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Chapter : 24
Alex finished his usual patrol and was walking near the harbor with his colleagues. It was after work, and the streets were crowded with people heading home after a long day.
“Hey, look over there! Isn’t that Milena? That woman! She’s from Luikaron!”
One of his colleagues pointed. Alex’s heart sank. It really was Milena. Her blonde hair shimmered in the sunset.
But she wasn’t alone.
“And the guy next to her—that’s the Luikaron guy, right? Kaisa, I think.”
“That’s him. I heard he’s causing a stir in the navy. Hunting monsters isn’t easy.”
Alex stared at the two of them. Kaisa said something, and Milena’s face lit up with a bright smile.
“They seem really close, don’t they?”
“Yeah, totally like a couple. Didn’t they say they lived together?”
“Oh, right. But they just said they were roommates.”
A senior officer patted Alex on the shoulder.
“Alex, I think we’re mistaken. Those two are clearly a couple.”
“N-No way.”
Alex stammered, but everything he saw told him otherwise. Kaisa took the basket from Milena, and she looked up at him and said something. Every small gesture spoke volumes.
“If they weren’t a couple, they wouldn’t walk that close together.”
“Look at their expressions too. The way they look at each other is intense.”
Every word from his colleagues stabbed at Alex’s chest.
“Alex, you’re not seriously still believing what we said before, are you?”
Of course not.
Alex remembered the way Milena looked at him, what she had said to him, the expressions she showed. She clearly liked him. She had to.
He quickened his pace, brushing past the noisy colleagues, but his eyes stayed fixed on the two disappearing in the distance.
He canceled plans to go drinking with his colleagues after work and went home, collapsing onto his bed. His mind was filled with the image of Milena smiling brightly.
‘Just some outsider…’
He gritted his teeth. Alex had been the only one kind to Milena. She only got the job at the Caster Count’s house because of him.
He remembered the first time he saw her. Milena had come to check if there was a missing person report. That day, she was alone. Why did she even care about that man who always left her alone? Alex was much better.
Since that first visit, Milena had come to see him three times a week. Every time, they talked, and she smiled, thanking him.
‘She definitely liked me. Otherwise, why would she come so often?’
The senior officers had said the same thing: Milena was coming to see Alex. Every time he heard that, it made him happy. Milena, even as an outsider, was different. Polite, beautiful, and kind.
He clenched his fists. She said they were just roommates. She lived with him because she had no money.
‘Milena is definitely trapped with that guy.’
Alex stood up abruptly. He couldn’t give up. Milena might be deceived by that outsider.
‘I have to check for myself.’
From that day, Alex’s routine changed. He slightly adjusted his patrol route to linger near the Caster Count’s mansion. He wanted to figure out Milena’s comings and goings.
After a few days of watching, he noticed Milena mostly left work with Kaisa. Sometimes she was alone, but even then, Kaisa would be waiting near the mansion.
‘Why do they stick together like that?’
Was he spying? Trying to keep her from talking to other men? It was clear now—Milena must be in a terrible situation.
The next day, Alex intentionally loitered near the mansion early, to see Milena leave for work.
As expected, Milena appeared. But again, she wasn’t alone.
‘He never lets her be comfortable for even a moment.’
Alex muttered as he watched them. Kaisa said something at the gate, and Milena nodded. Then they each went their separate ways for work.
Alex quietly followed Milena, hoping he might get a chance to talk to her. Luckily, today was her day off—reward for staying on duty all night yesterday. Today, he could watch her the entire day.
He rubbed his hands together.
Even her back looked beautiful.
‘I need to make sure that guy doesn’t touch Milena.’
Alex muttered in frustration.
“Good work today, Milena.”
Lady Sophia greeted her. Milena smiled as usual and replied:
“No, you were gentle today, Lady Sophia.”
“Still, it must have been tiring. I heard Kaisa got his own residence and moved.”
“Yes, thanks to that, we moved.”
“That’s good. It must have been hard in such a small place.”
Milena exchanged small greetings with Lady Sophia and left the mansion. Today, Kaisa had evening training, so Milena went home alone. Her steps were light. She planned to organize her things before moving this weekend.
Though there wasn’t much, the belongings had been prepared by them since coming to Cyern. There was a little sentiment attached.
Milena walked unaware of anything. She had never trained before and wasn’t sensitive enough to notice someone shadowing her.
Alex followed her at a safe distance, observing her buying bread at the market.
When Milena arrived home, Alex was hiding at the corner of a building, watching.
‘So this is her home.’
He sighed. She lived in such a shabby place. Alex himself lived in a decent mansion, thanks to his parents’ hard work. Glancing at Milena’s home, he muttered a small curse. How could she be made to live in a place like this!
Alex crunched on some leaves as he wandered the alley.
‘When will that guy show up?’
As the moon rose, Kaisa appeared. It was past 10 PM.
‘Leaving such a beautiful woman alone at this hour? Crazy.’
If it were Alex, he would have stayed with Milena all day and treated her well.
When Kaisa opened the door, Milena stepped outside. Her smiling face appeared.
“Late. Have you had dinner?”
“Yes, just some bread. I didn’t enter the kitchen, as promised with Kaisa.”
Alex heard their voices but didn’t understand—they spoke Luikaron. Milena and Kaisa went inside together.
Alex stood there for a long time. Watching the light coming from the windows, hearing occasional laughter.
He watched everything.
He rubbed his nose. To talk to Milena, he’d have to wait until Kaisa wasn’t around. From following her these past days, Alex knew Kaisa was sharp. If anyone got too close, he would immediately scan the surroundings.
If Alex wanted to save Milena, he would have to plan carefully.
Alex began watching her even more often—on the way to work, leaving work, and even on her days off. Whenever he could, he tracked her movements.
His colleagues noticed the change.
“Why do you look so tired these days?”
“You keep changing patrol routes. Something going on?”
Alex gave a vague excuse.
He believed a chance would come. Waiting for it, Alex followed Milena like a shadow today as well, not realizing just how far he was crossing the line.
