Odalisque - Side Story 21

“To think that a day would come when I could spend such a leisurely time like this.”

Liv looked at the flower-decorated boat with a sense of wonder, her gaze turning to the serene scenery of the lake. Her eyes, gazing endlessly at the scene, were filled with an unfamiliar unease at the sudden leisure given to her. So much so that even Dimus, who watched her, began to feel uncomfortable seeing her act as if she didn’t deserve such treatment.

Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, Dimus spoke first.

“You proposed to me here.”

At those words, Liv, who had been looking around, turned to Dimus in surprise.

“Really?”

Her expression, filled with disbelief, gradually turned into one of deep thought. Soon, she furrowed her brows slightly.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For not remembering. A proposal must be such a precious memory.”

Her face, filled with sincere regret as she apologized, left Dimus at a loss for words momentarily. He finally parted his lips to speak.

“…No one could have made a more wonderful proposal than you.”

It was an indirect affirmation of her words. After all, it wasn’t incorrect.

Who else could have prepared such a perfect setting, offering gifts made specifically for him, and proposed with words that hit his heart precisely?

Dimus still clearly remembered that day—the scent of lilies surrounding them, the weight of the picture frame, and Liv’s innocent smile as she gave him those gifts.

It was, indeed, as Liv had said—a “precious memory.”

Dimus looked at the woman before him. She was the one who had proposed to him, but now she was different. The woman before him didn’t remember the “precious memory” they had created together; she sat awkwardly, as if listening to someone else’s story.

This realization caused Dimus to feel somewhat disheartened.

“I must have really liked you, Dimus,” Liv said gently, seeming to sense his feelings. “To have proposed first, I must have been quite fond of you.”

Liv spoke in a kind tone, seemingly aware of the loss Dimus felt from the time they had spent together. However, she did not try to force herself to act like the lover she could not remember, knowing that would be an even greater affront to him.

“In truth, I’ve never been familiar with romantic relationships. It’s so strange that I was able to approach someone so assertively.”

Liv mumbled as if to herself, gently touching the flowers that decorated the boat with her fingertips.

“I can’t even imagine how much I must have clung to you.”

“It was me who clung to you.”

Dimus corrected her immediately.

“I was the one begging—I said I’d die without you.”

It was purely an objective fact, and there wasn’t an ounce of shame or embarrassment in his correction. However, Liv looked at him as if she suspected he was exaggerating a bit.

“How kind of you. You’re saying that just so I won’t feel bad.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Alright, I’ll believe you.”

While Dimus was utterly sincere, Liv chuckled as if she had just heard a joke.

Realizing that the laughter was involuntary, Liv hurriedly covered her mouth and turned her head away, but her eyes still formed a soft curve. Dimus stared at her warm green eyes, as if captivated.

“Ahem, I’m sorry. I wasn’t laughing at you—I just felt good, that’s all.”

Her gentle voice was full of concern that she might have offended him.

Suddenly, Dimus found himself wondering if this was the carefree smile he might have seen if they had started their relationship more “properly.”

If not for the hardships—if she hadn’t ended up as a nude model, caught the attention of a wicked man, been treated like a pretty statue, then fled in desperation only to be caught and forced into endless struggles—perhaps she could have been as peaceful as she seemed now, without those bad memories.

And so, a question naturally followed.

Did he really need to see her memory return?

“Do you think my memory will come back?”

As if reading his thoughts, Liv suddenly spoke.

“I’m curious. About the time we spent together. About how someone like me ended up in a relationship with someone like you, Dimus. Right now, all I can think is that it’s too much for me.”

“I’m the one who’s unworthy.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Their quiet date on the calm lake seemed to have softened her guardedness. Liv spoke more comfortably than she had before.

“Actually, I thought you didn’t want to tell me anything. I mean, about our relationship or our past.”

Dimus’s eyebrows rose slightly. He took a quiet breath, replying in a blunt voice, “Why would I… have a reason to do that?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I don’t know why I thought that. Maybe I’ve just been on edge since I suddenly lost my memory.”

Liv shook her head, smiling as if the thought was ridiculous.

“Dr. Gertrude said she’d return with the related research, so I’ll be able to regain my memory soon enough. It’s all strange, but I’m trying not to rush things.”

What was this feeling?

For the first time in a long while, Dimus couldn’t define the emotions swirling within him. Suppressing his confused feelings, he found himself with a lump in his throat and had to look away from Liv as he spoke.

“Yes, you’ll regain your memory soon enough.”

***

The atmosphere of their date turned out better than expected.

Liv seemed to have opened her heart a little and was starting to see Dimus in a positive light. She even thought of him as a kind and considerate man—perhaps a bit blunt in expressing himself, but with warmth beneath the surface.

Strangely, it was Dimus who began to change.

He no longer hovered around Liv all the time. However, he still wouldn’t leave the mansion, and it seemed he spent more time thinking about her now than when he was by her side.

The same was true now as he sat in the study. Though he had an open book before him, it had long since become a mere decoration. Even the cigar that had become a habit for him lay discarded to the side.

“Is it really right for her to regain her memory?”

Resting his chin on one hand, Dimus tapped his finger anxiously on the armrest. Philip, who stood by his side, looked at him curiously at the murmured words.

“Pardon?”

“All those useless memories are gone now—why bring them back…”

It didn’t seem like he expected an answer. Watching him with a worried gaze, Philip called out cautiously.

“Master.”

“Hah.”

Dimus sighed deeply, pressing his temples with his fingers before glancing at Philip.

“Where is Liv?”

“Madam is touring the mansion. She mentioned visiting the east wing today.”

The Langess mansion was vast, and there were still many areas Liv had not explored.

Since her trip to the lake, she seemed to have decided to embrace her current circumstances. She had taken an active interest in exploring every corner of the mansion. With the staff being consistently kind and cooperative, Liv’s exploration was going smoothly.

Even before she lost her memory, Liv had maintained a harmonious relationship with the mansion’s staff. Everyone respected and followed her, as she was in no way lacking as the mistress of the house.

“The east wing, where Liv’s studio is.”

The fingers that had paused on the armrest resumed their anxious tapping.

The studio at the Langess mansion wasn’t a place she visited often, as the larger external studio was much better equipped for painting. Compared to that, the mansion’s studio was just somewhere she would occasionally visit to doodle when she was bored.

So, there was little chance that visiting it would suddenly bring her memories back.

Realizing that Liv’s studio wasn’t likely to play a significant role in helping her recover her memory made Dimus’s mind restless again. This undefined emotion had become so bothersome that he frowned deeply.

While subconsciously touching his lips, unable to shake off this feeling, an idea suddenly crossed his mind.

“She hasn’t gone to the basement yet, has she?”

“No, since you didn’t say anything, so I haven’t suggested it.”

As soon as Philip’s calm response reached him, Dimus sprang to his feet.

“Prepare a cover.”

Pushing the unread book aside, he hurriedly left the study, not forgetting to instruct Philip along the way.

“Something to use as a cover, as much as possible.”