<February 13, 1613. Asta Harbor. 6 p.m.>

I looked at the letter again, now worn and frayed from countless unfoldings. Asta Harbour was one of the largest ports in Arkel, from where all ships left for the northern continent.

Where was Yuel planning to go?

Did she want to travel with me?

Had she forgiven me?

Does she… still love me?

Countless thoughts came and went.

There were only about forty days left until the date she had set.

I ran my fingers longingly over the beautiful letter that looked so much like Yuel.

Yuel, Yuel – I called out her name as if in pain.

As you said, love is unchanging.

I admitted it in my heart.

***

There were moments of deep unease—a lingering fear that the awaited day might never come. Sleepless nights were plagued with dreadful thoughts: what if something significant happened just before, perhaps a day or even a week before, and we were left unable to meet, living on with an endless longing for each other?

I kept missing Yuel, aching for her. I had grown so used to this longing and desperation that I worried I might not even believe it if she were actually in my arms again.

But despite Theo’s anxious heart, time moved on, night and day passing steadily. The promised day drew closer, unwavering in its approach.

A week before February 13, Theo packed his things ahead of time. Outwardly, it was an ordinary day, no different from any other. Just like the day Yuel had unexpectedly visited the mental hospital in Arkel, this day was uneventful. But now, he was merely a week away from reuniting with Yuel.

He packed only simple clothes and some money, having begun to wrap up his responsibilities a month earlier. Most of the charity projects that were nearing completion had been completed, and successors had been appointed to continue the remaining work.

The Goldrain estate was entrusted to Flan, the longtime gardener who had lovingly tended to its grounds for many years. Flan vowed to care for it wholeheartedly until Theo’s return to Seyon.

But Theo’s return was uncertain. For Yuel, this land was a place of painful memories, and Theo had resolved never to do anything that might cause her distress again. All he wanted now was to follow Yuel’s wishes—seeing what she wanted to see, hearing what she wanted to hear.

With everything in order, Theo set out early, carrying with him only the essentials and a determined heart.

He boarded a ship from Bluine Harbor in Seuon, bound for Arkel. As he looked back at the docks of Bluine, old memories resurfaced—chasing after Yuel during her desperate escape, pursuing her to this very harbor. The memory still cut deeply, like a sharp blade lodged in his heart.

During his time in Seyon, Theo found the opportunity to make amends with Mio. He visited Rophel’s estate and bowed deeply before her, acknowledging the gravity of his actions. Noel and Cane shared their regret and understood the need for reconciliation.

Theo had changed profoundly—enough to humble himself before a maid, a step that once would have been unthinkable. He was determined to sever every tie that had once driven him away from Yuel. He wanted to clear away every lingering shadow without leaving a single one behind. Of course, he knew that his sins wouldn’t be easily forgiven just because he wished them to be. But every moment, Theo wrestled with those chains, determined to break free from their grip.

Long ago, on the journey from Bluine to Goldrain, after capturing Yuel, Theo had taken her by force in the carriage. His eyes had burned red with anger, treating her like a monster.

“Do I truly deserve to stand beside Yuel?”

The question, a relentless torment, resurfaced in Theo’s mind several times a day. As he stood on the ship’s bow heading toward Arkel, he found himself repeatedly pushing away the weight of regret, watching the waves break into white foam against the hull.

When Theo arrived in Arkel, it was the day before his promised meeting with Yuel—February 13. The winter in Arkel was bitter, far harsher than Seyon’s cold. Theo quickly realized he needed thicker winter clothing and bought a few more layers in Asta.

He found lodging close to the harbor and settled in, waiting anxiously for 6 p.m. on February 13.

It was the day he had waited for unwaveringly for four years.

The day that once seemed like it would never come had finally arrived. The longing that felt like it would last forever was coming to a head. But Theo’s mind was still plagued by endless doubts: What if he never saw her again? What if Yuel’s heart had changed? What if she regretted leaving him that note? These worries clung to him, refusing to let go, even now.

The journey from Borne, where Yuel lived, to Asta was about a day’s carriage ride. If Yuel had decided to come, she would probably be on her way by now. He pictured the path she would take and imagined the road that would lead to their reunion.

He thought about Yuel’s face—her expression, her captivating beauty, her thick brown hair, her green eyes, and the gentle curves of her body. He yearned to see her, and this final day of waiting felt even more agonizing to Theo than the four long years that had passed.

Sleep eluded him as he stayed awake through the night, his heart restless with anticipation.

The bright moonlight streamed steadily into the dark room through the window of the inn. The sea beyond the window was calm and beautiful, but Theo’s heart was churning like a storm.

By morning, his anxiety had only deepened. What if he had remembered the date wrong? What if he didn’t arrive on time? What if they somehow missed each other on the long docks at Asta Harbor? His mind was filled with countless worries.

Unable to sit still, Theo headed to the pier immediately after breakfast. The biting wind lashed against his face as he walked. The long pier reminded him of the one in Bluine, and the vast, endless ocean stretched out before him, slowly clearing the chaotic thoughts swirling in his head. Behind the dock, the leafless branches of the trees in the man-made park swayed gently in the sea breeze, adding an almost melancholic stillness to the morning air.

It felt as if he were looking at a reflection of himself, so he stared at the barren winter landscape for a long time. Arkel’s winter seemed even more desolate than Seyon’s, yet Yuel had still called it beautiful.

As he looked at the bare trees, Theo suddenly noticed bright green buds sprouting from the dry branches. The sight felt almost surreal, and his chest swelled with unexpected emotion. Despite the bitter cold, those young buds struggled to push their way out, a quiet defiance against the harshness of winter.

With warmth in his eyes, Theo turned his gaze toward the dock. The pier was still and quiet, the biting cold keeping most travelers away. Few people were heading to the northern continent on such a day, and it was too early for the ferries to start running.

As far as Theo knew, a ship was due to leave for the northern continent at around 18:30 – half an hour after the time Yuel had set for their meeting. If there was a reason Yuel had chosen Asta Harbour, he guessed it was because she intended for them to board the ship together.

If Yuel was willing to take him along…! He brought out the wish he’d turned over in his mind countless times.

There was still a lot of time left until 6 p.m., but his heart wouldn’t settle down.

At the end of the pier, there was a lone figure standing, looking out at the sea.

In the winter wind blowing over the pier, there was just that one person.

From where he stood, the figure at the end of the pier was just a distant silhouette, too far away for Theo to make out any details. He couldn’t even tell if it was a man or a woman. Yet, without understanding why, he felt an inexplicable pull toward that place. The impulse was sudden, and he followed it without hesitation.

Theo left the park and walked along the pier. The blue waves of the sea sparkled like jewels in the morning light, creating a scene so breathtaking it was almost otherworldly. He moved gracefully through the dazzling scene, his steps steady yet driven by the growing tension within him.

As he approached the end of the pier, the silhouette became clearer. It was a woman with long hair, and as the sunlight fell, her thick locks took on a beautiful auburn hue, glowing warmly in the light.

Theo’s breath caught in his throat, and he clenched his teeth to steady himself. His heart was pounding so fiercely that he could hardly breathe.

Seagulls cried out mournfully in the distance as the wind picked up, growing harsher the closer Theo got to the end of the pier. He quickened his pace, the pull towards the figure becoming almost irresistible.

As he drew nearer, he could now clearly see the woman’s ivory-colored cotton dress, the elegant shawl draped over her shoulders, and the graceful curve of her figure. Why hadn’t he recognized her from a distance? She was just as breathtakingly beautiful as ever, and her presence felt almost unreal as if he were seeing a dream come to life.

When he was about 20 meters away, Theo suddenly came to a halt. His body, driven by longing, wanted desperately to run to her, but he forced himself to stop. A thought crossed his mind, a reminder that kept him rooted in place.

“It’s not 6 p.m. yet.”

Theo was terrified—terrified that if he approached too soon, Yuel might turn away, believing he had broken their promise by arriving hours early. Yuel Estin stood right there, the woman he had yearned for even in his dreams, yet Theo couldn’t force himself to take a single step closer.

The fear of rejection loomed over him like a shadow. If she turned him away again, he wouldn’t have the strength to endure it. This day held his fate—his life or death.

Paralyzed by fear and uncertainty, Theo stood motionless, barely able to breathe. His thoughts were a tangled mess when Yuel suddenly turned. She shifted her gaze from the sea to look directly at him.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, time seemed to come to a standstill. Yuel looked exactly as he remembered her—unchanged as if she had stepped out of his memories and into this moment. Her eyes widened in surprise, and that image struck Theo’s heart like a slow-motion arrow.

“Theo.”

Her lips formed his name, and Theo gritted his teeth, overwhelmed by a surge of emotion. It was Yuel Estin—no dream, no fleeting illusion—standing there before him in the flesh. Her scent, her expression, every delicate movement—it was all so vivid and real.

“…Yuel.”

He managed to say, his voice trembling. He wanted to rush to her, to hold her tightly in his arms and never let go. His chest felt as if it were boiling over with uncontainable feelings, making it almost impossible to speak. They stood there, eyes locked, emotions swirling around them like the sea breeze. It was too much, too overwhelming, and for a moment, even breathing felt like a struggle.

“…You came early.”

Yuel finally said, her voice breaking the silence as she smiled softly. The gentle curve of her lips melted the tension that gripped him.

Only then did Theo lift his frozen hand to brush his brow, exhaling shakily. He feared she might scold him for not waiting until six, for breaking their promise in his desperation. But in that soft smile, he felt a flicker of hope.

Yuel laughed brightly at Theo’s familiar gesture, and her laughter seemed to burst forth like beams of radiant light. Theo stood there, stunned, watching her as if in a dream.

“Aren’t you cold?”

Yuel asked casually, her tone light and unaffected. Theo, trying to steady his racing heart, managed to reply.

“Cold.”

“Want some?”

Yuel offered, gently shaking the flask in her hand. She was so at ease, so natural in her demeanor, that it left Theo even more confused.

Almost in a daze, he took slow steps towards her. With each step, Yuel’s scent became more distinct – not the scent of roses, but a fresh and sweet scent that was uniquely hers. It suited her so perfectly that he couldn’t help but marvel at it as if he were rediscovering something precious.

Now standing closer, Theo could see her clear green eyes, which glimmered in the morning sunlight like the sparkling waves of the sea. Those eyes held him captive, and in that moment, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only Yuel and the warmth of her presence.

Theo kept his gaze fixed on Yuel as he reached out and took the flask she offered. It felt warm in his hands, a gentle heat against the cold air. Now that he was standing so close, he could sense that Yuel was nervous too. Her face was slightly flushed, and her lips pressed tightly together as if trying to steady herself.

“Be careful, it’s hot.”

She murmured, almost in a whisper. Her words instantly brought Theo back to their very first meeting. He remembered it vividly—the day he had walked into her clinic, the nurse placing a cup of tea before them. Yuel had spoken those exact words back then.

‘Be careful, it’s hot.’

The memories blended, and before Theo could stop himself, he acted on impulse. He leaned in, pressing his lips against hers, unable to hold back any longer. It felt as if Yuel, in her quiet way, wanted to begin anew—before the pain, before the mistakes and the wounds they had inflicted on each other, like emerging from a harsh winter into the warmth of spring.

He thought of the tender sprout he had seen in the park, fighting to break free from the frozen ground. Lowering himself slightly, Theo sought her lips with the delicacy of a butterfly. Her soft, slightly damp lips met his in a gentle, lingering embrace. It wasn’t hurried or forceful, but rather a silent request, almost as if he were waiting for her permission to continue.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly as their breaths mingled, and their presence became intertwined, deeply imprinted on one another. The taste of her lips, the faint scent that lingered between them—it was like a moment both longed for and yet almost beyond belief.

You and I reunited.

Yuel, who had initially stiffened in surprise, eventually wrapped her arms around Theo’s neck, pulling him closer. Their bodies pressed together, and Theo felt his chest swell with emotions so intense he could barely breathe. He lifted a trembling hand to cradle her head, her smooth hair slipping like silk through his fingers, setting his heart ablaze.

With the flask still in his other hand, he pulled her waist closer, holding her tightly. Yuel’s warmth was overwhelming—far more comforting than the warmth of the flask he clung to. In the shimmering expanse of the ocean, they had found each other again. Yuel was in his arms, and everything that had once felt broken and lost now seemed to come together.

‘Yuel, Yuel, Yuel!’

He called her name desperately in his mind, unsure of what words to say aloud. He called and called, and all the cries that had once dissipated into emptiness now seemed to reach her at last.

It was as if the frozen ground beneath them had thawed, the broken wounds within them had begun to heal, and tender new sprouts were finally emerging. It was undeniably spring – a time of renewal and new beginnings, with hope blossoming between them.