* * *
She tilted her head, as if she’d just stated the most obvious truth.
Her expression made it clear she couldn’t understand why I was agonizing over it so much.
“If you want to understand him, then try. If you don’t want to forgive him, then don’t.”
“But if I understand him and still don’t forgive him… isn’t that contradictory?”
“Why would it be?”
“Because if I get why he acted that way, it feels like forgiving him should naturally follow.”
“Not necessarily.”
The woman smiled faintly, as though she’d expected my confusion.
There was a warmth in her smile, a patient kindness that reminded me of the man in the pendant.
The weight on my shoulders seemed to ease just a little.
“Understanding someone means empathizing with why they made certain choices. Forgiving them means you’ve decided not to let the pain they caused hold you back anymore.”
“…”
“You said you understand his situation now, right?”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not sure if you want to forgive him or even if you should.”
“That’s right.”
“That’s perfectly natural. Understanding and forgiveness don’t have to go hand in hand, but you seem to think they should.”
Her words hit me like a slap to the back of the head.
Why did I believe that understanding his reasons obligated me to forgive him?
Why had I been wavering, convinced that forgiveness had to follow comprehension?
It was a part of me I’d never realized was there until now.
The woman went on, encouraged by my silence.
“If I were you…”
She hesitated, as if weighing her words.
Her lips parted, then closed, and her eyes fluttered shut before slowly opening again.
“I wouldn’t forgive him. I don’t have it in me to act like the pain never happened.”
“…”
“But if I understood why he hurt me, and if he was someone I couldn’t bear to lose, then maybe… I’d give him a chance.”
“A chance?”
“To change.”
The word echoed in my mind: chance. A chance for Kaindel to change.
Her suggestion made sense.
If there was someone I couldn’t let go of, it was only fair to give them the opportunity to grow.
If they were worth that effort.
But would Kaindel change, even if I gave him the chance?
After hearing everything about his past, I couldn’t help but wonder if the man I knew was ever really him.
“What exactly does it mean to give him a chance without forgiving him?”
“It means letting the past pain stay where it is, without trying to erase it. What’s done is done.”
“But wouldn’t holding onto that pain make it hard to be with him?”
“That’s why you only do it if you’re sure you want to keep that person by your side, despite the pain.”
She adjusted the hem of her dress, her expression now calm and mature—far from the wistfulness she’d shown earlier.
It was as if the emotions she’d revealed just moments ago were nothing more than shadows of the past.
Her words lingered in my mind.
Understanding doesn’t equal forgiveness.
You can forgive without understanding, and you can understand without forgiving.
And if you can’t let go of someone, you can give them a chance to show they’re willing to change.
‘A chance.’
Suddenly, the maze I’d been wandering through didn’t feel so endless.
Like the faintest hint of light from a distant exit.
The chill of clarity ran down my spine, and I clenched my fist just as a loud noise came from upstairs.
A moment later, Lily peeked over the railing, hanging dangerously from the banister.
“Miss! The bouquet’s ready! Come see!”
Lily beamed proudly as she held up a massive bouquet, far larger than what I’d seen earlier.
She must’ve added more flowers while we were talking.
I smiled at the sight.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you. I’ll treasure it.”
“Don’t just treasure it! Give it to someone you love! I added fresh red roses just for that!”
Her playful laugh made it clear she’d been eavesdropping on our conversation and had decided that I must have someone to give it to.
‘To Kaindel?’
I imagined Kaindel holding that bouquet for a moment, then shook my head.
It didn’t suit him at all.
Besides, the relationship between us wasn’t one where I could give him such a bouquet.
Just as I was about to steer the conversation away by saying I’d simply accept the sentiment, the woman who had been listening to Lily spoke up, as if trying to stop me.
“You should give him the flowers, Isa.”
“What?”
“It might actually be a good idea. Giving flowers is almost the same as giving your heart.”
“……”
“Where I come from, people confess their feelings with flowers. My husband did the same when he proposed to me.”
She added with a smile that she no longer had that bouquet, but it was still a cherished memory.
Then she gestured to Lily, signaling her to come closer.
Understanding the gesture, Lily hurried over with the bouquet cradled in her arms.
“You did a beautiful job with these flowers.”
“Hehe.”
Lily giggled, enjoying the gentle hand that ruffled her hair.
Then she handed me the bouquet.
“He’ll love getting these.”
“He?”
“You know, that mister who came to the house and cried a lot.”
“Ah… You mean that young man?”
The woman’s eyes widened as she remembered Lily’s words.
Then she looked at me, as if trying to confirm what she’d just realized.
It seemed she had only now connected the dots and realized the person I’d been talking about was Kaindel.
“Yes, that mister. If you give these flowers to him, he’ll be really happy!”
“……”
The woman, who had been quietly listening to Lily’s excited chatter, fell silent.
She seemed to be piecing together what I’d said about Kaindel with her own memories of him.
Then, as if confused, she tilted her head.
“Is the hero the person you’ve been talking about, Isa?”
“Uh…”
I swallowed hard.
I hadn’t planned on revealing Kaindel’s identity.
My reaction must have given her the answer she needed because her brows furrowed in confusion.
“If it is him… I think he cares about you a lot.”
“What?”
“If the person you’re talking about is the hero, he seemed to think of you very dearly.”
“Oh, right… you mentioned you met Kaindel once.”
“I remember it clearly.”
She spoke softly, her expression relaxing as if a mystery had been solved.
Her smile was faint, almost fleeting.
“From what I saw, it felt like the hero saw you as someone special. Almost like he was longing for something when he looked at you.”
“Really…”
“But don’t worry, I’m on your side.”
The woman smiled as she gently stroked Lily’s hair.
“Do whatever your heart tells you to do. You don’t have to forgive him if you don’t want to. You can end the relationship here if that’s what you need. You have every right to make that choice. But if you find yourself wanting to try again, that’s okay too. You can give him a chance.”
“……”
“Whatever decision you make, I’ll respect it. It might be hard for a while, but that’s okay.”
She accepted the bouquet from Lily and checked its condition before handing it to me with a casual shrug.
“And if things get tough again, you’re always welcome to come back here. I’ll be here to listen.”
“…I just realized I never asked your name.”
“Oh! I forgot to tell you, didn’t I?”
I asked the question almost instinctively after listening to her for so long.
At my words, her eyes curved into a warm smile.
That familiar yet comforting feeling washed over me again—like meeting someone I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“My name is Letea.”
* * *
