Chapter 2

The servants here were all very quiet. Momo, eating alone, watched the woman who came in to clean and thought, sigh, she actually wanted to ask her something, but her English was so terrible, she really didn’t know where to start.

Maybe she should go out for a walk after eating?! Hmm, good idea! Momo nodded vigorously. She’d been awake for three days, staying in the room, eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating, plus sighing all the time-this really wasn’t a way to live! Momo, you have to pull yourself together. Life is beautiful!

While cheering herself on in her heart, Momo quickly finished her meal, even drinking up all the oddly flavored borscht. The maid smiled and left the room. Seeing that Baby had already fallen asleep on their own, Momo wiped her mouth, walked to the mirror, started brushing her hair, changed clothes, and prepared to leave the room for a stroll.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw the same face, but the baby fat was gone, replaced by a perfectly oval face, with flawless skin and features that seemed deeper and more defined. Her long, waist-length curls, perhaps reflecting the bedsheets, had a faint purple tint. Paired with a simple silk nightgown, she looked noble and mysterious-truly, uh, so elegant!

After circling the room, Momo finally found the wardrobe-or rather, an inner room filled with clothes. She sniffed, once again marveling at the extravagant lifestyle of the wealthy. Haha, allow her to use this slightly irreverent word, because so many things had already exceeded her understanding. If this wasn’t extravagant, what was?!

She randomly pulled out an off-white long dress and slipped it on. The style was simple, with only a violet embroidered with silver thread near the neckline as decoration. Momo nodded in satisfaction. So pretty-looks like her taste ten years later was quite good.

After changing, Momo lifted for the first time the purple curtain decorated with flying swans. Outside the door was a long corridor covered with a red carpet, with many oil paintings hanging on both walls. Momo didn’t understand oil paintings, but after looking closely, she felt the style was quite unified, with a yearning for life. At the end of the corridor was a semicircular arched staircase. Momo walked down the stairs to the next floor and was suddenly stunned by the scene before her: what a magnificent palace!

The space was about four or five hundred square meters, all paved with mosaic floors. She slowly walked to the center of the palace, where the floor depicted an oval like the shape of the earth, with patterns of animals and plants. Looking up, the dome symbolized stars moving in the same direction as the sun in the sky, and the chandelier made of golden brass plates had sharp shapes resembling a Byzantine crown. Momo walked straight under the light and found that the chandelier was also inlaid with many shiny, crystal-like objects, each holding a lit, milky-white candle.

Because there were so many candles, Momo, feeling playful, couldn’t help but start counting: “1, 2, 3…96, 97? That doesn’t seem right, I must have counted this one twice-”

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps came from behind. Momo turned to look and saw Naze; Zhuo, now in different clothes, standing behind her with a smile: “Did I scare you this time?”

“Ah, no…” Momo turned around awkwardly, not quite sure what to say. After all, the man in front of her was, nominally, her husband, and seemed to love her deeply. If she spoke too distantly, he would be hurt; but if she acted too intimately, she couldn’t manage it. So she just stood there, foolishly.

Naze; Zhuo walked up to her. “There are ninety-six.”

“Huh?!”

“I said, there are ninety-six candles in total. You don’t need to count anymore,” Naze; Zhuo chuckled softly, “Anyway, you’ve never counted them right.”

“Oh~” Momo replied dumbly, her eyes darting everywhere except at the man before her. “Lu-Erke-Naze Fan-Zhuo, you, was I always like this, um, this natural?”

“Naze, just call me Naze. You always called me that before, said it sounded better. I finally understand why you never used my full name-it’s really-” Naze stared at Momo, whose face was growing redder, but didn’t continue, only paused, a little sad. “You haven’t changed at all, except that you’ve forgotten me, and the ten years that belonged to us.”

“I’m sorry,” Momo murmured.

“Don’t say sorry. And don’t doubt yourself anymore.” Naze habitually reached out to touch her cheek, but for some reason stopped midair. “It’s my fault.”

Momo lifted her gaze to the man before her. His smooth, deep features looked even more mysterious in the flickering candlelight. The confusion in her heart gradually faded, and her mood brightened: Whether it was time travel or amnesia, since she was still herself, and since he didn’t mind, why dwell on the past? She should just live well from now on!
Momo, having made up her mind, gave Naze a radiant smile. “Let’s stop blaming ourselves, hehe. From now on, I won’t say ‘I’m sorry’ to you, and you don’t need to say ‘sorry’ to me either. What matters is the future. But-”

“But what?” Naze asked eagerly.

Momo burst out laughing. “But, if you want to call off the engagement now, say it quickly, I won’t blame you. Otherwise, next time, I’ll demand emotional compensation, ah!”

Unfortunately, before she could finish her threat, Naze, overcome with joy, pulled her into his arms, as if he wanted to melt her into himself. “Momo, my Momo, how could I bear to do that, how could I? I love you so much!”

“I know, I know,” Momo was clearly flustered by his heartfelt confession and gently patted his back. “Um, could you loosen your grip a little?”

Hearing her words, Naze eased his hold, but still kept her in his embrace. Momo struggled to poke her head out. “Can we, um, not be so intimate for now? I’m not quite used to it yet…”

“Okay.” Naze obediently let go. The two of them stood close together, both feeling a bit awkward.

Momo swallowed hard, a little embarrassed. “Weren’t you going to make me fall in love with you again? Then chase me one more time. I’m easy to win over, really. Besides, we already have a Baby, and you’re so handsome, basically, I’m definitely going to cling to you, hehe.”

“Momo,” Naze looked into Momo’s adorable and brave eyes gazing at him, suppressing the urge to pull her into his arms again. “Thank you!”

“There you go again. Let’s not say things like that anymore.” Momo tilted her head, her tone a mix of reproach and playful teasing. “By the way, why are you here? Didn’t you just say goodnight to me? I thought you were staying up late and would catch up on sleep during the day!”

“Mm, I’m temporarily staying here-in the room next door.” Naze paused, then continued, “Why is Momo here?”

Momo flashed a mischievous smile. “The room was too stuffy, so I came out for some air. By the way, this place is so big, why isn’t there a single window? There are so many candles lit-it’s pretty, but in broad daylight, it feels a bit wasteful!”

Naze looked at her intently, his gaze suddenly deep. “Momo, in this castle, except for the mistress’s bedroom, there are no windows anywhere else. And from morning till night, all the candles are kept lit.”

“So there are so few windows in the castle!” Momo exclaimed in surprise. “Fairy tales never mention that.”

Looking at Momo’s innocent smile, Naze suddenly felt cruel. He clenched and unclenched his fist, his tall figure shifting slightly as if making a decision. “Momo, do you feel bored? Actually, the doctor said your body is fine now. I have a banquet tonight. Let me take you, okay?”

“Mm, sure,” Momo nodded cheerfully, then laughed, “But will I embarrass you like this? Or have I embarrassed you enough in the past that you’re used to it?”

Naze smiled faintly and took her hand. “You’ve never embarrassed me.”

“Really!” Momo stuck out her tongue and discreetly slipped her hand free. “If you think so, I’m relieved. Ah, Baby is still upstairs, I have to go up.”

With that, she turned to leave, unable to resist this gentle onslaught! Momo sighed inwardly; she’d blushed so many times already. She couldn’t just give in every time he said a few sweet words-if she let herself be won over so easily, how embarrassing would that be? Better to make a quick escape!

“Momo!” Naze called to her gently from behind.

“Hm?!” Momo stopped and turned to look at him.

Bathed in candlelight, Naze’s figure cast overlapping shadows on the floor, swaying gently with the flickering flames. He looked like a deity of the night-mysterious and melancholic. He gazed at Momo for a long moment. “It’s fine, someone will always be watching Baby. Take your time, it’s okay.”