Farewell to the hero! chapter 12

The man asking this had a head of soft, chestnut hair that swayed as he spoke.

His tanned skin and dimples only enhanced his smile, while his slightly crinkled eyes and long lashes created a gentle curve.

I found myself staring at the stranger’s face, dazzled by the light, before quickly shaking my head.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone this striking, and I realized I might have come across as rude.

“Ah, yes.”

With a small sigh, I snapped back to reality.

Suddenly, the sounds of conversation hitting my eardrums, the scent of food cooking in the kitchen where Alice worked, and the cold breeze drifting in from the open door brought me back to the moment.

“Are you here for a meal? Is it for four people?”

Why do I keep getting distracted today?

Muttering to myself, I glanced behind the chestnut-haired man.

There were indeed four people in total—him, the man with the rude attitude, and two others who seemed bored and detached.

This was unusual.

We rarely had groups larger than three at the inn’s restaurant, so this was the first time I had seen a group this big.

Where could I seat four people?

As I scanned the restaurant for a suitable spot, the chestnut-haired man rubbed the back of his neck and waved his hand.

“No, actually. There’s one more person coming, so it’ll be five.”

“Five?”

Four already seemed like a lot.

Who in the world needs so many people to witness the Great Catastrophe?

Could these people be travelers on their way to see the Catastrophe?

My curiosity grew as I studied the man more closely.

He must have sensed it because he added, “Yes, he should be coming here by now…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the door swung open, and a large man entered, his face hidden under a deep hood.

Despite the crowded atmosphere, his presence commanded attention.

Even without removing his robe, it was clear that he had a strong, imposing build.

As he surveyed the room, he spotted the chestnut-haired man and walked over, his steps surprisingly graceful for someone his size.

“Sehir, where’s our table?”

“You’re back already, Kaindel? I thought it would take you longer.”

“There was only one letter to deliver. No extra tasks.”

“A letter? Does that mean something happened to His Excellency? Is his health… better?”

Sehir’s face clouded and then cleared repeatedly as he asked Kaindel.

Sehir. So that’s his name.

I let their conversation drift past me, quietly repeating the name I had learned.

Sehir.

The smooth sound of it pleased me.

And this man… is Kaindel.

I glanced up at the towering man, Kaindel.

His height alone made me feel small, and as I looked up at him, a chill ran down my spine.

The invisible weight of his presence bore down on my shoulders, making me instinctively grip my toes.

My throat went dry.

While Sehir’s questions lingered unanswered, Kaindel suddenly glanced around the restaurant.

“…….”

“…….”

His gaze collided with mine.

Though his eyes were hidden in the shadows of his hood, I could feel them scanning me—taking in every detail.

I was sure now.

He was paying attention to me.

Why is he looking at me like that?

Is there something on my face?

As I nervously adjusted my clothes and touched my cheek, Kaindel interrupted the moment by walking toward me.

“This isn’t the place to talk,” he said, his words carrying an air of finality.

As he approached, a foreign scent filled the air.

It was heavy yet cool, like the scent of winter mixed with the richness of ripe fruit.

It reminded me of flowers blooming in the snow—opposing sensations that left me unsettled.

I clenched my fists and bit my lower lip, trying to keep my growing anxiety at bay.

“And who is this?”

Kaindel’s question was directed clearly toward me.

“Oh, he works here,” Sehir answered with a sigh, glancing at me.

“He was just asking if we needed a table.”

“Mm.”

Kaindel responded with a nonchalant hum, and I saw his tongue press against the inside of his cheek, puffing out his smooth skin before returning to its original shape.

“So,” he said, his deep voice breaking the silence, “Is there a place for us to sit?”

Kaindel removed his hood as he asked, his fingers carelessly sweeping back his slightly disheveled hair.

“Well… uh…”

I unconsciously held my breath, as if I had forgotten how to breathe.

My mind was going blank, repeating the same phrase over and over: well, uh…

Now that Kaindel’s hood was down, his face was fully revealed.

He was stunning—like a finely crafted statue.

His sharply defined features only accentuated his already perfect appearance.

His golden hair, flawless and untarnished, gleamed in the light.

But what really took my breath away were his eyes—deep and vibrant like a dense forest.

Looking into them was like stepping into the abyss, impossible to measure their depth.

Every time I gazed at them, they seemed to reveal something new.

Their color shifted subtly with the light, like a kaleidoscope of emerald hues.

It happened again as he blinked.

The faint yellow tint in his eyes faded, replaced by a mysterious shade of brown.

Thump, thump, thump.

From somewhere far away, I heard a booming drum, its clarity like that of a ringing bell.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that the source of the drumbeats was my own heart.

Each time Kaindel and I made eye contact, my heart raced, only to retreat the moment he looked away.

Thump, thump, thump.

I remembered what the adults used to say: when you fall for someone, it feels like bells ringing.

It takes less than three seconds to realize that the person is your destiny.

But no.

That can’t be it.

Kaindel was the same gender as me.

There was no biological instinct for attraction.

Besides, he wasn’t the type I typically found myself drawn to.

He was handsome in a tall and striking way, not in a pretty or delicate way.

And yet, despite all the reasons why I shouldn’t be attracted to him, my heart continued to race.

In fact, it grew even louder.

That left only one explanation.

“……”

I remained speechless, my lips quivering as I failed to find the words.

Kaindel frowned slightly, as if trying to read my thoughts.

The intensity of his gaze deepened, then shifted to a more neutral expression, his previous smile becoming a little more rigid.

The corner of his mouth curled slightly as his eyes turned into gentle crescents.

The small smile that crept onto Kaindel’s once-calm face made his already handsome features shine even brighter.

“Did I put you in a difficult spot?”

Ah.

I almost let out a sigh.

For some reason, my face felt hot.

Without a doubt, it had turned bright red.

Suddenly, my previously calm stomach was in turmoil.

Was it because I had been holding my breath for too long?

I wondered if something was wrong.

“The, uh, seat. The seat.”

The seat…

Maybe I had spoken too hastily. I couldn’t think of what to say next.

I stammered, trailing off mid-sentence.

Instead, I tried to hold myself together, worried that my pounding heart might burst out of my chest.

Jingle, jingle.

Coins clinked inside my apron pocket as I took a step back, feeling nauseous, as if I were seasick.

The sound cleared the fog in my mind, and slowly, my focus returned.

My narrow perspective, which had been fixated on just one person, widened back to its usual scope.

The fragmented thoughts in my mind gradually started to link together again.

“…Please wait a moment.”

My tongue finally loosened.

It suddenly hit me how foolish I had been acting.

Kaindel was a customer.

The only reason he spoke to me was to find a seat.

On top of that, I was the only one who knew his name.

Kaindel didn’t even care who I was—he hadn’t asked for my name, which was proof of that.

While I had been desperate to hide my flustered state the moment I saw him, Kaindel had calmly assessed me, without so much as a ripple of emotion.

Not a single wave disturbed his composed demeanor.

But here I was, swept away by thoughts of destiny and love at first sight, caught up in unnecessary distractions.

Instead, I should have focused on my duties as a restaurant employee.

“Please follow me.”

Just then, a group of customers finished their meal and got up.

By combining their empty table with the one next to it, I could make enough room for five people.

I cleared my throat and walked over, trying to maintain a calm pace—neither too slow nor too fast.

But I couldn’t help being overly conscious of my posture and movements the entire way.

I wanted to seem as natural as possible, but my arms and legs kept moving out of sync.

It felt like there was a heavy gaze following me.

That gaze seemed to trail from my neck down to my hips, then paused before slipping down my legs and settling near my ankles, only to vanish as quickly as it had appeared.

Perhaps the oppressive sense of being watched was just my stiff shoulders playing tricks on me.

I didn’t turn around, so I couldn’t be sure of anything.

But one thing I knew for certain—my first impression on Kaindel was likely the worst.