"Last night, I asked the attending physician, and surprisingly, partial amnesia has a high chance of being treated. It's probably because it's not complete memory loss," Enrique said, his words still not finished. However, from the introduction, it was already clear that something was off.
Lillian suddenly felt an ominous premonition, focusing on his handsome lips as they moved. She had the strange feeling that those angel-like lips were about to speak hellish words. And as always, her ominous premonition turned into reality.
"I, too, am uncomfortable sending away a diligent and good subordinate like you over something like this. So, here's my proposal—how about we try for just one month?"
"...Excuse me? I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand what you mean," Lillian asked, feigning confusion. However, her inner thoughts were already screaming, pounding on the table, lamenting her failure. Sure enough, Enrique dropped a terrifying proposal from his mouth.
"Coincidentally, my assistant, Sir Kael, is about to get married. While he's away on his honeymoon, I'll appoint you as my temporary assistant. So, during the day, you'll assist with my work, and before you leave, you'll have an hour of swordsmanship training with me."
"Assistant...?" Lillian hesitated, her mind in turmoil.
"Yes. You've spent your life training with a sword, so even if you don't remember, your body will recall the movements. If you practice swordsmanship for an hour every day, your memory will soon return."
No! If it's that, I've already tried it countless times! What good is training the body when the soul is someone else? No matter how long I practice, there's no way I can remember!
Lillian screamed inwardly. It seemed she'd given Enrique far too much of a favorable impression. He, feeling sorry for Lillian, was so eager to help her, wanting to do something for her. Her determination to protect a commoner girl, even with an injured body, had deeply moved him. Furthermore, there was a part of her that reminded him of his deceased sister, making it impossible for him to see Lillian as just another person.
"Think it over. If you learn swordsmanship directly from me, it's not such a bad deal."
It was such an overwhelming offer that it was a problem. Lillian nodded reluctantly, her pale face betraying her frustration. She had already pleaded too much about the "reasons she must quit" and couldn't turn down this proposal. Doing so would immediately raise Enrique's suspicions.
"Alright. Then, starting next week, I expect you to come in. Although it's a short time, I hope we can work well together, Sir Lillian."
Enrique smiled brightly after receiving her agreement. His previously stiff face now shone with a youthful radiance. It’s true that you can’t spit on a smiling face, but even more so on a handsome man’s smile. Lillian forced a smile, trying to seem happy, but secretly clenched her fists in frustration.
"My plan to buy some time until I find another job and then resign from the order...!!"
Now, she had to come up with a new plan. Despite the turmoil, breakfast was going down quite well. The hot ham and bacon were juicy, with rich flavors. The eggs were soft and smooth, slipping down effortlessly. The salad with a tangy yuzu dressing and the salty soup with broccoli were also excellent.
After all, Lillian had the body of a well-trained knight. Her metabolism was high, so her meals were anything but small. After having barely eaten yesterday, her appetite was even more intense. Watching her devour breakfast, Enrique smiled again.
"It looks like the food suits your taste. Eat plenty. That's how you'll stay healthy."
"...Thank you, Sir Enrique."
Lillian, resigned to her fate, smiled as she swallowed her tears. Meanwhile, her fork and knife were busy moving between her plate and her mouth.
Yes, they say you can’t look at a mountain before eating, so let’s eat first and think later.
"Well then, please feel at home as if it's your own place."
After finishing breakfast, Enrique headed to work. Through his butler, he ensured Lillian had the freedom to rest as long as she wished. But Lillian shook her head and, taking the clothes she had arrived in, left the Evans family mansion.
"What's the point of staying in a house with no master?"
She walked slowly back to her house. The Evans family had offered to send a carriage, but she had refused. After all, she needed to manage her stamina for Enrique's special training starting next week. As she walked, she quietly tugged at her black hair.
"Will I be able to keep this secret? Probably not..."
She didn't even know the basics of swordsmanship. She had no idea how Enrique would react to her obvious lack of skill. He had already gauged her abilities as one of his knights and was sharp enough to notice her deficiencies.
If she were to avoid his suspicions, she would need to at least show that her "mind was doubtful, but her body was honest." But that, too, seemed like a struggle given Chae Soyeon's current reality. At this point, she genuinely felt like making a deal with the devil. If the preparations had been even a bit easier, she might have already been drawing a summoning circle.
Lillian, her mind troubled, headed home. The modest three-story house, so different from the grand Evans mansion, greeted her.
"Miss! You've finally returned!"
Of course, the first person to greet Lillian was Seth. There were only four employees in the humble Rosetti mansion, which was so shabby it was almost pitiful. There was the butler Fran, who helped manage internal affairs, Seth, who served Lillian, the cook who took care of the kitchen and housework, and the gardener. That was it.
"Yeah, I'm back. Now, get away."
Lillian pushed Seth aside with a lackluster expression and made her way up to her room. Without much thought, she began undressing, but suddenly shuddered and threw her top aside. The pattern on her shoulder, looking like snail slime, made her blood boil with irritation.
"Maybe because I'm a side character, even the family crest was drawn so poorly."
Just thinking about how she got hit because of that crest made her angry!
With no one watching, Lillian vented her frustration, crawling into bed. She had been so worried the previous day that she hardly slept, and now she was utterly exhausted. But since it was "her" bedroom, she immediately fell into a deep sleep as soon as she lay down.
"Ow!!"
"You bitch!! Do you even know what you've done? You filthy girl!!"
Lillian woke with a scream, and her head throbbed as though it would split. Her body swayed uncontrollably. A man's unpleasant yelling pierced her ears.
"You bitch! Just like your mother, you slut! How dare a virgin stay at a man’s house like this?!"
What the hell is this? Lillian frowned but grabbed the man’s hand, which had grabbed her hair, with all her strength. The grip of someone who had wielded a sword all her life was unexpectedly strong. As her hand squeezed, she could feel the man's strength wane.
"Oh, you damned girl trying to overpower your father!! Raising a daughter like that, you repay my kindness with ingratitude. Ugh!!"
The man staggered back, holding his hand. Then, for a moment, his face flashed in the firelight of the fireplace. Black hair, blue eyes, a middle-aged man’s face, soaked in alcohol. It was then that Lillian realized this was her father, Herbert Rosetti.
Herbert had barely shown his face around the house for nearly a week. He had probably been drinking away his money, only to crawl back now. His breath still reeked of alcohol and cigarettes.
"My hand is broken! Ah, it hurts!! You’re hurting me!!"
Lillian looked at her father, who was acting like a victim, in disbelief. He had barged into her room and grabbed her hair first, yet he was acting like the injured party. But it seemed the other servants didn’t see it that way. Seth, startled by the shouting, ran over to Herbert’s side.
"Master, are you alright? Let me see your hand... Aaah!"
Herbert swung his hand and shoved Seth away. She was knocked back with such force that she fell, hitting her head. With a dull thud, her limbs went limp. Seeing this, Lillian rushed to Seth’s side.
"Seth! What are you doing?!"
But Herbert, still not satisfied, kicked Seth's unconscious body. As a result, Lillian was also knocked back by the kick. Herbert continued his tirade, berating Seth.
"You! I hired you to look after my daughter, but what are you doing? You didn’t even keep an eye on her, and look how she turned out—a shameful slut, daring to stay at a man’s house! How shameless!"
Herbert even spat on Seth. Lillian couldn’t watch this any longer. Enraged, she stood up, glaring at him.
"Enough. You’re taking your anger out on an unconscious maid. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?"
"You... You insolent girl...!!"
Herbert’s face reddened as he was threatened by his own daughter. But after feeling her strength earlier, he didn’t dare rush at her.
Seeing this, Lillian felt a bit more confident. Even without knowing swordsmanship, her well-trained body still had its advantages. She had taken on two strong men before, so a drunken middle-aged man was nothing she couldn’t handle. With her arms crossed, Lillian coolly shot back at him.