The next day, the state visit schedule to the Republic of Tavania was confirmed.

Though initially planned as an unofficial vacation, when rumors spread about Reizen’s visit to Tavania, the country sent him a formal invitation letter directly.

“Damn it. Just how loose-lipped are they?”

While Whilton was determined to find the source of the information leak, Reizen told him to drop it.

“This was bound to happen anyway.”

Already, businessmen were lining up to make a good impression after learning that Sys’s young Prime Minister was one of the initial investors in the ‘Arthur White Trading Company,’ one of Tavania’s top companies.

They must have been anxious about the leader of the continent’s largest country having influence over their country’s economy. They likely aimed to assess Reizen’s character and establish connections to ensure stability. Everyone was just trying their best to survive, so what was there to be angry about?

The secretary recited the packed schedule.

“The Chairman will be waiting at the dock in the morning. After photo sessions, you’ll take a car to the state guest house.”

A banquet at the guest house would follow, along with welcome ceremonies. After Reizen’s short speech, the Chairman planned to arrange a dinner with prominent businessmen. In Tavania, it was customary to discuss business all night while drinking heavily until intoxicated.

“…Will you be alright?”

Reizen silently nodded. Though fatigue had built up from prolonged insomnia, the tight schedule didn’t particularly concern him.

He had to be alright. What else could he do if he wasn’t?

Besides, staying busy was far better than idleness if he wanted to maintain his sanity.

“…”

The passenger ship with its soft lights cut through the dark sea. Coming out to the deck for fresh air, Reizen put a cigar in his mouth and brushed back his windswept hair.

The sea breeze was quite cold.

“It’s winter.”

It was this chilly when he met Melissa last year too.

The island nation’s winter seemed colder than Sys’s capital. If Melissa had sunk into this sea, her whole body might have frozen and burst…

Or not? When she threw herself into the sea, the water temperature might have been higher than now, so she might have become fish food before freezing.

A small laugh escaped Reizen’s lips at this thought. Haha. It was amusing how he had already started assuming her death.

The man’s expression quickly hardened as he exhaled cigar smoke and leaned one arm on the railing.

Even if she had drowned in the sea, he would search the entire ocean to find even a scrap of her clothing.

If she had become fish food, he would catch all the fish in the area and cut open their bellies raw to find even a single fingernail, and if he couldn’t find even a piece of clothing, he would continue searching until he did.

‘The search team should be at least 2,000 people including divers.’

For that, approval from Tavania’s Republic leadership was essential. It would be better to prepare several contracts in advance to get approval right after attending the banquet. And another consideration…

‘The water temperature seems different from Sys.’

The divers wouldn’t be able to search day and night. He would need to divide them into three shifts to prevent hypothermia, and considering potential dropouts, he should recruit 1.5 times the needed workforce as reserves.

Yes. That should work.

Would he be able to find her?

‘Whether you’re in the sea, on land, in the sky, wherever you are.’

He would be able to find her.

He would definitely find her.

After finishing his cigar, the man organized the plans in his head and was about to return to his room.

Before he knew it, night had completely passed and a red sun peeked over the horizon. The crimson carpet spread softly over the sea, rippling beautifully.

People who had been partying all night on the ship came out making a commotion. Despite the chilly wind, a woman with a shawl over her shoulders jumped up and down excitedly in place.

“Wow, looks like the sun is rising!”

“Hey, everyone come out and look!”

“Waaah!”

A woman with long curly hair clapped her hands in delight. Her pure amazement reminded him of Melissa’s face. She used to laugh at such small things too.

On the increasingly noisy deck.

Reizen, the only one with a hardened expression, turned away from the scenery. The man walked back to his room with heavy steps, his eyes growing increasingly tired and fierce.

Shortly after.

“Oh my, you must be exhausted from such a long journey!”

As soon as he disembarked from the passenger ship, Tavania’s highest officials came out to welcome Reizen.

The schedule afterward stretched endlessly. Time seemed to crawl by so slowly that it felt eternal.

Fortunately, he received ample permission to search for his wife, but by dawn, when he was completely drunk, his mind became hazy and he couldn’t take it anymore.

With unfocused eyes, Reizen pulled out a crumpled paper from his chest pocket.

It was Rael’s address written in Tavanian by Arthur.

“Take me here.”

When the man, who had practically crawled into the carriage, spoke in Sys language, the coachman immediately set the horses in motion.

After losing consciousness and waking up, he found himself in front of a small cabin.

Despite the deep night, warm yellow light spilled from the cabin, and clotheslines were strung up in front. He walked along, touching the clothes that had stiffened from the dawn frost, making crackling sounds.

The grass underfoot, dried from what must have been drizzling rain, made crunching sounds with each step. Reizen staggered up to the old wooden door and took a moment to catch his breath.

All he had to do was knock on the door, but somehow he felt nervous.

What if Melissa was inside? Would it be okay to show such a mess of a drunken state? What if she was disappointed, saying he still lacked dignity despite holding power?

Various thoughts tangled messily like threads running through his mind.

While he hesitated, the horse made a rustling sound. The coachman, feeling cold, took out his fur coat and put it on in layers while glancing at Reizen.

He asked something in an unfamiliar foreign language, seemingly asking when they would depart again.

“Just a moment…”

Reizen took another deep breath.

The cold wind that cut through his nostrils stung. With his ear tips bright red from the difficult-to-adjust-to cold, the man could barely open his mouth.

The man, thoroughly frozen and barely able to unfold his fist properly, clenched and unclenched it a couple of times before staggering in place again. Nearly falling, he steadied himself against the wooden door, making a thud.

“Who is it?”

Hearing the familiar voice made his eyes suddenly burn hot.

He couldn’t properly gather his thoughts.

In this dreamlike situation he had longed for so much, he took a step back from the door. The door opened before his eyes filled with fear.

The warm yellow light that once felt like a mother’s embrace brightly illuminated his eyes. An emotion more intense than the sun washed over Reizen’s heart like waves.

Barely managing to make a sound through his constricted throat.

“Mel…”

The woman wore a white nightgown with a thick wool shawl over her shoulders.

“H-how did you come here…?”

Her black hair fell in curls below her shoulders, though shorter than before. Her red eyes remained greedily beautiful and exuded sensuality.

Reizen’s vision gradually blurred as his head spun. His throat choked up as his dry lips trembled for a while before finally managing to speak one word.

“I missed… you.”

Reizen caught the cheek of the woman who hesitated in place with one hand.

“I missed you so much.”

When his hand, cold as a corpse, touched the woman’s cheek, she flinched.

The woman’s cheeks felt white as flour and soft. Cheeks moderately cold enough to feel lukewarm… He had missed even this low body temperature so much. Seeing her now, he understood. Why he had been in such pain until now. Why he, who had lived quietly alone, had to be so broken. Why he couldn’t be the solid person he used to be. There was a time he resented her for ruining him, but not anymore. The man now truly felt the name of this heart-wrenching emotion.

Tears fell from his eyes and.

The man spoke with all his heart.

“I love you, Melissa.”