In Place of Losing My Memory, I Remembered That I Was the Fiancée of the Capture Target - Chapter 4.3
Patrick arrived as if to switch places with Rebecca.
Since the evening party, it was the first time we met.
Because of the commotion that happened back then, he couldn’t visit, so instead, a bouquet of flowers and a letter arrived.
“You don’t look too bad,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bed and stroking my cheek.
“Does it still hurt?”
“A little…”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Huh?”
“Marguerite’s violent behavior… it’s because of me.”
“It’s not your fault…”
I shook my head.
“Even if… Marguerite liked Rick… that’s no excuse for resorting to violence.”
That’s a problem with her character.
“Thank you, Xia,” Patrick said, patting my head.
“———It’s true that there was talk about Marguerite and my engagement.”
My heart throbbed painfully.
“Though it was just something from when we were children, and it was considered suitable because of our families’ status and our age. Marguerite had other offers, including one from the Crown Prince, but because of her personality… She was deemed unsuitable for a future queen, and my parents were also against it.”
…That fierce personality was there since childhood?
“I didn’t particularly have any feelings for her, and I had almost forgotten about that until now. …I never thought it would end up hurting you because of that…”
Patrick’s hand touched my cheek again.
He seemed to be mindful of the pain, as he only touched me lightly, but it felt warm and soothing.
“Marguerite’s fate has been decided.”
“…What will happen to her?”
“She’ll be sent to a monastery.”
“Eh…”
A monastery?
If she goes there… she might never come out
“We don’t need to go that far…”
“If we don’t fix her character, she’ll keep doing the same things. So if she can repent at the monastery, she might be able to leave, but… it’ll be difficult. ———Besides, if we don’t do that, His Highness won’t forgive her.”
“His Highness…”
“His Highness is furious. And His Majesty and the Queen are of the same opinion. Even Duke Barnier couldn’t protect her.”
“Even His Majesty…”
I’ve met His Majesty once since losing my memory.
He said that to His Majesty and the Queen, who only have a prince, they think of me as a daughter….I see, I’ve worried them too…
“Is that so…”
“As long as there’s a possibility of danger to you, I think going to the monastery is inevitable.”
With that, Patrick hugged me.
“Xia. I’ll protect you so that nothing like that ever happens again.”
“…Okay.”
“The only person I like is Xia.”
“I also… like Rick.”
“Huh?”
Patrick looked at me sharply.
Huh? Did I just…?
Do I… like Patrick…?
Blood rushes to my face all at once.
“Xia.”
Patrick peered into my face.
It’s embarrassing to be looked at up close like this!
“Do you really… like me?”
“Y-yes…”
Feeling embarrassed, I answered with my head down.
———When I heard about the engagement between Patrick and Marguerite, my chest hurt.
I didn’t like it.
Yes, I thought… I don’t want Patrick to… be with anyone else.
“…But you and His Highness…”
“His Highness?”
Why bring up His Highness?
———Oh, Rebecca mentioned it.
She said it seemed like His Highness and I had a special relationship.
I wonder if Patrick thought so too.
“…I don’t know… what kind of relationship I had with His Highness before I lost my memory.”
His Highness’s first love might have been me.
And maybe… I loved His Highness too.
The occasional ache in my chest that I sometimes feel might be a remnant of that.
“But now… I like Patrick.”
The one I want to be with the most is neither the prince nor Theodore.
“Xia.”
Patrick made me lift my face.
His emerald eyes, like they could draw me in, slowly approached.
I closed my eyes.
Patrick’s lips were soft… gentle.
It felt like my heart was warming up.