* * *
“Yeah.”
Kaindel gave Sehir a faint smile, the first in a long time.
Unlike Kaindel, who had wrapped everything up and left, Sehir would have to return to the capital soon.
It made sense that he’d be worried.
“I took care of everything.”
He added quietly, nodding.
A lot had changed while Sehir was away. Kerelona, accused of attempting rebellion, was no longer recognized as royalty and had been placed under house arrest.
The king, having lost the support of his followers, was slowly beginning to lose power.
The nobles who had attended the infamous sponsorship party were now at odds with their own people, reaping the consequences.
The Hadellber Kingdom was already on its path to ruin.
As for the Schudelgarten family, they had handed over their businesses to their vassals and relinquished most of their wealth to the royal treasury.
The name “Schudelgarten” still existed, but it had been stripped of everything it once stood for.
Even the title of “Hero” had changed.
The nobles, who once evaluated his worth based on how useful he was, had stopped using the word altogether, as if saying it would curse them.
The commoners no longer revered him as a holy figure chosen by the gods.
That title had been tarnished, forever tainted by scandal and disgrace.
But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
In fact, Kaindel found comfort in it.
There was a strange sense of liberation.
It felt like the collar around his neck had finally been removed.
If time continued to pass like this, one day, he would be completely forgotten.
Just as the golden age fades, so too would the name “Hero” disappear from people’s memories.
Kaindel was looking forward to that day.
“That’s a relief.”
Sehir immediately grasped the underlying meaning in Kaindel’s words and smiled.
The cold distance between them, once caused by Isa, seemed to melt away.
“So, are you planning to stay here?”
“Where are you guys staying?”
“We’re living with Isa for now, just in case. There are plenty of rooms upstairs.”
Plenty of empty rooms, enough for more people to move in.
Sehir’s gaze held an unspoken suggestion—he knew exactly what Kaindel wanted.
Kaindel felt as though Sehir had read his mind.
He hadn’t been thinking anything particularly strange, but somehow, he still felt embarrassed.
Living together with Isa…
Kaindel turned to look at Isa, who was quietly gazing up at him.
Those clear eyes seemed to be waiting for his next move.
When they had first met at the temple, those eyes had been filled with hostility.
But at some point, they had softened.
Not that they were filled with affection, like when they had been lovers.
Kaindel parted his lips as if to speak but then clenched his fists tightly, hiding his pale hands beneath his robe.
He wanted to say it—wanted to ask to stay by Isa’s side.
He wanted to be selfish with his time.
But he didn’t know how Isa truly felt.
If he acted on impulse, he might only make things worse.
And what if Isa didn’t want him there?
Besides…
“…No, I’ve already found a place to stay.”
“Already? That was fast.”
“So, I don’t have to stay here.”
Kaindel turned his gaze away from Isa, awkwardly shaking his head.
He didn’t want his wavering eyes to be seen.
If anyone noticed the cracks forming within him, it felt like everything would truly fall apart.
Even though he knew it was just a delusion.
‘Stars shine brightest in the dark sky.’
‘Stars are always brightest in the darkest sky.’
Two voices from his memories overlapped, echoing in his ears.
Now that he was certain Isa’s “fairy” was someone he had met as a child, he couldn’t stay by his side. He felt too guilty.
He had no right to be selfish.
Nausea rose again.
Self-loathing crashed over him in waves.
Was this how a prisoner on death row felt, waiting for the inevitable?
Everything had fallen apart, and it felt like he was the one who had ruined it all.
He had despised his father for using his own son to satisfy his greed.
And yet… why did he feel that same disgust toward himself?
That was why he couldn’t say it.
He had no right to.
“Well, whatever.”
Sehir blinked, looking unimpressed.
He glanced at Isa, who wore an expression much like his own—mild surprise at Kaindel’s unexpected response.
“Hey! I told you not to do that!”
“That’s my decision to make. Who are you to tell me otherwise, Ruen?”
“This is cheating! We agreed not to take each other’s pawns!”
“In a game with winners and losers, what good is negotiation? Besides, when did I ever agree to that rule? Anyway, that makes it 50 games—47 wins, 3 losses.”
“You little—!”
“Calm down, Ruen. Owen is just being considerate of you…”
As silence stretched between them, the voices from the chess game in the corner of the living room grew louder.
Ruen and Owen were, as always, one step away from tearing each other apart, while Daniel struggled to mediate.
“If that’s what you want, then fine.”
How much time had passed?
Sehir, now with a composed expression, glanced at the ever-ticking clock before rising from his seat.
Then, he flashed a bright, eye-smiling grin.
His amber eyes peeked through the delicate curve of his furrowed brow.
“Shall we start preparing the meal?”
“I’ll help too.”
Kaindel had just turned toward the kitchen, following Sehir, when a hesitant voice stopped him from behind.
“Kaindel.”
“Hm? Did you call me?”
“Well…”
Isa hesitated after calling his name, then bit his lower lip.
It was clear he had something to say but didn’t know how to begin.
His prolonged hesitation eventually ended in a faint, meaningless smile.
“…Never mind, it’s nothing.”
Kaindel studied Isa, who was clearly dodging the conversation, before replying, “Alright then.”
He wasn’t unaware of what was on Isa’s mind, but he chose to feign ignorance.
After all, even he wasn’t sure of his own thoughts or what he should do next.
It was a familiar sight.
Kaindel took in his surroundings, feeling oddly detached from reality.
He was perched on a tree with Isa.
Below them, the lifeless bodies of goblins lay scattered, and a foul-smelling mist obscured the view.
The forest-like landscape felt strangely recognizable, as if he had seen it before.
Just as he finished surveying the area—
‘Kaindel, did you know that Daniel is a half-elf?’
Isa, who had been gazing up at him, suddenly spoke.
At the sound of his voice, Kaindel instinctively lowered his head.
No—did I move on my own?
He glanced down at his body, which felt as if it were moving independently.
It was as if he had become a marionette, following some predetermined script rather than his own will.
The sensation of being controlled by unseen hands was unsettling.
As Kaindel struggled to suppress his rising unease, Isa continued speaking in a calm, quiet tone.
‘I found out by chance. Daniel said elves would like me.’
‘Really?’
‘I guess it’s because my skin is so pale.’
His mouth moved on its own. He hadn’t intended to respond, yet he did.
Watching himself reply in a detached tone, Kaindel finally realized—this was a dream, a reconstruction of his own memories.
And as he observed his past self looking at Isa with dissatisfaction, then impulsively kissing him out of jealousy—Kaindel froze.
It became painfully clear.
This was the moment.
The first time he had kissed Isa—years ago, during the goblin attack.
And as soon as he recognized the moment, all the thoughts he had back then came flooding back.
‘Pale, huh?’
This should be fine.
That’s what he had thought as he looked at Isa.
* * *
