He chuckled softly as he spoke, shaking his head with a knowing look. Darcy blinked. No wonder what? Did Lucian never mention her to others? Were they in a secret relationship? Hmph. That's completely out of line. Dating me but pretending to be single? No wonder I fought with him. Darcy sighed inwardly, feeling like she was losing her mind. One moment, she thought she was being irrational; the next, she was convinced Lucian was the villain. The two conflicting narratives warred inside her, each taking turns dominating her thoughts. What exactly is our relationship? At nine that evening, Lucian returned, bringing the chilly night air in with him. He stopped short in the doorway, his hand on his coat, his eyes wide with surprise at the sight of dishes waiting on the table. That surprise quickly melted into concern. "Your legs aren't well. Why get up to cook? If you're hungry, just tell me. I'll order in." Darcy smiled, "My legs aren't broken. The doctor said it's just temporarily weak. While you were gone, I practiced walking a bit, holding onto the sofa. It felt much better. And I only made super simple stuff—easy peasy." Lucian felt a complicated swirl of emotions he couldn't quite name. He pulled out a chair and sat down, but his expression remained stern. "Don't cook tomorrow. I'll prepare your meals in advance." Darcy nodded meekly. What a contradictory man. He's worried about me, but he has to say it with a scowl. Hmph. Cold mouth, warm heart. "I discovered I'm actually a pretty good cook. Was I always good at this?" She looked at him expectantly, hoping he'd offer some clue about her past.Lucian almost laughed. She was a total career queen, yet here she was playing homemaker in my apartment. He wondered if she'd be mortified when her memory returned. Yet, he felt a strange sense of peace. He was, against all logic, enjoying this quiet domesticity. If only it could last. If only she could stay like this. But he knew better. This fragile peace was stolen. Sooner or later, Darcy would return to Aethelburg, to her real life. "Yeah, I suppose so," he answered vaguely. Darcy shot him a look. I suppose so? What kind of boyfriend is that? He doesn't seem to know anything about me. She then told him about the old man who had come by looking for help with his computer. "I fixed it in just a few minutes. Pretty impressive, right?" She looked at him, her expression clearly asking for praise. Lucian was momentarily dazzled by her smile. Without thinking, he set down his fork and reached out, giving her cheek a gentle pinch. "Very impressive!" Darcy's smile widened in satisfaction, but then a thought struck her. That gesture felt... familiar, in a weird way, like someone petting a dog. She felt a twinge of irritation and began poking at her salad with her fork. Lucian noticed the shift in her mood. "What's wrong?" "Oh, nothing. That old man—are you close with him?" She changed the subject. "He's my landlord. Lives downstairs." "Oh, so you rent this place?" Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Did you think I owned it?" Darcy rested her chin on her hand. "You have that successful businessman vibe. I thought you'd be loaded." Lucian stared at her, speechless.Darcy quickly tried to smooth it over. "It's okay. I don't mind." It wasn't that he couldn't afford to buy a place. He simply liked this one. The small space felt secure, and it was conveniently close to his office. After dinner, Lucian automatically went to wash the dishes. Darcy stayed in the living room, watching TV. When he finished, he dried his hands and came out, looking at her seriously. "Thank you. For dinner." Darcy waved a hand without looking back. "We're past 'thank yous,' aren't we? It feels too formal." Lucian's brow furrowed slightly. "What exactly is our relationship?" "Lovers, obviously. Who says thank you like that to their lover? Feels weirdly formal." Lovers. The word hit Lucian like a physical blow. A low buzz filled his ears. His heart began to hammer against his ribs. He licked his suddenly dry lips. "Who... who told you that?""Everyone! The nurses, the doctor, the taxi driver, the old landlord." She counted them off on her fingers, then looked at him as if he'd asked a ridiculous question. Lucian stood frozen, a wave of conflicting emotions—sweet, painful, chaotic—crashing over him. He was speechless. So that's why her behavior has been so strange. She's operating under a massive misunderstanding. He felt a bitter laugh bubble up in his chest, mixed with an aching tenderness. After a long pause, he finally found his voice, his tone soft. "Actually, you got it wrong. We—" Bang! Bang! Someone was pounding on the door. Darcy reacted first, frowning. "Who's knocking at this hour? How rude." "I'll see." Lucian strode to the door and opened it. Standing there was Catherine, the landlord's granddaughter. Catherine stared at him, her expression a mix of embarrassment and simmering anger. She'd come home from work to hear from her grandfather that Lucian not only had a girlfriend, but had just returned from a holiday with her.