Chapter 17
“I’m hungry!”
Selene’s face flushed the moment the words slipped out before she could stop them. She avoided Varas’s gaze, feeling too embarrassed by the way he was staring at her, and turned to look out the window again.
The carriage gradually slowed until it came to a gentle stop somewhere along the road.
A moment later, a knock sounded against the quiet carriage, and Zart’s voice came from outside.
“We have arrived at the place you requested.”
It only made her more embarrassed—this was a place she likely would have ended up visiting anyway even if she hadn’t been told. Soon, the carriage door opened, and she felt him step out leisurely.
A sudden worry struck her: what if Varas went off alone to take care of business and left her behind?
The absurd thought that the carriage might close and she would have to return alone to the castle made her turn her head in panic.
She looked for him.
He stood there in the sunlight, holding out his hand toward her.
Selene ignored Varas’s offered hand and stepped down from the carriage on her own.
He, who had assumed their relationship had grown closer, realized it had been nothing but his imagination.
The time they had spent together the night before—holding each other and sharing warmth like personal heaters—was something only he remembered.
It seemed she remembered nothing of the drunken night when she had collapsed.
His hand, left hanging in the air, slowly returned to his side.
Just then, something small and warm touched his palm.
It wriggled slightly between his fingers before settling between his thumb and index finger.
Varas looked down at the small warmth in his hand—and then at Selene, who now stood beside him.
This was not how a lady accepted an escort. This was more like… something couples did when holding hands.
Lost in thought, he turned forward and slowly lowered his arm while tightening his grip.
She did not pull away. Instead, she interlocked her fingers with his even more actively.
It was an overwhelming softness he had never experienced before.
His mind felt like it was exploding in chaotic bursts.
The gentle movement of her hand made something in his thoughts scatter wildly. He turned to look at her.
Selene asked with an innocent expression:
“Where are we going now?”
Anywhere.
He felt like he could go anywhere, his mind strangely empty and light, as he began to walk forward.
The place Selene had brought him to was a finely decorated, aristocratic restaurant.
Even while being guided by staff, she kept exclaiming in admiration. Even the candlesticks in the hallway were so delicately crafted that she briefly considered taking a few to decorate her bedroom.
They were led to a private room and seated, and soon the food began arriving.
Small portions of beautifully arranged dishes were served on large plates. Each portion looked like something that would disappear in a single forkful, and she wondered if it would even be enough to fill her stomach—but more kept coming.
As she ate and sipped her drink, Selene examined the engraved patterns on the fork and looked around the interior design.
Every now and then, she also stole glances at Varas, and each time, their eyes met.
Even when she tried to look away casually, whenever she moved her gaze, she would again meet his unwavering eyes—he never once stopped watching her.
Even while drinking water or chewing, he kept his gaze fixed on her.
His persistent stare made a strange unease rise in Selene’s chest. Her heartbeat quickened, and she found herself breathing a little harder.
She felt she had to say something—something about her lost memory.
After slowly chewing on a tiny piece of meat for a long time, Selene finally swallowed and set down her fork.
She could not keep waiting for the right moment.
The situation she was forced into felt unfair—having to deceive him like this.
They had just begun to grow closer; what if this lie ruined everything between them?
What if it destroyed the relationship with this man who made her heart flutter?
But if she failed to maintain the lie, her life might be in danger. That thought made her anxious.
She repeated to herself:
Memory loss. I am Selene who has lost her memory. I have lost my memory. Stand by… cue.
Selene then spoke with an innocent expression.
“I have something I’m curious about.”
Varas swallowed the food he was chewing and took a sip of water, signaling her to continue.
Gathering courage, she asked the question she had prepared.
“What is our relationship?”
It was so sudden that Varas said nothing for a moment, simply playing with his water glass.
Selene, nervously trying to maintain composure, continued.
“You visit my room at night, give me gifts, and our rooms are arranged that way. So I thought… we might be married.”
Still, there was no reaction from him.
Confused by his unreadable expression, Selene forced herself to continue.
“But… why don’t we have a marital relationship?”
“Cough.”
Finally, the reaction she wanted appeared.
Selene stood up and moved toward him, intending to pat his back in concern.
But the moment she touched him, the broadness of his shoulders and the solid feel beneath her fingers made her instantly flustered, and her movements became awkward.
He closed his eyes slowly and asked in a low voice:
“What do you mean by that? I need further explanation.”
Behind him, Selene’s eyes sparkled as she replied in a pitiful tone:
“I’m sorry if I startled you… I think… I may have lost my memory…”
Meanwhile…
Listening to her story calmly, Varas began to understand why she was acting this way.
So the “clever plan” she had been thinking up in the carriage… was to pretend she had lost her memory.
Well, if her identity as a witch were exposed, she might not be able to achieve whatever goal she had. It made sense she would try to hide it.
Varas decided to play along.
And the moment he did, she said something completely unexpected.
“But… why don’t we have a marital relationship?”
“Cough.”
The word he had never even dared imagine coming from her lips struck him like lightning.
What?
His mind echoed in chaos. While he was still reeling, the soft scent of her reached him as she stood right behind him. Her small, fidgeting movements at his back were unbearably distracting.
He steadied his breathing and finally spoke as naturally as he could.
“Sit back down.”
Selene returned to her seat hesitantly.
After catching his breath and regaining composure, Varas felt a strange sense of injustice.
She was unaffected whenever she came near him, while he could barely breathe.
Still, he decided to respond casually.
“We are indeed married.”
Selene inwardly celebrated, relieved that her plan had worked.
Trying to keep her expression neutral, she blinked innocently.
Varas then asked:
“From where do you remember things?”
Selene pretended to think carefully before answering.
“I don’t know the exact date, but it was night. You told me to sleep while adjusting the curtains.”
She carefully observed his expression but could not tell if he had realized it was their first night or not.
She decided to give a clearer hint.
“The next morning, you were in my room, and when you returned after stepping out briefly… you spilled blood on the bedding.”
Varas clenched his fist tightly.
That day was indeed their wedding night. His suspicion had been correct.
He nodded slowly.
“Then I understand. You mean you don’t remember anything before that?”
Selene nodded.
Her lie was full of holes, but her expression was so earnest it was hard to call it out.
Varas quietly lifted his glass and hid a faint laugh.
“That day was our wedding.”
Selene let out a small gasp and covered her mouth in shock.
Varas expected her to continue her performance.
His red eyes sharpened.
“You were wondering earlier why we don’t have a marital relationship…”
Her eyes began to waver.
“Let me explain further. We had an arranged marriage.”
Selene could only nod in confusion.
But he continued.
“Considering your unfamiliarity, we agreed to become intimate ten days after the ceremony. Though I assume you don’t remember.”
Selene’s eyes began to tremble as she counted the days in her mind.
Her hands slowly lowered from her mouth, and her act was already beginning to fall apart.
Varas delivered the final blow:
“And tomorrow… is exactly the tenth day.”
