Odalisque - Side Story 19

“Ha.”

Dimus finally let out a sigh. He roughly ran his hand through his bangs, his frustration evident as he spoke in a restrained tone.

“Just talk freely.”

With that, he turned on his heel and disappeared. Liv watched him leave, a look of bewilderment on her face, before turning to Corida.

“Corida, was I really engaged to him?”

“Yes.”

“How could that even be possible?”

She looked utterly unable to comprehend it.

Corida, watching Liv with an odd expression, awkwardly smiled and murmured, “Well, sister, I always thought you were far too good for him. But now… he does look a bit pitiful.”

Corida didn’t specify whom she meant, but it was obvious. It was also an answer to Liv’s repeated questions.

Yes, Liv had indeed been in love with that impossibly beautiful man and had even been on the verge of marrying him. It still felt completely incomprehensible from beginning to end.

“Why would he…”

“Sister, do you not remember him at all? Did you forget even his name?”

Liv looked troubled at Corida’s question.

Now that she thought about it, from the moment she first opened her eyes and saw that stranger and the unfamiliar surroundings, she hadn’t even managed to ask his name. He probably hadn’t had the chance to introduce himself either. After all, to him, his lover, who had been sweetly greeting him just that morning, had suddenly woken up and treated him like a stranger.

“All I heard was that he is my fiancé and future husband.”

Corida clicked her tongue in understanding, crossing her arms as she spoke calmly, “He’s Marquis Dimus Dietrion.”

“What?”

Liv looked at Corida in disbelief, and Corida continued in a firm voice, “And you are soon to be the Marchioness Dietrion.”

…She was supposed to be what?

For a moment, Liv was utterly speechless.

***

Dimus, who had always hated even leaving the mansion for work, hadn’t left the Langess mansion at all since Liv’s fall from the horse.

Though he couldn’t bring himself to openly watch over Liv, he kept a constant distance—close enough to respond instantly if anything happened. As a result, his aides had to come and go from the Langess mansion for work reports.

It had become common knowledge among Dimus’ aides that he was practically acting as Liv’s personal servant, always standing by. Naturally, they also became aware of Liv’s condition.

“Shouldn’t you postpone the wedding?”

Roman, who couldn’t stand it anymore, cautiously suggested. Charles, who was also present for the report, jumped in shock and scolded him.

“Are you out of your mind?”

They had all witnessed what Dimus had been like after temporarily losing Liv. Though the circumstances were different this time, the emotional toll on Dimus was similar. Charles knew how deeply the previous incident had affected Dimus.

Charles shot Roman a scolding glance. But it seemed Dimus hadn’t heard a word of their exchange, as he continued staring through the trees.

From where he stood, he could see Liv slowly walking through the garden.

After spending a week in conversation with her sister, Corida, Liv had finally begun to explore the mansion, as if her curiosity about the place had been piqued. She moved cautiously, looking around.

During that week, Dimus had deliberately avoided speaking to her. It wasn’t just the hurt from seeing her discomfort every time she saw him—he feared she might decide to leave the mansion entirely, unable to bear the pressure.

Since he didn’t approach her, Liv didn’t approach him either. She seemed almost indifferent to his presence, as though she’d forgotten he existed.

Charles could see that Dimus’ patience was nearing its limit. The fact that Dimus was receiving reports outside the mansion, in the path leading to the garden, was evidence of that.

And Dimus wasn’t even pretending to be interested in the report—it was clear he was simply waiting for Liv to appear, glancing repeatedly at the garden’s entrance.

When Liv finally approached, close enough to notice Dimus, he clasped his hands behind his back, pretending to be casually engrossed in Roman and Charles.

Charles nudged Roman, who looked bewildered. Acting natural, Charles held out a document.

“It’s news from the capital.”

“But I already reported that… Ugh.”

Charles jabbed his elbow harder into Roman’s side, flashing a dependable smile at Dimus. Dimus glanced at Charles, nodded, and took the document, his face showing a hint of satisfaction. Charles’ eyes lit up with a sense of accomplishment—surely he’d earn a bonus this month!

“Ah, Liv.”

Dimus, pretending to have just noticed Liv, called out to her.

Liv, who had seemed intent on passing by quietly, hesitated when she met his gaze. She bowed her head politely in greeting. Though her manner was clearly formal and distant, Dimus maintained a composed expression.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m alright. Thank you for your concern.”

“It’s not something to be thankful for—I’m just checking on my lover’s wellbeing. If anything, you should blame me for failing to prevent the accident.”

“Oh.”

His words, meant to convey a desire for a less formal interaction—even frustration that she wasn’t more comfortable around him—were lost on Liv, who simply gave an awkward half-smile and stayed silent.

Watching the exchange, Charles and Roman could barely contain their discomfort. They wanted nothing more than to leave immediately. Thankfully, Dimus soon gave them a glare that clearly meant “get out,” and they gratefully turned to leave.

“Please, take your time to talk. We’ll be off!”

Before Liv could protest, the two men hurriedly fled, practically running.

Liv watched them disappear, then lowered her gaze, clasping her hands together in front of her. She hesitated for a moment before slowly beginning to speak.

“I, um, spoke with Corida briefly. You are Marquis…”

“Dimus.”

Dimus cut her off, his voice carrying a hint of irritation. Liv, who had been looking down, quickly lifted her head to look at him.

“Pardon?”

“You should call me Dimus.”

“…Me?”

Her incredulous response made it clear she couldn’t believe it, and that twisted something inside Dimus. He put extra emphasis into his voice as he continued.

“Yes. You are the only woman to whom I have given that privilege. You are my first and last lover, and soon you’ll be my one and only family.”

Liv seemed to understand his intention behind emphasizing each word. After a moment of contemplation, her expression slightly conflicted, she spoke calmly.

“I have heard that, but still—I don’t quite understand. How could—I mean, how did we come to be like this?”

“What do you remember?”

“…It feels like I just arrived in Buerno yesterday.”

Liv frowned slightly, as if muttering to herself.

“So, you’ve lost all memory of the past few years.”

Dimus pressed his fingers against his furrowed brow.

If she believed she had just arrived in Buerno, that meant she had no memory of her time tutoring for Lady Pendance. More importantly, it was before she had any connection to the artist—before her involvement in any nude paintings or the incidents that followed.

“Explaining everything will take some time.”

Could “some time” even begin to cover it?

For the first time, Dimus truly grasped the meaning of the word “overwhelming.” The thought of having to start from their very first meeting and recount everything honestly weighed heavily on his heart.

Unable to bear Liv’s innocent gaze, as if she were seeing everything for the first time, Dimus looked away and spoke gruffly, “If you push yourself too hard to remember, you’ll just end up exhausted. Focus on recovering for now.”

“But…”

Liv seemed ready to argue, but Dimus quickly changed the subject.

“It’s true that we’re supposed to get married. No matter where you go in Buerno, you’re treated as the Marchioness. Everything is ready for the wedding—your dress is finished, the jewels have been chosen, and the invitations have all been sent. There’s no backing out now.”

His detailed explanation about their upcoming wedding sounded almost desperate.

Liv listened quietly, tilting her head slightly.

“But… will we be able to go through with the wedding?”