Though I Don’t Recall It, I’ll Take Responsibility - Chapter 15

Lord Leonard blinked repeatedly, as if he were witnessing something impossible. His slightly widened eyes wavered, searching for the true meaning behind my words.

I could see his shoulders stiffen ever so slightly.

“I… I must have misheard you. Could you say that one more time? Aira.”

His voice had lost its usual softness. It was colored with surprise and a hint of trepidation.

Without hesitation, I locked my eyes onto his.

—I’ve already made up my mind.

“Yes. Let us get married.”

Leonard took a breath a beat later. With a trace of tension tightening his lips, he spoke in a low, clipped tone.

“…Let’s move to a different room.”

The agitation beneath those words was impossible to hide. I nodded and followed after him.

Upon entering Leonard’s room, the calm scent of aromatic wood brushed against my nose. The door closed quietly behind us. He exhaled once, crossed his arms, and turned back to face me.

“Aira, please tell me what you intended by saying that. I am happy. But are you truly alright with this? To you, I am a man you met only four days ago.”

“It is not a problem.”

I replied instantly. In that moment, I saw his throat move as he swallowed.

“Given my age and my history as your mistress, even if I were to choose another man in the future, I would be a ‘second wife.’ In that case, it is only logical to choose the partner who offers the best conditions for a second marriage. There is virtually no one with better conditions than you.”

I spoke matter-of-factly, without a hint of deception. When one stacks the facts together, there is only one conclusion to reach.

Leonard gave a wry smile and slumped his shoulders.

“That’s very realistic of you.”

“I am no longer at an age where I can live on idealism. Besides—”

I continued, ticking points off on my fingers.

“I already have a son. It is not desirable for Ral’s surname and Liz’s surname to remain different for the rest of their lives as siblings. You are the only one who can rectify that.”

“True. Ral is the legitimate heir, after all.”

“And—”

I took a step forward, pushing back against his gaze.

“I will not let the money or the time you spent on me go to waste. I will take the responsibility that needs to be taken. I will not play the part of a coward who runs away while hiding behind your goodwill.”

At those words, Leonard’s eyes went round.

“Responsibility? If anything, I think that’s my line…?”

I gave a faint smile.

“I will shoulder the responsibility for ‘Lara.’ I cannot act as if she never existed. I simply intend to live a life as Aira that I won’t be ashamed of.”

Once I finished my piece, the air grew taut with tension.

“You said before that if I signed, I would be your wife. That means you already have the documents here, don’t you?”

“They’re right here.”

He opened a drawer, took out the papers, and held them out. I took them and walked toward the desk without a moment’s doubt.

I traced the signature line with my finger and verified the necessary details.

I did not hesitate.

In life, if you waver, you lose.

I let the pen fly, drawing a smooth line until the very end. Having finished the signature, I quietly returned the documents.

“Please submit them.”

“…A-ah. Right.”

Leonard held the papers, looking somewhat dejected. He wore a clumsy expression of bewilderment, as if his heart hadn’t quite caught up yet.

“Lord Leonard, I believe that the current me and the ‘Lara’ from the time I had no memory are entirely different personalities.”

As I stated this clearly, Leonard’s shoulders shook slightly. I looked him straight in the eye.

“However, I do not know if there is a possibility that I might return to being Lara.”

—Though I haven’t the slightest intention of doing so.

“Are you truly alright with marrying ‘the current me,’ whom you met only four days ago?”

The dejected look he wore earlier had been bothering me.

Leonard’s eyes wavered for an instant, a flash of doubt surfacing. But his answer came down with unexpected directness.

“Aira. We haven’t had a wedding ceremony but I had already decided that ‘I would love you in sickness and in health.'”

…Does he think I’m “in sickness” right now?

“Therefore, just because your personality has changed, my love for you will not.”

Does that mean he likes my appearance more than what’s inside? That’s a bit nuanced.

“Whether you are Lara or Aira tomorrow, I will love you.”

…I understood perfectly well that he didn’t really understand.

It seems that dejected expression earlier was simply because he couldn’t keep up with the speed of developments. Thinking too deeply into it was a waste of time. If that’s the case, there’s no point in worrying.

I quietly composed myself and gave a deep bow.

“Then, as your wife, I look forward to our future together.”

I pulled back my chair and stood up. Leonard reacted slightly to the sound.

“Are you leaving already?”

His voice was a mix of expectation and a little confusion.

“Yes. I have things I must do.”

The moment I turned my back, I felt a gaze as hot as a fever fall upon me. I had no choice but to look back one last time.

“Also, until the wedding ceremony is over, I have no intention of sharing a room with you at night. After all, it has only been four days since we met.”

Leonard blinked blankly. He really is an easy man to read.

I straightened my posture and headed for the door.

Just before I laid my hand on the heavy door, a single resolve solidified in my heart.

Now then, I’ll have to stay up all night tonight to read those diaries.