* * *
When you don’t know where things went wrong, where do you even begin to set them right?
Kaindel was still searching for the answer to that question.
“You’re here again today.”
“Yes. Just one rose, please.”
“One moment.”
The florist greeted Kaindel with a bright smile.
It was always a pleasure to see such a loyal customer—especially one who had been single-handedly boosting their sales.
Looking over the freshly bloomed roses, the florist carefully selected the most vibrant one, dampened the stem slightly, and wrapped it neatly.
“What about the ribbon? Same color as yesterday?”
“The ribbon…”
Kaindel blinked as he stared at the selection of ribbons.
What color would Isa like?
He pondered for a moment before pointing at a green one.
“This one, please.”
“Got it. Just take a seat while I finish wrapping it.”
“And the stationery—”
“The letter paper? It’s over there.”
The florist couldn’t help but smile as Kaindel reached for the stationery, just as he had every day.
They didn’t know who the lucky lady was, but his dedication was undeniable.
Given how many days this had gone on, it seemed his efforts weren’t yielding immediate results—but surely, whoever he was courting would be moved in the end.
“Young people these days, really…”
Kaindel shot the florist a sidelong glance but didn’t bother correcting them.
They were clearly getting the wrong idea, but he had no intention of setting the record straight.
After all, this was the only place where no one had realized he was the hero.
He wasn’t about to ruin that.
Tap. Tap.
Kaindel drummed the tip of his pen against the table as he stared at the blank stationery.
Though he wrote notes regularly, finding the right words became harder the closer he got to the end.
In truth, he wanted to deliver the message in person—to see Isa, make sure he was doing well, and offer help if needed.
But since Isa hadn’t reached out yet, all Kaindel could do was watch from afar.
Until Isa finished sorting out his feelings, he couldn’t force a resolution on his own terms.
If he wanted to earn Isa’s affection, he had to put in the effort.
Looking up at the sky, Kaindel finally wrote his first sentence.
Once he had that, the rest came easily.
Still, it frustrated him that everything he wanted to say had to be squeezed into mere lines on a page.
As soon as he finished, the florist handed him the neatly wrapped rose.
“All set. Here you go.”
“Thank you. Have a great day.”
“Oh my, thank you! I hope today brings you good news.”
The florist watched with amusement as Kaindel left.
They didn’t know the details of his love life, but they sincerely hoped it would work out.
After all, he was the only customer who deliberated so much over what flower to give his beloved every single morning.
After their last conversation, Isa chose to stay in a village near the temple instead of heading to the capital or Luther.
He found a new home and settled into daily life, even earning money by teaching local children.
Though his savings were more than enough to live on, he often accepted food in exchange for helping villagers with small tasks.
It was just like him—Isa could make a life for himself anywhere.
At first, Kaindel only meant to confirm that Isa had adjusted well.
But watching him became a habit, and before he knew it, he couldn’t look away.
The capital was waiting, and there was much to be done, yet the moment he set eyes on Isa, everything else faded away.
The flowers started two weeks ago.
Initially, Kaindel had planned to keep his distance until Isa reached out first.
After all, Isa had said he needed time to think about their relationship.
Kaindel didn’t know what conclusion Isa would come to, but he wanted to respect his decision.
If he disregarded Isa’s wishes, he would simply vanish.
So if there was even the slightest chance—he had to follow Isa’s pace.
However, as Kaindel watched Isa, beloved by the villagers, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his own existence was being completely erased.
He didn’t want to see Isa thriving without him.
Even though he was glad Isa was doing well, a suffocating frustration gnawed at him.
To make matters worse, after witnIsang a woman who lived near Isa’s home bake and deliver bread to him every day, Kaindel found himself overwhelmed with a bitter sense of defeat.
That was why, even though he knew Isa might dislike it, Kaindel started bringing him flowers.
A single flower, accompanied by a letter—letters filled with his unorganized thoughts, left behind without fail.
He never deluded himself into thinking this would change Isa’s heart, but at the very least, it would keep Isa from forgetting him.
And so, he waited for a response.
After all, this selfish act of his could only continue until Isa finally rejected him.
That was why, just for a little while, he wanted to savor it.
Not that waiting was particularly enjoyable.
“Ha…”
Kaindel swept back the damp strands of hair sticking to his sweat-drenched forehead.
The dream that haunted him every night felt like it was slowly tightening around his throat.
It wasn’t a nightmare.
But it certainly wasn’t pleasant either.
It was the kind of dream where he found himself slowly sinking into a swamp, created by his own anxieties.
“…Water…”
Kaindel instinctively started to call for a servant but stopped midway.
Right.
There were no servants or aides here. If he called for his aide, they would come, but at this moment, he was alone.
Today, he was staying in a separate house near where Isa resided.
“Damn it.”
As the throbbing in his head intensified, Kaindel furrowed his brows tightly.
His stomach churned.
The nausea was rising.
Was it because of everything happening around him?
Or was it something wrong within himself? Either way, his deteriorating condition was becoming increasingly evident.
“Haa… Hoo…”
Taking slow, deep breaths, Kaindel ignored the noise in his mind and got out of bed.
He walked over to the window and pulled back the curtains.
Gradually, sunlight seeped into the dark room.
Morning had arrived.
Kaindel stood there, gazing blankly outside.
The streets were already bustling with people, moving about their day with effortless cheer.
Laughter clung to their faces as if they had nothing to worry about.
Watching them in silence for a moment, Kaindel eventually turned away.
He needed to wash up and get ready.
Today was the last day he would visit Isa.
“You’re here again today. What kind of flowers would you like this time?”
“Hmm.”
Kaindel glanced at the florist who greeted him before shifting his gaze to the flower arrangements.
Normally, his eyes would have landed on the roses first.
But today, for some reason, they were drawn to the baby’s breath.
Baby’s breath.
It felt lacking as a farewell gift.
It wasn’t a flower that left a strong impression.
Since this was the last time, he should be giving Isa a bouquet of roses instead.
That was his initial thought.
But as he was about to look back at the roses, he hesitated.
Wasn’t the last thing Isa left behind when he departed from the Duke of Schudelgarten’s estate a bouquet of white flowers?
Even though they had long since withered, Isa had still given him a white bouquet before leaving.
That thought alone was enough to make up his mind.
Since this was the last time.
With no other choice, Kaindel pointed at the baby’s breath and spoke to the florist.
“…A bouquet of baby’s breath, please.”
“Baby’s breath? Got it.”
The florist nodded and began preparing the bouquet.
Kaindel quietly watched before turning away and pulling out his familiar pen and stationery.
He began writing his final letter to Isa.
He didn’t know if this would change anything.
But as long as there were still words left unspoken, it didn’t matter.
Yet, was he the only one who still had things left to say?
“Why aren’t you avoiding me?”
Kaindel looked down at Isa, who was now in his arms.
“…Kaindel?”
“…It’s been a while, Isa.”
Suddenly, it felt like he could breathe again.
* * *
