I’m Stuck on a Remote Island With the Male Leads - Side Story 20

***

“I’m sorry, we’re not married.”

“Then what were we?”

“Me pining after you.”

I see. Pining after me… Kayden doesn’t seem like the kind of man who would pine over anyone.

Crackle, crackle.

The sound of a crackling campfire filled the air as I sat, chin in hand, watching the two men sitting across from me. Kayden and Enoch began talking about what had happened to me before I lost my memory and what my relationship with them had been. Since both men shared the same story, it seemed believable enough, but it still didn’t resonate with me. I couldn’t look at them the same way they looked at me.

Eunji, who had been sitting in my lap, began nodding off. I patted his back but stayed silent.

“Margaret, are you really okay?” asked the man named Enoch, checking on me again.

He was considerate and kind. As I stared at him, he seemed a little embarrassed and added, “I figured Lord wouldn’t leave you alone.”

I tilted my head and replied, “Nothing much happened. Well, there was that time we almost kissed.”

“Did Lord force it?”

“No.”

“Then that’s fine.”

I was inwardly surprised by Enoch’s attitude. Even if I had kissed Kayden, he seemed unconcerned as long as it wasn’t against my will.

Then, as if reading my thoughts, Enoch gave a small smile. “Margaret, you’re my priority. As long as you’re okay with what happened, then it’s okay with me. For now.”

For now? It sounded like things wouldn’t be fine later on.

As I mulled this over, Enoch gently patted my head, speaking softly. “Right now, you still have the opportunity to choose. I’m respecting that.”

Our eyes met, and I held my breath for a moment. My heart was pounding—a feeling I hadn’t experienced before.

“Don’t worry,” Kayden replied. “As promised, there won’t be a situation like this again. Once we leave this place, it will all be over.”

I listened quietly to their conversation. With my memory gone, it didn’t feel right to interject. My heart ached, and I felt a profound sadness even though I hardly knew Kayden. Maybe it was because this moment would never come again.

Even though I didn’t feel the rush of romance or excitement, I sensed that I genuinely cared for Kayden—not as a lover but as a person.

I must have some affection for him to look at him with such warmth. Lost in melancholy, I quietly stared at the crackling fire.

Watching me, Kaiyen smiled. “It’s not like I’m not sad… but this is enough. Thank you.”

He gently reached out to stroke my hair, his touch uncharacteristically cautious. “I didn’t expect it, but you made me happy. This might be my last happiness in life.”

Then Kayden turned to Enoch. “This was my first chance to spend time alone with Margaret, so I didn’t want to miss it. I apologize, Your Highness.”

Then he hesitated, glancing at me with a troubled look as he rubbed his chin. “Well, to be precise, it was the second time… “

“The first time Eunji was there! This time was Kayden’s first!”

Even Eunji managed to make his presence known. Everyone laughed at this, and Kayden joined in, ruffling Eunji’s hair.

“May you both be happy,” Kayden said, looking at me. It was as if he wanted to memorize my face, to hold it in his eyes forever.

“I have another life waiting for me. Let’s say goodbye here. I’m sorry for everything.”

If only I could remember what we were to each other, I would know how to react. Feeling awkward, I scratched my cheek and said, “Okay, saying goodbye is fine, but how do we get out of here?”

“The way out? Eunji knows!” Eunji piped up.

“… Huh? Eunji, why didn’t you say anything before?”

“No one asked Eunji.”

Eunji paused, looking up at me with wide, clear eyes. “Are you mad at me, Unnie?”

“No, of course not.”

“Eunji’s feelings are hurt!”

“Eunji, I could never be mad at you. You’re too adorable.” I hugged Eunji tightly and kissed his cheek.

He giggled. “Heehee, Unnie says Eunji is cute! I love Unnie!”

Kayden, who had been quietly watching us from across the fire, asked softly, “Margaret, are you really going to play favorites?”

“Be quiet, liar.”

“… I hope you remember soon.”

Of course, I ignored Kayden’s comment and turned my attention to Eunji, asking how we could leave. Eunji proudly responded, “Eunji can get us out with magic!”

“Hmm. I see what you’re planning.”

“Fake Kayden, will you help Eunji?” Eunji looked up at Kayden with bright, hopeful eyes.

Kayden smiled helplessly. “You’re going to punch a hole in my space?”

“Yes! Sorry, but Eunji cares about Margaret more!”

“It’s something I have to deal with. I was planning to do it anyway. Margaret is important to me too.”

Their teamwork was impressive, while Enoch seemed disinterested in their conversation, his focus solely on me. When our eyes met, he gently tapped my cheek with his finger. It was a teasing gesture filled with affection that made my heart flutter. I pressed a hand against my chest, feeling a strange sensation.

‘Right, Enoch is my first choice. As long as I have Enoch, I’m content.’

I was startled by my thoughts. Why was I thinking this way?

“Come on, Unnie! Just trust Eunji!” Eunji said, clenching his tiny fist.

I glanced at Kayden, standing behind Eunji, recalling what I’d heard about his current state and how we had survived on this remote island before.

“Kayden, you said you don’t know when you’ll wake from hibernation, right? It could be ten years, twenty years, even a hundred years from now.”

“That’s right.”

“Did I say goodbye to you before you went into hibernation?”

My question made Kayden nod. But I had no idea what I’d said to him back then. What was certain, though, was that the “real” Kayden would have heard what I said—not this other self standing before me. So I decided to bid farewell to him one more time.

“I’ll write you letters every season with everyone.”

“Huh?”

“That way, whenever you wake up, it’ll be like we spent that time together.”

Kayden’s eyes widened as he stared at me, momentarily speechless.

“Ha. You’re really…” He seemed a bit taken aback. For a moment, he just looked at me, his lips moving silently before finally biting his lower lip, which quivered slightly. After a long pause, he finally spoke. “Loving you has been my fortune.”

He smiled, looking relieved. My heart ached—a bittersweet, poignant feeling.

Enoch, who had been listening thoughtfully, also spoke seriously. “I didn’t realize you’d like the idea of getting letters so much. I’ll make sure to spray perfume on mine.”

Is he seriously joking with that solemn face? I turned to Enoch, surprised.

“I’m quite sensitive to smells. If you want your letter shredded, go right ahead.”

I burst into laughter at that. Kayden and Enoch joined in, and Eunji, watching us with bright eyes, laughed along.

And so, we truly said goodbye. The space began to distort, crumpling like paper as time and space shifted. Kayden’s unconscious self was no longer visible. Even after parting with the fake Kayden, it took a little more time to exit the subconscious space.

“Eunji says we have to tear the space, but there’s too much Kayden!” Eunji said.

What on earth does that mean?

As I carried Eunji in my arms, Enoch walked alongside me, wrapping an arm protectively around both of us.

“Too many thoughts, too much of Kayden’s subconscious is spilling out,” Eunji said, sounding troubled.

Just as Eunji mentioned, as we tore through the fabric of the subconscious space, more of Kayden’s subconscious poured out. We continued forward, ripping through the distorted space like paper.

Different worlds spread out like paint, each one containing a version of Kayden living a myriad of lives. These were all fantastical spaces created by Kayden’s subconscious.

‘How fascinating.’

It was truly a world of fantasy. Worlds spread out before my eyes like a beautiful painting. We followed Eunji through them.

Kayden.

Kayden.

To think all of this is from Kayden’s subconscious suddenly waking up. I looked around in a daze at the countless Kaydens surrounding us.

“Kayden, our son. Mommy loves you.”

In one subconscious, Kayden was a beloved son of the Rohade family.

“The great Archwizard, Kayden Blake Rohade, who will be remembered in history!”

In another, Kayden had a smooth childhood and became a wizard, leaving a lasting legacy as an archwizard.

“Kayden, I love you.”

In one subconscious, he was in a relationship with me.

“Jenas, what do you think of this magic formula?”

In another, he was passionately discussing magic research with Jenas.

“I can’t do it.”

Finally, we reached the last one, where Kayden wished to erase all memories of past happiness.

“Yeah, I should erase all my memories.”

Eventually, he deleted all his memories and lived a new life. He seemed happy, bright, beautiful, and lovely, like a new person.

‘He said he’d live forever.’

The person who paid the highest price. The one who must live forever, unable to die, carrying the times we shared.

I wished it were him, not me, who lost his memory. I hope Kayden finds happiness. Whatever form it takes, I hope it brings him joy. From now on, I will live wishing for his happiness, hoping my prayers reach him.

“Huff. Eunji’s tired.” Eunji plopped down on the ground, exhausted.

I patted his head and said, “Rest for a bit if you’re tired.”

“No! Eunji will push through!” Eunji shook his head and bravely moved forward. I watched him with concern.

Will we really be able to get out of here? While I worried, Enoch took my hand, his large hand completely covering mine.

“The current you can’t remember.”

“…Remember what?”

“How many trials we’ve overcome to get here.” Enoch looked at me without changing his expression and then gazed ahead again. He wasn’t tense.

“This is just another trial. The conclusion is always the same. You and I will be standing at the end of this path.”

There was no wavering in Enoch’s voice. It was as if he was sure that every word he spoke was true and would come to pass.

“So there’s no need to be afraid.”

As a sense of relief rose within me, my heart started to beat irregularly. The pounding of my heart was so loud in my ears that it was almost overwhelming.

The feeling was so overwhelming that it was hard to describe.

‘Why am I feeling this…?’

In my confusion, I suddenly realized.

Ah, it’s because I love this man. Even without my memories, my heart was reacting.

For the first time, I wanted to remember, to recall the memories I shared with this man.

***

“We made it out! We really made it out!” Eunji shouted in triumph as we finally emerged in front of the eagle statue, tearing through the subconscious space.

With the announcement of our liberation, I suddenly felt a heaviness settle over me.

“The shift in space-time must have taken a toll on your body,” Enoch said, supporting me.

Just as he said, my body felt strained, and my movements were sluggish. My entire body felt as heavy as waterlogged cotton.

‘Dizzy.’

At that moment, I lost consciousness.