Helena, the living ghost of Evergale.

That was how Walter Argyle thought of her.

He rubbed his beard, which added dignity to his appearance, and was lost in thought.

Old memories rippled over the waves.

‘Dad.’

‘Wake up, dad.’

‘You can’t oversleep when you’re the Knight Commander of the proud ducal family.’

“My nose isn’t that high… Irina…”

Walter woke up to a familiar voice.

Realizing it was a dream only after responding to a voice that wouldn’t return, he came to his senses.

He grabbed a towel and stood in front of the sink. The cold water of winter pounded through the drain, bursting out. He deliberately washed his face with ice-cold water and then dried it.

Looking up, he saw a man just past the midpoint of life staring back at him in the mirror. His reflection seemed unfamiliar these days.

Sparse white hairs beginning to show, wrinkles deepening around his eyes.

The naïve knights praised him for having the refined elegance of a middle-aged knight, but to Walter, these were just cruel reminders of the passage of time.

‘I can’t believe I’m still living to this age after losing you.’

It had been quite a while since he had stepped down from his command due to fatigue. During that time, his daughter’s nickname for him remained ‘Commander’.

Yet, he was thankful she appeared in his dream today. He started his day whistling a tune as if it was a good morning.

He neatly combed his disheveled hair, tightly tied his military boots, and put on his uniform precisely.

After getting ready, he turned back at the door.

“I’ll be back, Irina.”

Walter greeted the small frame on the shelf and left his house.

The horse tied outside perked up its ears and approached upon seeing him.

“You seem in good spirits today.”

As he stroked its mane, its long tail fluttered left and right. The pony, once ridden by his daughter, had now become a fine stallion, standing by his side.

Walter, considering this four-legged animal his only friend, cheerfully headed to the temple.

He deliberately chose not to go to the ducal mansion because it was the wedding day of the new head of Evergale, who took over after the passing of Duke Aslan.

‘I never thought the young lord would find someone to love first… Life is truly unpredictable. Seems I still have a lot to experience.’

Lost in various thoughts, he soon found himself before the towering spire. Walter left his horse with a footman and continued walking.

The temple, usually quiet, was now filled with vibrant energy instead of its typical solemnity. Red camellias lined the path, visible even before reaching the main entrance.

It was somewhat surprising for Eugene’s taste, known for not batting an eye in the piercing cold.

Perhaps it was a consideration for the bride, or it could be the high-cost magical devices installed to raise the temperature. These devices, hard to even imagine in Eugene’s mind, were scattered around, elevating the wedding to an unreachable level.

Admiring the meticulous preparations, Walter wandered into a less crowded area.

The back of the temple was quiet, unlike the lavish opposite side. Only the shadows of the high spires stretched long over the neatly arranged cobblestone path.

With time to spare, Walter decided to stay here for a while. But someone had already sought refuge from the commotion before him.
A woman in a pristine white wedding dress paced back and forth amidst the softly fallen snow.

Walter hesitated, taken aback by the unexpected sight.

Sensing his presence, the woman abruptly turned around. Her layered dress swirled gracefully with her movement.

“Who are you?”

Under the blue winter sky, Walter met her more transparent eyes.

For a moment, an image of his daughter in a wedding dress and veil flashed before him.

‘If you were still alive, by now…’

As if someone pushed him from behind, Walter stepped forward. He had to swallow a few times before he could speak.

“…From the Evergale Knights, I am Walter Argyle. I apologize if I startled you.”

He bowed slightly in apology and then properly looked at the woman.

‘This must be Helena Owen…’

The bride, only an hour away from her wedding, was strikingly beautiful, yet her tense expression could not be masked by her beauty.

Why was the bride, who should be joyously savoring this moment, so fearful?

Perhaps reminded of his daughter, Walter felt an urge to comfort her.

“I didn’t expect to find another seeking solitude here.”

No response came, but Walter continued to walk past Helena and sat on a bench behind her. Helena merely followed him with her eyes, standing motionless.

Seeing her still stiff, Walter spoke again with a gentle smile.

“You can ignore the ramblings of a passerby, but I’ve learned it’s okay to lose your way for a while. It’s not bad to pause when it gets too heavy.”

His demeanor was infinitely courteous. Finally relaxing her guard, Helena eased her tense shoulders.

Walter looked up at the cloudless high sky, absorbed the clear colors, and then closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. As he exhaled, he said,