Chapter 11 *** "Your Highness, wait." An impatient hand squeezed Elise's before she could give her permission. "We’re married." The man holding her muttered, as if unable to resist touching her. His own fit seamlessly between the white fingers. "I must have cared for you a lot before I lost my memory." It sounded like something that wouldn't happen otherwise. Their hands were burning hot against each other. Elise squirmed, trying to escape the burning sensation, but Claude clamped his hand...
Chapter 10 **** My snowflake. The words brought back the name she had seen in Claude’s room a few days ago. No way. Something like a bolt of lightning crossed Elise's mind. No way, could it be her…? "Major!" Lieutenant Gregory and Dr. Billman rushed out, startled by the commotion outside. But they couldn't get any closer because Claude was rolling around like a wary animal. He acted as if someone would snatch Elise from his arms the moment he let go. He tried to harm those who approached...
Chapter 9 *** Sponsored by Chewy Momma. Thank you ❤️ *** "...Is it possible to wipe out a person's memory?" "It's not common, but it's not unheard of." "..." Feeling momentarily dumbfounded, Elise pursed her lips, unable to answer. Claude didn’t remember her. He had erased her................. their marriage. She had to repeat the doctor's words over and over again before she could face the truth. He hated her enough to forget their involvement. How else could he erase just one person as...
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...
Chapter 7 **** "Welcome, Your Grace." When she reached the small chapel where the funeral would be held, a priest greeted her. "Hello, priest." Elise's gaze shifted to the window as she returned the greeting. Through the familiar arched windows, she could see branches that were about to bud. The cold season was coming to an end. The priest led her inside, offering a heartfelt comfort in the name of God. The chapel was where Claude and she had been married. It was strange to witness with her own...
Chapter 6 *** Sponsored by Chewy Momma. Thank you ❤️ *** The maid fidgeted with her clasped hands. It was undeniable that she was not good enough for her master, and that she was a great deal to her mistress. She swallowed nervously, knowing it wouldn't change anything, but Elise spoke up. "Yes. That's what happened." "..." The maid's mouth opened and closed as if she had forgotten how to speak. When Elise looked away from her, who was unable to come up with any words, as if she were...
Chapter 5 *** "Claude? Unless you're crazy!" A heavy atmosphere hung in the parlor where the Emperor's family was gathered. The Empress's eyes were fixed on the unmoving Emperor, who was buried in his chair. Now he wanted to pretend to be a father who loved his son? He seemed more distraught over the loss of his favorite chess piece than over the loss of his child, but the twisted Empress didn't think so. She had chosen her husband out of love. She stood by him, even though he was the youngest...
Chapter 4 *** Elise took Phillip's hand and stepped out into the garden. The wind, still chilly, brushed her cheeks. Unseen, the season had passed her by. Three laps later, it was winter again. Nella had said that soon the snow would melt and spring would come. They hadn't walked far when Phillip said she shouldn't overexert herself and sat her down on a bench. "Come here, sit down." <This is more comfortable,> she said. Warmth radiated through their clasped hands. Each stroke on his palm...
Chapter 3 *** The word ‘husband’ was so foreign to her. Claude Adrian Victor Robertson von Killiatzman. The long name that came out of the Archbishop's lips on the wedding day came to mind. Despite his noble status as the third son of the Emperor, he was a member of the royal family who went to war. A hero who volunteered to go to war and brought victory to the Empire. There were many who cursed Elise for monopolizing such a man despite being a fallen noble, but her relationship with Claude...
Chapter 2 *** "Please sit down." The Empress's voice was followed by the giggles of the ladies, who made no attempt to restrain themselves. "..." Elise clasped her hands together wordlessly. The trembling in her fingertips showed no sign of abating, no matter what she had been through. Her eyelids fluttering open and closed, she tried to imagine what the place would look like. The Empress's conservatory, where the sunlight was beautiful on the glass. The ladies were laughing around the table,...