Chapter 56
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Returning to the palace, Diana rested in her bedroom for a while. The doctor who examined her said that, fortunately, she was just a bit weakened and would be fine after resting properly for a few days.
“…Doctor Belman.”
Viern, who had been silently watching the sleeping woman for a long time, asked the doctor.
“How can we restore Her Highness’s memory?”
“How about revisiting places Her Highness used to frequent before?”
Viern quietly pondered the doctor’s advice. Places she used to frequent… Come to think of it, after she lost her memory, he had complacently assumed it would return on its own. Remembering how he hadn’t even taken a simple walk with her, using busyness as an excuse, Viern’s expression darkened.
And a few days later, when Diana had recovered somewhat…
“Huh? A walk?”
Diana, who had been rolling around on her bed reading a book, tilted her head at Viern’s suggestion.
“It’s far more productive than reading unhealthy, vulgar novels.”
Viern glanced at the book cover in Diana’s hand as he replied. The title『The Princess and That Knight Every Night』evoked a strangely unpleasant feeling. Even without checking, it was obvious the book was about a princess doing that sort of thing with her knight every night.
“‘Unhealthy’? Do you know how amazing this book is?”
Diana, as if unable to accept his judgment on her favorite reading material, explained with mock solemnity.
“This is a secret I’m only telling you, my loyal Duke… The part about it being really good in a carriage? That’s all from this book…”
Whoosh. A thick shawl settled over her shoulders. Diana stopped speaking and stared intently at Viern’s serious face as he fastened her shawl firmly.
“It seems you are ready to go.”
Having meticulously arranged her clothes with his thick fingers, Viern extended his hand to her with the most splendid smile at the most splendid angle she liked.
“Let’s go, Your Highness.”
“…Huh? Ah, y-yes!”
Diana stared at him blankly for a moment, then her earlobes tinged slightly red as she took his hand. Letting out a small laugh, Viern led her outside. Judging by her reaction just now, it seemed his charms still worked on her, separate from her supposed affection for that Aisen fellow. Well, Diana had always been particularly fond of his face.
Feeling a newfound confidence, Viern secretly ordered a maid in the hallway to burn that damnable vulgar novel while Diana was out on their walk, then stepped outside with her.
The two walked through the palace’s rear garden without attendants. However, Diana found it hard to focus on the stroll.
‘Wow… What was that smile just now…?’
That perfect angle, that perfect smile—she almost gasped out loud without realizing it.
‘Is he deliberately trying to seduce me?’
Glancing at him, she arrived at a deduction quite close to the truth.
“Doctor Belman said it. That simply visiting places you used to frequent can be a good catalyst for stimulating lost memories.”
At his explanation, Diana’s ears perked up.
“Memory?”
“Yes. Is there nothing in particular you recall?”
His voice held a faint, barely detectable note of anticipation. No wonder he suddenly wanted to go for a walk. It was such uncharacteristic behavior from someone usually holed up in his office that she almost giggled, but Diana deliberately answered in a coy voice.
“Hmm, not really.”
“…I see.”
His eyebrows drooping ever so slightly looked so adorable she just wanted to kiss him right then. Humming a little tune inside, she continued the walk with an outwardly indifferent expression.
“Next time, let’s go to the Ducal Estate together.”
Viern suggested in a calm voice, matching his steps to hers.
“The Ducal Estate? Why there?”
“You stayed there for a while, though not for long. Visiting the place might bring back some memories.”
“Mmm.”
Diana gave a perfunctory nod. Her lack of apparent interest in recovering her memory made Viern feel a bit stifled.
“Your Highness may not remember…”
He stopped walking and met her green eyes with his gaze.
“But the precious things you’ve lost could still be within those memories.”
“Well, maybe…”
His blue gaze fixed directly on her was so earnest that Diana found it hard to meet his eyes.
“If memories are going to come back, they’ll come back on their own…”
Just as she was about to turn her gaze from him and start walking again—
Whoosh—
A firm arm abruptly reached out and encircled her waist. Nearly falling into his embrace from the motion, Diana widened her eyes and looked back at him.
“Your Grace?”
“There’s a stone ahead.”
Where Viern pointed, a small pebble was jutting out.
“It seems the palace staff have been negligent in maintaining the gardens. I’ll have a word with the head steward.”
“No, it… doesn’t even look dangerous…”
Diana flustered, trying to stop him at his ominous tone that suggested he was about to fire all the palace staff.
“You already injured your ankle, Your Highness.”
“But that was nearly two months ago,” Viern retorted with a serious face.
“It’s better to be cautious. Complications don’t just appear for no reason.”
“……”
In truth, her ankle had long since healed to the point where she could hop and skip across the lawn. But his overprotectiveness wasn’t unpleasant. In fact, her chest had been feeling a pleasant, ticklish sensation, and her heart kept fluttering.
‘Well, it can’t hurt. Might as well enjoy it.’
Diana, who disliked overthinking, decided to simply enjoy his overprotectiveness. She gave a bright smile and leaned slightly against him.
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