CHAPTER 02
“…What?”
“Then you’ll create the cure for me and my family, won’t you?”
Since Jena had lost her memory as a side effect, it was the perfect chance to steal her love and use her freely.
“Besides, if she’s your wife and not just a lover, she’ll work herself to death trying to help.”
“…So, you’re saying you’ll marry that spy whose identity you don’t even know? Duke Kalrad?”
Having heard his son’s full plan, Wilhelm let out a short laugh.
“That’s far too dangerous, Aizen.”
His mother, Renée, also opposed the idea.
But their mouths shut at Aizen’s next words.
“What if Matthias gets sick too?”
Matthias was Aizen’s nephew, the only child left behind by the late Michael and his wife.
He showed no symptoms yet, but no one knew when he might fall ill like Aizen or his father.
“More than anything, I’m tired of sitting still and waiting for death again.”
Aizen spoke softly, breaking the heavy silence.
Wilhelm and Renée’s eyes trembled violently.
“I’ll keep my identity hidden so that our family doesn’t suffer.
Noone must find out that the Kalrad family carries a cursed illness and that I’m trying to cure it.”
From the start, he had never intended to let a nameless spy sit in the Duchess’s seat.
Besides, Frostblood Syndrome was an illness known only within the Kalrad ducal house—a deadly secret and weakness of their bloodline.
They needed a cover to continue hiding it.
“How exactly do you plan to hide it?”
“I plan to create a fictional noble line, the Viscounty of Kreutz—a distant branch of the Schmitt family from another region.”
His closest aide, Ralph Schmitt, had even agreed to lend them one of his spare estates.
Until Aizen discovered the cure, he would live as “Aizen Kreutz,” husband of “Jena Kreutz,” in a fake marriage.
Sensing his son’s firm resolve, Wilhelm fell silent for a while, then spoke with a determined face.
“I can’t just let you handle this alone. If we’re going to do it, we’ll do it properly.”
“Father, do you mean—”
Renée nodded, agreeing with her husband.
And so, except for Matthias, the entire family threw themselves into an elaborate family fraud.
The ducal family’s rank was high, but because they had lived secluded lives in the north to hide their illness, few people actually knew their faces.
By the time Jena regained consciousness, they had already built the fake Viscounty of Kreutz in perfect detail.
“Remember. From now on, we are the minor northern noble family, the Kreutz household. Poor, sickly, and incompetent.”
The three of them shared one purpose.
To deceive and use Jena completely in order to obtain the cure.
Of course, Jena falling head over heels for Aizen the moment she woke up wasn’t part of the plan.
***
Jena Kreutz.
That was the name of the woman I’d become, told to me by my handsome husband after I was moved to a new room.
‘Hmm, even after hearing the name, I still don’t know which story I’ve landed in.’
But that’s fine.
What matters now is that my husband, Aizen Kreutz, has a face that makes all my worries melt away the moment I see him.
A face like that doesn’t come twice in one lifetime, I’m sure of it.
“I rushed here the moment I heard you’d woken up, but when I didn’t see you in the room, I was quite startled.”
Aizen sat upright on the sofa, his brows drawn slightly in concern.
“Oh, sorry. I went out because I got curious after hearing I had a husband.”
“I’m glad you weren’t running away.”
The teasing tone pricked my conscience a little.
If he hadn’t been this good-looking, I probably would’ve run for real…
While I awkwardly shifted my gaze, he gently took my hand.
His thumb brushed my skin softly, the warmth of it spreading like fire.
Then, in that low, pleasant voice of his, he spoke tenderly.
“Please don’t disappear without a word again. I can’t live without you beside me. Understood?”
God, a gorgeous man saying he can’t live without me?
My cheeks turned crimson as I nodded like an idiot.
When I smiled and squeezed his hand tighter, Aizen flinched faintly.
Then I suddenly remembered what the maid said about my “accident” and asked,
“Oh, what kind of accident did I have?”
“You slipped during a walk and fell into the lake. You were unconscious for quite a while. You can’t imagine how happy I am to see you awake.”
He answered smoothly, as if he’d rehearsed it, his eyes softening like melting snow.
I almost drooled before catching myself.
Maybe I did drool a little.
“I’m happy too, honey. It really feels like fate.”
At my shy reply, Aizen’s expression shifted subtly between a smile and something unreadable.
“…Yes, I suppose you could call it fate.”
He turned his head slightly and rang a small bell on the table.
Ding, ding.
The person who entered was the brown-haired maid from before.
“This is Greta.”
At Aizen’s gesture, the maid walked over with disciplined steps.
Now that I saw her again, her expressionless face seemed too cold and strict for a servant’s job.
Not exactly the “service” type.
“Greta was your most trusted maid. She served you faithfully, like your own shadow.”
“Really?”
Well, I’m not a mind reader.
If she was close to me before, she’ll probably be helpful now.
So I smiled and reached out my hand.
“Nice to meet you, Greta. I didn’t get to greet you properly earlier.”
“Please, don’t lower yourself, my lady.”
Instead of taking my hand, Greta bowed exactly ninety degrees.
“Greta is your personal maid and will remain by your side. You cared for her deeply, so please treat her warmly.”
Aizen emphasized the phrase “you cared for her deeply.”
Well, no harm in following my husband’s lead.
“All right. I’ll count on you, Greta. Once I get comfortable, I’ll speak more casually.”
“I’ll serve you with all my heart, my lady.”
Greta stayed perfectly still as she replied calmly.
Knock, knock.
“My lord, my lady. Excuse me.”
A man in a black tailcoat entered politely.
“Who are you…?”
“I’m Daniel, the butler of House Kreutz, my lady.”
“Oh, I see. But you’re so young!”
Usually, butlers are older with graying hair, but this one looked quite young—maybe early thirties at most.
“And you look strong, like you used to do something else. Maybe a knight…?”
His broad shoulders and muscles strained against the fabric of his uniform.
At my words, Daniel paused for a moment, then replied politely.
“I’ve simply kept up with my exercise, my lady. I also heard about your memory loss. Please don’t hesitate to tell me if you need anything.”
He bowed deeply and continued.
“Dinner is ready. Shall we move to the dining hall?”
Aizen nodded and told Greta to help me get dressed.
In the dressing room, I changed into a simple sky-blue dress with Greta’s assistance.
When I stepped out, Aizen was waiting and offered his arm.
It seemed like he wanted me to take it, so I placed my hand on it carefully.
That arm was solid as stone. Unreal.
I tried my best not to grin like a creep as he escorted me to the dining hall.
“By the way, my parents are there. They’ve been very worried about you.”
Wait—Aizen’s parents?
‘My in-laws?!’
The thought of meeting my husband’s family right after falling for him made me nervous.
I’d never done a proper in-law introduction before!
“Are you sure it’s okay to meet your parents like this, without any preparation…?”
“It’s fine.”
“But still…”
“I said it’s fine. Let’s go.”
Aizen smiled and led me forward.
The pace was fast, but I couldn’t refuse.
Because honestly, who could pull away from a silver-haired man like that?
