* * *
Everything was over.
News of what had happened at the wedding between the hero and the princess spread throughout the palace.
Rumors traveled from mouth to ear, then to another mouth, changing shape with each retelling.
What started as, “Her Highness the Princess was publicly rejected.” soon turned into, “Apparently, the hero already had a lover, but the princess forced them apart?”—and it didn’t take long for this transformation to occur.
It was only then that people revisited the articles they had previously skimmed over.
Reports of the nobles’ horrific patronage parties, of the hero’s fifth companion, and of how the hero’s secret lover was actually a man.
When they had first read these articles, they dismissed them as absurd fabrications.
But when the truth came to light, the public was thrown into shock.
Some raged against the nobles who held such vile patronage parties.
Others cursed the hero—beloved by the divine, yet indulging in such “degenerate” desires.
The hero, once revered, was now seen as filthy and disgraceful.
Amidst the ensuing chaos, the people learned that the princess had been plotting treason.
While pretending to marry the hero to divert attention, she had secretly been scheming to seize the throne.
The moment this was revealed, the people turned on her without hesitation.
They hurled stones at the witch who had dared to insult the king, inflicted suffering upon the hero, and attempted to claim the kingdom out of selfish greed.
Then, just a few days later, another revelation came to light—the patronage parties had been orchestrated by none other than the king himself.
The public was horrified to learn that their ruler was the one who had turned innocent children into playthings for his own depravity.
And as the truth unraveled further, they discovered that the so-called “great calamity” the royal family had long warned of had never awakened.
That the royal family had done nothing to prevent such a disaster.
That the prophecy from the temple, which foretold the birth of a hero in Schudelgarten, was a fabrication.
That Kaindel’s so-called destiny as the hero had been nothing more than a tool to strengthen the royal family’s power.
When truth ceased to be truth, the people were left speechless.
Whom should they blame?
Whom should they cast stones at?
Should they denounce the hero, who, despite his title, had been at the center of the patronage parties and had loved another man?
Or should they condemn the princess, who had used the hero’s name to manipulate the kingdom for her own ambitions?
Or should they direct their fury at the king, who had deceived the entire nation with falsehoods?
Or… was there someone else to blame?
The Kingdom of Hadelber was spiraling into uncontrollable chaos.
Just as the hero had wished.
Collapse.
“Thank you. Keep the change.”
“Oh, thank you very much!”
The coachman bowed deeply as he accepted the heavy pouch of money.
He had no idea who he had been transporting, as the man was completely concealed beneath his robe.
But one thing was clear—his passenger was incredibly wealthy.
The reason for coming all the way from the capital to this remote village was a mystery, but after such a long journey, the coachman felt like all his exhaustion had melted away.
He even thought about buying a doll for his daughter once he got back.
Kaindel watched the faint smile on the coachman’s lips before looking away.
It was a relief that the man hadn’t recognized him.
The time…
Kaindel glanced at his pocket watch and immediately turned away.
The sun was already setting. He wanted to see Isa’s face before nightfall.
It wouldn’t matter if it were dark, but seeing him under the sunlight would be even better.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
“Ah, yes! Have a good day!”
The coachman’s voice rang out behind him, but Kaindel barely paid attention as he stepped forward, passing through the familiar entrance of the village.
How many years had it been?
A strange feeling washed over him as he took in the scenery.
It wasn’t quite nostalgia, nor was it a sense of peace—it was something deeper.
Back when he first came to Luther, his mind had been too consumed with thoughts of the calamity and the events in the capital.
He hadn’t even had the luxury to admire the view, let alone interact with the villagers.
Perhaps that was why, returning now, Luther evoked a different kind of sentiment within him.
Had the village always been this beautiful?
The thought felt almost surprising.
Even as his eyes wandered, drinking in the sights, his feet moved with certainty, retracing old steps.
Guided by the memories etched into his body, he instinctively turned a corner—and there it was.
A familiar signboard.
Worn and weathered, yet somehow, it suited the place perfectly.
[Alice Inn]
Kaindel’s gaze rested on the inn’s still-lit first floor.
The dining hall must be open.
Dinner service wouldn’t be ending for a while yet.
Though the place didn’t seem particularly crowded, the occasional bursts of hearty laughter spilled into the streets.
The innkeeper and the patrons were likely engaged in their usual playful banter.
Isa.
From this distance, he couldn’t tell whether Isa was inside or not.
He wasn’t even certain if Isa was still working at Alice Inn.
But if he had returned to Luther, he would surely be somewhere nearby.
It was an inexplicable certainty.
Kaindel took a deep breath and stepped forward.
His heart began to race.
It had been about a month since the incident with Kaerlona.
In that time, he had been dragged from place to place, too busy to even catch his breath.
While his financial affairs had been settled, there were still loose ends in his business dealings.
The month had slipped by in the blink of an eye.
Isa was likely still here.
But just in case…
Suppressing his slight nervousness, Kaindel pushed open the dining hall door.
A soft chime rang as the bell above the entrance swayed.
At the sound, a man who had been hunched over his meal immediately lifted his head.
The moment he laid eyes on Kaindel, he turned toward the kitchen and shouted.
“You’ve got a customer, Alice!”
“I have ears, you know! Ugh, stop being so loud and just finish your meal!”
“You’re always so prickly.”
The man shook his head in disapproval but returned to his food.
Kaindel’s lips curled up slightly.
The atmosphere was exactly as he remembered.
On the day he first met Isa, Alice Inn had felt just like this—a little rowdy, but with a certain unspoken harmony.
Alice stepped out, drying her hands on her apron, but when she caught sight of Kaindel, her eyes went wide in shock.
“No way… it can’t be.”
“Yes, it’s me.”
“My god!”
Alice’s jaw dropped before she quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, wary of anyone overhearing.
Kaindel let his eyes crinkle with amusement.
Even hidden beneath his robe, she had recognized him instantly.
Her sharp instincts hadn’t dulled one bit.
“So, what brings you here? You looked awfully busy last I heard.”
“That’s all over now.”
“And the capital…?”
“No longer my concern.”
“Ah.”
Alice sighed, seeming to understand.
Kaindel simply shrugged.
It was up to the royal family to deal with whatever came next.
He had done all he could.
He had relinquished his noble status, handled his business affairs, and transferred all non-family assets into his personal vault.
There was nothing left for him in the capital.
Alice murmured something under her breath, her expression contemplative, before she finally lifted her gaze—sharp and knowing.
“You’re here for Isa, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Hmph.”
“Would you tell me?”
Kaindel silently waited for Alice’s response, but it was clear Alice had no intention of telling him where Isa was.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be looking at him as if he were his worst enemy.
So, he must have heard everything from Isa.
Understanding how things had unfolded in his absence, Kaindel swallowed a sigh.
He was the one at fault—there was nothing he could say, even if he had a mouth to speak.
After staring him down for a while, Alice finally clicked his tongue and gestured toward the back door of the restaurant.
“Try going that way.”
“There?”
“Isa should be there with the village children.”
* * *
