Chapter 79: Injured.
The following morning dawned brighter than the last.
A gentle mist lingered over the palace gardens, clinging to the vibrant flowers like strands of silver silk while the first rays of sunlight gradually chased away the coolness of dawn. Somewhere within the palace, musicians had already begun rehearsing for the wedding celebration, their melodies drifting lazily through open corridors. The kingdom felt wonderfully alive.
Yet despite the excitement surrounding them...
Saline found herself unusually distracted.
She sat quietly beside Florence while helping sort ribbons that would later decorate the reception hall, though her hands worked almost automatically.
She tied one ribbon.
Untied it.
Then tied it again.
Florence, who had spent years learning to notice the smallest changes in people, glanced at her with quiet amusement.
"You’ve been staring at that ribbon for nearly five minutes."
Saline blinked, looking down as though only just realizing it remained in her hands.
"...Have I?"
"You have."Florence smiled gently.
"Is something troubling you?"
Immediately, Saline shook her head.
"No."
It came a little too quickly.
Florence didn’t press.
Instead, she simply smiled knowingly before returning her attention to arranging flowers.
"If you say so."
Across the room, Lilian lowered her head to hide an amused smile.
She caught Saline’s eye for only a second.
Saline immediately looked away.
Thankfully...
Florence seemed far too occupied with wedding preparations to notice the silent exchange.
By late morning, the opportunity they had been waiting for finally presented itself.
Most of the palace staff had gathered near the western courtyard, where decorators argued passionately over the placement of flower arches while cooks carried enormous trays toward the banquet hall.
The eastern side of the palace...
Once again...
Had become surprisingly quiet.
Lilian leaned casually against a marble pillar, pretending to admire one of the climbing roses while discreetly watching the nearest patrol.
When the last guard disappeared around the corner, she spoke without turning.
"Now."
Saline didn’t hesitate.
The two slipped silently through the gardens, crossed the familiar woodland path, and disappeared into the hidden cave before anyone noticed their absence.
The journey felt strangely familiar now.
Almost routine.
Yet Saline couldn’t ignore the small flutter settling somewhere beneath her ribs as the cave gradually gave way to the human forest once more.
She frowned.
Why?
She was only going because...
Because...
She wanted to know what had happened yesterday.
Nothing more.
That explanation sounded considerably less convincing than it had the day before.
The village greeted them beneath another cloudless afternoon.
Market stalls overflowed with fresh produce while cheerful voices echoed across the square exactly as they had yesterday.
Everything looked the same.
Even the great stone arch stood exactly where they had left it.
Only one thing was different.
They arrived much earlier.
Lilian glanced toward the enormous clock mounted high above one of the nearby buildings.
"We’re early."
"Only a little."
Saline answered quietly.
"We won’t have to wait as long."
Lilian looked sideways.
"...Who said we were waiting?"
Saline paused.
Then sighed.
"You know exactly what I meant."
"I do."
Lilian smiled.
"I simply enjoy hearing you admit it."
Saline rolled her eyes.
"We’re only here because he said he’d have information."
"Of course."
"And because we still don’t know who that woman was."
"Naturally."
"Stop smiling like that."
"I can’t."
Lilian laughed softly.
"It’s becoming increasingly entertaining."
Midday arrived.
Then passed.
Again.
The marketplace remained busy.
Travelers entered as others departed.
A group of musicians performed beside the fountain while children gathered around a storyteller animatedly describing heroic knights and sleeping dragons.
Time continued moving.
Xandros...
Did not appear.
This time neither girl spoke for several minutes.
Saline kept watching the road with growing uncertainty.
Eventually she exhaled slowly.
"...This isn’t like yesterday."
Lilian frowned.
"No."
"He isn’t simply late."
"I don’t think so either."
Another silence followed.
This one heavier than before.
Finally, Lilian pushed herself away from the stone arch.
"We should look for him."
Saline looked up.
"You think?"
"He knows this village."
She glanced toward the crowded marketplace.
"If something happened..."
"...someone around here might know."
Saline nodded almost immediately.
For reasons she chose not to examine too closely...
The possibility that something might actually be wrong unsettled her far more than she expected.
Together they stepped away from the marketplace entrance and disappeared into the lively streets, weaving carefully between merchants and customers as they searched the places where they had encountered him before.
Neither of them noticed...
That for the very first time since meeting the mysterious grey-eyed man...
They weren’t searching for answers anymore.
They were searching for him.
Most especially Saline.
The village seemed far larger when they were searching for someone.
Yesterday, the streets had felt welcoming, filled with little discoveries that invited them to wander. Today, every corner they turned only revealed more unfamiliar faces. Merchants stood proudly behind their stalls, calling out cheerful greetings to passing customers. Women bargained over baskets of fruit while children chased one another between the rows of shops, their carefree laughter rising above the constant murmur of conversation.
Yet no matter how many faces Saline looked at...
None of them belonged to the man with the grey eyes.
The afternoon sun had climbed higher into the sky by the time the girls found themselves back near the marketplace fountain for what felt like the third time.
Lilian let out a long sigh.
"I think we’re walking in circles."
Saline glanced around.
"...Maybe."
Lilian folded her arms.
"Definitely."
She looked toward the crowded square before rubbing the back of her neck.
"I didn’t realize this village was so big."
"It didn’t seem this big before."
"That’s because we weren’t looking for someone."
Saline lowered her eyes.
No...
They hadn’t been.
A strange feeling settled quietly inside her chest.
She didn’t like it.
Not one bit.
They wandered farther into the eastern side of the marketplace where the crowds gradually began to thin.
Unlike the busy center of the village, this district was quieter.
Bookshops stood beside herbal stores while elderly craftsmen worked patiently outside small workshops, paying little attention to those passing by.
Saline slowed.
"...Do you think he actually lives here?"
Lilian shrugged.
"I don’t know."
"We don’t even know his house."
That realization suddenly felt rather ridiculous.
They had spoken with him twice.
Argued with him.
Accepted his help.
Agreed to meet him.
And somehow...
Neither of them had ever asked one of the simplest question.
"What if..." Saline hesitated.
"...he doesn’t live in the village at all?"
"Then we’re definitely wasting our time."
The words were barely out of Lilian’s mouth when someone called from behind them.
"Excuse me."
Both girls turned simultaneously.
A young man stood several steps away carrying a small paper bag beneath one arm.
His white hair caught the afternoon sunlight almost brilliantly, while calm grey eyes regarded them with quiet curiosity.
He looked to be a few years older than they were.
Well dressed.
Composed.
There was something undeniably refined about him.
More importantly...their questions were about to be answered
"I believe..."
He smiled politely.
"...you’re looking for someone."
Lilian exchanged a cautious glance with Saline before answering.
"Good day, we are looking for your friend."
The young man’s smile remained gentle as he listened to them.
He nodded, "Unfortunately."
Lilian frowned.
"Unfortunately?"
"My oldest friend has a remarkable talent for creating unnecessary complications."
The fond exasperation in his voice made it sound less like criticism and more like long-practiced acceptance.
Saline looked at him carefully.
"...Where is he?"
For the first time...
The young man’s expression changed.
The small smile faded.
"He isn’t here today."
Something inside Saline tightened unexpectedly.
"...Why?"
"He was injured yesterday."
Silence.
Even the distant sounds of the marketplace suddenly seemed much farther away.
Lilian blinked.
"...Injured?"
He nodded once.
"It wasn’t life-threatening." He was quick to reassure them.
"But the injury was serious enough that he’s been ordered to remain indoors for a few days."
Saline frowned.
"...Yesterday?"
The timing immediately struck her.
"He looked perfectly fine when we left."
"He was."
The young man answered calmly.
"It happened afterward."
Neither girl spoke.
The information settled heavily between them.
Without warning...
Saline found herself remembering the casual smile Xandros had worn when he waved goodbye.
The playful look in his eyes.
The careless confidence.
Nothing about him had suggested that only hours later he would be hurt.
"...Is he alright now?"
The question escaped before she had time to stop it.
The young man noticed.
So did Lilian.
"He’s recovering."
His answer remained reassuring.
"But..."
A faint smile returned.
"...knowing him, being forced to rest is probably causing him more suffering than the injury itself."
Despite herself...
A tiny smile appeared on Saline’s face.
"...I can believe that."
"So can I."
The stranger chuckled softly.
"I’ve known him for many years."
Lilian looked between the two of them.
"Since he’s your friend..."
She hesitated.
"...Would it be alright if we visited him?"
The young man’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
"He’d probably pretend not to appreciate the company."
His smile became warmer.
"But secretly..."
"...I think he’d be pleased."
Saline lowered her eyes.
"We shouldn’t today."
Lilian looked at her.
"The palace..."Saline nodded.
"We’ve already been away too long."
If they delayed much longer, someone would eventually notice they had disappeared again.
That was a risk they couldn’t afford.She looked back toward the white-haired man.
"...Would tomorrow be alright?"
"I’d just like to make sure..."
She paused briefly.
"...that he’s really alright."
For reasons she couldn’t entirely explain...
Hearing that he was injured had left an uncomfortable weight inside her chest.
The young man studied her quietly before offering another polite smile.
"I’ll let him know."
He inclined his head respectfully.
"My name is Adrian...."
"I know that already." Lilian answered him.
"Ohhhh...." He said in realization because he noticed they didn’t mention his name at all and he thought they had forgotten.
"It’s a pleasure."
He stepped aside, allowing them room to leave.
"I’ll tell him you asked about him."
Saline gave a small nod.
"...Thank you."
Together, the two girls turned toward the forest path leading back to the hidden cave.
Neither noticed Adrian watching them until they disappeared completely from sight.
Only then...
His gentle smile slowly disappeared.
He looked toward the direction of the village outskirts before letting out a quiet sigh.
"...You troublesome idiot."
There was only one person he intended to visit now.
And judging by everything he had just witnessed...
Their next conversation was unlikely to be pleasant.
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