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Chapter 15
Rowen, not knowing what Lian was thinking, spoke to Juhee in a slightly excited voice.
“My name must be Rowengreen.”
“I guess so.”
Juhee glanced back.
The man was muttering to himself while diligently following them.
According to what he said earlier, he had traveled all over the country looking for Rowen.
That meant Rowen originally lived very far from here.
It was only Juhee’s intuition, but she thought Rowen was probably someone who had lived in the capital.
Which meant he wasn’t just some minor noble.
She would have to ask that man for details later, but for now, that was her guess.
Juhee naturally handed the basket to Rowen.
At that moment, a shocked sound came again from behind.
“Ha……”
“Why? Is it because of that man?”
When Juhee sighed, Rowen looked worried and asked her.
Juhee shook her head slightly.
“No. I’m just a bit tired.”
Still, he was the only person who might help recover Rowen’s memory, so she couldn’t drive him away.
Instead, she decided to quickly finish shopping and go home.
As they bought things one by one, the basket quickly became heavy.
Thinking it was enough, Juhee turned around.
Lian hurriedly followed and spoke to Rowen.
“Lord Rowengreen, I’ll carry that. Please give it to me.”
“Um… no, it’s fine. I can’t let a stranger carry my things.”
“Gasp…!”
Lian felt dizzy.
Even if he lost his memory, he never expected someone to change this much.
Shocked, Lian staggered as he followed behind Juhee and Rowen.
* * *
“Ugh—Aaaah!!”
Lian shut his eyes tightly and screamed.
Feeling like he might fall at any moment, he desperately clung to the wolf’s fur.
He thought he’d be fine since he had ridden horses a lot—but he was not.
Lian squinted his eyes and looked ahead at Juhee with a horrified expression.
Without reins or a saddle, it was extremely hard to keep balance, so he had no choice but to lie flat.
When they arrived at the house, Lian got off unsteadily and bent over, gagging.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah, yes… Ugh!”
Juhee casually patted his back.
Seeing that, Rowen quickly stepped forward, gently pushed Juhee aside, and started patting Lian’s back more firmly.
“Juhee, I’ll take care of him. Go inside first.”
“Oh… okay.”
Juhee nodded and went inside with the basket.
“Ugh—wait, that hurts…!”
“Are you better now? Then let’s go in.”
Rowen seemed to use a bit too much strength, and Lian groaned in pain.
But Rowen didn’t care at all.
Without even waiting for a reply, he just went inside.
“Ha… even without his memory, he’s still cold…”
After calming his stomach a bit more, Lian carefully entered the house.
“Excuse me.”
He looked around the house cautiously.
It was small—but very clean.
“You live well in such a small place…”
Lian muttered without thinking.
Mel immediately told Juhee.
- Juhee, that guy said this house is small!
Juhee walked past Lian and said:
“Sorry for living in such a small place.”
“Gasp! No, I mean… I’m sorry.”
Lian scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
He didn’t expect her to hear something he said so quietly.
Realizing Juhee had sharp hearing, he decided to be careful.
Juhee, Rowen, and Lian sat around the table.
Lian cleared his throat and introduced himself.
“My introduction is late. My name is Lian. I’m a commoner, so I don’t have a family name.”
“I’m Juhee.”
“Um… excuse me, but are you a noble?”
She didn’t seem rough like a commoner—she was calm and carried a subtle elegance, so Lian wondered if she might be a noble hiding her identity.
But the answer was unexpected.
“No. I’m an orphan.”
Juhee said it calmly.
Lian was speechless.
Not knowing what to say, he hesitated, when Rowen spoke.
“More importantly, do you know me?”
“Yes, of course! I never expected someone who should be in the capital to be here.”
Juhee’s guess was correct.
She asked the most important question.
“What rank is Rowen?”
“Pardon? Rank?”
“I mean… like count, marquis, duke.”
“Uh… that is…”
Lian hesitated.
Juhee frowned slightly.
“So, what is it?”
“He is… a very high-ranking person.”
Juhee’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Lian looked wronged.
“I have circumstances, so I can’t say exactly. But he really is someone very important!”
If Juhee seemed trustworthy, Lian would have explained everything.
But he had just met her today.
“When Lord Rowengreen recovers his memory, I will tell everything then.”
Juhee stood up.
“Rowen, I’ll go to the forest for a bit.”
“Yes, be careful.”
Finally, Juhee and Rowen were alone no longer.
As soon as she left, Lian quickly approached Rowen and knelt.
“Lord Rowengreen.”
“Why are you kneeling?”
“Lord Rowengreen, you are the First Prince of this empire.”
“…What?”
Rowen blinked blankly.
Lian continued.
“You were about to become the Crown Prince.”
“Me?”
“Your name is Rowengreen de Alexio. Do you remember anything?”
Rowen looked confused.
Lian clenched his lips.
“We must return to the imperial palace. I was given two and a half months to bring you back.”
“What are you talking about…?”
Rowen pressed his head as it started to hurt.
“Later… let’s talk later.”
“Even if you don’t regain your memory, it’s fine. The palace has excellent physicians.”
Lian spoke faster.
“Everyone is waiting for you. If we delay, the Second Prince may become Crown Prince.”
Rowen’s headache worsened.
Something felt like it was about to surface—but didn’t.
Finally noticing Rowen’s condition, Lian asked:
“Your Highness, are you okay?”
Rowen exhaled.
“Let me ask one thing.”
“Yes?”
“How can you be sure I’m that prince? I could just be someone who looks like him.”
Lian hesitated, then said:
“There should be a star-shaped scar near your shoulder blade. From a monster subjugation.”
Rowen checked—and it was there.
“Your Highness.”
Rowen looked at Lian.
“Maximum one week.”
“….”
“After one week, you must come.”
“….”
“I know you’re confused. But I’m not lying. I’ll wait at the village entrance.”
Just then, Juhee returned.
“I’ll take my leave.”
“…Follow me.”
After seeing him off, Juhee came back inside.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes… I’m fine.”
She hesitated, then asked:
“Do you have to leave?”
“How did you…?”
“I heard outside.”
(It was actually Mel who told her.)
“You can leave.”
“Juhee.”
“I won’t force you to stay.”
Rowen stood up and held her shoulders.
“Do you want me to leave?”
“…You have to go.”
(Because you are the male lead of this story.)
She swallowed those words.
When Mel told her earlier:
“Mel, what?”
- Rowen is the Crown Prince. The man said he disappeared before becoming one.
“…Oh my.”
Juhee rarely showed shock.
Was there a scene like this in the book?
She tried to remember—
But she had only skimmed it, so she couldn’t recall.
