KMKS 26

chapter 26

After Olga left late at night, silence briefly lingered over the viscount’s residence.

Sarah worried about how Aiden would react after learning that Duke Winston was suffering from amnesia, but he instead brought up a different matter.

“Forgive me. Because of my mother, I keep troubling you.”

Though he had acted as if nothing was wrong after Olga and Sarah’s argument, it seemed his heart was still weighed down by guilt toward Sarah.

Sitting on the sofa, Aiden let out a deep sigh.
He tried to hide it, but his headache had worsened—he kept pressing against his temples.

“I’m fine.”

Hadn’t he just asked Olga a question he never could have asked before?

That alone made Sarah feel as though her chest had been freed of a heavy weight.
And truthfully, it wasn’t Aiden who should be apologizing—if anything, it was Sarah.

Olga’s words weren’t Aiden’s fault, but Sarah had lied to hide the news of Duke Winston’s amnesia.

Aiden had even asked her directly before—
if she knew anything about the duke.

“…But are you sure it’s fine not to call for a doctor?”

Since Aiden had already suffered a headache earlier that evening outside, Sarah couldn’t help but let worry creep into her voice.

Though it was already long past bedtime, Sarah found herself unable to retreat to her room. She was too preoccupied with concern for Aiden.

His headache surely had nothing to do with Olga’s revelation about Duke Winston, and yet—Sarah had resolved to stay by his side tonight.

The guilt of deceiving him pressed down on her heart.

It was unlike her—to burn the newsletter just to conceal the duke’s amnesia.

Pacing near Aiden, Sarah nervously fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve.

“Some medicine will help.”

Sarah wanted to do something for him.
Just as he hadn’t ignored her when she twisted her ankle and fell, she too wanted to help, even if in a small way, now that he was hurting.

Leaving him on the sofa, she hurriedly opened a drawer.

The medicine should be here somewhere…

Even as she searched for the headache pills, she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Aiden squinted at her and teased,

“So this is what it feels like when one’s wife worries for them.”

He almost looked pleased.

Sarah quickly turned her head away.

“Here, take this.”

Worrying about him—this too felt unlike her.

Her cheeks grew hot.

Even when she had seen his tattered clothes after the carriage accident, his pale face, or his limp figure stretched across the bed, she hadn’t felt anything.

But now…

Handing him the medicine first, she poured a glass of water. His pain must have been intense, for he swallowed the pill in one gulp.

Even after he finished, Sarah’s gaze lingered on him with worry.

“Thank you. I feel perfectly fine now.”
“You weren’t fine just a moment ago.”
“Well, I’d better not get worse, right?”

At his attempt at humor, Sarah pressed her lips together.

He must have meant to ease her concern, but she couldn’t bring herself to joke back. His pain seemed too real.

“…Anyway.”

When his joke fell flat, he paused, as though preparing to say something else.

The longer he hesitated, the drier Sarah’s throat became.
What was he about to say?

Is he going to bring up Duke Winston?

At first, learning of the duke’s condition through Olga hadn’t stirred much in her, but upon reflection, there were things that could weigh on him.

That they shared the same affliction—amnesia—might well have struck Aiden deeply.

Sarah’s chest tightened.

“There’s a social gathering at the Count of Cordelia’s estate. Will you come with me?”

But his question veered entirely away from her fears.

“…With me?”

Sarah’s eyes widened.

This was nothing like what she had expected. When Olga had mentioned the gathering, Sarah thought it had nothing to do with her.

She had never once attended such an event.

Even though her husband no longer indulged in alcohol, women, or cigars as before, she never imagined he would ask her to accompany him to a society gathering.

Aiden nodded.

“It isn’t strictly a couples’ event, but I thought it would be nice if you came. Of course, only if you’re comfortable with it.”

As always now, he asked for her opinion.

He knew tension lingered between Sarah and Duke Winston.

Perhaps it had started back on Harrington Street, when he’d left her alone to buy flowers. Whatever had passed between the two when they ran into each other, Aiden had realized one thing—Sarah feared Duke Winston.

So his invitation carried caution.

Yet, apart from that one encounter, he couldn’t deny it would be a good experience for her.

He also recognized that Sarah’s distance from social life had partly been due to his own past disgraceful behavior.

The divorce papers she had signed, the servants’ whispers—all pointed to the same truth.

So now, he wanted to stand by her side and give her freedom.

“…I’ll only embarrass you if I go.”

If she simply followed him recklessly, she might shame him instead.

Her former husband had always said she was an uneducated woman with no refinement.

If you don’t want to disgrace me, better stay locked up at home.

At social gatherings, it hadn’t been Sarah who stood at his side—it had been other women.

According to him, women prettier, smarter, and with better figures than Sarah.

She couldn’t even dance… and…

“If it’s etiquette that worries you, you don’t need to. I’m not exactly well-mannered either. Why not let us be known as a pair of blundering spouses?”

“….”

His eyes were steady.

It was as though he were promising not to leave her alone there.

Even if she were humiliated, he would take the shame with her—
as if saying, as long as we’re together, it’s fine.

As always these days, he was extending his hand to her once more.

“Do you really think I could go?”
“Of course. Wouldn’t it be fun?”

A smile spread across Aiden’s lips.

“I’ve always wanted to attend a gathering together with my wife.”

Perhaps it was because of his memory loss, but the fact that Aiden harbored the same wish as Sarah shocked her.

She too had always wanted to attend just once.

If this were the old Aiden, the thought wouldn’t have even crossed her mind—but now, she didn’t want to reject his outstretched hand.

“Think it over.”

Of course, Sarah’s hesitation wasn’t only about etiquette.

The idea of running into Duke Winston again unnerved her.

Still, this time there would be many people. Surely nothing dangerous would happen again.

And she would be with Aiden.

Besides, hadn’t she just spoken back to Olga for the first time today?

Clenching her hand, now a little fuller than before, Sarah answered,

“Alright.”

It wasn’t a matter worth agonizing over.

Her quick response made Aiden smile faintly.
Already, his headache seemed to ease.

That night, Sarah lay awake, tossing and turning.

Not from nightmares—
but from the nervous flutter of the coming gathering.

The date of the social event approached swiftly.

In the meantime, Sarah had a new dress tailored at the boutique and practiced greetings with Aiden.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, madam.”
“I’m Sarah Spencer.”

Though just practice, they even dressed formally and took it seriously.

Facing him and pretending to meet for the first time was mortifying, but she suppressed her laughter and tried hard.

Thanks to that, she felt she could at least handle simple greetings without freezing up.

Of course, the real thing might be another matter.

As she climbed into the carriage, she exhaled nervously.

“Are you anxious?”
“A little.”

The Count of Cordelia’s estate was unfamiliar enough, but for Sarah—her first time at a social gathering—everything would be foreign.

The dazzling chandeliers, the bustling crowd, the music weaving its melodies, and the hushed conversations blooming between groups.

Would she manage without trembling among them?

Clutching her dress, she silently promised herself to try.

Then Aiden reached out his hand.

“Good evening, madam. I’m Aiden Spencer. May I have this dance?”

Sarah tilted her head in surprise.

They were in a moving carriage, not a ballroom.

Her lips curved upward as she realized his intent—
a playful rehearsal to calm her nerves.

She placed her hand in his.

“I’m Sarah Spencer.”

Warmth spread through her fingertips as his languid gaze lingered on his wife.

Her cheeks flushed, her lips softly parted as she spoke her name.

At the sight of her natural smile, Aiden’s neck stiffened.

Sarah was smiling at him.

Sarah Spencer. Did she know—
that her deep green eyes shimmered brightly as they rested on him?

In that fleeting moment, a confession escaped him.

“Your smile is beautiful.”
“…What?”
“It means I’ll never make you cry again.”

His vow reached her like a quiet tremor.

A heartbeat, whose it was unclear, thundered through the carriage.

They thought it was the pounding hooves of the horses.

So focused were they on the sound ringing in their ears that they didn’t realize one thing—

their hands were still clasped together.