The prince turned to Haru, his voice gentle as he asked about his well-being.
Haru responded with a warm smile, reaching into his bag and pulling out a piece of paper. With graceful strokes, he wrote:
"I am glad to see you as well, Your Highness."
The prince watched him for a moment before speaking again, his tone turning slightly serious.
"I wished to tell you something, Haru…"
Before he could continue, Commander Keifer suddenly rose from his seat.
"Oh—then I shall take my leave," he said casually.
The prince let out a soft laugh, shaking his head.
"My dear Commander, do you really think anything can be hidden from you? Even if you leave, you would simply make Haru tell you everything later. Am I right, Haru?"
Haru chuckled silently and nodded in agreement.
With an amused smile, Keifer sat back down in his chair.
"Haru," the prince began, his eyes gleaming with purpose, "we know you possess a rare talent for writing. That is why I wish for you to set everything else aside… and write a story about our kingdom."
He paused, his voice deepening.
"Write about our people… about us… and about our friendship. So that not only the people of this era, but those yet to come, will remember our kingdom."
Commander Keifer's face lit up with excitement.
"Yes, Haru! You must write about me as well—and about our friendship!" he added eagerly, before his expression shifted slightly. "Just… leave out Hani."
The prince laughed softly.
"Keifer, she has done so much for our kingdom. And besides, she is our friend too."
Keifer puffed his cheeks in mild annoyance before muttering,
"Fine… then at least write something nice about her."
"And I want you to write about my father as well… about the life of our king," the prince said softly.
Haru lowered his gaze and wrote upon the paper:
"My prince… but we do not know our king's life in such depth."
A shadow of sorrow passed over the prince's face. His voice grew quiet, almost fragile.
"My father… never had the time to truly live."
He paused, as if the memories themselves weighed heavily upon him."It was my maid who raised me since childhood. She used to tell me… that my father did not die from any illness."
His eyes dimmed, lost in the past.
"There was something else… something that troubled him from within."
The prince exhaled slowly.
"Every day, he would go to the library… travel to distant lands… read countless books, as though he were searching for something."
His voice faded into a whisper.
"…as if he was chasing an answer that forever remained just out of reach."
Keifer spoke up, his tone curious,
"And what about your mother… our queen?"
Before he could finish, the prince quickly interrupted, forcing a lightness into his voice,
"Oh—look, the food has arrived! Come, let us eat. I had your favorite dishes prepared."
For a brief moment, Keifer seemed surprised. Yet, there was a strange look in his eyes… as if he already knew the answer to the question he had asked.
Nevertheless, the three of them sat together and shared the meal in quiet silence.
Soon after, Keifer and Haru took their leave, walking away from the castle toward their homes.
After a while, Keifer broke the silence.
"So, Haru… when will you start writing that book?"
Haru pulled out his paper and wrote:"I will begin from tomorrow."
Keifer smiled, placing his hands behind his head as he walked.
"Then I'll come too. We'll write it together."
But then, with a slightly awkward grin, he added,
"Ah… Haru, forgive me. Tomorrow I promised some children in the village that I would train them."
Haru simply smiled—one of those quiet, understanding smiles that said it's alright without a single word.
And without hesitation, he turned and began walking toward his room, the silence around him carrying a calm yet unspoken depth.
Night had fallen over the entire Shikaza Kingdom, wrapping it in a calm, silvery silence.
Flowers glowed softly in the dark, their gentle light and fragrance spreading across the village and along the castle walls, as if the very land itself were alive with quiet beauty. Above, the moon bathed the castle in its pale radiance, enhancing its elegance and giving it an almost otherworldly charm.
Yet beyond that beauty lay the forest.
The jungle shimmered as well, its natural glow weaving through the trees… but something about it felt different. Beneath its enchanting appearance hid secrets—whispers carried by the wind, faint and unknown.
And those sounds… those unseen murmurs… made the forest feel less like a place of wonder…
…and more like something hauntingly alive.
"Come on, let us practice ourselves…"
"Hey, wait—like this? Not like that!"
"I'm going to fall!"
"What are you doing?"
"And what's all that noise coming from outside?" Keifer called out.
A sharp beam of light struck his eyes.
"Ah… morning already…?"
"I slept this long?"
"Hurry up, get dressed and let's go!"
Keifer rushed downstairs, his steps firm and confident—just as always.
"Hello, children," he greeted them in his usual strong, composed tone.
"Commander, you are late! We've been waiting for you," the children complained.
Keifer gave a light, confident smile.
"Oh, my dear children… Do you have any idea? I spent the entire night searching for new methods to train you all."
A voice echoed from behind them, calm yet teasing, breaking through the moment—
"Searching for new training methods… or sleeping soundly after selling your horse, hmm? Tell me, Keifer…"
"Suminnn…" Keifer thought to himself, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"You'll never stop… will you?"
"Alright, children… now let me see how your commander trains you," Captain Sumin said with a calm smile. "Come on, show me."
He stepped aside and took a seat, watching quietly from a distance.
Commander Keifer stood before the group, guiding them through the training with steady authority, his voice strong and confident as he instructed each move.
As he observed, Captain Sumin's expression softened. Watching Keifer, he thought to himself,
"Keifer… you are not just a commander. You are a truly good friend to us all."