GTMDWH | Chapter 67

~Chapter 67~

Leah sat up in bed after making sure Raphaella was asleep.

“Maybe it’s because today was so eventful… I can’t sleep.”
“Maybe I’ll go for a short walk.”

Click, click.

Just as Leah closed her door, she heard another door close at the same time.

Surprised, she turned her head and saw Johann holding the doorknob of the room next to hers.

“…Still can’t sleep?”

“…Isn’t it a bit early to sleep anyway?”

He nodded toward the large grandfather clock in the hallway.

She turned to look.

It wasn’t even 9 PM yet.

“Oh, Rafi just fell asleep early.”

She had thought it was already 10.

“…Want to take a walk together?”

It felt weird just standing around, so she made the suggestion.

“…Sure, why not.”

They went downstairs and walked through the small garden of the villa.

“I’m glad you’re starting to get your memories back.”

“At first it was just little bits and pieces.”
He paused.

“But the more time I spend with Raphaella, the more I start to remember.”

“Really?”
“You played a big part in that. You kept pushing me to spend time with her, whether I liked it or not.”

“I guess I was pretty persistent.”

“…That’s a compliment.”

Johann added.

“Well, I’m glad I tried so hard.”

Leah smiled and lowered her head slightly.

“Thanks.”

“…For what?”

She looked up at him.

“For raising Raphaella so well on your own… and for bringing her back into my life.”

Johann met her eyes.

———

Under the soft moonlight, Leah’s emerald-green eyes sparkled silently as

she looked at him.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her, despite spending the whole day trying to avoid them.

‘…Why does she look so sad?’

It was just a simple thank you, but her eyes…

“…Didn’t expect to hear that from you,”

Leah said, brushing her hair back.

“I just said what needed to be said.”

“Then I guess I don’t have to worry about you anymore.”

She smiled faintly.

Maybe it was the moonlight, but Johann felt like she was a mirage about to disappear.

He had the sudden urge to hold on to her.

“…But still, keep worrying about me.”

“Huh?”

Leah blinked.

“You never know what might happen to my memory again.”

“I don’t think that’ll happen.”

“Come on, a guy who lost his memory twice could lose it a third time, right?”

“Why are you being so negative all of a sudden?”

She frowned.

“I don’t know. Just… don’t stop keeping an eye on me.”

He insisted, unusually.

“…Fine. If you really want to be watched that badly.”

She replied, half-jokingly.

Only then did he start walking again.

—

The next day Patrizia, who had woken up late and eaten a big brunch, climbed into a carriage dressed to the nines.

Her younger brother followed behind her.

“Don’t you have anywhere to go?”
She asked with an annoyed look.

“The Blumhardt estate is where I’m going.”

Florian replied shamelessly.

“You’re still into that country bumpkin?”

“And what about you? Showing up uninvited like this?”

He teased me.

“I’m not barging in!”

“The duke will definitely see it that way.”

“I’m just delivering an invitation my mother personally wrote to the duchess.”

“Great excuse.”

Florian smirked and whistled.

“Better than being a leech like you.”

Florian shrugged and leaned back in his seat.

“…Ugh, when will you ever grow up.”

Patrizia muttered, crossing her legs.

But her dreams of seeing Johann were crushed as soon as she arrived.

“The duchess will be down shortly, Your Highness.”

“What about Duke Blumhardt?”

She asked while sitting on the couch.

“He’s not here at the moment.”

“…Excuse me?”

‘Are you kidding me? I even dressed up extra nice today!’

“Where is he? Will he be back today?”

She stared down the butler.

“He and the young lady went to the villa yesterday for vacation. We’re not sure when they’ll return.”

“…Don’t tell me—her birth mother went with them?”

She was twitching with rage.
Click.

“She did, Your Highness,” said Isabella, who had just entered.

“…What did you say?”

“It was my granddaughter’s birthday wish. We couldn’t refuse.”

“…Birthday?”

Patrizia half stood up, gripping the armrest so hard it looked like she’d rip the fabric.

“Yes, her birthday present was to spend time with her parents… I hope you’ll understand with grace, Your Highness.”

“…”

Patrizia bit the inside of her cheek.

‘Grace? I don’t have that!’

But throwing a tantrum here would only make her look bad.

She was smart enough to know that.
‘If I freak out over a child’s birthday wish, I’ll look like a petty adult.’

And Florian would find it hilarious rather than try to stop her.

No way was she letting him see her like that.

“…I guess I can’t do anything if it was the child’s wish.”

Patrizia forced a smile onto her stiff face.

Florian turned away and snickered at her
expression.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Isabella said politely and sat down.

‘I don’t want to be here anymore.’

Pretending to smile and chat with Isabella felt like torture.

She was boiling with anger inside.

‘I’m a princess. Why am I putting up with this crap over a man who already has a kid?’

No matter how amazing he was, she wasn’t interested in a man who didn’t care about her.

Forget etiquette—she’d say what she came to say and leave.

“This is the invitation written personally by my mother.”

As soon as she got to the point, her maid handed Isabella the invitation.

“Now that Lady Penelope is healthy again, it’s time for you to return to society, Duchess.”

“…Yes, you’re right.”

“Well then, I have a busy schedule today. I’ll be going.”

Patrizia stood up.

“You don’t have—”

“I do,” she snapped quietly at Florian.

“Take care, Your Highness. Prince,”
Isabella said, seeing them out.

Once in the carriage, Patrizia threw a cushion at Florian.

“Why are you taking it out on me?”

He caught the cushion flying at his face.

“Can’t you just let me hit you once?”

She snapped.

“You’re really that mad over a guy who doesn’t like you?”

He leaned against the wall of the carriage.

“Yeah, I am!”

“Why?”

He looked genuinely confused.

“Why? Because Mom told me since I was little that Johann von Blumhardt would be my husband!”

She yelled.

“She said he was the perfect man to match a princess like me!”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“…So you’re swallowing your pride and chasing him just because of that?”

He looked at her wide-eyed.

“I don’t get it.”

“I don’t care if you don’t get it!”

She shouted and threw another cushion at his face.

“…Hey.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you tell me before you’d help me?”

“I did.”

Florian straightened up.

“Then help me.”

“…By any means necessary?”

“Yes. Any means necessary.”

“…Alright.”

He smirked darkly.

—

Later, at the villa…

“Daddy, let’s do this one!”

Raphaella came running to Johann holding a puzzle box.

She had found it while exploring the rooms earlier.

“Sure, let’s do it.”

There were two puzzles: one with a map of the continent and another showing the six heroes.

They were ones Johann had played with as a child during visits to the villa.

“Let’s do it here.”

He set up the puzzle board on the parlor table and dumped the pieces out.

“Okay!”

Raphaella sat with Leah and got ready.

“Let’s try to match it just like the picture.”

He pointed to the box cover.

Raphaella stared at the map carefully.

“…Hmm.”

She picked up a piece, looking unsure.

“Start with the corners, Rafi—it makes it easier.”

He handed her a corner piece and helped guide it to the board.

“Wow, it fits!”

“Now you find the next one, Rafi.”

“Okay!”

Raphaella turned to the pile of pieces, focused.

Johann was a completely different man from when he first played with her—
Now, he was kind, gentle, and fully present at her level.

‘…Even though he hasn’t gotten all his memory back.’

Leah stared blankly at him.

He looked just like the “Hardt” she had known.