This is Romance Fantasy (4)
She had planned from the beginning to tell Iriel about Zeke's amnesia.
The reason Serena spoke up first was simple.
'I don't want to hide our ace in this situation where the instructor could die at any moment, only to regret it later.'
Iriel wanted to protect Zeke.
Knowing that, Serena hoped Iriel would actively help him.
'Even if the Yustia side gets suspicious, having her act as a buffer in the middle will make securing his safety much easier.'
To make that happen, sharing information was inevitable.
They weren't on good terms—far from it; they were more like rivals waiting to stab each other in the back.
So I have no idea how far she'll unconditionally support him under the pretext of "for Zeke."
Still, their powerful shared past as childhood friends had stirred a base jealousy in her, making her hesitate for a moment.
And Zeke's safe return had eased her mind.
'But it's me, not you!'
Serena lifted her chin smugly, her face brimming with confidence.
"Heh."
What Serena hadn't considered was how Iriel would take the news.
Iriel's pupils trembled.
She doubted her own ears, wondering if she'd heard right.
'What the hell?! Zeke has amnesia?!'
So all this time, he hadn't been deliberately keeping his distance and pretending not to know her for her sake.
And he hadn't gotten close to Serena for her benefit either?
On top of that, even his sacrifices for her were all lies?
She couldn't believe it.
No, she didn't want to believe it.
But...
If it was true.
If that was the reality.
Then it explained why Zeke had treated her like a stranger from the start.
Why he'd said such harsh words he'd never uttered before.
Why the man who'd been so careful not to even touch her had struck her.
And even those strange new habits that differed from the past...
It all made sense.
Iriel met Zeke's eyes.
His gaze trembled with confusion too.
Was there affection for her in those depths?
The warmth she always felt in his presence?
The steadfast conviction that he'd protect her?
Iriel forced herself to stay calm and spoke.
"...Zeke, is that true...? It's a lie, right? Please tell me it's a lie."
Zeke closed his eyes and nodded firmly.
"Serena's telling the truth."
Thud.
A massive stone plunged into Iriel's chest, sending ripples through her heart.
"No way, not a single memory...? W-when...? From when...? When did you lose your memories!?"
"...The day I was assigned to Lamieli Academy. The day I left the military."
That impassive expression and gruff tone were unmistakably Zeke's.
He looked like he could drop to his knees and call her "miss" any second.
Yet he felt so alien to her now, and Iriel couldn't accept it.
"H-how...? Th-then, the first time you saw me. You didn't remember my name...? Or my face...?"
"Yeah. No memory at all."
"I... hate it..."
Iriel slowly shook her head side to side.
"I... hate it..."
Her fingertips trembled.
"I hate it!"
For him to remember nothing.
For their precious memories to vanish so pointlessly.
So fleetingly.
How could he say it so easily?
"Then why—no, why..."
Iriel trailed off, her voice choked with shock.
She didn't even know what she was trying to ask.
That's when Serena's face caught her eye.
Iriel pointed at her accusingly.
"Then what's with her?! You saved her?!"
"I ran into her on the way to the academy as its new instructor. She was under goblin attack. I saved her then."
"You... saved her?"
Serena nodded.
"Yeah, that's why I've been hosting the instructor here as my benefactor."
"You forgot... even when I invited you to our mansion...?"
"No memory."
Iriel felt her breath quicken from the massive shock.
She whipped her head up and pleaded desperately with Zeke.
"Dagger arts! You taught me dagger fighting! So I could at least protect myself!"
"No memory."
"Th-then the baguette! What's with that bread you always carry?!"
"...Did I used to like baguettes...?"
She grilled him on their past, from the big moments to the small ones.
But Zeke was just troubled; it changed nothing.
'Sigh, damn it. It's not that I don't remember—it's that I'm not even the same person. How the hell would I know...'
Despair deepened in Iriel's eyes.
"Really... you forgot everything..."
Iriel clapped her hands sharply.
"Th-then this one you have to remember. Zeke. You must!!"
"Iriel."
Zeke tried to stop her. Continuing this Q&A was pointless.
Serena had been too hasty, after all.
But Iriel wouldn't give up.
"Just one more, the absolute last one. Zeke. If you don't remember even this..."
Iriel bit her lip hard.
Haa—
It was a path they'd have to cross eventually anyway.
As long as they had to deal with her going forward, pretending to know her forever wasn't feasible.
Zeke nodded, feeling mental fatigue set in.
"Fine. If that'll settle your mind."
Iriel spoke cautiously, her voice crawling out.
"The promise you made with me... you don't remember that either...?"
"..."
As Zeke furrowed his brow, she hurriedly added details.
"Back then, I was a new student at the intermediate academy, and it was the day before you left."
With the desperation of grasping at straws,
Iriel dredged up the precious memory she'd never shared with anyone.
"No! Not Zeke! Don't take him!!!"
That day, Iriel burst through the door of the family head's chamber, screaming and thrashing.
Don't take Zeke away from me.
But none of the Yustia adults listened to her.
On the contrary,
Her father raged that she'd given her heart to such a lowly thing,
And her aunt scolded her for unladylike behavior.
"Iriel Yustia. I'm truly disappointed. Making such a spectacle over a mere boy like that. You're confined to your room for the next two weeks. Hella, inform the academy."
Her father sentenced her to house arrest in the mansion.
A massive padlock was fitted to Iriel's door.
That night.
Iriel slipped out her window at dawn, climbed to the next room, and headed down the hall.
She went straight to the basement of the Yustia mansion where Zeke stayed.
But the boy was gone from his room, leaving only a bleak, desolate space.
"Zeke! Zeke, where are you!"
Iriel roamed the sleeping mansion, searching for him.
But the black-haired boy was nowhere to be found.
She ran out of the mansion blindly, calling for Zeke.
"Zeke!!!!"
She walked endlessly, unaware of how far or long she'd gone.
Her throat grew hoarse from desperately shouting his name,
And blisters formed on her delicate skin, making each step agony.
Then, a group of men muttered behind her.
"Hey, what's with that kid?"
"Ooh, looks like expensive clothes."
"Yo, sell her off and we'd make some cash, right?"
"The clothes are one thing, but that pretty face—if we raise her a bit..."
They whispered as they slowly followed her.
At first, she thought they were just strangers,
But as they drew closer, she overheard them.
'They're going to kidnap me!?'
It was a scenario the daughter of Yustia had never imagined.
Fear made her heart race.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Tap tap tap tap tap.
Her steps quickened bit by bit.
The men's footsteps matched pace.
Thud thud thud thud!!
Realizing she'd be caught at this rate, Iriel broke into a run.
But an adult man's speed far outpaced a young girl's,
And the distance closed relentlessly.
Just as their hands reached for her hair,
"Bunch of trash swarming to catch one little girl. Pathetic."
A man suddenly appeared, sword in hand, stepping between Iriel and the thugs.
Iriel's eyes widened.
'Who is he?'
Either way, now was the time to flee.
Iriel ran without looking back.
She ran and ran.
Until her breath burned in her throat,
And her legs refused to move.
Haa.
Haa.
Haa.
"Zeke... where are you? How could you leave without even saying goodbye."
Tears welled in her eyes.
"I'm... so scared... Zeke."
Iriel no longer knew where she was.
She couldn't even find her way back; shadows cloaked the surrounding forest and trees.
Then, voices came from behind again.
"Huff, huff, fuck, you okay?"
"Ugh. Took a sword slash. Fuck. Some weirdo jumped out."
"That swing was no joke. Good thing we bailed."
"We almost got fucked. Haa, huh? That's her!"
"The one we missed earlier? She's why we're in this mess. Let's grab her."
"No way, really?!"
They pointed at Iriel.
She turned, her eyes shaking violently.
Her teeth chattered,
And terror made her body quake.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
In that instant, a face flashed in her mind.
Not her stern, resolute father,
Nor her aunt with the sharp, unyielding glare.
Not even a reliable knight.
Black hair, black eyes.
Expressionless but warm boy.
She opened her mouth and screamed.
"Zeke!!! Help me!!!"
Thwack!
A figure leaped between them, pulling Iriel into a tight embrace.
"Wha... huh."
Huff—
Huff—
Huff—
Ragged breaths.
A familiar scent.
A warm, comforting hold.
Zeke Clayman.
He'd come for her.
He scanned her face with worried eyes.
"Miss, are you hurt anywhere? Any discomfort? Are you alright?"
"Zeke..."
Tears overflowed from her eyes.
Seeing no harm had come to Iriel, Zeke relaxed and stroked her hair.
"Coming all the way out here makes it hard for me to find you."
Zeke draped his cloak over Iriel.
"Wait here just a moment."
The boy's black eyes gleamed with a chilling frost, like a blizzard's bite.