The capital, Adnis, was a prosperous city.

Shaped by rapid industrialization, it pulsed with vibrant energy. Its tightly packed buildings were intricate and magnificent, exuding elegance and grandeur.

It had been a long time since Rive had last visited Adnis.

The city she remembered had changed far more than she had expected over the years.

Paul’s entrance interview for the National Art Institute was scheduled for the following day, which was also the last day for applications.

Since the train timetable was inconvenient, they had arrived in the capital a day early.

After settling into their accommodation, the two of them stepped out in search of a nearby restaurant to satisfy their hunger.

“You’re really sure you don’t want me to come with you tomorrow?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“The roads here are complicated.”

“I picked up a map at the station earlier.”

Resting his chin on his hand, Paul stared at Rive.

The capital wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to her.

She used to visit almost every weekend with her parents when she was young.

“…Are you going to keep wearing that hat?”

Paul lowered his voice and asked carefully.

Their table was by a large window, through which people passing by outside could clearly be seen.

If she said it didn’t bother her, that would be a lie.

The restaurant’s customers and the people hurrying past outside paid each other no attention.

This reassured her slightly, yet she couldn’t abandon a habit she had maintained for five long years.

“It must be uncomfortable to eat with it on. You should take it off.”

Rive glanced around cautiously.

Paul let out a quiet chuckle.

Fingering the ribbon tied beneath her chin, Rive hesitated, and Paul simply waited.

While she lingered in indecision, their food arrived.

A generous spread was placed before them: sandwiches, buttered potatoes, lentils and salad.

“Why are you staring like that?”

“No one here is paying attention to you, Liz.”

At that, her face flushed like a ripe apple.

Holding his utensils, Paul cut the roasted potatoes into bite-sized pieces and placed them onto her plate.

“If anything, I’m probably the only one looking at you.”

He finished with a soft laugh.

Even as she met his playful expression, Rive couldn’t bring herself to respond.

“I’m not forcing you. If you don’t want to take it off, you don’t have to.”

Worried that he might have pressured her, Paul waved his hand.

Encouraged by this, Rive slowly untied the ribbon beneath her chin.

Paul’s eyes widened.

When she took off the hat that she had worn since leaving Southfirth, her rich, golden hair fell down past her waist.

“…Is it strange?”

“No!”

Paul answered instantly, his voice louder than he intended.

Startled, Rive quickly looked around.

“S-sorry.”

Fortunately, aside from a few passing glances, no one paid them any further attention.

Paul scratched the back of his head and offered an awkward smile.

Starving, Rive picked up her cutlery and started eating.

The way her lips moved as she chewed the roasted potatoes was almost endearing.

Paul found it hard to look away, but, worried that she might notice, he quickly took a large bite of his sandwich.

“Paul… was your mouth always that big?”

Rive widened her eyes when she saw the size of the bite he had taken.

Paul’s cheeks flushed as he tried to chew.

When Rive broke into a bright, amused smile, he couldn’t help but laugh along with her.

Amid the warm, cheerful atmosphere, they continued their meal.

Snow continued to fall outside the window.

***

As soon as he arrived at Adnis Station, a driver from the Versailles Hotel was waiting to receive him.

As the car made its way to the hotel, Andrew sat with his arms crossed, staring out of the window. The heavy traffic had already dulled his interest.

The city was as crowded and noisy as ever.

Although he had visited frequently for work, this was his first time back in the capital in five years.

“Your Grace, I apologize, but this road is under construction. We may need to take a detour — would that be all right?’

Just as his thoughts began to drift back over past memories, the driver’s hesitant voice pulled him back to the present.

“As you wish.”

His reply was brief, but his calm tone made it sound courteous.

Leaning back, Andrew rubbed his tired eyes.

The snow was falling more heavily now.

His insomnia had worsened day by day.

If anything, life had been easier on the battlefield.

When he pushed his body to its limits, he could fall asleep without even realizing it.

A pointless thought crossed his mind: how many sleeping pills had he packed?

“Stop the car.”

A disturbance rippled through his cold, still gaze.

“Now.”

His voice was urgent, his hand already gripping the door handle as if ready to leap out.

Startled, the driver slammed on the brakes.

Andrew threw the door open and jumped out.

“Y-Your Grace!”

The driver’s alarmed shout rang out behind him, but Andrew was already running.

His long black coat flapped wildly in the wind with each step.

His wife was dead.

He knew that.

And yet, that brief glimpse of the woman had felt terrifyingly certain: she was his wife.

The image of her laughing through the glass window seemed distant and almost unreal.

If it truly had been her, though, he would have wanted nothing more than to feel the warmth of her smile.

“Welcome—”

He would know once he had seen for himself.

Was this just another one of the nightmares that plagued him, or was his wife really alive?

Bursting into the restaurant, Andrew stood there, breathing heavily.

His pale blue eyes scanned the room in frantic urgency — he was uncharacteristically shaken.

His restless hand tugged harshly at the tie around his neck.

“Sir… are you alright?”

She had been sitting by the window.

He was certain of it.

And yet she was nowhere to be seen.

At the end of his vacant gaze, only empty dishes remained, as though the meal had already been eaten.

He was too late.

“Sir…?”

Nothing reached his ears.

The only thing that mattered to him now was finding her.

He turned sharply and rushed back out of the restaurant, beginning to search the surrounding streets.

People passed him endlessly.

There were countless blonde women, but none of them were her.

His breath came in ragged gasps and his chest tightened.

His hand, hovering near his mouth, dragged harshly through his disheveled hair.

She wasn’t there.

Nowhere.

“Your Grace!”

The driver finally caught up to him, his face pale with panic.

Spotting Andrew, drenched and shaken, he froze in shock.

“Y-your complexion…”

Andrew’s hollow gaze drifted over the crowded streets.

The falling snow soaked through him.

Each snowflake felt like a sharp thorn piercing his body.

‘So you’re still clinging to a dead woman… even now.’

‘Pathetic b*stard.’

Dragging a hand down his face, Andrew let out a bitter, self-mocking laugh.

***

“Are you alright?”

“…Yeah. I think I just overate a bit. I’ll be fine after some rest.”

“That worries me. Did I make you eat too much?”

“No, I was just too hungry and ate too fast.”

After returning to their lodging, the two lingered awkwardly in front of their respective doors.

Paul watched her with concern, but for some reason, Rive felt a strange sense of pressure.

“I’m really fine. Go get some rest. You have to wake up early tomorrow.”

“Should I at least get you some medicine?”

“I said I’m fine!”

Unable to hold back any longer, Rive placed her hands on her hips, frowning.

Seeing that, Paul’s lips curled into a relieved smile.

“If you’re snapping at me like that, you must really be okay.”

“Go on, get some rest. I guess I overdid it today too. I’m tired.”

“Ah, there’s a telephone at the counter.”

“Really? Then I should call Mrs. Margaret tomorrow.”

“Yeah. Let’s call together.”

Mrs Margaret’s general store was well known throughout the market and had a telephone. Although the connection was unreliable, this was still a rare convenience, especially since telephone lines had only recently been installed in Southfirth.

Brightening, Rive gave a relaxed smile and waved her hand.

Paul nodded and gestured for her to go inside.

The moment Rive disappeared through the door, Paul — as if he had been waiting for this moment — turned and slipped into his own room.

The lodging was simple but clean.

Only the bare essentials were provided, yet the fire in the hearth gently warmed the lingering chill in the air.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Rive removed her hat and hung up her coat.

Her gaze drifted to the travel bag in the corner of the room. She ran her fingers through her hair, her gaze soft with quiet affection.

‘I hope it works out.’

If she succeeded in supplying the department store and her earnings increased, she would buy higher-quality materials and knit Grandfather a warmer scarf.

She would also take him to the hospital.

For Paul, she would buy beautiful paints.

For Ainer, she would buy tasty food, picture books, and pretty clothes.

As her thoughts wandered pleasantly, her expression gradually stiffened.

‘Knitting. At times like this, I need to keep my hands moving.’

Even when she didn’t want him to, he kept appearing in her thoughts.

The harder she tried to deny it and turn away, the deeper she felt herself sinking.

The restless thoughts that had once consumed her every night, and which she had managed to forget for a while, began swirling around in her mind again.

‘Is he doing well?’

She had deliberately avoided hearing any news about him.

Yet, the moment she returned to the capital, Rive found herself helplessly consumed by the shadow of Blackwood, just like the day she first saw him.

It was just like the day she first saw Andrew Blackwood.