Dietrian could not tell what kind of state of mind had led him back to the lodging.
It was fine that he managed to calm his turbulent heart at the theater and hail a carriage.
However, the moment the door closed and Leticia embraced him as if she had been waiting for it, his mind went blank.
By the time he came to his senses, she was straddling his lap. Without hesitation, she pressed her lips to his. Time blurred in an instant, and somehow, their positions shifted.
Now, he was looking down at her. Leticia, breathing unevenly, gazed up at him.
“I can’t wait any longer. It’s driving me crazy. I wish your memories would return quickly….”
He felt the same way. Looking at her disheveled appearance as she gazed up at him, he kissed her again.
His patience had run out long ago. He couldn’t understand why the damn lodging was so far away. While he found his fragile patience exasperating, he also resented having to restrain his love for his wife.
Leticia seemed to feel the same. In the end, both clung to each other as if they would die if they let go until they arrived.
Bang, bang!
“We’ve arrived! Hurry and come out! What on earth are you doing, locking the door?”
The pounding on the door snapped Dietrian back to reality.
Leticia, breathing heavily, looked up at him dreamily. Dietrian quickly checked outside the window.
Relief washed over him at the sight of the familiar lodging. Finally, they were here.
“Leticia. We’ve arrived.”
He helped Leticia up, but she couldn’t stand properly. She leaned on him, flushed and weak.
I overdid it, didn’t I? Dietrian realized belatedly. Sensing his worry, Leticia smiled.
“I enjoyed it.”
That single statement put his mind at ease. Meanwhile, the coachman’s impatient urging continued. Leticia seemed to need some time to recover, so Dietrian opened the side door and tossed a pouch of money.
“Open the door already!”
The coachman scowled as he caught the pouch. Without waiting for the man’s response, Dietrian closed the door. The coachman, about to knock again, widened his eyes.
“What the—!”
The pouch was filled with gold coins. It was enough to rent the old carriage for a year. Dietrian didn’t care. His time with Leticia was far more valuable.
“Dietrian, I just remembered something. I don’t know when, but we once kissed secretly, avoiding people’s eyes. That wasn’t enough, so I bit your collarbone, and you… my clothes….”
“That was during last year’s national holiday celebration, Leticia. Let’s get off now. We’re at the lodging.”
“Oh.”
“Can you move?”
Leticia, gazing at him dazedly, smiled shyly. Dietrian felt a pang of guilt. Thanks to their constant proximity during the ride, her lips were swollen. That wasn’t all. Her pale neck and collarbone bore marks of his kisses. Of course, Leticia had left marks on his body as well.
He picked her up, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Blushing, she smiled at him and said,
“Dietrian, you know….”
“Yes, tell me.”
“Shall we bathe together?”
“……!”
“Let’s bathe together. I feel like we’ve done this before… I almost remember, but not quite… I want to recall it properly….”
Dietrian was reminded of Sigmund’s words: when a partner loses their memory, it feels like experiencing everything for the first time. It wasn’t just about physical intimacy.
Having been married for so long, he had completely forgotten how bold Leticia could be.
“I want to tell you I love you as soon as possible….”
Before he realized it, he was practically running up the stairs to the lodging. He thought to himself, That’s right. Leticia has always been like this.
Before their marriage, her bashful yet determined demeanor had left him utterly helpless.
For the first time since Leticia lost her memory, a liberating smile spread across his face. Although the first day of their anniversary trip had taken an unexpected turn, it seemed destined to become a special memory.
If only Leticia could fully regain her memories, Dietrian thought, perhaps he could forgive Heinz… or so he believed.
“Huh?”
“Mm.”
A moment of silence. Heinz was the first to break it. Pointing straight at Dietrian—or more accurately, at the kiss marks Leticia had left on his neck—he spoke.
“Look at that! They’re doing just fine on their own! My medicine is amazing! It makes them cling to each other! There was no need for me to meddle!”
Sigmund, who had Heinz by the scruff of the neck, cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Well, it does seem to have worked out….”
“Oh, come on! ‘It seems to have worked out’! Whatever! Let me go! I said let me go!”
“Shut up! Regardless of whether they manage things on their own, you need to apologize! Get on your knees and beg for forgiveness!”
“They’re already having a great time, so what am I apologizing for? In case you forgot, let me remind you—I’m Kaiten’s contractor! The one and only human contractor of the mighty Black Dragon!”
“And that same Kaiten entrusted your discipline to me. Now, apologize already!”
“Ugh, no way!”
As the two transcendents bickered, Dietrian calmly walked away.
Entering the bedroom, he carefully laid Leticia on the bed. She opened her heavy eyelids and grabbed onto him, speaking in a voice full of longing.
“Where are you going? Don’t leave… I want to stay with you.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?”
“There’s someone I need to take care of. I was wondering how to deal with them, but they’ve conveniently shown up on their own.”
“Someone you need to take care of…?”
“It won’t take long. I’ll be right back.”
Dietrian kissed Leticia’s cheek before standing. They say people become colder when they’re truly angry, and that described him perfectly at this moment.
Heinz. The man who dared erase Leticia’s memories and then had the gall to appear before him. Worse, he disrupted their precious time together. It was unforgivable.
Dietrian decided not to dwell on which of Heinz’s offenses was worse. With Sigmund holding Heinz in place, now was the perfect opportunity to kill him. Resolute, Dietrian unsheathed his sword.
* * *
To cut to the chase, Dietrian did not kill Heinz. In hindsight, it was an expected outcome. Heinz was, after all, a dragon’s contractor. Dietrian alone could not defeat him.
Still, he vented enough of his anger. With Sigmund’s help and the sudden intervention of spirits, the tables turned.
It turned out the spirits were just as upset as Dietrian over Leticia losing her memories.
“Because of that human, the saintess doesn’t recognize us!”
“She doesn’t even greet us!”
“She doesn’t smile at us anymore!”
“We’ll kill him!”
The spirits became so agitated that the lodging almost collapsed. No, the entire city was nearly destroyed.
Thankfully, Sigmund’s intervention prevented a catastrophe. Heinz, now pale, glared at the spirits while desperately struggling to escape Sigmund’s magical hold.
“Ah, do something about these insane spirits, Lord Sigmund!”
“We’ll kill him!”
“That’s why I told you to apologize!”
And so, they exacted their own brand of revenge with the help of the spirits.
Sigmund even promised additional punishment. Kaiten, Heinz’s dragon contractor, also agreed to assist. Although Dietrian wasn’t entirely satisfied, he decided to let it go for now. Leticia was waiting for him, after all. But then—
“Leticia?”
Leticia had fallen asleep. Dietrian stared in dismay at her, lying on her side.
Even at his call, Leticia did not stir. Her soft breathing and peaceful expression remained unchanged. Dietrian slumped his shoulders in exasperation before letting out a quiet laugh.
Perhaps it was thanks to all the commotion, but his mind felt clearer.
‘There’s plenty of time.’
Today, tomorrow—she would be with him.
Her memories were gradually returning. Maybe that was why the fear of being abandoned felt a little less overwhelming now.
Of course, he was still disappointed that he couldn’t fully connect with her. But what could he do? He couldn’t wake her just to satisfy his own desires.
Dietrian carefully lay down beside her. Gazing at her peaceful sleeping face, he felt as though he had returned to the imperial palace, back to the days when watching her sleep filled him with contentment.
Smiling softly, Dietrian gently embraced her. A tranquil smile lingered on his lips.
* * *
“Did you sleep well?”
When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was Leticia looking down at him.
He blinked away the remnants of sleep, finding her smile strangely familiar. A jolt of realization struck him. He quickly sat up, his heart pounding with anticipation as he asked her,
“Leticia, don’t tell me—”
Leticia grinned. She gazed at him with a look entirely different from the night before, her green eyes brimming with unmistakable affection.
“It’s been a while, Dietrian.”
“Leticia!”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Dietrian pulled her into a tight embrace. Her memories had returned!
“Is it true? Are you really okay now? Do you remember everything?”
“Yes.”
Leticia nodded with a smile. Unable to contain himself, Dietrian hugged her again.
“Ha. I feel like I’ve come back to life. You have no idea how terrified I was that you might forget me forever.”
“How could I forget such a wonderful husband? That would be a terrible loss.”
Leticia chuckled and playfully wrapped her arms around his neck. Her heart swelled with emotion as well. Even though she had only lost her memories, the sight of him suffering had tugged at her heartstrings.
“By the way, Dietrian, didn’t you forget something?”
“What do you mean?”
Dietrian tilted his head in confusion before letting out a gasp.
“You mean the performance? Don’t worry. I was planning to arrange it as soon as your memories returned—”
“I don’t need a performance.”
“What?”
Leticia giggled and gently nipped at his chin.
“Now that we’re finally alone, I find you much more tempting than any performance.”
Her teasing gaze sent a spark through Dietrian, and his eyes darkened.
He smirked and swiftly laid her back on the bed.
Leticia let out a playful shriek, her laughter ringing out. Dietrian’s smile deepened.
“The truth is, I feel the same. I didn’t say it yesterday, but holding back was driving me crazy. So, you’d better be ready.”
Leticia burst into laughter.
Outside, the lively sounds of festival music drifted in, but neither of them paid any attention.
It seemed neither had any intention of leaving the lodging during this trip. They thought the same thing.
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