Shin expertly parked the car near the gate of an old house. Four hours had elapsed before they reached Troy's address. As Shin opened the car door, Kaye gracefully stepped out, welcomed by a serene quietness and a refreshing breeze.
Approaching them was an old man carrying a bundle of woods. "Good day," he greeted.
"Good day, sir. Is this where Troy Jimenez lives?" Shin inquired.
"Oh, yes. He's my grandson," the old man replied.
"I'm Shin Imperial, and this is Kaye. We're here to buy a painting from him," Shin explained.
"What a lucky day! Come inside. My grandson is in his studio; I'll guide you there," the old man said.
Passing through the gate, they spotted an old woman sweeping leaves outside the house. "Darling, our grandson has customers," the old man informed.
"Dear, welcome to our place," the old woman greeted them.
"Good day, Grandma," Kaye reciprocated, receiving a warm smile.
Guided by the old man, they reached Troy's studio. "Troy, you have a customer!" his grandpa announced.
Troy, in the midst of painting, stopped and looked at them, his surprise evident upon seeing Kaye and Shin. He dropped his palette and paintbrush, tears streaming down his face.
"Y-Your Majesty?" he stammered, overcome with emotion.
Kaye nodded. "It's me, Ced..." rushing into his arms, she hugged him tightly.
Troy cried unabashedly. "Your Majesty... I've longed for you. I thought I'd never see you again, I was so scared."
"It's okay now, Ced. I am here. I'm sorry it took so long before we found you," Kaye comforted, wiping his tears away. "How have you been?"
Troy sniffled, glancing at his now-confused grandpa.
"Ah, Grandpa, I saw some land here with a sign saying it's for sale. Can you give me information about it?" Shin interjected, leading the old man outside for a private conversation.
Alone in the studio, Cedrik explained, "When I woke up, I was already living with Troy's grandparents."
Troy Jimenez, the former owner of Cedrik's current body, was an artist with a small studio near their house. After his parents' death, he lived with his grandparents. Upon arriving in this unfamiliar world, Cedrik succumbed to depression, isolating himself within his room for weeks. Realizing that tears and solitude wouldn't reunite him with his empress, he harnessed Troy's artistic talent. Painting numerous portraits of Aria, he eagerly showcased his works in every art exhibit, fervently hoping that one day Kaye would encounter his creations.
"I'm glad Shin saw your painting; otherwise, I'd never have seen you again. I missed you so much, Ced," Kaye confessed, embracing him again.
"I'm happy too, Your Majesty," Troy replied.
"You don't have to call me that, just call me Kaye. It's my real name." she said.
Troy smiled and nodded. "Yes, I will. Miss Kaye."
"Pft. Just call me Kaye only," she teased.
"Hehe, then call me Troy too. Since I'm living as him," he scratched his head.
Kaye pinched his cheeks. "Come with us, Troy. The others are in J City. Let's all live together."
Troy's eyes sparkled. "Of course I will! But for now, you can go back to the city without me."
Kaye's brows furrowed. "But why?"
"I have to settle things here first. My grandparents don't know my real identity. I still have to make excuses to leave, and besides, it'll be hard to leave them because they've become a part of my life now," he explained.
"Alright, I'll let you handle this on your own. We'll wait for you in J City," she said.
Troy smiled. "Thank you, Your Majes— I mean, Kaye."
Kaye smiled and held both of his hands. After their conversation, they had lunch and a tour of Troy's place. In the afternoon, Kaye and Shin bid their goodbyes. Shin bought five paintings as his mom loved collecting them. Cedrik waved at them, watching the car depart.
"Grandma, grandpa..." he said, looking at them. "I'm going to J City to find a job."
The old couple smiled. "If that's what you want, we won't stop you. We'll always support your dreams," his grandpa reassured.
"I'm sorry for leaving," Troy apologized.
His grandma chuckled. "No need to worry. Your cousins will take care of us."
Troy smiled, hugging them. "I'll visit every summer vacation and Christmas break."
"We'll wait for you," they both replied.
"I'll miss you," Troy expressed.
"Start getting your things ready for the city. Go inside and prepare everything you need," his grandpa advised.
"Okay, I'll help cut wood after packing," Troy agreed, heading inside.
The old couple watched him, exchanging glances.
"That boy has taken good care of us. It's time for him to have his own life and pursue what he really wants," his grandpa remarked.
"It's been months; I'm glad he's adjusted," his grandma added.
"Even though he's not our real Troy, he filled the void in our hearts, easing the profound sadness after Troy passed away," his grandpa reflected.
From the start, they knew the man living with them wasn't their real grandson. Troy had been declared dead when a miracle occurred. Upon waking, he grappled with deep depression, continuously calling out for a woman's name. His demeanor markedly differed from that of the original Troy. However, the old couple chose not to confront him. Instead, they embraced acceptance, treating him as their own grandson. This allowed them to preserve the feeling that their Troy was still present in their lives.
Now that his friends had found him, they recognized it was time to let him go, allowing him to embrace the life that was rightfully his.
.
.
....
Inside the car.
"Thank you, Shin, for helping me find Ced," Kaye expressed.
Shin smiled. "It's nothing. You know I'm always here to help you. I'll never tire of supporting you."
"You've done so much for me, even back in Serolf Empire. You've always been there for me. I don't know how to repay you," she admitted.
Shin gently held her hand. "You don't have to repay me."
Kaye looked away, her thoughts tangled.
"To be honest, I still love you, Kaye. My feelings for you never faded. It's also the reason why I followed you here," Shin confessed.
Kaye gazed out the window, wrestling with conflicting emotions. With seven husbands, she couldn't afford to fall in love again.
"I understand if you have no feelings for me. You don't have to reject me again. I know it's hard for you. I'm sorry if I keep pressuring you," Shin said.
Kaye lowered her head. "I'm sorry, Shin. I've disappointed you again."
A heaviness settled in her chest, a melancholy feeling.
Shin kissed her hand. "Please don't feel sorry for me," he said, offering a comforting smile.
Silence enveloped them, creating a somber atmosphere in the car. Kaye decided to close her eyes and take a nap, while Shin was focused on driving.
.
.
....
At J City, inside the VIP room.
Raon and Mikhail stared at each other, a palpable heaviness filling the room.
"Ha..." Raon scoffed. "I can't believe this."
Seeing Mikhail as the person he was scheduled to meet surprised Raon. Fuentebella would join forces with Montenegro in a business venture this year, becoming business partners. Despite their involvement in the mafia, having Fuentebella on their side was a strategic move to safeguard their business.
Mikhail raised an eyebrow. "It seems like you don't want to see me."
Returning to J City to meet Raon, Mikhail was equally surprised to find Claudius.
Raon smirked. "You're the last person I expected to find in this world. I'd be happy if the one sitting in front of me were Kaye."
Mikhail smirked. "So, you still haven't found her?"
Raon's face turned serious. "I can't believe you're the underboss of Fuentebella." He poured a glass of wine.
"It's fate that we become business partners," Mikhail said, taking a sip.
"A mafia, huh?" Raon mused, sipping his wine. "With your influence in different places across the country, I hoped you'd have found her by now."
Mikhail smirked. "What if I already found her?"
Raon was surprised. "Where is she?"
"Why would I tell you?" Mikhail retorted, taking another sip.
Raon slammed the table. "Don't be selfish! Just tell me where she is!"
Mikhail stared at him. "She lost her memories, so meeting her will only scare her."
"What? How did that happen? Where is she? I'll talk to her; I'm sure she'll remember me," Raon insisted.
"I already tried, but she pushed me away. She even attempted to take her own life when I forced her to remember me," Mikhail revealed.
"Tsk. I bet your approach scared her. You pressured her too much," Raon accused.
"Are you accusing me now?" Mikhail countered.
"I'm just stating the fact. You've always been hot-tempered and forceful, even back in Serolf Empire. Do you think your methods will help her regain her memories?" Raon argued.
They glared at each other.
"I have my own method, and it's none of your business," Mikhail asserted.
"Fine. But tell me where she is," Raon demanded.
Mikhail pondered. Raon appeared more mature among them.
"She's here, in J City," Mikhail admitted.
"What?" Raon exclaimed. He had been tirelessly searching for her in the city. "But I've been looking for her here."
"She's hard to find. She's working as an illustrator at J.C.L. Company," Mikhail disclosed. "If you want to meet her, you have to prepare yourself first. If you mention anything about being a husband or anything related to Serolf Empire, she'll likely think you're a crazy person. Plan carefully before meeting her."
Raon nodded. "I will. Thanks for the advice."
Mikhail rolled his eyes, taking out his phone to message Kira. After a few minutes, Benjamin and Warren entered, both visibly surprised to see Raon.
"You're with them too?" Raon inquired.
"Rasheen was here too, but he went out for some errands," Mikhail explained.
"Nik is also here. Why don't we schedule a meeting with the others to discuss a plan for Kaye?" Raon suggested.
"If we all meet Kaye at once, she'll probably think we're stalkers or trying to kidnap her," Mikhail muttered.
"You found the Empress?" Benjamin asked.
"Yeah," Mikhail replied.
Darn, he's going to go through the whole explanation again.
"Explain everything to them; I'm tired of talking," Mikhail said, sipping his wine.
Raon raised an eyebrow and proceeded to detail the situation to Warren and Benjamin.
.
.
....
At the mall.
Haru strolled through the bustling mall, his eyes scanning the passing crowd in the hope of spotting Kaye. Luckily, Haru happened to be with Mikhail when he received a call instructing a return to J City. Upon hearing the news, he relentlessly bugged Mikhail and pleaded to join them.
He disguised himself to avoid being recognized. Being a famous model, he noticed pictures of his face displayed in some stores inside the mall.
His stomach grumbled, interrupting his search. "Argh, I'm hungry," he muttered, spotting a fast-food restaurant and making his way there.
An hour later, a satisfied Haru declared, "I'm full!" while gently rubbing his stomach. He resumed walking, marveling at the vastness of the mall.
On the other side, Tristan accompanied Cedie, helping him gather school supplies.
"Let's buy a cake for Mom. I'm sure she's hungry after the long trip," Cedie suggested.
Tristan smiled. "Okay, let's get food after we finish buying all the supplies you need."
Cedie nodded, and they entered the school supply store.
Haru furrowed his brows, looking back. "I thought I heard familiar voices," he whispered to himself. Shrugging it off, he continued his stroll.
.
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....
Few days later...
Kaye tightly hugged Troy upon picking him up at the bus station.
"Welcome to J City," Tristan greeted.
"It's nice to see you again," Troy politely bowed.
"No need to be formal. We're no longer nobles; we're just ordinary people here," Tristan remarked.
Troy nodded and turned to Cedie. "Are you, perhaps, Hachi?" he inquired.
"Yes, I became master's baby!" Cedie proudly declared.
Kaye chuckled and tousled Cedie's hair.
"Let's go now; you'll stay with us from now on, Troy," Kurtis suggested.
"Thank you!" Troy bowed again, and Kurtis snickered.
They helped him load his bags into the car, then drove Kaye to her workplace since she had work that day.
"I'm sorry, Troy, but I have work today. Let's chat later at home," Kaye apologized.
"It's alright; I'll help prepare dinner for us later," Troy replied.
Kaye smiled and kissed them all before leaving the car. Inside the building, Tin approached her.
"Kaye, I've noticed that there are men driving you and picking you up lately. Who are they?" Tin inquired.
"Huh?" Kaye looked at her, thinking of how to respond.
Kurtis always drove and sent her to her workplace in the morning, while Tristan picked her up after work. Sometimes, Shin also came to deliver snacks for her.
"A-Ahh.. Them?" she scratched her cheeks.
She couldn't reveal that two of them were her husbands, as it wasn't common in this world and could cause gossip. Saying they were boyfriends might also lead to issues. Yet, calling them just friends felt inadequate.
"S-Suitor... Yeah, they are my suitors," she finally replied.
"Wow! Really?" Tin's eyes widened. "Now it makes sense, the reason why I always see you with them. How come you have three suitors?"
"H-Hehehe," Kaye laughed nervously, looking in another direction.
Tin continued with more questions, and she didn't know how to answer them. The questioning only halted when their PD arrived and announced the company dinner scheduled for that evening.
.
.
In the evening, Kaye and her workmates had a company dinner at a nearby restaurant. While on her phone talking to Troy, she apologized for the sudden event but assured him she would still eat the food he made when she got home.
After talking to him, she headed inside the restaurant, but she paused when she saw Timothy. Their eyes locked in an unexpected encounter.
"Hi..." Timothy greeted.
"H-Hello," Kaye responded, memories of their past encounters flashing through her mind.
"How have you been?" Timothy asked.
"I'm doing fine," she replied.
Timothy sighed. "Can we talk?"
"We are already talking with each other now," she said.
"I mean, in private," he requested.
Kaye hesitated for a moment.
"Don't worry; I won't do the things I did to you that night. I won't do it again," he reassured.
"Fine," she said.
They went outside and took a seat at a vacant table.
"What is it that you want to tell me?" she asked.
"I just want to apologize for what I did that night. I was drunk and not in my right mind. I know I scared you and made you hate me," he explained.
"It's alright; it's already in the past. I forgive you," she said.
"Kaye..." Timothy held her hand. "Is it really over for us now? I missed you so much; there is no single day that I don't think about you. Please... Come back to me. I promise I will change. I will not do the things you dislike."
Kaye slowly pulled her hand away. "I'm sorry, Timothy, but it's over. You deserve someone better than me."
"But all I want is you, Kaye." Tears fell from Timothy's eyes.
"I'm very sorry, Tim," she said, unable to disclose her marriage. She knew he would investigate her husbands. Timothy covered his face in frustration, and Kaye felt guilty, thinking if only she hadn't lost her memories, she wouldn't have allowed Timothy to court her and become her lover. She patted his shoulders.
Timothy forced a smile. "But we can still be friends, right?"
"Yes," she said.
Timothy nodded and extended his hand. "Friends?"
Kaye smiled. "Friends."
After clarifying their status, Kaye bid goodbye to him.
"Can I hug you one last time?" Timothy asked.
Kaye nodded, and as Timothy enveloped her in a tight hug, a sly smile played on his lips, hidden from her view.
He would pretend everything was fine, but he vowed to have Kaye by his side again. It wasn't over for them.
.
.
....
Mikhail, seated in his car, witnessed Kaye and Timothy embracing. Gritting his teeth and clenching his fists, he opted to start the car engine and depart.