* * *
The Kingdom of Hadelber had been in an uproar for days.
The cause?
The recent actions of the kingdom’s key figures.
It all started with a single newspaper article.
“Have you seen this? Apparently, the Hero was into men all along.”
“Ugh, how appalling. This world is going to ruin.”
“That’s not all. Look at this—turns out the Hero didn’t have four companions, but five.”
“Five? How is that possible?”
“How should we know what goes on with those at the top? They probably hid it on purpose.”
“But why?”
“I swear, you can’t trust anyone these days. What the hell is going on? Even when rumors spread that the Hero had lost his mind, things weren’t this bad. It feels like the whole world is putting on a show just to mess with me.”
“Speaking of those in power, have you heard about the ‘sponsorship parties’?”
“Sponsorship parties?”
“Yeah, I read about them in that paper. But honestly, those weren’t sponsorship parties—they were full-blown orgies.”
“Oh, come on, that can’t be true.”
“Isn’t it just disgusting? So repulsive. Those nobles who always acted so high and mighty were actually indulging in such filth behind closed doors.”
“Something’s definitely brewing. I bet we’re in for a big scandal soon.”
The fire sparked by the newspaper only grew wilder.
It became the hottest topic wherever people gathered, with rumors snowballing at an alarming rate.
What started as “There were sponsorship parties” quickly morphed into “The nobles were eating human flesh to stay young.”
And as people slowly realized that the Hero they had once revered was just another flawed human, the shock was unbearable.
“You have to feel bad for the Hero. He was just a kid back then, completely at the mercy of the adults around him. Do you really think he wanted to be part of those sponsorship parties?”
“I heard the Hero’s hidden companion was actually his lover. Such a tragic romance.”
“Now that you mention it, wasn’t there always a gray-haired man by his side?”
“Yeah, the one with ashen hair. That cursed…”
“Watch your words! He was the Hero’s chosen lover, blessed by the gods—how could he be cursed?”
“So, where is the Hero now?”
“Rumor has it he’s no longer in the capital.”
“He’s definitely gone to find his lover. To make things right.”
“How romantic. Two lovers torn apart by an evil villain, only to reunite against all odds—”
“Oh, please. You sound like a dime-a-dozen novelist.”
“That’s not the point right now!”
People were confused.
And angry.
Everything they had believed—who had fabricated it?
What was actually the truth?
Had anything they trusted ever been real?
Some declared it was all a matter of power and urged people to wake up.
Others insisted that reckless doubts would only breed chaos and pleaded for patience.
Society teetered on the edge of complete disorder.
And as the flames of outrage grew, they soon found a new target.
“So, what’s His Majesty the King doing about all this?”
“Who knows? Probably crying behind the Hero’s name again.”
“Unbelievable.”
“Even I could do a better job than him!”
If the chaos hadn’t revolved around the Hero, none of this would have happened.
“Isa! I brought some freshly baked bread! I thought you might like some, so I brought extra.”
“Thank you, Jena.”
“Oh, it’s nothing, really.”
I accepted the basket Jena handed me, smiling as I did.
Through my half-moon eyes, I could see her cheeks tinged a faint pink—a clear sign of affection.
It was obvious.
She visited me two or three times a week, always bringing bread.
She wouldn’t do that without some kind of fondness.
It wasn’t unfamiliar.
Spending time apart from Kaindel had made me realize a lot of things.
For instance, that my appearance wasn’t as off-putting to others as I’d always believed.
I used to be convinced that my ashen hair and eyes were an eyesore.
That my thin frame and shy personality made me unworthy of standing beside Kaindel.
I thought that without someone else’s favor, I had no place among people at all.
But I was wrong.
I should have believed Ellis when he complimented me.
Instead, I let my own insecurities shrink me down.
Looking back, it was embarrassing.
Because as I was, I was fine.
More than fine.
If I treated people with sincerity, they returned it in kind.
My looks weren’t a problem.
Not at all.
Jena fidgeted with her fingers as she eyed the basket I was holding.
Then, pressing her flushed ears, she asked:
“So, what are you up to today?”
“Hmm… Just cleaning up the house. It’s been a while. I need to wash the sheets, dust the carpet, water the flowers.”
“Ah, housework is important.”
“I was also thinking of going grocery shopping, but thanks to you, that’s taken care of. I appreciate it. I’ll enjoy the bread.”
“It really wasn’t much.”
“Still, you thought of me.”
“…”
Even though I now understood that people could be easily drawn to me, their kindness still moved me.
Just the fact that someone liked me, that they saw me in a positive light—it was something I never took for granted.
“Have a great day, Isa!”
“You too, Jena.”
I waved as she walked away.
And then, I noticed it.
A single flower lay on the ground.
Deep red, like the ripening autumn.
Wrapped with care, as if the person who bought it had put a lot of thought into their choice.
“…”
I stared down at the red flower for a moment before glancing around.
There was nothing unusual.
The temple not far away, the closely packed houses, and the people leisurely going about their daily routines between the buildings—everything looked the same as always.
Even though there was no one in sight who could have left the flower in front of my house, it was obvious who had done it.
He was probably hiding again, trying not to get caught.
“I told you not to leave things like this.”
With a quiet sigh, I picked up the flower.
Thanks to a certain someone who left flowers at my doorstep every day, my house was already overflowing with them.
Sometimes, he even left potted plants, so I had started taking care of those too.
As I lifted the flower, a small note that had been hidden underneath was revealed.
I could already guess what it would say.
Pressing my fingers to my temple, I unfolded the note and read it.
[The weather is nice today, Isa.
I went to buy flowers, and the florist said it’s already autumn.
Looking at the cloudless sky, I think it might be true.
You should take a walk when the sun starts to set.
The scenery is beautiful.
P.S. This flower is called lisianthus. It has a lovely meaning. You should look it up.]
“……”
I slipped the note into my pocket. It was short, nothing important.
But careful not to crease the neat, elegant handwriting—so much like its writer—I folded the note gently before tucking it away.
Closing the door behind me, I headed straight for the drawer.
When I opened the first drawer, my eyes fell on the stack of notes, so thick they couldn’t be held in one hand.
I stared at them blankly for a moment before dipping the freshly cut stem of the flower into water and placing it in a vase.
Even though it was a new vase, it was already more than half full.
All thanks to one persistent person who never let a single day pass without bringing me flowers.
If he thought this would make me figure things out any faster, he was sorely mistaken.
I tapped a fingertip against the petals before sinking onto the couch.
I had planned to clean the house today, but the moment I saw the flower at my door, my mind wandered elsewhere.
Kaindel had kept his word.
He had asked only to stay nearby while I sorted out my thoughts, and he did just that.
He never showed up in front of me, and even when we crossed paths, he only exchanged a greeting without striking up a conversation.
There were times I spotted him hesitating in front of my house, torn between knocking and leaving—but not once did he actually knock.
At this point, I was starting to get curious.
Just what was Kaindel doing?
“Come to think of it, Kaindel’s wedding to the princess is only a few days away.”
I checked today’s date in the newspaper and tilted my head.
Due to growing public opposition, Kaindel and Kerelona’s wedding had been postponed until after the Goddess’ Day.
Now, it was only four days away.
* * *
