* * *
Kaindel carefully turned over the words in his mind before shaking his head.
So many things he wanted to say rose to the surface, but he swallowed them all.
Isa and the matters between them were something Kaindel had no intention of sharing with others.
Isa had simply made him confront feelings he had once ignored, and how things turned out was entirely on Kaindel.
“There’s no particular reason.”
“Fine, then.”
Kerelona shrugged, signaling she wouldn’t pry further.
The doubt and frustration on her face had vanished completely.
After a moment of silent acknowledgment, Kerelona sighed, as if remembering something.
“When you have time, check out John Snow.”
“John Snow? What is it?”
“A tavern.”
Specifically, a tavern frequented by commoners after a day’s work.
Kerelona rested her chin on her hand as she added this explanation.
Kaindel pressed his tongue to the inside of his cheek, surprised.
Nobles of his rank preferred private gatherings in their estates over open spaces like taverns, so it was odd for a royal like Kerelona to know about such a place.
Sensing his unspoken questions, Kerelona’s lips curled mischievously.
“A lot more information flows through a place like that than you think.”
“…”
Information.
So that’s why she brought it up.
Kaindel considered her words, lowering his eyes.
Taverns might be risky because of the potential for secrets to leak, but their open nature also made them hubs for gossip.
Many rumors that circulated through high society had their origins in places like that.
John Snow… That name does sound familiar.
As he racked his brain, Kerelona, who seemed to have more to say, caught his attention again.
“Do you know where Gazette gets all his gossip from?”
“Never really wondered.”
“John Snow.”
“Oh.”
“Now you get it?”
Kaindel vaguely recalled hearing that Gazette sourced much of his information from a particular tavern.
It made sense now why the name felt familiar.
“Well, I’ve told you all I know. Go on now.”
Kerelona waved her hand dismissively, as if finally ready to let him leave.
“Since you’re busy, I’ll send you on your way.”
“…I’ll check it out.”
Murmuring “John Snow, John Snow,” Kaindel bowed slightly in farewell.
Even as he paid his respects, his mind was occupied with the tavern.
What kind of information had Kerelona found there that she’d insist he visit?
It’s rare to share a resource like this. I’ll give her that much.
For the first time, Kaindel felt something other than irritation toward Kerelona, though her true motives would only become clear later.
He left her chambers, quickening his steps as he moved through the palace’s empty corridors.
The thought of new leads filled him with urgency.
Maybe this would even help him find Isa faster—a foolish hope, but one he clung to nonetheless.
Before letting his thoughts stray too far, Kaindel refocused.
He’d stop by John Snow before heading to Aiden village to track down the man who resembled Isa.
John Snowstood at the city’s edge, tucked away where few ventured.
Its worn sign barely displayed its name, with only a few scattered letters hinting at its identity.
After scanning the area for anything suspicious, Kaindel pushed the door open.
A small bell above the frame chimed, announcing his entrance.
The door’s hinges screeched in protest, matching the worn-down interior.
Dusty tables and chairs filled the room, and barrels of rum against the wall leaked faint trails of golden liquid.
A middle-aged man, busy cleaning glasses behind the bar, looked up at the sound. His kind eyes lit up in welcome.
“Come in, come in!”
“Where should I sit?”
“Feel free to sit anywhere that’s empty.”
“Ah, I see.”
Following the man’s gesture toward an empty seat nearby, Kaindel sat down.
His gaze wandered across the interior of the bar before coming to rest on something unusual.
In the otherwise ordinary interior of “John Snow’s Tavern,” a conspicuous green door stood out.
Set starkly against the wooden wall, it was impossible not to notice.
Kaindel stared at the door for a moment before speaking.
“What’s behind that?”
“…Are you here because you’re interested in the game?”
The bartender couldn’t hide his disappointment.
Annoyed by Kaindel’s curiosity about the door, the man chewed on his lower lip for a few seconds before letting out a deep sigh.
He pulled a key from the pocket of his apron.
“Follow me.”
The bartender led Kaindel to the green door, inserted the key into the lock, and turned it.
Behind the green door was a staircase descending into the basement.
The steps seemed endless, and the darkness was so complete that even Kaindel, who was accustomed to seeing in low light, struggled to make his way without difficulty.
The dim glow of flickering candles was the only guide.
When they finally reached the bottom, another door appeared.
As if his job was done, the bartender stepped back as soon as they found it.
“Enjoy yourself,” he said before turning and heading back up the stairs.
Kaindel watched the bartender retreat into the distance before grasping the door handle.
The moment he applied the slightest pressure, the door burst open, unleashing a cacophony of voices.
“Full house!”
“Damn it!”
“Well, looks like today’s my lucky day.”
“Hahaha! I knew a day like this would come! Hand it over—I won, didn’t I?”
The unmistakable sounds of gambling made Kaindel frown.
His already pounding headache throbbed in protest.
He stood still, waiting for the ringing in his ears to subside before finally stepping inside.
What greeted him was an entirely different world.
The dingy atmosphere of the bar was nowhere to be found. Instead, the room was filled with expensive-looking gambling equipment, and it was so packed with people that there wasn’t an empty seat to be seen.
Kaindel hesitated as the surrounding air seemed to grow hotter.
Just then, a man who appeared to be a dealer approached, shaking a handful of colorful chips in front of Kaindel’s face.
“Care to place a bet?”
“…Just watching.”
“How boring.”
The dealer clicked his tongue in disappointment at Kaindel’s quick refusal and walked off.
Left alone, Kaindel leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, observing the room.
He intended to get a feel for the place before making any moves.
“I’ll spin the wheel now.”
“Hey, hands off the table! Don’t touch anything!”
They were using a wheel for their games.
But more importantly, how was he supposed to gather information in a place like this?
As Kaindel watched the dice and the spinning wheel in a blur of motion, a shadow moved toward him.
A man with jet-black hair emerged from the crowd and stood directly in front of him.
“Well, if it isn’t the hero.”
“…”
With eyes as sharp as a snake’s, the man grinned knowingly at Kaindel.
Then, pulling a card from his pocket, he held it out.
“Pleasure to meet you. Alexander from Gazette.”
* * *
