My Husband Hates Me, But He Lost His Memories - Chapter 94.2
Translator: Effe
Editor: Yonnee
—
I made it up to the third floor without Theodore’s assistance, relying solely on my own strength. Breathless and dizzy, I leaned against the wall.
Theodore kept a suitable distance, watching over me.
Not too close, not too far.
If I were to stumble, he could catch me immediately, but the distance was enough that I didn’t feel burdened by hjs presence.
“Well then, I’ll go rest now. You… should rest a bit too.”
“…Yes, then…”
He already wasn’t much of a talker in the first place, but ever since the day that I had mentioned my intention to divorce him, he had become even more quiet.
Furthermore, although the color had returned to his face since he was no longer sharing his life force with me, he somehow looked pale and weary. As if he had been through hardships I couldn’t see, suffering in some unknown place.
“Lily.”
As I was about to turn, Theodore took hold of my wrist. He seemed somewhat hesitant.
After a moment of hesitation, he finally found the courage to speak.
“…Happy birthday. Sincerely.”
“…”
…Thank you, I replied, a beat late, in a very soft voice.
Then, I immediately turned away.
I walked away from him at a pace that wasn’t fast but also wasn’t slow, not once looking back.
* * *
“Happy birthday, Madam!”
“Thank you, Charlotte.”
As night fell, Charlotte presented me with congratulations and a gift. I smiled and opened Charlotte’s gift. Inside the small package was nothing other than a pair of lace gloves. It was clear that Charlotte had made it herself.
The lace featured a lily pattern, and such delicate work couldn’t have been done by just anyone. I exclaimed in admiration.
“You’re really skilled with your hands, Charlotte.”
“Hehe… you flatter me, Madam.”
Moreover, the gloves fit my hands perfectly. They weren’t too loose, nor too tight. They were so soft and comfortable, it felt like feathers were enveloping my hands.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes… very much.”
I felt so grateful that it couldn’t be expressed in words. A warm sensation spread from my chest. It was a good thing to live up until now, even if life had been hellish.
“I’ll also… give you something I’ll make personally for your birthday.”
“M-Madam, you’ll make me something personally? Really?”
“Yes, what would you like?”
“Can… Can I accept that?”
“Of course.”
Charlotte seemed so moved that she thanked me more than ten times before finally leaving.
After Charlotte left, I was alone in the room and I opened Zen’s gift.
…But it wasn’t just one or two gifts.
There was a brooch decorated with white feathers and pearls, a bookmark in the shape of a bluebird, a luxurious notebook made of fine leather and paper, a handkerchief with a lily pattern, earrings adorned with silver bellflower pearls… There was even a book woven with intriguing stories from the Eastern Continent.
‘…There’s even a postcard.’
A dried wildflower was tucked into the postcard. Seeing the familiar, bad handwriting of ‘Happy Birthday, Lily!’ I couldn’t help but smile softly.
‘If a big dog… likes something, it seems like they bring everything they can find.’
Was it rude to keep thinking about him in this way…? But they really were so similar. A well-raised golden retriever and Zen Delacroix…
Before I knew it, a pleasant smile had crept onto my lips. Birthdays could be this happy.
I carefully put Zen’s gift and Charlotte’s lace gloves in the drawer and placed the books on the side table. I wasn’t going to read them today, but I intended to sometime in the future.
‘Now… ah.’
My thoughts stopped as the last gift box, which I had forgotten about, came into view.
…It was none other than Theodore’s gift.
I stared at the gift box with a rigid expression. The good feeling vanished in an instant, replaced by a familiar ache in the corner of my heart.
I stood there for a moment before slowly approaching and placing my hand on the gift box.
Now that his gift was right in front of me, I couldn’t help but feel inexplicably emotional. It must be because Theodore held an important place in my life.
…Yes, that’s right. He was the first person I was attracted to.
But the reason for my sadness wasn’t because I received his gift…
Everything… was just too late.
There was no longer the ‘me’ who could not hate him. The version of ‘me’ who could forgive him was no more.
I silently opened the gift box, checked its contents, and read the letter.
There was no self-justification or apology in the letter, just a heartfelt greeting. …It was much better that way. I would have grown tired of hearing his explanations and apologies.
I left the gift in the box without taking it out. As for the letter, after some thought, I picked up a random book from the shelf and stuck it between the pages.
Then I went to the bed, sat down for a moment before gathering myself and sighing before lying down properly.
‘…Somnia.’
Calling out to Somnia in my mind, she responded immediately.
—You called?
‘It’s my birthday today.’
—I know. Congratulations.
‘…Give me just one birthday present.’
—Hmm, sure. What do you want?
‘…I want to enter Kazef Everett’s dreamscape.’
—Your adoptive father?
‘Yes.’
Although the events from earlier today triggered it, I had been thinking about it for some time. If I could peek into the unconscious of Duke Everett with Somnia’s power…
Maybe I could find out where my biological mother is.
As I’ve mentioned before, entering a spirit contractor’s dream was very risky. There’s a high chance the spirit would realize my intrusion.
‘I know. That’s why we couldn’t attempt it with Owen or Hesen. But… it might be different with Duke Everett.’
Duke Everett’s spirit, ‘Caligo’, was a spirit of darkness. Although a nature spirit, it had a similar nature to Somnia, the dream spirit. So perhaps it might mistake Somnia’s presence for its own.
—Caligo… Indeed, with that old geezer, who knows if we might be able to communicate. Maybe it would pretend not to notice us even if it did.
‘…Old geezer?’
I found it curious that Somnia referred to someone in such a way. After all, if it was the spirit of ‘darkness’…
Maybe it was an existence far older than ‘dreams’.
—Alright. Let’s give it a try then. Get ready, Lily.
‘Okay.’
I waited for Somnia’s power to envelop me.
Soon, a familiar warmth surrounded me, and I heard whispers akin to those of stars. When I opened my eyes in the subconscious, a dream space unfolded like a void. The real me must be deeply asleep.
—Wait a moment… done! Just open this door and go out.
‘Is Duke Everett’s dream just through this door?’
—Yes, it will be a place familiar to you as well.
I looked at the very simple rectangle ‘door’ Somnia had quickly created with some suspicion.
Well… It should be okay, right? Somnia doesn’t do things carelessly.
I cautiously opened the door and stepped ‘outside’ … No, to be precise, I had stepped ‘inside’.
Into the dream of my adoptive father, Kazef Everett.
“You’re here? Sit.”
“…….”
Duke Everett in the dream gestured and gave me an order.
There was a long dining table, silver candelabras and vases, an abundance of food that I couldn’t possibly finish, and elaborate tableware. Red velvet curtains draped by the windows, frames with gold edges hanging on the walls.
This place was… the dining hall of the Everett manor.
A place where he would often summon me for his reprimands.
I smiled darkly and said.
“Yes, Father.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
