Chapter 28
“I was interested. In Lyla Green.”
Lyla had been close friends with Alex.
And Alex had also been friends with Keith.
It had only been for a brief time when they were very young, but even after Keith’s family fell into ruin, Alex had stayed in touch. He was a deeply compassionate and kind person.
Alex was said to have died in an accident during a mission. That’s what Keith had believed. But seeing Lyla Green try to kill the marquis’s wife after Alex’s death… it meant there was something Keith didn’t know.
As he exited the underground prison, Keith recalled the past.
Keith had once attended a noble’s evening party. He hadn’t been officially invited, but so what? As long as he dressed the part, no one questioned his presence.
“Look over there.”
“That must be the Baldwin marquis couple.”
“My, they still look like the perfect pair.”
The crowd whispered while smiling at the couple. The gazes and hushed tones were gentle, free of any malice.
“They really are a lovely sight.”
“You can’t help but smile when you see them.”
“Right? And they’re both absolutely flawless.”
“They’re the pride of our kingdom.”
Keith, who rarely paid attention to popular figures, found himself watching the couple simply because of that: there wasn’t a hint of envy or jealousy in the air.
No matter how good-natured someone was, they couldn’t be free of enemies.
It wasn’t a matter of good or evil. It was about choice. If you stood on one side, you had to turn your back on the other. You couldn’t please everyone—especially not in the tangled web of noble society. Benefits were never equally distributed.
“Was it three years ago? When the marquis’s wife lost her memory?”
“They say she couldn’t use any magic before that. How tragic…”
“Has she still not regained her memories?”
“Well, it all turned out happily in the end. Oh, but don’t mention that in front of the marquis’s wife. It might hurt her feelings.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t want to earn the marquis’s glare.”
“The marquis’s love for his wife is famous.”
“As is the Seymour family’s devotion to their daughter. Such a rare family these days…”
Keith sipped his wine and smiled to himself.
“They’re like something out of a novel. A heroine beloved by all.”
He snorted softly. As if such people actually existed in real life.
Even gods have enemies.
“She’s the daughter of Monica, the great spirit summoner. No wonder she commands three Grand Spirits…”
Her long, dark brown hair fell to her waist. She clung to her husband’s arm with delicate hands, her smile bright and fluffy like cotton candy. A beauty, and full of charm. Keith judged flatly.
He had heard plenty about the daughter of the Seymour family. But the person he saw bore no resemblance to the one in those stories. Not even a hint of similarity. Keith clicked his tongue, thinking he ought to scold whoever had fed him those lies.
He couldn’t understand why that person had been so tormented by this woman.
Draining his glass, Keith made his way through the crowd toward the couple. Fortunately, the party was less formal than a ball, so getting close wasn’t difficult.
As soon as the unfamiliar man approached, Linus’s eyes sharpened. In contrast, Florence watched Keith with curious, sparkling eyes. So she’s lighter-hearted than expected, Keith thought, flashing a bright smile.
“It’s been a while, madam.”
“Oh my, do I… know you…?”
She smiled sweetly, her cheeks flushing as if entranced. Keith quickly looked away to dodge the killing intent radiating from her husband.
“My name is Keith. Don’t you remember me?”
“Um… which house are you from…?”
“I’m not from any house worth naming, but we’ve met before.”
“I’m sorry. I lost my memory a few years ago…”
Looking flustered, Florence glanced around. Linus stepped in front of her protectively.
“Don’t talk to strangers, Florence.”
“But Linus, how can you say that in front of someone?”
Linus didn’t bother hiding his displeasure. Keith spoke calmly.
“It’s fine. The commander isn’t wrong. I had hoped the lady might remember me…”
Florence studied his face with a slightly troubled expression. Then she murmured something under her breath. Keith read her lips.
“Not a character, but handsome. Who could he be?”
Keith quickly cut in.
“There’s no need to remember. I’m just glad I could greet you.”
“Oh… See, Linus? He’s a nice person.”
“……”
“Shall we shake hands, Mr. Keith?”
Florence smiled again. Keith took her hand. The way she held on tightly, then let go with a trace of regret—it revealed her greedy nature. To look at another man even with a husband like that… truly insatiable.
Keith murmured casually:
“Oh, that reminds me…”
“Yes?”
“Enoch asked me to send his regards.”
“Who?”
Florence tilted her head, clearly confused. The one who reacted was Linus. The restrained killing intent flared up violently. Keith quickly stepped back and raised his hands in mock surrender. Florence glanced between them in alarm.
“Who’s Enoch? I really don’t know.”
“It’s nothing. Please don’t worry.”
“Florence, we’re leaving.”
That wasn’t a lie. She genuinely didn’t know who Enoch was.
She really didn’t remember Enoch Haynes, who had grown up with her for years. Even with her memory lost, it was hard to believe no one had ever mentioned him.
But Keith didn’t have time to dwell on that mystery.
Linus’s killing intent was real.
“If I don’t get out of here fast, I’m seriously going to die.”
Keith didn’t want to ruin someone else’s party. He slipped away into the crowd. Linus might act tame in front of his wife, so while the man was distracted, Keith had to flee. If he went all out, he could escape evenly matched. Otherwise, he’d have to be ready to lose an arm.
He’d really gone through hell escaping that night. All he’d done was say hello, and afterward, he had to dodge assassins from the commander for weeks…
Back outside the dungeon, Keith clicked his tongue.
It had been strange that no one seemed to hate her—but apparently, at least one person did. Somehow, that made the world feel a bit more balanced.
Keith scratched his head.
“She’s changed too much.”
They had met before, a long time ago.
Back then, the girl had sat quietly by her dying grandmother’s bedside. Her face was weighed down with the sorrow of the world, tears streaming silently down her pale cheeks. He remembered watching her for over an hour, the tears never stopping.
“Amnesia, huh…”
The tearful child, and the coquettish woman who enjoyed her husband’s jealousy.
“People change, they say…”
Keith shook his head.
