* * *

“Hero… In search of his whereabouts.”

I unknowingly read the sentence aloud, once, twice, three times.

My comprehension seemed to falter, forcing me to repeat it multiple times.

The sentence, which included “hero” and “whereabouts,” was simple and clear—so clear it was hard to grasp.

There was only one person the kingdom called a hero.

Without needing to read further, it was obvious who the article referred to.

Kaindel.

A man who had once been my lover.

Snapping back to reality, I lowered my gaze, which had been fixed on the paper.

As I read through the article, my faint smile twisted into something bitter.

The article’s gist was this: Kaindel, who had already been rarely seen at public events, had now completely disappeared without a trace.

The news caught me off guard.

I never imagined such a topic would arise in the capital.

What shocked me more was the implication that Kaindel, once a regular at every gathering a year ago, was now jeopardizing his position by behaving so strangely.

It was hard to believe.

I turned to Sehir.

“Sehir, this—”

“It’s exactly what you’ve read.”

Before I could fully form my question, Sehir cut me off with a blunt response, furrowing my brows in frustration.

“…Is he in seclusion?”

It might sound ridiculous, but I hoped Kaindel was merely hiding away.

If his disappearance stemmed from something else, it could mean the worst.

But things never went the way I wanted, and this time was no different.

“No one knows where Kaindel is.”

“How is that even possible?”

My reflexive question escaped my lips.

Kaindel was the hero who had vanquished the great calamity.

His position made it impossible for him to go unnoticed.

During my time in the capital, even a simple outing with Kaindel required disguises or visits to secluded areas.

Despite these efforts, nine out of ten attempts ended in failure.

That such a prominent figure could vanish without a trace seemed inconceivable.

I fiddled with my increasingly cold teacup.

“And the marriage?”

“If you’re referring to Kaindel and the princess, it hasn’t happened yet. From what I hear, it’s due to the princess’s circumstances.”

“Ha.”

Whatever her reasons, it was all so baffling it gave me a headache.

The influx of unexpected information clashed and churned in my mind, leaving me disoriented.

I clenched the handle of the teacup tightly, forcing myself to think calmly.

With a gulp, I drained the lukewarm tea, quelling the faint restlessness in my chest.

“So?”

“Hmm?”

“You must have had a reason for showing me this.”

Drumming his index finger on the gossip rag he’d placed on the table, he forced his twisted expression back into order.

Life had been peaceful.

Of course, it had all come crashing down today, but he had liked the silence he could never get back.

That stillness had allowed him to regain enough composure to live with the memory of Kaindel, even if he couldn’t forget him entirely.

So, if Sehir hadn’t come here with a compelling reason to end this life of mine, I’d be quite disappointed.

“Isa.”

“What’s the reason?”

What did Kaindel’s disappearance have to do with me?

We were strangers now, weren’t we?

After a breakup, wasn’t that the way things worked?

When I asked, Sehir pulled out a bundle of papers from the bag sprawled on the floor.

The thick stack of documents bore the title ‘Record Report’ on its first page.

He handed the papers to me, pointing at the top.

“This is a record of entries and exits over the past six months—not just in the capital but across all the kingdom’s territories. As you can see here, there’s a record of Kaindel leaving the capital about a month ago.”

“A month ago? Then that has nothing to do with me—”

“That’s not it, Isa.”

It’s not.

Pressing his fingertips to his temples, Sehir let out a heavy sigh.

“After you left, Kaindel came to see me. From our conversation, it was clear he was sure I knew where you were. That’s why he didn’t come sooner. I’m sorry.”

When he, as usual, apologized out of habit, brushing his stiff jawline, I offered him a faint smile.

“At least you’ve come to see me now. There’s no need for you to apologize for that.”

Although he hadn’t directly answered my question, Sehir’s clear discomfort helped me piece together my own conclusion: He must’ve come here out of concern after reviewing these records.

Thinking that way, the frustration I’d started to feel toward him dissipated.

“What about the underlined entries?” I asked.

On the report Sehir showed me, some records were underlined sporadically. They all bore the same initials, which naturally piqued my curiosity.

Sehir hesitated for a moment before replying with a cracked voice. “Kaindel’s entry records.”

“All of them?”

“Yes, all the underlined ones are his.”

“Why so many…?”

“He was searching for you.”

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

“You’re lying.”

“It’s not a lie.”

Sehir wasn’t the type to assert something so definitively unless he was certain.

He always considered all possibilities, pondering carefully before speaking.

The fact that he made such an unshakable claim now meant it was the truth.

It’s not a lie.

Confirming his unwavering conviction, I looked again at the underlined records.

Knowing they were all Kaindel’s made them feel different.

My gaze scanned up and down the report until it landed on the most recent entry.

“This one—this is right above Aiden Village, isn’t it?”

“…”

“You’re telling me Kaindel stopped by Ruicen Village? When?”

“A week ago. It’s written right there—you must’ve missed it.”

“Ah…”

A sigh escaped through my parted lips.

Only now did I realize how my impatience had prevented me from fully taking in the information right in front of me.

The thought that Kaindel had been nearby just a week ago sent a chill down my spine.

If Kaindel visited Ruicen Village, word should’ve spread to Aiden Village below it.

These small towns shared news quickly.

Yet the silence meant his visit had been unofficial.

“Don’t abandon me, Isa.”

As memories surged unbidden, Sehir changed the subject, seeing the bitter twist to my mouth.

“Isa, I’m glad I could see you again after so long. But I didn’t come here just to see your face.”

“Then why?”

“It seems Kaindel knows where you are.”

The mere fact that he had been in Ruicen Village made it clear he had a rough idea of my location.

I couldn’t argue with Sehir’s assumption.

Rubbing the deep furrow in my brow, I thought back to Kaindel’s familiar habit of smoothing my frown whenever I was upset.

It had become second nature to press that spot when I was irritated.

“Kaindel is engaged to the princess, isn’t he? Someone about to join the royal household has no business being away from the capital for so long.”

“He doesn’t.”

“And yet, he’s been outside the capital for a month—unofficially—just to search for me.”

“Exactly.”

“…Why now?”

A derisive laugh slipped out.

He should’ve treated me better while I was still around.

I couldn’t keep my emotions in check.

I resented the Kaindel who only changed after I left.

If he had changed sooner, perhaps our circumstances could’ve been different.

Now, I hated how he was shaking me up again.

I even hated how I foolishly reacted to the news of his search.

I had just been starting to forget him.

Adjusting to his absence.

Would it have been easier if I’d never heard anything about him?

Waiting for me to calm down, Sehir silently checked his pocket watch.

“I have a lot to tell you, but there’s not enough time.”

Before he could leave, I blurted out the question weighing on my mind.

“Kaindel was in Ruicen Village a week ago. Where is he now?”

“I don’t know. He disappeared south from Ruicen Village.”

“South of Ruicen Village… that’s Aiden Village.”

Sehir lightly completed my thought, then muttered under his breath.

He glanced out the window at the sunset before slipping the pocket watch into his pocket.

“Aiden Village isn’t safe anymore, Isa.”

“If even here isn’t safe, then what am I supposed to do?”

“That’s why we’re going to the temple.”

* * *