“It’s been a while since I was in the outer castle’s underground storage.”

Despite being dust-covered, the man stood confidently, unbothered as he looked around. The first stop from the secret tunnel—the ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) outer castle's underground storage—was both familiar and subtly different from Yuder's memories of his past life.

Back then and now, it was equally devoid of people. But now he could sense workers moving around above them, and the room was packed with supplies: foodstuffs, daily necessities, even spare training equipment. As he gazed at the fully stocked storeroom, he mentally overlapped it with the bleak, empty space from his past.

This is how it should’ve been. What I saw then was the abnormality.

Of course, he hadn't been able to draw that conclusion at the time. Looking back, it simply meant he’d been extremely tense.

Yuder reached over and brushed the dust off Kishiar’s shoulders and hair. Being taller than most people had its drawbacks in places like this. But Kishiar, as if unconcerned, bowed his head gracefully and smiled.

“To be treated like this, I’m glad I grew so tall.”

“......”

They left the storeroom. As they ascended the steps, Yuder explained how he had found the second tunnel.

“According to the architectural plans, it looked like the secret tunnels stretched seamlessly from the outer to the inner castle. But when I got here, that wasn’t the case. Still, applying an old technique for deciphering encoded maps helped.”

In the days before magical devices were widespread, mapmakers would use subtle tricks and codes in their drawings so that enemies couldn’t easily read them if the maps were stolen.

The one who had taught him that method was, of course, Kishiar. Back then, Yuder hadn’t understood why he had to learn such an outdated practice—but after carrying out numerous assassinations under Emperor Kachian’s orders, he realized how invaluable it truly was.

And the first place where he’d ever applied that knowledge was right here—Peleta Castle.

Suppressing a trace of bitterness, Yuder kept walking. Avoiding the presence of others was second nature now, and before long they arrived at the inner castle. The entrance to the new second secret tunnel was near the gateway to the inner section.

The moment they stepped inside, Yuder felt a heavy pressure settle on his shoulders.

Yes. This was it. The place where he had run endlessly in his dreams.

“......”

“Yuder.”

Kishiar called his name. Yuder slowly opened his eyes and turned to face the man looking at him with a multitude of emotions in his eyes.

Though he’d smiled and asked casual questions on the way here, there was no way this entire journey had been “fun” for him. And the same was true for Yuder.

So he said clearly, to Kishiar—and to himself:

“I have no intention of turning back.”

Though he’d paused, reminded of old dreams, those memories no longer made him feel cold. And that was thanks to the man in front of him. He wanted Kishiar to know how much he had changed.

This declaration—this walk—was a kind of proof.

Yuder tightened his grip on the hand he held. Then, pulling Kishiar with him, he strode confidently up the tunnel’s steps.

He now walked the reverse of the path he had once sprinted through, searching for an exit in a dream.

Not even the darkness that a single flame couldn’t fully illuminate, nor the biting wind and cold seeping through the cracks, could stop him. The warmth of the living man by his side—his breath—was a far brighter beacon than any light.

And finally, after all that walking, they reached their destination.

In a place where it seemed there could be no door, Yuder stopped and stretched out his hand. The wall gave way under his touch, revealing a space just wide enough for a person to pass through.

Outside the tunnel was a corridor of the Peleta inner castle, and directly opposite was a single door.

A wooden door, engraved with an emblem—proof that this space could only be used by the Duke himself.

Yuder halted before it and turned to Kishiar.

“Everyone has a place they never want to return to. For me, it was this one.”

“......”

“But that’s no longer true. During my time here, I’ve come to understand more clearly than ever how different reality is from memory... or rather, how different it can be. And that’s because of you.”

The guards who’d offered him an outrageously grand welcome at the gate, with Kishiar clapping from behind.

Kishiar walking him through the village alleys, explaining fun stories about each little shop.

Kishiar using his own body as a footrest, as a blanket, to keep Yuder warm while watching the sea together.

He’d never said it aloud, but every action spoke clearly.

How could Yuder not realize that this man had been trying to ensure he would leave Peleta with only good memories?

Yuder’s voice firmed, and he said:

“So, I want to open this door again.”

“......”

“I want to see what’s inside. I want to be shown what this place was originally meant to be, and I want to hear what you did here.”

Was it his imagination, or were those red eyes trembling faintly?

Still, Yuder didn’t stop. He said the final words.

“Would you allow me to?”

Kishiar slowly turned his gaze. What he looked at was the closed door.

A soft breath slipped through his lips, and a complicated smile followed.

He didn’t speak for a long time. But then, at last, he looked back at Yuder and opened his mouth.

“Every time I see how strong you are, I’m ashamed of myself. It makes me realize how weak I’ve been, trapped inside a mind ruled by fear and worry.”

“I...”

Before Yuder could say anything, Kishiar pulled him into an embrace.

In that breath-stealing embrace, Yuder felt the man’s scent, his body heat, and slowly wrapped his arms around him in return, his eyes stinging with rising heat.

“You don’t need my permission. If you want to, you can do anything in this place.”

“......”

“And even if it did require permission... there’s no way I could deny you.”

The warmth left his arms. But even that no longer felt cold.

Yuder stepped toward the door and grasped the handle.

Creak...

The wooden door opened inward easily, revealing what lay within. Yuder looked into the space that appeared from the darkness.

The first thing he noticed was the scent of aged paper, deeply embedded over time.

A dormant magic-stone stove and a desk came into view.

Nothing had changed from his memory. The scene from countless dreams was laid out before him exactly.

Then, as if it were nothing, Kishiar stepped past him, reached into a container beside the stove, and tossed in a handful of magic stones. A burst of radiant, multicolored flames flared up, banishing the darkness instantly.

“This place had been closed off until I came here. It hadn’t been used in so long—Nathan said he’d never seen such a dusty room. It hadn’t been cleaned in over a hundred years, at least.”

His explanation began like a gentle melody. Kishiar strode forward and pulled open the curtains. Moonlight spilled in, illuminating the desk and floor.

“But after I cleaned it, it had this classic charm—and the view was good. Whenever I felt well enough, I used this room to work. As my condition worsened, I couldn’t come down as often... but I always liked it.”

Wherever he moved, the office changed like magic. Old lanterns reignited. A stopped clock began to tick once more. A teacup and kettle, neatly arranged on the desk, floated silently through the air and settled on the guest table.

Somewhere, he retrieved tea leaves and used a small magical device to boil water instantly. In no time, two porcelain cups filled with steaming tea were placed in front of them, fragrance rising in soft spirals.

“Whoever designed this room clearly knew beauty. I even took inspiration from it when decorating the Cavalry Commander’s office.”

Sitting across from him, Kishiar raised the corners of his lips into a smile. His lowered eyes curved gently, full of fondness—as if remembering a truly happy time.

“If you look closely, there are five things in this room that were replicated in the Commander’s office. They’re so small that no one ever noticed... but maybe you will. Now, will you sit and join me?”

Yuder looked at Kishiar, seated comfortably in front of the tea, and moved to join him. The fact that he was walking toward a seat simply to share a cup of tea offered by this man felt surreal.

So different from the moment before the assassination attempt in his past life.

Yuder sat down.

He raised the cup to his lips. The tea was something he knew well.

“...It’s the Empress’s tea.”

“Yes. Grown in her greenhouse. His Majesty drinks it almost exclusively in his office, and so do I. It drives away the cold and eases fatigue—very good for your health.”

Was it this same tea that Kishiar had offered me, on the eve of death?

He didn’t know. But for some reason, he felt as if he had received an answer.

Yuder savored the warmth of the tea as it spread through him like a soft haze.