The sky was as blue as if it had been filled with paint. The afternoon, with clouds floating gently like fluff, was so peaceful that it almost felt like we were in the middle of paradise. The North Shore, standing tall against the backdrop of a gentle cliff, and even the villas used as fisheries facilities looked like a painting.
“Hello, Mrs. Ridsdel. I just stopped by on an errand in the area.”
“Welcome, Michael. It’s been a while. Is this the first time since you brought Angie’s luggage?”
Laura greeted Michael warmly, completely unaware that Angie had visited her a few days earlier.
“I was going to thank you anyway when I had the chance to go to the Duke’s residence. I was grateful for your help with Angie at the embroidery club. She was already feeling depressed because of the strange misunderstanding and had to stay home... I’m glad she got to go to the Duke’s residence.”
“Huh? Angie is at the Duke’s residence...?”
Michael asked back without realizing it. The reason he had stopped by North Shore was actually to find out what Angie was up to. He was about to ask her if she was still out of the house and how she was feeling, but he couldn't help but be surprised when he found out she was at the Duke's residence.
“Didn’t you know? Oh, it seems Angie has been staying in the annex and helping out, so she hasn’t been able to set foot in the main building. They’re changing the curtains and bedding for spring, and Jerome called Angie because she’s so good at sewing.”
“Ah... I see. I guess I didn’t notice because I haven’t had any reason to go to the annex recently. Then you two must be very lonely without Angie.”
Michael tried to cover it up, but he was inwardly shaken. He had never heard of the annex being short-handed. Contrary to what he had told Laura, he had been going back and forth between the main building and the annex, so it was impossible for him not to see Angie.
What happened? So where is Angie now...
Michael pretended to be calm and greeted the couple before leaving the villa. He couldn’t suppress his anxious feelings even while returning to the Duke’s residence. If he wasn’t at his parents’ farm or the Duke’s residence, where on earth was he?
Angie. Where are you now? Are you okay?
Michael frowned and looked at the sky beyond the horizon. The bright sun was slowly fading away, and a murky mass was forming in the distance. It was a dark cloud that foreshadowed rain and wind.
The storm was coming back.
The only eldest son and rightful heir of the family, Kyle Rodan Blackwell, sat in the main office, his eyes clear but his complexion gaunt as he clasped his hands together and looked down at his logbook.
It was because the one agony that was eating him from the inside, the emotional pain that one person had to bear, was too much. He couldn't handle it.
He already knew that behind her angelic smile that seemed like it would melt her, she had a strong will and a solid inner self. However, he didn't know that she would be this stubborn and determined. He still couldn't understand. How could she let go of love so quickly? Is it possible to truly love someone? He couldn't accept it.
How can he accept it? All the reasons he has endured and survived so far, are the only support that will leave his side. How can he silently let go when the one and only world will leave him and throw his soul into a hell that is no different from death?
Every time Angie writhed under him, he felt disgusted with himself. He felt like vomiting from the disgust of treating someone who was more precious to him than anything else in the world and whom he loved more than anyone else, so cruelly, like an animal. So he would always resolve to try to persuade her again right before he opened the door.
But every time Kyle faced Angie, who didn't even nod, he lost his senses again. He felt an uncontrollable anger surge up and his blood rushed to his head. He couldn't even breathe properly because of the fear that he might lose her forever.
So Kyle knocked her down again like a thug. Then he pushed and tore her until she fainted. Then he regretted it so much, and the next day he raped her again like an animal. The same situation was repeated for four days. He thought he was going crazy.
He wanted to tell the whole truth. But he was afraid. What if it backfired? If she found out the truth, she would reject it even more and try to run away even further.
Kyle buried his face in his hands in agony as he pulled the rope between his legs. Less than a minute later, Jerome came in through the emergency exit.
“Your Highness, have you called?”
“Jerome. Do you know the recipe for the drug that resets memory... the amnesiac?”
“Your Highness. Why is that...”
Jerome raised his voice involuntarily as if he was shocked. It was nothing more than a sign that he knew.
“Isn’t it possible to erase only a certain section of memory? It seems possible to do so in conjunction with hypnosis, but how long does the drug take to store in the storage room...?”
If he could just erase Angie's memories from when she first heard about his marriage two weeks ago until now. Then he could put her on a ship and take her to the capital... No. It would be useless. No matter how far he took her to the capital, he couldn’t keep her from knowing about his marriage. It would be like covering her eyes and pretending not to know.
As Kyle interrupted, Jerome opened his mouth with a worried look on his face.
“It is possible to manufacture, but it is not the time to grow the main ingredient, opium grass, right now. There is one last vial left in the storage room... However, the side effect issue has not been resolved, so it is left as is.”
“Side effects? What kind?”
“The previous experiment resulted in a complete loss of memory. Do you remember Elliot Hawkins, who died on a previous voyage? Mrs. Hawkins, who was not her biological son, seemed to have grown attached to Elliot, and suffered greatly, eventually telling strange stories to the village Remedy children... Mrs. Dunst and the helpers injected him with amnesia drugs. As a result, Mrs. Hawkins...”
“How much, how much have she lost?”
“Despite the hypnotic effect that was supposed to make her forget her son’s existence, she forgot everything. Her mind became a completely blank sheet. With the help of Mr. Hawkins and the villagers, she is now able to continue her farm work and daily life, but it will take a long time for her to find stability.”
Kyle didn't respond, just clasped his hands together. He couldn't let something like that happen to Angie. No matter what happened to her, even if she became a blank slate like Mrs. Hawkins, his feelings wouldn't change. He would step up and take responsibility for everything about Angie and protect her thoroughly.
Even if the world were to collapse and perish, his feelings for Angie would not change. However, he never wanted Angie to forget the past three years.
In those days when there was no hope, Angie walked into his dark world and became his light. As she opened the book, opened her lips, and read each verse, the dark inside of the curtains turned into a paradise of light. And then the first kiss, the waiting, and another waiting.
The arduous healing process that he endured with his teeth clenched to protect her, to save even a single drop of her precious blood. The first moment when they finally became one after the new year. The steps they took every night, yearning for each other's presence, heading to the Generalife Gardens.
The world at that time existed solely for them and was their own time. Those were moments that could not be exchanged for anything. No matter what happened, Angie's mind could not be made to return to nothingness.
Angie opened her eyes in a dull pain. Her whole body ached as if she had been hit. Her limbs were so heavy that she felt as if she would collapse onto the floor of the bed.
The dawn that announced a new day was faintly breaking through the window, but she had no will or desire. She had no sense of time, not even a few days had passed. Four nights had passed, so it must have been five days since Angie was locked up. Fortunately, the storm that had been raging so fiercely the night before had subsided, so the vibrations that had been shaking the window had stopped.
As she tried to control her body, the nausea surged up inside her. Even as shr kicked off the bed and headed to the bathroom, Angie had difficulty breathing due to the pain in her stomach.
Angie was on her hands and knees on the bathroom floor. She had only had water, so nothing came out when she threw it up. Angie sat curled up and sobbed.
On the first day of her confinement, while she was asleep, the picture hanging on one wall was removed, revealing a hidden space in the wall. In the empty room, like a closet, a pulley was attached, and a tray containing food and water was brought up from the lower floor through it for every meal.
For the past four days, Angie could barely finish half of the bowl due to the pressure from the master. But today, she couldn't even touch the food because her stomach had been so upset since morning. It didn't accept it at all.
It was when she laid down on the bed weakly. One day, one of the maids in the main building of the Duke's residence showed the same symptoms. She couldn't eat well for several days and just vomited, so the maid in charge, Yasmine, and the other maids were worried.
"Marie. Are you okay? Why are you acting like you're pregnant? It's unlikely you're pregnant, but you look like you're in pain. Just go to your room and rest for today."
"That's right. You had your period last week, so you can't be pregnant. Marie, go ahead. I'll take care of the rest."
Angie jerked her upper body up. Her limp body gained strength. Her eyes were wide with shock.
“Hello, Mrs. Ridsdel. I just stopped by on an errand in the area.”
“Welcome, Michael. It’s been a while. Is this the first time since you brought Angie’s luggage?”
Laura greeted Michael warmly, completely unaware that Angie had visited her a few days earlier.
“I was going to thank you anyway when I had the chance to go to the Duke’s residence. I was grateful for your help with Angie at the embroidery club. She was already feeling depressed because of the strange misunderstanding and had to stay home... I’m glad she got to go to the Duke’s residence.”
“Huh? Angie is at the Duke’s residence...?”
Michael asked back without realizing it. The reason he had stopped by North Shore was actually to find out what Angie was up to. He was about to ask her if she was still out of the house and how she was feeling, but he couldn't help but be surprised when he found out she was at the Duke's residence.
“Didn’t you know? Oh, it seems Angie has been staying in the annex and helping out, so she hasn’t been able to set foot in the main building. They’re changing the curtains and bedding for spring, and Jerome called Angie because she’s so good at sewing.”
“Ah... I see. I guess I didn’t notice because I haven’t had any reason to go to the annex recently. Then you two must be very lonely without Angie.”
Michael tried to cover it up, but he was inwardly shaken. He had never heard of the annex being short-handed. Contrary to what he had told Laura, he had been going back and forth between the main building and the annex, so it was impossible for him not to see Angie.
What happened? So where is Angie now...
Michael pretended to be calm and greeted the couple before leaving the villa. He couldn’t suppress his anxious feelings even while returning to the Duke’s residence. If he wasn’t at his parents’ farm or the Duke’s residence, where on earth was he?
Angie. Where are you now? Are you okay?
Michael frowned and looked at the sky beyond the horizon. The bright sun was slowly fading away, and a murky mass was forming in the distance. It was a dark cloud that foreshadowed rain and wind.
The storm was coming back.
***
The only eldest son and rightful heir of the family, Kyle Rodan Blackwell, sat in the main office, his eyes clear but his complexion gaunt as he clasped his hands together and looked down at his logbook.
It was because the one agony that was eating him from the inside, the emotional pain that one person had to bear, was too much. He couldn't handle it.
He already knew that behind her angelic smile that seemed like it would melt her, she had a strong will and a solid inner self. However, he didn't know that she would be this stubborn and determined. He still couldn't understand. How could she let go of love so quickly? Is it possible to truly love someone? He couldn't accept it.
How can he accept it? All the reasons he has endured and survived so far, are the only support that will leave his side. How can he silently let go when the one and only world will leave him and throw his soul into a hell that is no different from death?
Every time Angie writhed under him, he felt disgusted with himself. He felt like vomiting from the disgust of treating someone who was more precious to him than anything else in the world and whom he loved more than anyone else, so cruelly, like an animal. So he would always resolve to try to persuade her again right before he opened the door.
But every time Kyle faced Angie, who didn't even nod, he lost his senses again. He felt an uncontrollable anger surge up and his blood rushed to his head. He couldn't even breathe properly because of the fear that he might lose her forever.
So Kyle knocked her down again like a thug. Then he pushed and tore her until she fainted. Then he regretted it so much, and the next day he raped her again like an animal. The same situation was repeated for four days. He thought he was going crazy.
He wanted to tell the whole truth. But he was afraid. What if it backfired? If she found out the truth, she would reject it even more and try to run away even further.
Kyle buried his face in his hands in agony as he pulled the rope between his legs. Less than a minute later, Jerome came in through the emergency exit.
“Your Highness, have you called?”
“Jerome. Do you know the recipe for the drug that resets memory... the amnesiac?”
“Your Highness. Why is that...”
Jerome raised his voice involuntarily as if he was shocked. It was nothing more than a sign that he knew.
“Isn’t it possible to erase only a certain section of memory? It seems possible to do so in conjunction with hypnosis, but how long does the drug take to store in the storage room...?”
If he could just erase Angie's memories from when she first heard about his marriage two weeks ago until now. Then he could put her on a ship and take her to the capital... No. It would be useless. No matter how far he took her to the capital, he couldn’t keep her from knowing about his marriage. It would be like covering her eyes and pretending not to know.
As Kyle interrupted, Jerome opened his mouth with a worried look on his face.
“It is possible to manufacture, but it is not the time to grow the main ingredient, opium grass, right now. There is one last vial left in the storage room... However, the side effect issue has not been resolved, so it is left as is.”
“Side effects? What kind?”
“The previous experiment resulted in a complete loss of memory. Do you remember Elliot Hawkins, who died on a previous voyage? Mrs. Hawkins, who was not her biological son, seemed to have grown attached to Elliot, and suffered greatly, eventually telling strange stories to the village Remedy children... Mrs. Dunst and the helpers injected him with amnesia drugs. As a result, Mrs. Hawkins...”
“How much, how much have she lost?”
“Despite the hypnotic effect that was supposed to make her forget her son’s existence, she forgot everything. Her mind became a completely blank sheet. With the help of Mr. Hawkins and the villagers, she is now able to continue her farm work and daily life, but it will take a long time for her to find stability.”
Kyle didn't respond, just clasped his hands together. He couldn't let something like that happen to Angie. No matter what happened to her, even if she became a blank slate like Mrs. Hawkins, his feelings wouldn't change. He would step up and take responsibility for everything about Angie and protect her thoroughly.
Even if the world were to collapse and perish, his feelings for Angie would not change. However, he never wanted Angie to forget the past three years.
In those days when there was no hope, Angie walked into his dark world and became his light. As she opened the book, opened her lips, and read each verse, the dark inside of the curtains turned into a paradise of light. And then the first kiss, the waiting, and another waiting.
The arduous healing process that he endured with his teeth clenched to protect her, to save even a single drop of her precious blood. The first moment when they finally became one after the new year. The steps they took every night, yearning for each other's presence, heading to the Generalife Gardens.
The world at that time existed solely for them and was their own time. Those were moments that could not be exchanged for anything. No matter what happened, Angie's mind could not be made to return to nothingness.
***
Angie opened her eyes in a dull pain. Her whole body ached as if she had been hit. Her limbs were so heavy that she felt as if she would collapse onto the floor of the bed.
The dawn that announced a new day was faintly breaking through the window, but she had no will or desire. She had no sense of time, not even a few days had passed. Four nights had passed, so it must have been five days since Angie was locked up. Fortunately, the storm that had been raging so fiercely the night before had subsided, so the vibrations that had been shaking the window had stopped.
As she tried to control her body, the nausea surged up inside her. Even as shr kicked off the bed and headed to the bathroom, Angie had difficulty breathing due to the pain in her stomach.
Angie was on her hands and knees on the bathroom floor. She had only had water, so nothing came out when she threw it up. Angie sat curled up and sobbed.
On the first day of her confinement, while she was asleep, the picture hanging on one wall was removed, revealing a hidden space in the wall. In the empty room, like a closet, a pulley was attached, and a tray containing food and water was brought up from the lower floor through it for every meal.
For the past four days, Angie could barely finish half of the bowl due to the pressure from the master. But today, she couldn't even touch the food because her stomach had been so upset since morning. It didn't accept it at all.
It was when she laid down on the bed weakly. One day, one of the maids in the main building of the Duke's residence showed the same symptoms. She couldn't eat well for several days and just vomited, so the maid in charge, Yasmine, and the other maids were worried.
"Marie. Are you okay? Why are you acting like you're pregnant? It's unlikely you're pregnant, but you look like you're in pain. Just go to your room and rest for today."
"That's right. You had your period last week, so you can't be pregnant. Marie, go ahead. I'll take care of the rest."
Angie jerked her upper body up. Her limp body gained strength. Her eyes were wide with shock.
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