexpected confession, Viern unconsciously drew in a sharp breath and looked at Diana’s fair face, now tinged with peach-blossom pink. He was well-acquainted with the Princess’s eccentricities, but confessing suddenly in this situation?

‘Viern, I like you!’

Come to think of it. Looking back, Diana had always been like this. Ever since he first brought her out of that tower, she had followed him with that same blind, absolute devotion.

Just as Viern, feeling a strange relief that she hadn’t changed despite having no intention of returning her feelings, was about to flatly and decisively reject her…

“While I appreciate your feelings…”

“It’s Aisen, your Grace’s youngest brother.”

She clasped her hands as if in prayer and added in a dreamy voice.

“I think… I’ve fallen in love with him.”

“……?”

For a brief moment, Viern couldn’t comprehend what he had just heard.

“Since you’re my most loyal vassal, I’m telling you this specially. So you absolutely, absolutely must not spread it around. Got it? Especially to Aisen, it’s a secret!”

“……”

“And you know, I heard from Sally recently…”

Diana twirled the ends of her hair around her finger and beamed. Sally was also one of the people Viern had assigned to her, her closest lady-in-waiting.

“There was a birthday party for me a few days ago, and I apparently got into a big accident. I almost drowned in the lake, but Aisen saved me. Isn’t that just… wonderful? Just like a prince from a fairy tale.”

Her eyes sparkled as she thought of Aisen.

“It’s so upsetting that I can’t remember that amazing moment. I even cried a little when Sally told me. Maybe… I already liked him even before I lost my memory?”

She even placed both hands over her heart and murmured in an overwhelmed voice.

“Because if that’s not it, there’s no way my heart would pound like this just thinking about him. When I’m alone with Aisen, my heart beats so hard it feels like it might burst.”

“……”

Viern stared at Diana with a dumbfounded expression he would never have shown anyone who knew him. Only now were her words slowly sinking in. So, the person she fell in love with at first sight earlier wasn’t him… it was Aisen, that fool.

“And then yesterday, when I tried to get up from bed and my ankle hurt so I fell back, he came right over to help me up, and his arm was so firm…!”

Her slightly faster speech clearly conveyed her excitement. Her chattering about why she liked Aisen created a peculiar mood in Viern. He had always thought her voice, chattering like a lark whenever she sought him out, was pleasant to hear, but at this moment… it felt a little uncomfortable. Somehow, it even seemed disagreeable.