~Chapter 14~
By now, I was already thoroughly exposed—every shred of pretense gone.
For some reason, whenever I was alone with Carlos, I felt completely bare, as if he could see straight through me.
Just as he had said, we weren’t strangers. I had already shouted and cried at him like a madwoman over the original story. Thinking back, part of me wanted to find a mousehole and hide forever.
At this point, there was no point in pretending in front of him. I had been far too honest back then.
In this situation, I couldn’t even figure out the correct reaction to show him. So, I decided to step back.
I finished organizing the documents in my hands and stood up.
“Thank you for your help.”
“…….”
Carlos, still seated, looked up at me with an unreadable expression.
Our eyes met again, and neither of us looked away. I had chosen direct confrontation.
“Wow, why is the lobby so empty today?”
I tried to sound casual, turning my head slightly to glance around as if noticing the surroundings for the first time.
“Someone might think it’s just the two of us here! People should be coming soon… it’s strange. Why is it so empty? Haha… ha ha ha…”
I prayed my voice didn’t betray the tremor I couldn’t fully suppress.
Slowly, Carlos straightened up, his body moving as if awakened from a slight slump.
I held onto the documents and forced a bright smile.
By the way, you’ve really perfected the act while remembering everything, haven’t you, Mr. Hero? I silently bit my tongue as I watched him. He was dangerously skilled, and being by his side all day was driving me crazy.
This was really bad—for him, for me, and for this original story. I found myself inwardly annoyed with him.
But the person scowling as if utterly displeased was none other than Carlos himself.
His gaze pierced me, then narrowed.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
I straightened instinctively, matching his posture.
“And why aren’t you using formal speech, team leader?”
He had been polite at first… was it just for appearances?
“I clearly told you—I remember you.”
“I… don’t understand what you mean.”
“…Are you going to keep avoiding this?”
“Yes.”
Carlos’s voice, heavy with suppressed tension, trailed off. His hair had grown messy from shifting, and his eyes bore a hint of reluctant displeasure.
I couldn’t help but feel a little pleased. He had been expecting a sincere response from me—his own fault. Who was it that had first made the mistake and now tried to confront me so boldly? This damn hero!
As I muttered under my breath, Carlos let out a sigh and rubbed his forehead.
“Are you playing with me, young lady?”
“Are you perhaps a healer-type?”
His demeanor mirrored the intensity he had shown on the carriage, just before losing control.
But I couldn’t back down. Who would think I was desperate enough to act this way?
“I’m telling you again—I have nothing to say to you.”
“You said you remembered. How many times do I have to say it? We’re not strangers!”
“I said I don’t know. That’s all.”
If anyone had seen us now, they might have said sparks were flying. The tension between Carlos and me tightened like a drawn bowstring.
At this moment, there were no winners—only losers—in this mind game.
No one intended to give in. That option simply didn’t exist.
Even so, watching Carlos’s stubbornness was maddening in its own way. I briefly considered dredging up my long-held suspicions about his terrible personality.
“…Fine. Then let’s do it your way.”
I looked up sharply, only to find Carlos taking a step closer.
I had expected this standoff to last minutes, but the gap closed unexpectedly. My eyes widened in shock. My instinct was to recoil.
But alas—
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“…!”
Retreat wasn’t an option. Before I could step back, he grabbed my wrist.
The warmth, the heat—it wasn’t just physical. He ran his hand gently over my arm and said,
“You seem impatient. Words alone don’t seem enough, so I’ll show you directly.”
My shock intensified.
“So you’re going to make me relive it?”
I stifled a groan, pressing my hand over my mouth. No, I would not relive it. No do-overs!
So this is why he came as team leader… to meet me because he remembered me?
“So… does that mean my grace period…?”
My mouth fell open in disbelief. This was no accident—it was deliberate. Two shocks in one day, and I instinctively covered my other mouth.
The documents in my hands tumbled to the floor.
Who in this world could ignore the intense gaze of the male protagonist, Carlos? Even I, who had once managed to stand on equal footing, often let my guard down. Right now was one of those moments.
“Watch closely.”
Carlos’s expression was devoid of a smile as he stood over the documents I had dropped, his face still flushed with heat.
“Remember exactly what I did to you back then.”
I panicked. Remember what? That kiss?
“He’s insane!”
I wanted to speak, but Carlos moved a step closer, closing the distance.
I froze, closing my eyes reflexively.
Then—
“Actually… I don’t remember you either.”
“Actually… I don’t remember you either.”
The unexpected confession hit me like a jolt.
“Do you know why I said that?”
His hand, warm and intense, covered my eyes. His voice carried a bitter self-reproach. Then came the revelation.
“It’s the price of my cursed ability.”
“….”
“As a royal of the line, I can erase the memories of others.”
His grip tightened slightly. My face, pressed against his hand, felt the force of his power.
The heat deepened. I felt my eyes growing damp. His voice, filled with quiet sadness, made it even worse.
His confession didn’t end there.
“Specifically, I can send time and memories back to the past. Of course, once I use this ability, I, too, lose memory of it.”
“…?”
I couldn’t believe it. My eyelids trembled. Did he just say he could rewind time, not erase memory?
As he finished speaking, the events of the banquet flashed before my eyes, like a tape being rewound.
Suddenly, I was outside the hall. Everyone laughing, smiling—nothing broken, the chandelier intact, the food still arranged neatly. Everything was in its original place, as if time itself had been reversed.
My heart raced.
Why was I, here, in this very moment, listening to the secrets of Carlos, the male lead?
In just one day, my life had been thoroughly shaken by events I never wanted.
His breath drew closer, brushing against my neck. The strands of my hair tickled my face. In an instant, I found myself leaning against him.
He pressed his lips to my collarbone, tracing lightly over my skin, murmuring,
“Explain it to me.”
I felt tears threatening to spill again.
“Why didn’t my ability affect you?”
Really… why is he doing this to me?
The next afternoon, warm and peaceful as ever, in the slower-moving season of Croa compared to Deload, Princess Elchevita, the first princess of Croa, was in high spirits.
Why? Because she was writing a letter to her beloved friend, Rose.
She hummed a cheerful tune, more excited than when she indulged in her favorite treat, a marshmallow parfait.
Finally finding the time, she was thrilled to send a letter after a long while. Once delivered by her attendants, she would go to her heirship lessons. Opportunities should always be seized, she thought.
Elchevita grinned widely.
“Your Highness! Here again?”
Bang!
The sudden noise startled her.
Elchevita jumped, flinching as she looked toward the door.
