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Chapter 2
You Don’t Recognize Me?
“Wow! So people really do live here!”
The blazing sun had softened, and the breeze carried a faint hint of autumn in the late summer afternoon.
After nearly a month of seclusion since her possession, Himena finally went out to the capital, Grantolle, accompanied by her escort knight, Royce, and her maid, Marie.
“My lady, are your memories still so fuzzy?”
Royce asked as Himena craned her neck out of the carriage window, gawking like a child.
“Huh? O-of course they are. I mean, I tumbled down the palace stairs and cracked my head open, remember?”
Because of the clash when she was possessed, she could recall the general plot of the novel but had none of Himena’s lived memories. So whenever she was in a pinch, she used her head injury as an excuse.
On top of that, recognizing people’s faces—or settings described only in words, not pictures—was impossible to begin with.
“Honestly, why chase after someone who said they didn’t want you in the first place?”
“Exactly. A woman who tried to cling to a man who hated her, or one who chased after a suicidal lunatic… they’re no different.”
“What was that, my lady?”
Marie, who had dozed off beside her, rubbed away some drool and asked.
“N-nothing. Anyway, Marie, don’t you want something? Today I’ll buy you anything you like.”
“Huh? Oh, no, my lady.”
“Come on, it’s fine. I brought plenty of money. Look.”
With an excited grin, Himena jingled the heavy pouch of gold coins tied at her waist.
“I couldn’t, my lady. What would I need? You should use it for yourself—buy the latest dresses, shoes, jewelry…”
“Marie.”
Himena caught Marie’s little hand, stopping her list, and looked at her seriously.
“Don’t you ever say ‘someone like me’ in front of me again. Do you know how much I rely on you? Since I woke up from my injury, you’ve stayed by me, kindly guiding me through everything. If not for you, I’d still be wandering around in confusion.”
“M-my lady…”
Marie’s freckled face flushed red as she gazed at her mistress.
The young lady who used to be fickle and harsh had suddenly become so caring and down-to-earth—it was unthinkable.
“So today, let me repay you just a little. That’s why I brought this money. I’m normally really frugal, but just for today, I want to treat my cute Marie to something delicious—”
“F-frugal? You, my lady?”
In both their minds floated countless memories of Himena’s extravagant wastefulness.
“…Frugal trying to be, I mean. But today’s an exception. Ha ha.”
“Ah… yes.”
“My lady, what about me? I pour my heart and soul into teaching you swordsmanship…”
“Fine, fine, you too. Anyway, today’s on me—let’s have fun, the three of us!”
And so, the trio spent the whole day wandering through the bustling capital, browsing shops and eating at famous restaurants until the sun began to set.
“My lady, wait here while I fetch the carriage.”
“Alright, Royce. Go ahead.”
As Royce left to summon their ride back to the duke’s estate, Himena and Marie sat on the plaza steps with their bags.
“My lady, you bought only gifts for the servants back home. Not a single thing for yourself.”
“Oh, I already have more than enough. Next time we can—”
“Ahhh! Thief!”
The cry rang out. Himena instinctively leapt to her feet.
“That boy stole my bag!”
An old lady pointed to a boy clutching her satchel, darting away.
“Marie! Stay here!”
“Wh-what, my lady?!”
Himena bolted through the crowd, chasing the pickpocket as he slipped into a side alley.
“Pant… pant… where’d he go?”
Before she realized it, she’d gone deep into a deserted backstreet.
“Damn, lost him.”
“Looking for someone, miss?”
From the shadows emerged half a dozen men.
“A lady shouldn’t wander alone here.”
“Heh. Why don’t you come quietly with us?”
Himena sighed.
“Haa… Looks like you’re with that pickpocket. Just give back the bag and I’ll let this slide. End it peacefully, alright?”
“Ha! Is this wench insane? Grab her!”
They leered, closing in.
“Well, my fault for expecting anything good in a place like this.”
Smack!
“Ugh!”
Pow! Pow! Pow!
“Gahh! Cough!”
Two thugs fell, clutching their stomachs.
“You bitch!”
Clang!
The others drew their swords.
‘Damn, I left mine behind!’
The moonlight gleamed on their blades. Himena tensed, stepping back.
“Finish her!”
“Haaah!”
“Argh!”
Suddenly, the attackers screamed and dropped like flies.
“W-what? Who’s there!”
“Drop your swords if you want to live.”
A cold voice rang out. A man in a hooded robe stood against the moonlight, his crimson eyes gleaming with menace.
“R-red eyes? R-run!”
The remaining thugs scrambled away, half-dead with fear.
“Thank you. You saved me.”
Himena spoke from behind. The man turned, lowering his hood. Himena’s breath caught.
It was like watching a marble statue suddenly come alive under the moonlight—flawless proportions, sharp features, chillingly untouchable.
The man was so striking she almost doubted he was real.
“What were you doing here?”
“Huh? Oh, I was chasing a pickpocket who stole an old lady’s bag…”
“Pickpocket?”
“Yes. I lost him in the end, though. If not for their swords, those thugs would’ve been no problem.”
‘Unbelievable.’
The man frowned at her clenched fist.
“Let’s go. I’ll escort you back to your companions.”
“Ah, thank you. I was completely lost here.”
She followed him as he strode ahead.
“By the way, that was amazing. You didn’t even draw your sword.”
“If I had, blood would have been spilled. They didn’t deserve mercy, but I didn’t want to frighten you.”
‘So he was sparing me from seeing blood. But wow… what a stiff, cold manner he has.’
“Still, the capital isn’t as safe as it looks.”
“This is better than most places. Out in the provinces, it’s worse. Excessive taxes to feed nobles’ greed push more commoners into crime.”
‘Hmm… he doesn’t sound like a noble. But he looks noble-born, with that aura… strange.’
“You’re right. I recently helped my elder review the serfs in our domain. Too many problems. We need to lower taxes, help the poor more—at least in our land.”
He stopped and turned, staring at her strangely.
“What did you just say? Help the poor?”
“Yes. My family has a large domain, and—huh?”
“Wha—!”
At that moment, the pickpocket boy from before ran headlong into them.
“Damn!”
“Hey, stop!”
Himena grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.
“Gotcha!”
“Let me go! I already lost the bag!”
“What? Lost it? To who?”
“The gang… they took it…!”
Tears welled in his bruised eyes. Clearly, the stolen satchel had been taken by the thugs, leaving him with nothing but a black eye.
“…Stop crying, kid.”
Himena let go, brushing his messy clothes.
“Did you eat dinner?”
The boy shook his head.
“Stealing is wrong, no matter the reason. But if you promise not to do it again, I’ll give you this.”
She pulled out a gold coin.
“R-really?”
As he reached for it eagerly, she pulled back.
“Not yet. Promise first.”
She held out her pinky. Confused, the boy awkwardly hooked it.
“Ha! Not like that. Here.”
She wrapped her pinky around his and pressed their thumbs together.
“Now, you promised. If you break it, I’ll come after you. I’m scary, you know.”
She placed the coin in his hand and patted his head.
“T-thank you!”
The boy ran off without looking back.
“You think pity like that will change him?”
The man spoke coldly, arms crossed.
“I know. Change won’t come easy. But… he was too thin. At least he can eat tonight.”
She watched the alley long after the boy vanished.
His gaze on her wavered.
‘Strange. Something about her… changed.’
At that moment—
“My lady! Where are you? Lady Sylvester!”
Royce’s voice echoed from the plaza.
“That’s my escort.”
“Good.”
“I should go. Thank you again for your help.”
Himena smiled, extending her hand for a handshake.
‘Formality, here?’
He frowned faintly, thinking she expected a kiss on the back of her hand.
‘Wait… is it rude here for a woman to offer first?’
As he reached, she pulled her hand back awkwardly.
“Ha ha, sorry. I’m not used to the customs here. Anyway, thank you, Sir Knight. Goodbye.”
“Wait—”
But she was already walking away, smiling brightly.
He stood frozen.
“Sir Knight? She… doesn’t recognize me?!”
