* * *
Now really wasn’t the time to be exchanging greetings.
I stared at the water dripping from Kaindel’s hair.
Streams of it trailed down his neck, soaking his once-pristine clothes, now clinging to his body and outlining his frame.
If it was water thrown from a house, it must have been used for something first.
Most likely, it was leftover laundry water.
Anyone would be annoyed at getting hit out of nowhere—especially with water that wasn’t exactly clean. I would’ve been at a loss for words too.
Yet, Kaindel was smiling.
He didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the fact that he looked like he had just crawled out of a river.
Kaindel watched me silently, waiting as I continued to say nothing.
Then, tilting his head slightly, he raised his right hand.
His thumb brushed against my cheek, wiping away a stray droplet of water.
The touch of his cold fingers snapped me back to reality.
“Why aren’t you saying anything, hmm?”
“……”
“Do you hate even facing me like this?”
His murmured words carried a hint of bitterness, making my lips, which had been about to move, press shut instead.
There was something I had wanted to say, words that had risen to my throat.
But looking at Kaindel now, I forgot them all.
As I hesitated, struggling to find the right words, Kaindel lowered his gaze, seemingly interpreting my silence in his own way.
The fingers touching my cheek slowly withdrew.
Watching him, looking as if he had given up, I bit the inside of my cheek.
Where have you been all this time?
Why are you showing up only now?
Why did you stop it?
Had you been watching the whole time?
Why are you doing something so pointless?
The questions piled up. It wasn’t even dangerous—it was just water.
It wouldn’t have mattered if I got hit.
Honestly, it would’ve been better if I had been the one soaked instead.
Because now, standing here, watching Kaindel like this… it was impossible not to be bothered.
I quietly looked up at him before glancing around.
People had started to take notice of the sudden commotion, whispering among themselves.
I could feel the weight of their gazes shifting between Kaindel and me.
But more than that…
I lowered my gaze to Kaindel’s hand. It might have been early autumn, but the weather wasn’t exactly warm.
If he stayed outside like this, drenched, he would definitely catch a cold.
Even just now, when he touched my face—his hand had been freezing.
Clenching and unclenching my fist, I hesitated before finally speaking.
“Kaindel.”
“Yeah?”
“Aren’t you cold?”
Kaindel’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected the conversation to take this turn.
He blinked a few times, unable to fully mask his confusion, before answering belatedly.
“Not really.”
“……”
“Why? Do I look cold?”
“You do.”
I knew Kaindel was resistant to the cold.
I also knew he had never once caught a cold before.
And yet, even without ever having seen him sick, I found myself worrying that he might fall ill.
Maybe it was a useless concern, but…
There were things I needed to say to him.
And there were too many watching eyes here.
I rationalized my thoughts before reaching out, carefully grasping the edge of his robe.
The damp fabric felt unpleasant under my fingers.
“Come with me.”
“You really prepared everything, Isa.”
“…Yeah.”
I watched as Kaindel stepped out, toweling his damp hair.
Since he couldn’t stay in those wet clothes, I had given him a towel and a change of clothes before sending him to the bathroom.
The clothes were a bit big on me, but they fit Kaindel perfectly.
“You’re out already?”
“I just needed to change.”
“Your hair’s still damp.”
“It’s fine.”
Kaindel chuckled softly and sat down in front of me—without me even telling him to.
As if it was the most natural thing in the world.
I glanced at him briefly before turning to light the fireplace.
It was better to warm up with a cup of tea.
“……”
“……”
The crackling flames filled the silence in the house. It was the only sound.
I couldn’t find the right words to start, so I kept my mouth shut.
Kaindel, on the other hand, seemed to be waiting for me to speak first.
The quiet stretched on, only our eyes meeting in the stillness.
How long did we sit there like that?
Eventually, I took a deep breath, inhaling deeply before exhaling just as slowly.
My voice, rough from disuse, came out unsteadily.
“Kaindel.”
“I’m listening.”
“Have you been doing well?”
“…Surprisingly, yes.”
Kaindel hesitated slightly, as if he hadn’t expected that question.
Then, a small smirk tugged at his lips.
“I’ve been better than before.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“It’s strange, really. Just knowing where you are… gives me peace.”
“What about the nightmares?”
“I haven’t had any.”
I remembered then—Kaindel used to suffer from nightmares frequently.
It had always been on my mind whenever we talked in confession.
When I asked, Kaindel simply shrugged, as if to say it was nothing to worry about.
“I saw the note you left.”
“Yeah.”
“You wrote that today would be the last time.”
When I glanced at the bouquet and note on the table, Kaindel let out a quiet sigh.
“I probably won’t be able to come back until things with the princess are settled.”
“I see.”
I nodded, looking at the date written on the note.
Now it made sense why Kaindel had called it the ‘last’ one.
Based on the timing, things with the princess would conclude in just a few days.
I wasn’t particularly worried about Kaindel’s safety, since I had spoken to the Pope beforehand, but I was curious about how things would unfold.
“Kaindel, listen…”
I clenched and unclenched my hands, pressing them against my thighs.
There was something I needed to say.
Now that I had sorted my thoughts, it was time.
But then—
“Later.”
“Hm?”
“That conversation… Can we save it for later?”
Whatever he had expected, Kaindel’s expression darkened almost instantly.
He bit his lower lip tightly as if trying to suppress a wave of nausea, but before long, he forced a faint smile.
A fragile smile that looked as if it might crumble at any moment.
Seeing that, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s not what you’re thinking, so don’t be so tense.”
“Isa.”
“What I was going to say is…”
How should I put this?
“I’m leaving soon, Kaindel.”
“……”
At my blunt words, Kaindel’s green eyes wavered.
“Where to?”
“Luther.”
“Luther?”
I met Kaindel’s gaze directly as he repeated the name of the village back at me.
I wanted to show him that this wasn’t some fleeting whim.
After hearing from Sehir about the Spencer family, I had agonized over it.
If I let my fear take over and simply ignored it, I felt I would regret it later.
Even if the Spencer family turned out to have nothing to do with me at all, I would rather go there myself, find out the truth, and deal with any regrets that followed.
It was the first time in my life that people who could possibly be my family had appeared.
I didn’t want to miss this chance.
And to seize it, I had to leave.
Before heading to the Shains Republic, I wanted to visit Luther first.
It was as close to a hometown as I had, and there were people there I had missed—people I hadn’t seen in a long time because of everything that happened with Kaindel.
They were the only ones I could truly call family.
“Yeah, I’m going back.”
“Is there a reason you suddenly decided this?”
“It’s nothing dramatic. I just want to see Alice one last time before I leave for the Shains Republic.”
“I see.”
Hearing my honest answer, Kaindel’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
He swallowed a breath, as if trying to hold something back.
His posture subtly shifted, as if he was stepping away, as if he had nothing more to say.
“Anyway, congratulations on finding your family. Make sure to stay in touch—”
“That’s why I’m telling you, Kaindel.”
“……”
I didn’t need to ask how Kaindel had interpreted my plans to visit Luther before heading to the Republic.
I already knew.
And that was exactly why I wanted to make sure he understood—I wasn’t leaving to avoid him this time.
That was why I cut him off.
“When everything is over, come to Luther.”
* * *
