In Place of Losing My Memory, I Remembered That I Was the Fiancée of the Capture Target - Chapter 5.1

The second semester has begun.

Going to the academy… honestly, it was terrifying. I’m worried about how the rumours about the incident at the soirée and my relationship with His Highness had spread. And what Bridget, His Highness’s fiancée, thought about it.

I hadn’t seen His Highness since that day. I heard from my father that he was severely scolded by His Majesty for coming to our house. It seems that while it was unavoidable to see each other at the academy or the royal palace as cousins, coming to my house was forbidden.

There were many things to think about…

About His Highness

About Theodore

About the academy

And… about the poison.

So much had happened since I lost my memory that I couldn’t figure out what to think about, and before I knew it, summer vacation had ended.

“Xia!”

When I got off the carriage, feeling gloomy, I heard a voice I longed to hear.

“Rick.”

“Xia! I missed you…”

He ran up and hugged me tightly. The strength of his arms and his warmth felt comforting. I missed him too, but…

“What are you doing here?”

Theodore’s voice was cold.

…Yeah, it was indeed embarrassing to be hugged like this at the academy’s carriage stop.

“I can’t help it; I was lacking in Shia.”

With that, Patrick hugged me again.

“Uh, um… but here…”

It was morning, during what could be called rush hour. Many students were looking at us sideways as they headed to the school building.

“It’s precisely because it’s here.”

Patrick whispered in my ear.

“Huh?”

“If we show how close we are, strange rumours about you and His Highness will disappear quickly.”

Is that how it works? Well, indeed… the looks from the students passing by were more amused than critical. I could almost hear them saying, “Oh my, how passionate they are this morning.” …That’s also quite embarrassing, though.

“Are you satisfied now?”

Theodore, who was getting more irritated, spoke up. “Enough already…”

“Alexia.”

The voice I heard made my shoulders tremble.

“Your Highness…”

“Good morning. Are you feeling better now?”

His Highness stood there with a princely smile, along with Liam, whose expression seemed softer than usual.

“Good morning, Your Highness.”

Patrick, though he stopped hugging me, kept his arm around my shoulder as he spoke.

“You two seem quite close this morning.”

Still smiling, His Highness said that, then his face suddenly turned serious.

“Alexia, I’m sorry for scaring you at the soirée.”

“Huh… oh, um…”

“I care for you like a little sister. Seeing you hurt made me lose my temper.”

His Highness spoke in a clear voice, as if he wanted the eavesdropping students around to hear.

“But it’s all over now. You can relax.”

“…Yes… thank you.”

I bowed my head. …This was His Highness’s way of trying to quell the rumours.

Indeed, I am His Highness’s cousin. If he says he cares for me like a sister, then his actions at that time might not seem so strange.

However, His Highness’s excuse was only for public appearances. Now that I know what happened between His Highness and me…I can’t take his words at face value.

“Well then.”

With another princely smile, His Highness waved and walked away.

“Xia?”

Patrick looked into my face, his grip on my hand tightening.

“…Rick. Um…”

I didn’t know what to do, but there was one thing I had decided.

“I have something to tell you.”

I decided to tell Patrick about His Highness and Theodore. I couldn’t talk about the poison because of its connection to the game and the possibility that it might not be related to me. But I needed to tell him about those two.

“Alright. Then let’s have lunch together today.”

Patrick agreed, and gently touched my cheek, where the mark from the fan had faded.