It had been only a few minutes since we left the inn. I covered my face with a shawl, afraid someone might recognize me. After all, Alex had reported me missing—I thought he might have even pasted my portrait everywhere.

But when I finally saw the notice on the wall, my steps slowed.

It said Missing—

yet there was no image?

“Huh?” I muttered to myself. “He has known me since we were children, and he still cannot even paste my face?”

“How are we even supposed to know what the king’s consort looks like if there is no portrait?” a woman nearby complained.

“I totally agree with you,” I replied instinctively—

then froze.

“Um… who are you?” the woman asked, staring at me.

“Ah—haha… me? I’m… no one!" I said hurriedly, embarrassment burning my cheeks.

“What?” she said, confused.

Before I could worsen it further, Alan gently but firmly pulled me away from the crowd.

“My lady,” he said quietly, “why would you go there? You will draw attention.”

“Attention?” I scoffed softly. “Those people do not even know how I look.”

We continued our journey in silence.

After nearly an hour, the palace gates finally stood before us—tall, familiar, suffocating. Guards stood alert at the entrance.

“Wait here, my lady,” Alan said. “I will speak with them.”

He approached the guards. The moment they realized who I was, the gates opened immediately.

We had barely walked a few steps inside when he stopped us.

“My lady, please wait here. I will inform His Majesty,” he said, hurrying inside.

Minutes passed.

Then Alex appeared.

I tightened my grip on the shawl. His face looked exactly the same as before,unchanged, calm, untouched. Not the face of a man who had lost his fiancée. Not the face of a man who loved.

At the inn, I had heard whispers that he was devastated.

But this gaze...cold and distant told another story.

“You finally came back,” he said with a sigh.

My lips parted, but no words came out.

Alan spoke for me.

“Your Majesty, the lady was taken by an assassin. I searched and also fought for her relentlessly, and here she is.”

Alex did not respond to Alan. Instead, he stepped closer to me and placed his hand on my forehead.

“Are you alright?” he asked. “You look pale.”

“Y-yes… I am fine,” I replied softly, then coughed. “Kgh!”

He nodded. “Still, you look weak. Lara, take her to her room. Have her freshen up. Call the doctor.”

And with that, he turned away.

Lara held my hand and guided me to my chamber.

“You look very pale, my lady,” she said, genuine concern softening her voice.

I noticed then—no other maid had ever looked at me that way.

“Lara,” I said quietly, “I have noticed… no one else but you takes care of me. My health, my clothes… everything.”

She hesitated, then spoke.

“His Majesty appointed me as your lady-in-waiting. The others refused. They said you came from a lower family… and they spread rumors about you being with other men.” She lowered her eyes. “I believed them too. That is why I was rude to you. But after spending time with you, I realized I was wrong. I am sorry, my lady.”

She removed my shawl and prepared the bath. I stayed silent.

Only after she dressed me and began fixing my hair did I speak.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

“Pardon?” she asked.

“Thank you… for staying with me.” I said smiling.

She paused for a moment, then continued quietly.

If not Alan…

at least I had found one person I could trust, maybe.

I lay down on the bed when a knock echoed.

Knock.

“It’s the doctor.”

“Come in,” Lara replied.

The doctor entered—alone.

“Where is His Majesty?” I asked.

“He said he had urgent matters to attend to,” the doctor replied. “So I came alone.”

I said nothing.

But inside, a single thought echoed bitterly—

How am I supposed to make him fall for me…

when he does not even wish to see me?