The gears of fate are sadly unhinged!

Chapter 04

Lucia opened the curtains of her room and looked up at the overcast sky.
The rain that had begun to fall two days after Arthur and the others left the royal castle and it was showing no signs of stopping even today, five days later.
A rumors spread through the Capital that some regions are experiencing heavy downpours.

Arthur, I hope you're okay.
According to what I've heard, the area where Arthur was sent to was experiencing heavy rainfall, and his inspection schedule had been postponed due to this.
If it was a storm this heavy, Arthur wouldn't want to come back, but...
It's been three days since I stopped hearing from him.

Anxiety runs through Lucia's chest and as she took a deep, calming breath, the door to the room opened with momentum.

"Lady Lucia!"
"Oh!"

Martha, usually calm and serene, barges into the room at high speed.
Startled by the momentum, Lucia opened her mouth with a pout and looked back at Martha.

"What's the matter?　It's unusual that you're in such a hurry."

"Just now, a messenger horse came from the royal castle, and informed-- His Highness...''

I gasped at the last words.
Martha's pointing to His Highness would undoubtedly be Arthur's.
I can't help but get a bad imagination at the word "messenger horse" to the royal castle.

"Martha, what--?"
"I heard that His Highness fell from a cliff, while he was riding his horse, due to the heavy rain."

The strength drained from her knees, Lucia folded her knees as she collapsed and Martha hurried over to hug her.

"I'm sure you've more information-- you should be able to get more information on this-- "

Lucia leaned in while grabbed Martha's arm with all her strength.
It was as if it had happened in a dream.

Martha's words made my eardrums shake, but I couldn't get any of the content into my head.
I guess you could say that I was on a state of unreality.

"His Highness is missing..."
"Don't! Don't worry I'm sure he's fine! His Highness will be found soon!"
"...?"

The words that came from Martha made Lucia look up into her face blankly.
Then, unexpectedly Lucia's eyes met those of a strong will, and she held her breath.

"His Highness is a person who doesn't seem to be dead even if you kill him several times. I'm sure he's not dead."
"...do you... do you really think so?"
"Yes. He was looking forward to the wedding so much. Even if he dies, he'll rise from the death by any means."

In Lucia's mind she started imagining Arthur, as someone capable of threaten the Underworld to returns to her side.
And she couldn't help but giggle at the thought.

It's certainly possible that Arthur will act like that.
She felt like he's, right at that same instant, being kicked out of the Underworld for acting like that, just that thought made her relax her shoulders a little.

"Yeah. I'm sure Arthur will come back from the other side...."
"Yes! Yes, My Lady, He is capable of defeating the Underworld for being with you again! His Highness will be found soon enough."

After this, Martha hugged Lucia's shoulders.
Lucia prayed for Arthur's safety from the bottom of her heart as she entrusted herself to Martha, but...
It wasn't until five days later that they heard that Arthur had been found.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Lucia stared at the letter in her hand and tried to hold back the unsettled feelings that were spreading inside her chest.
Martha stares anxiously at Lucia, who didn't looked so pleased, when she gave her the letter about Arthur's news, she has heard in the Royal Castle that Arthur was safe, but...

"Princess, what's the matter?　Don't tell me His Highness has been seriously injured in any way?"
"It's not like that. .......no, I wouldn't say so"
"What do you mean?"
"Apparently, Arthur's memory is fuzzy from the effects of his fall off the cliff."
"His memory?"
"Yes. Also, a woman from a nearby town helped him when he was injured and unable to stand up. It says here that she nursed him carefully without knowing of his true identity, until the rescue squad found them and recognized Arthur. They're going to bring that woman back with them."
"It's....."

Martha's face was tinged with surprise and looked at Lucia awkwardly.

Yes, that's how you're going to react.
Because this situation and "that story" are too much alike.
This is the first time I've ever really thought of the breaking of our engagement.
A novel that is popular in the Capital.

Lucia's lips distorted at the thought, as if following step by step what's written there

<<And when I say my memory is fuzzy, I mean...
I don't know. I don't know how to write it. Maybe I've forgotten all about me, or maybe I'm just missing a part ...>>

His words were muffled, but perhaps his memory was partly lost.
And that too... only the part about me.

She guessed it while reading the content of the letter.
The fact that he couldn't write it clearly must be because it was an important and confidential matter, but also it involved Lucia herself...

And most of all, a sentence that bothered her deeply... <<Returning with a girl from that town.>>

I'm sure this is what Arthur himself have wanted.
Otherwise, no matter if she saved his life, she wouldn't be allowed to accompany the Prince of the Country so easily.
A chill ran through her heart and Lucia unconsciously clenched her fist tightly.

"...I should be prepared, I guess."

Even if she didn't want to, the words "breaking off the engagement" ran through her mind again and again.
Honestly, she didn't think at it as  anything of importance before.
She even thought it was impossible that the engagement-breaking event would happen to her.
A single-minded family like the Diering's, that is said to be a curse.

It's a great way to get to know what we feel for each other better.
Therefore, I never had to worry about losing him to another person.
But what if he has forgotten about the person he had a crush on at first sight?
If you forget about the person you fell in love with at first sight, it means that you are not really in love with her....
And if, in that state, you meet someone else you're attracted to....
If Arthur, who has lost his memory, falls in love with someone, he will love that person for the rest of his life...?

Lucia was taken aback at the thought of this fact.

The sweet voice of Arthur that calls out my name, the unreserved hug, the three-hourly face-viewing sessions, the tea parties where we try to feed each other at every opportunity,
and the time when we take a break and pillow each other in our lap,
all of that belonging to someone else....
It's always a little annoying, but now that I think it can be already over...
The pain I feel in my chest as if I've been stabbed with a sharp blade.
I don't want to lose him, the thought of it happening is so strongly present in my mind now.
I think, for first time, I'm afraid to see Arthur...
Arthur's eyes, the way he looked at me, always melted my heart sweetly. I'm so scared to look into those eyes now...
If he doesn't feel anything when our eyes met...
I'm going to be broken. Seriously, I've to admit.

If he stared at her with emotionless eyes, Lucia didn't feel like she could stand it.

--I want to see Arthur.
--No, I don't want to see him.

Mixed feelings were running rampant in her chest.
Lucia stared out the window at the castle gate.

--When that door opens, my fate will be decided... A fate from which there is no escape.

For the first time, Lucia didn't want to see Arthur.
A week later, much later than originally planned, the Crown Prince returned to the Royal Castle.