Chapter 64
Episode 64
Looking out the window, Kyle turned his head to the side. Sitting close beside him, Rosanna wore a bright, innocent smile.
“Didn’t you say we were going to the park? We just passed it.”
“I changed our destination.”
Kyle felt puzzled. No one had told him that the plan had changed. When did that happen…? Even the coachman seemed to know where they were going—except Kyle didn’t.
“Since we’re already out, I thought it’d be nice to go somewhere with fresh air. We’re heading to the outskirts.”
Rosanna placed her hand on the rattan basket resting on Kyle’s lap.
“If you get hungry, feel free to take something out. You skipped breakfast, didn’t you?”
“I’m fine.”
At that exact moment, his stomach growled. Kyle, who had always lived a disciplined life, had a reliable internal clock—and skipping a meal made it ring loud and clear.
“If you keep holding out, I’ll feed you myself. With my mouth.”
“I’ll pass.”
Kyle quickly pulled out two sandwiches and handed one to Rosanna.
“Let’s eat together.”
“I’m good. I’m not hungry.”
“…You don’t eat much. You could stand to gain a bit of weight.”
A concerned look fell on Rosanna. Mischief sparked in her eyes as she clung to Kyle and linked arms.
“If I gain any more, my shoulders will hurt. Still prefer me bigger?”
“Why do you always twist everything like that? I was just worried about your health.”
“So you’re saying I’m perfect the way I am? I’m pretty proud of that, you know.”
Rosanna, lowering her gaze, gently touched the top of her chest, exposed just above her neckline. Kyle quickly caught her wrist and lowered it.
“We’re outside.”
“It’s just us. And we’re in a carriage.”
“Even inside a carriage, we’re not at home. Habits are formed by little things—you should be mindful.”
Rosanna gave Kyle a teasing glance.
“Such a nag.”
“You act so recklessly, it gives me a shock. It feels familiar, somehow…”
“I did surprise you often, didn’t I.”
Kyle nodded, guessing correctly, and took a bite of the sandwich. The cucumber sandwich, lightly buttered, had a refreshing taste. He praised the flavor, finished one in just a few bites, and moved on to Rosanna’s untouched sandwich as well.
Rosanna watched Kyle eat with satisfaction and patted his head. The conversation didn’t stop until the carriage finally came to a halt.
The sun had climbed high and was starting to lean west when Rosanna and Kyle stepped down from the carriage. The moment she touched the ground, Rosanna stretched.
“Guess we were on a gravel path. It was so bumpy, wasn’t it?”
“Still worth the ride.”
Kyle looked around at the nature surrounding them. It was a beautiful spot, thick with white wildflowers. One area had shorter grass, making it perfect for sitting.
“Let’s go over there.”
Taking the lead, Kyle pulled out a mat from the rattan basket and laid it down. Rosanna, always quick to act, threw herself onto the mat before Kyle had even finished setting it up.
“This is so comfy. Cool in the shade, too. Good spot.”
Kyle said nothing, focusing on arranging everything properly. He placed their bags to one side of the mat and began setting out the food. Cucumber sandwiches, mashed potato salad, syrup-soaked pancakes, lemonade, and dessert. Once he finished, he looked visibly pleased.
Rosanna, recognizing his effort, finally sat up.
“You did great bringing all this. Let’s eat.”
“The scenery makes the appetite better.”
It was exactly as he said. Kyle ended up eating nearly twice as much as Rosanna, though she did keep nudging him with “Try this, try that.”
They finished their meal with a dessert of cream mixed with honey, whiskey, oatmeal, and raspberries.
“Kyle. Are you full?”
“Comfortably full. Feels good.”
“Aren’t you glad we came?”
Rosanna grinned, looking radiant in her white muslin dress with short sleeves. The light, clean look suited her.
Kyle felt his heart flutter. He had no memories, but it was clear they were already deeply involved—yet he felt like he was falling for her all over again. It had to be fate. There was no other word for it.
“I’m glad I listened to you.”
“See? I’m always right.”
Kyle let out a quiet chuckle.
“People probably tell you you’re self-centered.”
“Who would dare say that to me? But I’ll let you slide.”
Rosanna plopped down and rested her head on Kyle’s thigh. Then she suddenly lifted her head and frowned.
“The sky looks weird.”
“It was clear earlier… Rain clouds are rolling in.”
The blue sky quickly turned gray. As soon as their eyes met, they began packing up. They planned to return to the carriage before the rain started. Rosanna turned to head back first and alert the coachman.
But then—crack! Thunder rolled, and a light drizzle began to fall.
“Kyle! Hurry up!”
“I’ve got everything! You go in first!”
Rosanna didn’t listen. She waited where she stood until Kyle caught up, then took his hand. The two of them ran toward the carriage.
Even in a situation that might have frustrated anyone else, Rosanna burst into laughter. She found the moment—the two of them dashing through the rain to take shelter—fun. Kyle must’ve felt the same, judging by the upward curve of his lips. Then their eyes drifted downward.
As the thin fabric of their clothes became soaked, it turned semi-transparent, revealing the skin beneath. The pulse in their clasped hands pounded fiercely, beating in unison. It was as if they were holding each other’s heart.
Between the man and woman sprinting through the rain, something electric stirred in the air.
The moment they climbed into the carriage and shut the door, they were all over each other. Kyle pinned Rosanna halfway down on the seat and showered her with kisses. He must have learned from their many past encounters—he pushed his tongue in boldly. The friction of flesh on flesh filled the carriage with shameless, heated sounds.
Neither noticed when the carriage started moving. Their feverish kissing only stopped once the interior grew steamy and sticky with their rain-soaked clothes.
“This is uncomfortable.”
“Still, that doesn’t mean you can take them off.”
“What do you think I am? Some kind of flasher?”
“I’m joking.”
Kyle leaned against Rosanna, hiding his face in embarrassment after his own impulsiveness. The gesture felt endearing—almost like a child’s pout—which made Rosanna laugh.
“You’re such an amusing man.”
“I didn’t do anything…”
“Just having you next to me makes me smile.”
Rain now pelted the windows harder, forming the backdrop to their quiet moment.
A faint shiver passed between their connected bodies. Rosanna stared out the blurred window and then spoke.
“There’s a hotel nearby. We can rest there. Take a warm bath.”
Kyle sat up straight and looked at her.
“Of course, we could go home too. You choose.”
Her face showed no ulterior motive—just a calm openness.
Strangely, Kyle found himself wishing there ‘was’ an ulterior motive. But he felt too awkward to say it out loud. Even after being so intimate with her many times, he still couldn’t voice such things easily. Maybe if his memories came back, he’d find it easier.
“Well, I guess we don’t have a choice. Look at us—”
The carriage jolted violently, throwing them off balance. Kyle instinctively pulled Rosanna into his arms. Thankfully, it wasn’t a serious accident, but the carriage had tilted to one side and come to a halt.
“What happened?”
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
Soon, the coachman opened the door.
“One of the wheels sank into a pit. If I force it out, the axle could break… I’ll need help once the rain stops.”
“So we can’t head back right away?”
“No, ma’am. You’ll need to stay at a nearby hotel.”
The coachman didn’t bother saying anything about forcing a carriage through the rain for a picky mistress. But Rosanna and Kyle simply exchanged a subtle look.
“We don’t have many options. Let’s spend the night there.”
“Okay.”
The upward curl of Rosanna’s lips revealed her mood. She turned back to the coachman.
“We’ll ride the horses to the hotel. Can’t leave them here.”
“Of course. Please mount up.”
Kyle mumbled, “Have I ever ridden a horse before…?”
“Probably not. Ride with me. The coachman can take the other one.”
The coachman nodded and went to unhook the horses from the carriage. Rosanna let out a sigh.
“I’m going to get soaked.”
“We already are.”
Kyle said it with a smile. Rosanna tilted her head, puzzled. A day ruined by rain—what was there to be happy about?
“You look like you’re in a good mood.”
“I think this’ll be a day to remember. One of those moments you look back on and say, ‘Yeah, that happened.’ Making memories was today’s goal, so I’d say it’s a success.”
Kyle was someone who could stay positive, even in situations like this. Rosanna found herself softening, swept up in his mood.
“Why’re you acting like it’s over already? The day’s far from done.”
Just then, they heard the coachman call out. Rosanna grabbed Kyle and dashed out into the rain. Thankfully, it was only a light drizzle, and the coachman had brought saddles from the carriage’s storage to make riding easier.
He left ahead of them to inform the hotel of their arrival. In his possession was a gold membership card Rosanna had handed him—one with her signature, enough to confirm her identity.
“Let’s head out too.”
Rosanna mounted her horse in one smooth motion, without even using a step. Neither the rain nor her dress got in her way. Kyle had reached out to help her up, but his hand was left hanging in the air.
