Chapter 8
***
“…”
Her name sounded eerily familiar as Claude called.
That wasn't the only thing.
The way he looked, as if to prove that he had returned from the dead. He looked like he was struggling to control his limbs.
Most unfamiliar of all was....
"Elise."
It was those eyes.
Claude’s eyes had been fixed on her like nails from the moment the door had opened and closed.
The green eyes with their strange heat were unfamiliar, as if she had never seen them before.
And yet, they were unmistakably Claude von Killiatzman’s. There was no way she couldn't recognize them.
It was the only thing she remembered clearly, even as her eyesight faded and all colors disappeared.
"Elise................"
He called her name again as he moved.
Mourners gasped as he crossed the funeral parlor.
His wobbly gait was unbelievably precarious for a man who always walked so straight and confident.
His gaze, still on Elise, was terrifying.
Could it really be a lie? Could it be that some evil being was imitating her husband in order to seduce her?
Because the situation was so absurd, Elise, despite her rational personality, briefly entertained a meaningless assumption.
But the presence that was getting closer and closer was definitely Claude’s. Closing the distance in an instant, he embraced her.
"Elise. Elise---."
"------Your Highness."
Her breath caught in her throat as his arms tightened around her.
Claude acted as if her name was the only word he knew. He looked like a man who had been seriously ill.
She wasn't sure what was going on. His broad arms reeked of blood and gunpowder.
"Your ......eyes. Your eyes-----."
Claude muttered something incoherent, and tightened his arms.
His massive body shuddered as he clung to her as if he would never let go.
Elise stiffened, unable to push or pull away.
***
The funeral became a thing of the past. The chapel was literally turned upside down by Claude who appeared at his own funeral.
Even more so after he collapsed holding Elise.
The mourners, stunned as if they'd seen a ghost crawl out of the grave, didn't give a damn that Elise was acting like a sighted person.
No, they didn't. In haste, Claude was taken to his own townhouse.
He was placed in bed and a maid was summoned to wipe his face with a damp cloth, revealing his emperor-like beauty.
It was unmistakably Claude von Killiatzman. There were no two other handsome men in the world who looked like they had been handcrafted by the gods.
"Fortunately, he appears to be unharmed. Your Majesty."
The imperial physician who had rushed to his side at the Emperor's command additionally added. "He will not die, but he must be stabilized.”
The Emperor, having been assured time and time again that the hero of the Empire was not dead, and would not be for some time, left the room. As the other mourners followed him out of the mansion, Elise let out a long sigh.
"......ha."
Her legs wobbled, as if she were about to collapse. Her head ached like it was going to explode with the lack of reality.
Calm down. Elise ran a hand through her hair and scolded herself.
At least Claude was alive and well. Somehow, the future was more important than the past. Forward. How the hell......
"Nice to meet you, Your Grace."
An unfamiliar voice interrupted her rooting thoughts. Turning around, Elise's eyes met a military uniform, like Claude’s, covered in blood and dirt.
“I’m Lieutenant Lowell Gregory, Major Killiatzman’s adjutant."
The tall man bowed as he stated his name.
Apparently, this was the man who had brought Claude, who had limited mobility, here.
Judging by the different name from the one in the consolation letter, the other one had supposedly died with Claude.
"Pleased to meet you, Lieutenant. I assume you were the one who brought the Prince here, and I thank you for bringing him back safely."
"I was only doing what I was supposed to do, Your Grace. I have a request."
The lieutenant's voice lowered as if he were speaking confidentially.
"Please summon the Major's personal physician at the Capital General Hospital."
Elise raised an eyebrow at the questionable request for a second doctor after the first.
"He's already been examined by the Imperial Physician, the best physician in the Empire. Is there any other reason for such a request?"
After a moment of silence, the lieutenant closed the distance and said.
“He .......... hit his head hard when he fell."
Elise's heart sank at the devastating words that followed.
***
Time passed slowly, as if someone had stretched it.
Hurriedly summoning the maid to fetch the doctor the lieutenant had requested, Elise tapped the floor with her cane impatiently.
It was a gesture that would have disgraced her father, who valued decency, but she couldn't control herself.
The slow pace picked up when the doctor was announced as having arrived.
The gray-haired old doctor, who introduced himself as Dr. Billman, relayed the situation to Lieutenant Gregory.
Elise led them to Claude’s bedroom.
Claude hadn't regained consciousness since the funeral.
He looked like a corpse, lying still in bed.
Calmly, Dr. Billman opened his medical bag to retrieve his tools and deftly examined Claude’s body.
It was only after a long examination that Claude opened his eyes.
"Your Highness, do you recognize me?"
Claude nodded slowly at the doctor's question.
His hazy green eyes were glassy, reflecting his condition.
"Princess and Lieutenant Gregory will have to step aside for a moment."
At the doctor's request for a closer examination, Elise nodded her understanding and moved away.
It was then that she felt a strong grip on her wrist.
"Your Highness?"
"Don't ..................don't."
A sharp glint of recognition appeared in the green eyes that had been out of focus the entire time.
His voice was strained, as if he was using every ounce of strength he had left.
The eyes, which had been wavering like those of a lost child, soon became watery.
"Don't go. Please...."
A tear trickled down his smooth cheek. The large hand gripping Elise's wrist was shaking.
Is he... crying?
Elise's eyes widened.
Was that Claude von Killiatzman holding her hand and crying?
Elise wondered again if she had lost her mind.
Whether he knew her confusion or not, Claude held onto her hand as if it were his saving grace and refused to let go.
"..."
Elise was stunned by Claude’s behavior, unable to formulate a response.
Throughout their marriage, Claude’s attitude toward her had been the same indifference.
As if he wanted to end this marriage right away. It was as if he was desperate to get rid of her.
She didn't know what it was like to have such wistful eyes, a pleading voice, and hot hands that trembled as if begging her to stay.
He had never done that before.
"...I'll be right back."
First, she had to calm him down.
She hesitated, then gently took his hand in hers.
For a moment, she thought she recognized the familiarity of his large, rough hand.
Elise’s emerald eyes widened as he took her hand.
"Don't go."
"I'm only going to stay out while the doctor examine you, I'll be right back."
"...Are you sure?"
"Yes."
As if he were truly broken, Claude extracted promises from Elise again and again.
She repeated the same thing over and over again before she was allowed to leave the bedroom.
The examination went on for quite a while after that.
"Your Grace, Lieutenant. I’m finished"
When Dr. Billman finally emerged from the bedroom, his expression was grim.
A premonition that something was wrong reared its ugly head.
Leading them into the next room, the doctor delivered the news like a thunderbolt.
"..................I'm sorry, but can you say that again, Dr. Billman?"
"He’s having amnesia. It seems clear to me now, Your Grace."
Dr. Billman added, as if he knew it would be hard to believe.
"The amnesia appears to have been caused by the impact of the fall on his head. Luckily, there's not much trauma to his head. It took me a while to go through his memories to see where it started and where it stopped. Fortunately, he remembers most of it, but...."
Dr. Billman trailed off ominously.
"But?"
Elise's eyes flicked to the doctor's lips, and he sighed.
"His memories of Your Grace have been erased."
All memories of the past three years.
****
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