One of the three men, a dark-skinned man wearing a brown vest, stared fixedly at me.

“Who…?”

“It’s me!”

Why didn’t he recognize me? Wondering if my face was too hidden by the robe, I quickly removed my hat.

Since it was an alley with few passersby, there was little risk of drawing excessive attention.

My long hair tumbled down, swaying all the way to my waist.

For some reason, I sensed the eyes of the two men beside him widening in surprise.

Jenald was no different.

In fact, Jenald seemed even more startled than the two men.

“Good heavens. Could it be… Latieana?”

“Yeah.”

As I nodded, Jenald strode forward and beamed brightly.

“Damn. You really are Latieana?”

Why is he acting like this? Is it because we haven’t seen each other in so long that he’s awkward?

“It’s me, Jenald. It’s been so long since we—eek!”

“Latieana!”

Suddenly, Jenald pulled me into a tight embrace.

The smell of alcohol wafted strongly. Still, I tried hard not to show any discomfort.

Because behind him, the two men—who seemed to be his acquaintances—were staring at me intently.

“Long time no see! Latieana! I missed you!”

“Mm. Me too.”

I patted Jenald’s back as he squeezed me breathlessly, and over his shoulder, I gave the two men a sweet smile.

Jenald subtly brushed his hands along my back and waist, nuzzled his head against my neck, then finally let go.

I couldn’t recall ever having this level of physical contact with Jenald in our past memories.

I was so flustered I nearly broke into a cold sweat.

But I couldn’t push away my fiancé, so I endured it—until his hand began sliding from my waist toward my chest. Then, I forcefully shoved his chest and stepped back.

“Jenald!”

“Ahaha. Sorry, I’m just so happy to see you after so long. So happy.”

Jenald apologized with a flushed, beaming face.

“Have you been drinking?”

“Yeah.”

“How much? Did you drink a lot?”

“Nah. Just a little. Just a bit.”

“What about work?”

“Ah….”

At my question, Jenald hesitated briefly, lips twitching uncertainly.

“Well, today’s my day off. If I’d known you’d really come all the way here, I would’ve at least pretended to be working.”

Pretended to be working? What does that even mean?

I was genuinely bewildered.

“Sorry, sorry, Latieana. But I’m not that drunk, really.”

Jenald, pouting slightly, patted his own cheeks as if to prove he wasn’t intoxicated.

I observed him quietly.

He smelled of alcohol, yes—but his speech was clear, his stance steady, and he seemed only pleasantly buzzed. But still….

I lifted my head. Bright sunshine poured from the clear blue sky. The giant clock tower visible at the end of the alley pointed to 2 p.m. Drinking at this hour? Did Jenald even used to drink?

As I tried to recall memories from a few months ago, the two men who had been standing apart approached closer.

“Hey, Jenald. Who’s this?”

“You gotta introduce her to us too.”

“Oh! Right. Of course.”

Jenald promptly slung his arm over my shoulder.

“Meet Latieana Merigold—my friend.”

I was mortified. He introduced me as his friend—not his fiancée.

“Ohh. So this beautiful lady is your friend?”

“You’ve got such a pretty friend? You sly dog.”

The two men, having just been introduced to me, didn’t bother greeting me—they were too busy evaluating me.

“Let’s bring her inside!”

“Yeah, let’s have some fun together.”

“Got it. Go ahead in.”

The two men, having sized me up from head to toe with giggling smirks, disappeared into the tavern.

“Wanna go in, Latieana? It’s not as dangerous as it looks. Just a tavern—they play poker inside. It’s fun if you bet a little.”

I was speechless. But since my past self was supposed to be innocent and sweet toward Jenald, I called out to him gently.

“Hey, Jenald. Can we talk for a bit?”

Thankfully, Jenald smiled kindly, just like before.

“You want to? Sure, let’s do that.”

“We don’t have to go in, right?”

“Of course not. You came all this way. It’s fine. Since we haven’t seen each other in so long, let’s do whatever you want.”

I nodded. Jenald, holding my hand with such tenderness that all traces of his earlier roughness vanished, began leading me out of the tavern alley.

Emerging from the alley’s shadow into the bright sunlight, I could finally see Jenald’s face clearly.

He still looked as gentle as a golden retriever—almost unchanged from before.

Seeing him unchanged brought me relief. Even the smell of alcohol dispersed in the breeze, fading any lingering discomfort.

Still, I had to ask.

“Why did you introduce me as your friend?”

“Huh?”

Jenald, who had been walking happily with a silly grin, suddenly stopped.

“Oh, that… Wait a second, Latieana!”

Scratching his forehead, Jenald suddenly dropped my hand and sprinted off.

He rushed frantically toward a flower shop. Returning with a bouquet of bright yellow hyacinths and white daisies, he thrust it toward me.

“Here, take this, Latieana.”

“Oh. Th-thank you?”

It was an unexpected gift.

I accepted it, but before I could ask my question again, Jenald grabbed my hand once more.

“Back when we lived together in the countryside, I never managed to buy you even a decent flower. It’s been weighing on my heart.”

“No, you picked wildflowers for me. I liked those too.”

“Pfft. Wildflowers for a beautiful woman like you? That’s ridiculous.”

Beautiful…?

“Now I feel a little better.”

Jenald smiled brightly and gently stroked the back of my hand with his fingers. I couldn’t smile back.

The old Jenald had never called me beautiful. He’d been kind, yes—but this kind of physical affection felt unfamiliar.

“Are you serious when you say I’m pretty?”

Jenald widened his eyes incredulously.

“Of course! Latieana, do you realize how much prettier you’ve become?”

“Me?”

“Yes! Ah, no—I don’t mean you weren’t pretty before. Right now, you’re stunningly beautiful.”

Trying to recover from his slip, Jenald overacted, waving both hands above his head like he was mimicking stars while continuing his praise.

“You were pretty then, and you’re pretty now. But now… how should I say it? Your aura’s different? You’re glowing? Anyway, you’re incredibly beautiful.”

It didn’t seem like a lie.

Jenald’s mouth stretched wide in a grin, and his gaze toward me carried something I hadn’t seen before.

If the old Jenald had seen me merely as a kind girl, the current Jenald’s eyes… were unmistakably looking at me as a woman.

Yet, I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion.

Suddenly, Smith’s words flickered through my mind.

‘You’re so pretty when you smile.’

And Hillstain Mathias’s remark too.

‘Prettier than I thought. You really are pretty.’

Even Jenald’s two friends had clearly called me pretty.

What’s going on? Am I actually pretty? Edan said I was ugly.

No. No. As Edan’s mocking face popped into my head, I immediately shook my head side to side.

Get a grip. This reunion with Jenald is enough already.

“But weren’t you supposed to come next week? You came early?”

Jenald, naturally pulling me toward a park bench, curved his eyes into crescent moons.

“Hey, Jenald. Actually, the reason I came to see you today is….”

At that moment—

“Hey! Jenald Johan!”

A shrill, ear-splitting voice rang out.

Jenald and I turned our heads simultaneously. A woman wearing a white apron glared at us, lips pressed tight, breathing angrily. Jenald, startled, leapt to his feet—his hands trembling, his face turning deathly pale.

“Jenald? Do you know her?”

“C-crazy.”

“What? What’s wrong?”

I stood up and moved to his side to check his expression. Jenald’s face had gone white—as if he’d committed some catastrophic mistake that shattered his world.

“Latieana. R-run. Hurry!”

“What? Wait—!”

“M-meet me at the inn! I’ll come by evening! Got it? Stay there!”

Whispering urgently, Jenald shoved me with all his strength backward off the bench.

I tumbled over. From my overturned view, I saw a perfectly clear, cloudless sky.

Good grief. Is this real? My fiancé, whom I haven’t seen in months, just pushed me. I’ve never been pushed like this in my entire life.

…What kind of disaster is this?

“That hurts….”

I winced, rubbing my sore hip with my palm to ease the pain.

Then, from afar, the clock tower chimed. Dong-dong-dong—three times.

I snapped back to my senses and sprang up from the ground.

“No!”

I whipped my head around—Jenald and the woman were already sprinting far away.

“Jenald! Wait! Let’s go together!”

It was already three o’clock! I had no time to waste. I hurriedly chased after them.

Edan hadn’t specified when I must return, but knowing his temperament, he wouldn’t wait more than a day.

I absolutely must leave today. This might be my last chance.

‘Break off the engagement and come back.’

Though he’d smiled, Edan had said that with terrifying eyes. If I don’t leave the Empire immediately, Jenald might really be crushed to death by Edan.

In every way, I was truly out of time.

“Huff… huff…”

But after running only a short distance, I halted, panting heavily.

The two had vanished completely from sight before I could properly chase them.

I placed a hand on my forehead and scanned my surroundings.

The capital’s complex, unfamiliar streets—so different from the eastern countryside—gave me no clue where Jenald might have gone.

“This can’t be happening….”

At that moment—

My wandering, lost gaze landed on a very large, wide brown building.

It was the city hall, flying the Empire’s grand flag.