Chapter 43: Chapter 43

In truth, Theo had little intention of taking a vacation. Even during his days as the Captain of the 1st Division, he would often forgo his leave, spending his time instead in the barracks. His position may have changed, but his habits remained steadfast. Yet, he couldn’t ignore the words of his closest aide, Sion. It was clear that Sion’s suggestion wasn’t made lightly but after much consideration.

Moreover, Theo was fully aware of the rumors spreading among the troops about the "state of the Commander." Even he sometimes felt strange about himself, so how much more unsettling must it have been for his subordinates to observe him? To alleviate their concerns, even just slightly, Theo submitted a leave request.

Which is why he now found himself in Ermen, dressed casually instead of in uniform—a rare sight.

Originally, he had planned to spend his leave quietly at the mansion. However, Gwen, the head butler of the Redrick Ducal household, urged him to go out and get some fresh air. Gwen, knowing Theo’s habits well, had already foreseen that if left alone, the Commander would soon find himself buried in paperwork in the mansion's study, vacation or not.

“There’s nothing fun about coming here alone,” Theo muttered under his breath. On impulse, he had followed Sion’s recommendation, but now that he was here, he felt entirely out of his depth. Wandering aimlessly, with no plans and no one to accompany him, felt foreign—almost unthinkable.

Perhaps it was because he had grown up tethered to the ducal household, rarely stepping beyond its boundaries as a child. Later, he had entered the academy, known as a "prison without bars," where he was rigorously trained to be a soldier. Upon graduation, he enlisted immediately, and since then, he had raced through life without pause. Experiences like this—free time spent solely for his own enjoyment—were utterly alien to him.

‘Stay close to him and keep an eye on him.’

…Or so he thought. Yet, a single memory emerged from his mind—a day when he had shadowed Luke under orders, following him to the square without any specific purpose. Though his role required it, the memory was surprisingly pleasant in retrospect.

‘Well… isn’t this square one of the highlights of Heiner?’

The faint brown eyes that awkwardly gazed up at the fountain betrayed a mix of discomfort and wonder.

‘Look at the big guy next to me. That man’s a really high-ranking officer.’

Luke’s eyes had glimmered with a playful mischief as he calmed a child.

‘What’s with that face? I’ve never seen you make that expression before.’

The joy in Luke’s gaze had been unmistakable as he watched Theo react bitterly to the taste of a particularly dark chocolate.

“…”

Only now did Theo realize he had spent the entire day focused solely on Luke’s face and eyes. There was no other reason he could recall those moments and expressions with such vivid clarity.

“How odd.”

Theo ran a hand through his disheveled hair. Back at headquarters, he kept his hair tightly styled, exposing his forehead as part of his formal appearance. Now, with no need for formality, it fell freely, adding to his unkempt look.

Shaking off the memory, Theo took in his surroundings. Sion hadn’t made the recommendation lightly—Ermen felt entirely different from the palace-centered capital. The open landscape, the expansive sea, and the sight of ships entering and leaving the harbor brought an unexpected sense of ease.

As Theo stood by, a small cat trotted past, a fish clutched in its mouth. The scene looked as though it had leaped straight from the pages of a storybook. The cat cast Theo a fleeting glance before vanishing into the distance with its prize.

“Damn it, where’s that blasted cat gone now!”

A few minutes later, a man stomped past, clearly fuming. Judging by his attire, he worked in the fishing industry.

Theo followed the man’s gaze. It was obvious that the fish in the cat’s mouth had been stolen from this man’s stall.

“Maybe you should set up a deterrent,” Theo suggested calmly.

“What?”

The man stopped in his tracks, glaring at Theo, who handed him a silver coin without hesitation.

“Perhaps you could set aside scraps from the fish you prepare. That way, you’d avoid theft while also managing waste more efficiently.”

“Uh…”

The man took the coin, bewildered.

“Wait, why are you giving me this?”

“It’s payment for the fish the cat took.”

The man’s expression twisted oddly before he burst into laughter.

“Man, you see all kinds of strange folks these days.”

Theo raised an eyebrow, confused. He had only offered the coin to prevent the man from harming the cat in his frustration. He didn’t understand what was so amusing.

“What’s so funny?”

“A few days ago, there was another person just like you,” the man said, still chuckling. “Paid for the fish a cat took. Stood out enough that I remembered.”

Theo’s brow furrowed slightly.

“It’s rare to see such striking silver hair and pretty eyes on a young man. Now here’s another handsome one doing the same thing.”

The man departed with those words, leaving Theo deep in thought. Silver hair and striking eyes? The description immediately brought Luke’s face to mind.

Could he really be here?

“…What am I thinking?”

Theo shook his head and resumed walking. As the day neared noon, the streets grew busier, with people frequently glancing his way. His tall frame, broad shoulders, and striking features drew attention, whether he liked it or not.

“Hey, you there! Tall guy!”

One man, brimming with enthusiasm, called out to Theo from the front of a barbecue shop.

“You look like you’ve had a tough day. How about coming in for some barbecue?”

The scent wafting from the shop was undeniably tempting. Although Theo wasn’t particularly hungry, the shopkeeper’s persistence and the offer of an extra-large portion made it hard to refuse. He nodded and entered the shop, earning a wide grin from the staff.

“We’ve been getting all kinds of good-looking young folks here lately,” the shopkeeper commented as he showed Theo to a table.

Theo ordered something simple and waited. The atmosphere was pleasant, the decor unexpectedly charming. When the food arrived, he was surprised at the generous portions—the meat piled high on the plate.

Just as he began eating, he overheard a commotion at the entrance.

“I told you, that customer hasn’t returned since!”

“Well, what if he does? You said you’d cover the bill that day!”

“We never said that! It was that silver-haired guy! He tricked us all!”

Theo froze, his fork hovering mid-air. Silver-haired? Could it really be…

The shopkeeper brought over a glass of grape juice, likely an apology for the scene.

“Who was that man?” Theo asked, his voice calm but firm.

“Oh, just an outsider who joined some regulars at the shop a few days ago. There was an issue with the tab afterward.”

“And… was he silver-haired?”

“Yes. And his eyes… They were quite striking.”

Theo set down his fork with a faint clatter, an uneasy sensation rising in his chest. He could no longer deny it—the clues were too consistent to ignore.

“Do you know where he went?” Theo asked.

Surprised by his intensity, the shopkeeper hesitated. “I believe he mentioned staying at the Vaint Inn. He asked for a decent place to stay.”

Theo left the shop almost immediately, his steps quick and purposeful. He reached the Vaint Inn and inquired about Luke. The innkeeper confirmed it without hesitation.@@novelbin@@

“He stayed for just one night. Said he was heading to the harbor.”

Theo raced toward the harbor, his mind piecing together what he had learned. Luke had come here, paid for stolen fish, joined strangers for barbecue, and left without a trace.

At the harbor, Theo approached the ticket booth, desperate for answers.

“Do you have information on a silver-haired passenger who left recently?”

“I’m sorry, but we can’t disclose passenger details,” the staff replied, eyeing Theo suspiciously.

Theo instinctively reached for his identification, prepared to leverage his authority as Commander-in-Chief, but paused. Why had he come here? Why was he chasing Luke so impulsively?

“What am I doing?” he muttered under his breath, the weight of realization sinking in. This wasn’t like him. The logical, composed Theo was suddenly reckless, driven by something he couldn’t name.

“…Never mind. Thank you.”

As he left, the sound of a ship’s horn echoed through the harbor. Theo turned to watch the vessel cutting smoothly through the water, disappearing into the horizon. The vast ocean stretched endlessly before him, the ship forging ahead unimpeded.

“I need a drink,” he muttered.

The frustration and tension that had driven him here now sank deep into his chest, replaced by a thirst—one he couldn’t seem to quench.