In light of my duties as the female lead, I need to write down all the information I've gathered so far.
'Why do I write this down? What if someone sees it?' It doesn't really matter since most female leads write down what they know. Maybe they don't have retentive memory.
First, Kael doesn't intend to let me go, so he has to be the villain. Kael is apparently the king of Erries, a nation of shifters.
"Shifters," I muttered to myself.
Back in Garhian, I was taught that shifters are descendants of the ancient faeries and gods, and that they were kicked out for doing something and lost their immortality. They created a nation and separated themselves from humans because humans refused to accept them.
The shifters possess powers similar to the faeries. Besides being able to take mystical and animal forms, they possess 'magic' powers. It's understandable that I'd be married to a shifter because that woman will do everything to make me miserable, but why did Father agree?
What's surprising is that shifters are supposed to hate humans. Why would they let one marry their king? Garhian and Erries aren't supposed to have any relationship. Something isn't adding up here. I need to speak to Lucy soon, but that villain is in my way.
"Your majesty," Kyra called, walking in. I turned and looked at her, and she bowed. I'm still not used to this treatment, but as the female lead, I have to put up with it. "You have a guest," she said, and I nodded. Wait, a guest? Could it be another villain?
"Who is it?" I asked.
"Sir Mantil," she replied. I have no idea who that is.
"Who is he?"
"I am not in a position to say, your majesty," she replied. Just tell me if he's a friend or foe; it's that simple.
I walked out with Kyra and followed her direction to a garden; it was different from the last one. A man was sitting at a table with various refreshments served on it. He turned and smiled the moment I walked in. He wore glasses that gave him a scholarly look but a handsome scholar.
"Good morning, your majesty," he said, standing up to bow. Friend or foe?
I nodded and took my seat, scanning him for any hint of a mistake. He started talking, but I didn't understand him. I blinked twice and turned to look at Kyra, who was standing a good distance away.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I don't know what you're saying," I said.
"Huh? But your Erries has gotten better." Come to think of it, everyone was speaking Garhian, and I forgot that we spoke different languages. That explains the accent.
"I'm serious, I don't understand you," I said.
"Really? How can you forget how to speak a language just like that?" he asked.
"Are you my teacher?"
"Huh?" he asked, looking confused.
"Are you?"
"Well, I used to teach you Erries, but you got better, so that ended a long time ago. Why are you acting like you don't know?" he asked.
"Because I don't," I replied.
"What do you mean by you don't? Are you joking around again? I came to…"
"I really don't. I don't know who you are either," I argued. We must have been close because he speaks casually with me.
He chuckled and continued speaking, "The book that…"
"I'm serious; I can't remember anything from the past two years."
"How will you… Your majesty, is it…" He held his chest and shook his head, then grabbed my hand. "I told you not to think too much about it. In the end, everything will work out well. I know you were happy about the child, but it's not over yet. You'd still have…" I'm lost.
"What are you talking about?" I asked with a questioning look.
"You're in a dilemma because of the miscarriage, right?" he asked. How does he know, and my so-called husband didn't? This doesn't make sense. A lot of things aren't right in this story; it's a mystery.
"I was pregnant?" I asked, and he looked away to wipe his eyes. He's a really dramatic character.
"Your majesty," he said and sniffed. "I know you're in denial about everything—the baby, Erries, and it all—but you can't act like you don't remember. Memories are precious, after all, didn't you say that?" he asked.
"I'm not pretending; I really don't remember," I said, trying to convince him.
"Did you… You didn't do it, right?" he asked.
"Do what?"
"Ask someone to wipe your memories or use dark magic, did you?" Why would I? Or else… "I'm listening."
"The pain must have been too much for you," he said, wiping his eyes.
"Did I ever say I would?" I asked.
"You didn't have to say it for me to notice that you wanted to forget your pain," he replied. Wow! If what he's saying is true, then did I really ask someone to wipe my memories? By the looks of it, it's neither Kael nor Keara. It's not this man either. I turned and looked at Kyra and shook my head. It couldn't be her.
Maybe I should take a look at Keara's notebook, but what if this man is wrong and Keara is the one? Wiping my own memories doesn't sound like something I'd do. Is Keara a villain who hates me because she's in love with my husband? That'd be a good twist.
"Or it could be temporary amnesia caused by shock," he added. Don't ruin it.
"I wonder," I said, holding my chin as I contemplated. I'll have to write this down. "Mr. Mantil, did I…"
"Please, your majesty, call me Callum," he said hurriedly.
"Then call me Lilien," I replied.
"Good to know you didn't change. Since you can't remember anything, I'd agree this once." Is he pitying me? He doesn't know how fun this is for me—waking up without my memories of two years, feeling like my life is in danger, having doubts about every piece of information. Every dark romance reader's dream.
"Only till you get your memories back," he said. That'd be soon because I'd crack this puzzle soon.