"You used to love tulips," Hugo said, his voice quiet beneath the soft light of morning.
He was touring her around the garden, far too early for Lana's liking. She was still half-asleep, her limbs heavy with the kind of drowsiness that begged her to crawl back into bed. Unfortunately, everyone in this manor seemed to be a morning person including Hugo
Despite Lana telling him she had already been through the garden but still brought her here anyway. He said there were memories hidden among the petals, stories he wanted to share and the moments he hoped might help her remember something. Even though she didn't want to be here, she couldn't bring herself to say no as she knew he just wanted to spend time with his sister, to make up for all the time he had lost with her. So here she was, wandering beside him through rows of blooming tulips, pretending to listen as he recalled stories she didn't know.
Hugo recounting their childhood memories like pages from a favorite book. He told her how they used to weave flower crowns under the shade, how they ran through the garden during sudden summer rains, soaked and breathless from laughter, and how they played hide-and-seek among the hedges until they were called in at dusk.
Watching how naturally cheerful Hugo was around her, Lana couldn't help but wonder, did it ever hurt him? Knowing his sister had lost all her memories? She could see the struggle in the Countess and the Count, both still clearly adjusting to this new reality but Hugo…even though their first meet yesterday, he seemed fine. Almost too fine.
"Our memories are lovely," Lana said all of a sudden, her voice breaking through his story. "But I will like to know more about you now, not just the past"
Hugo stopped walking and turned to face her, surprise flickering in his eyes but when he saw the sincerity in her gaze, he let out a soft chuckle. Something warm bloomed in his chest like for the first time she wasn't just listening, she was asking. Not out of duty or politeness but because she wanted to know and somehow that meant more to him than all the stories he had been telling.
"I think we will need a bench for that," Hugo said with a playful glint in his eyes.
Just ahead, nestled in a quiet corner beneath the shade of a flowering tree, a bench waited. Lana glanced toward it and gave a small nod. Without a word, Hugo stepped aside and motioned for her to go first. She walked ahead and he followed, letting the moment settle between them like soft sunlight through the leaves.
They sat down together, the bench cool beneath them. Hugo leaned back casually, turning to her with an expectant smile. There was something in his expression, bright and a little too eager that made Lana think of a dog waiting for its owner to throw a stick. He didn't say a word but his eyes said it all: Go on and ask me anything.
She looked at him, unsure where to begin but somehow, his smile made it easier. "If nothing could stop you, what would you be doing with your life?" Lana asked, almost without second thought.
The question hung in the air, deeper than anything he expected. He had been ready for something simple, maybe a favorite food or a funny childhood habit, not this. No one had ever asked him that, not a single woman at dances, not friends over drinks and to be honest even him, would never think to ask something like that when trying to get to know someone. Clearly, his sister had become a strange woman, different in ways he couldn't quite place but surprisingly, he didn't mind, not even a little.
Hugo stared ahead, his eyes fixed on nothing in particular, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I will ride a horse all day," he said softly. "And live deep in the forest, far from the village..away from the towns, from the noise and the crowds."
There was something peaceful in the way he said it, not dreamy but certain like he had thought about it before, maybe more than once. A life of quiet, of simplicity and where no one expected him to be anyone but himself.
Lana hadn't expected that answer as she thought he would say something wild, drinking and dancing, a life surrounded by people and noise. It fit the version of Hugo she had painted in her head: charming, talkative, always at ease in a crowd but instead, he wanted silence, solitude. Trees instead of applause.
Maybe I judged him too fast
Lana gave a small nod, more to herself than to him. His answer was enough to give her a glimpse of who Elena's brother might really be if he was being honest "What is your biggest regret?" Lana continue
For a moment, it was as if the garden disappeared like everything around him fell away and only that one word echoed in his mind: regret. Hugo sat still, his expression unreadable but something in the air had shifted. It was the kind of stillness that only came when someone was moving through something inside, slowly and carefully.
He wasn't just thinking, he was remembering. Walking through every failure, every missed chance, every version of himself he wished he could have been.
It took time.
After that long pause, long enough for the garden to feel too quiet, he finally spoke as his voice was low "I was thirteen years old when I first met her. I was furious after learning the truth so I blamed her for everything and told myself I would never forgive her…I even wished she would disappear." He paused, his jaw tight.
"And then she did, she left this world before I could take it back. Before I could say what I really felt...all I wanted was to hug her..that is what I regret the most"
Lana didn't need to look into his eyes to know he was in pain. His voice alone carried it, low and heavy with the kind of sadness that didn't need to be explained. He hadn't said a name, only her and that was enough for Lana to realize he didn't want her to know who. Maybe he wasn't ready to share that but that didn't matter.
Lana respected that so she didn't ask, she didn't press.
She simply let the silence stand between them, Hugo turned to her, his eyes drowning with regret, sadness and something heavier.
"Do you think I'm a bad guy?" he asked quietly but Lana could tell he wasn't really looking for an answer, he already believed he was.
It was instinct more than thought as her hands rose, cupping his face gently and she guided him toward her shoulder. Hugo didn't move nor question her touch or pull away, he let himself rest there like he needed this more than he realized.
Lana wasn't sure if she should say anything but something in her told her Hugo needed to hear it. "You were only a child," she said softly. "I'm sure she understands"
Lana finally returned to her chamber, and the thought of a warm bath was the only thing keeping her on her feet. A soft groan escaped Lana as she sank into the bathtub as she lowered herself into the bathtub, the warm water wrapping around her like a long-overdue embrace. She closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the silence, this is the only time she can have a little peace of mind.
It felt like forever by the time Lana finished her bath. Now, she stood still as her servants helped her dress. A sigh slipped from her lips as she stared at the gown, another one of Elena's pastel dresses, soft and delicate, completely unlike anything Lana would ever choose for herself.
"I think I have to do something about these dresses" Lana muttered, eyeing the pastel fabric like it personally offended her.
The door opened with a soft creak as her lady-in-waiting stepped inside and bowed respectfully. Lana glanced her way, already expecting a news.
"Forgive the interruption, my lady," she said gently, "but you have a visitor today. Sir Julien of House Vaudin, waiting for you in the parlor, my lady"
She sighed the moment his name was spoken, she had been expecting him, preparing herself last night for this visit. "Tell him i will be there in a minute" She simply said
Just last night, Lana had second thoughts about seeing Julien. Julien had once been Elena's lover, he must have missed her terribly so much that the moment he heard she had woken from her deep sleep, he came as soon as he finished defending the territory.
With their history, Lana could only imagine how awkward it would be facing someone who might look at her with longing and regret, all while believing she was still the woman he once loved. If there was one upside to this whole amnesia story, it was that she had an excuse, she could snap, be cold even push him away and no one would fault her.
Lana never liked how Julien was written but then again, Elena wasn't much better. The two of them were really made for each other in the most exhausting way
But If he really was the key, then maybe she had an advantage as he already loved Elena so maybe it won't be hard to make him fall again even if this time, it was for someone slightly different.
She composed herself before opening the door of her chamber only to find the knight she had kissed just yesterday waiting for her. He bowed his head the moment he saw her while Lana stood frozen in place.
"I will escort you to the parlor, my lady," the knight said with a formal tone.
"Okay…" she said under her breath, trying to sound calm though even she wasn't convinced. Lana walked a few steps ahead, trying to focus on the path but the air between them was stiff, uncomfortable like they were both pretending not to notice the tension.
Ugh, Lana, seriously? What are you doing? You are supposed to make him fall for you, not treat him like he is invisible. Talk to him. Say something. Just don't keep walking like an idiot.
Finally, Lana decided to break the uncomfortable silence between them. "What is your name?" Lana asked, eyes still forward as she continued walking.
The question made the knight's ears turn pink, just the simple act of her asking his name seemed to light something in him as if the smallest bit of attention from her meant everything
"I am Noé Lambert, milady,"
She looked back at him over her shoulder, gave a brief nod of acknowledgment and kept walking completely unaware of the pink rising in his cheeks.
"From now on, you will be my personal guard," Lana said calmly.
The words nearly made him melt, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Lucky for him, his lady didn't see the flustered mess he had become, all because of her.