Vol 1 Chapter 19: Return to the Capital — Clara, Prince Elvyn, and the Shadows of the Past That Linger

After eight days in the peaceful Rose Valley, Clara set foot in the capital once more. But as soon as she passed through its main gates, Clara felt as if she had returned to a different place—not because the city had changed, but because she had changed.

—

The Capital and the Scent of the Old...

Clara took a deep breath as her horse traversed the busy cobblestone streets of the capital. The smell of the market, the clanking metal of the armory, the sounds of children running... all of it felt familiar, yet foreign after the silence of the valley and Caelan's innocent laughter.

"Too noisy," she murmured.

And somehow, for the first time, the noise made her chest feel empty.

—

Official Report to Prince Elvyn...

Upon arriving at the Rose Guard headquarters, Clara was immediately summoned to meet Prince Elvyn, who was now the High Advisor to the Stabilizing Council.

The room was cool and spacious, with a large window facing the White Palace.

Elvyn stood with his back to her, gazing out the window at the capital.

“Clara,” Elvyn greeted without turning around. “You’re back. Tell me.”

Clara lowered the report letter. But before she spoke, Elvyn turned around.

His eyes were blue. Firm, rational, and intelligent. But behind that… Clara saw something empty.

—

Conversation of Two Wounded Huggers...

“The fugitive was not found,” Clara explained, “Most likely dead… eaten by wild animals in the forest. There were no traces left.”

Elvyn nodded slowly, unsuspecting.

“Is that so… No signs of law violations by local residents?”

Clara shook her head. “The Rose Valley is too peaceful to be violated.”

They were silent for a moment.

Then Elvyn asked—in a slightly different, more personal tone:

“Does that place… feel foreign to you, Clara?”

Clara was a little stunned. “No. It’s too comfortable. Too… honest.”

Elvyn turned his gaze back to the window.

“I once dreamed about a place like that. But strangely… every time I try to remember the details, all that remains is the scent of roses and the sound of a woman’s laughter.”

Clara stared at Elvyn’s back. And her heart tightened.

He really didn’t remember who Marry was. But his soul was still searching for the shadow of his older sister.

—

Unspoken Dialogue…

Clara almost wanted to speak. About who Marry really was. About Caelan. About the wounds that hadn’t healed.

But she remembered Marry’s request.

“Let him live in peace. Let me be a past that doesn’t need to be brought up.”

So all that came out of Clara’s mouth was one sentence:

“If you remember something later, Prince… don’t ignore the feelings that arise. Because maybe it’s the truth that you haven’t had the chance to save.”

Elvyn just kept quiet, then nodded. “Thank you, Clara.”

—

Night and Reflection…

That night, Clara didn’t go back to the dormitory right away. She sat in the park in the city center, surrounded by fountains that reflected the light of the lamps.

She opened her notebook. On a blank page, she wrote:

“Among the blood and flowers, there is one soul that refuses to sink into darkness. I will not let that light go out. One day, the world will know who the ‘criminal’ who saved the world with her own blood is.”

She drew a small symbol in the bottom corner. Three rose petals: white, red, and black.

Clara stared at the sky of the capital—dark and full of false light. But far to the west, beyond the mountains and fog, she knew there was a purer place.

It had no golden palace.

But it had one mother, and one daughter… who had saved her soul unknowingly.

And now, Clara began to form a new intention.

She wanted to be not just a detective of justice… but a guardian of the truth that the world had forgotten.