Side Story 04
Watching Sia’s clear eyes sparkle as she radiated her feelings so openly, I found myself getting jealous of a man whose face I hadn’t even seen.
Of course, Sia probably liked me more—but she’d never looked at me with eyes like that.
“Then before we go meet him, how about we do a little background check?”
“A background check?”
“Yeah. Where does that guy live?”
“Um… I don’t really know that much.”
“Ah, too fast? Then what about his looks? Is he handsome?”
“Well, to my eyes…”
She trailed off. That pretty much meant he looked handsome to her.
“So what does he look like?”
“Hmm, first of all, he’s neat-looking, no excess anywhere. His hair is straw-colored, and somehow it really sticks up like actual straw!”
…What? Hair sticking up like straw, yet neat-looking? I couldn’t picture it at all.
Still, I swallowed my confusion and listened carefully.
“And his eyes are light green, like grass growing in a meadow. He has thick double eyelids. His mouth is big, so when he smiles, dimples form—and that’s really charming!”
“…I see. What about his height?”
“About the same as Jairus, I think?”
That was the most objective answer she’d given so far. He was tall—so that box was checked.
“His name?”
“……”
Sia’s previously smooth answers came to an abrupt stop. She frowned and pressed her lips together, as if she really didn’t want to answer.
Had I asked something I shouldn’t have?
I spoke carefully, trying to soothe her.
“Sia… is it because his name is so bad you can’t say it? It’s okay. A name isn’t that important.”
“…It’s not that.”
“Then?”
“…I…”
“Huh? What did you say?”
She mumbled too quietly to hear, so I asked again. This time, Sia looked up at me with teary eyes.
“…I don’t know his name.”
That answer was more than enough to shock me.
If she didn’t know his name, then chances were high that they weren’t even acquainted.
Praying my suspicion was wrong, I asked,
“…You’ve talked to him before, right?”
“No…”
So my fears weren’t unfounded.
If she didn’t know his name and had never even spoken to him… didn’t that mean they were complete strangers?
Had Sia fallen in love at first sight with someone she’d only seen from afar? Without knowing what kind of person he was?
This was dangerous. As her friend, I couldn’t let Sia keep liking a man whose character—good or bad—we knew nothing about.
“Sia, you at least remember where you saw him, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s go! Let’s go settle this once and for all!”
Sia blinked her big eyes a couple of times, then shook her head vigorously and stood up.
Only then did a smile bloom across her face, color returning to her cheeks. Looks like her poor complexion really had been lovesickness.
By the time Sia and I arrived in the capital, it was already evening.
I wanted to find the man right away, but going at this hour would be rude. A bad first impression wouldn’t help Sia at all.
Since sleeping on the street wasn’t an option, we chose a suitable inn. On the way, we bought two pitch-black robes—long enough to cover us from head to toe.
“Sen, what are these for?”
“To hide our identities.”
With the robes and hoods on, only our noses and mouths would barely be visible.
Honestly, I was the one who really needed to stay hidden. Rumors about the former empress and me were still circulating in the capital, and plenty of people probably recognized my face.
Fully prepared, we went to sleep. Neither of us seemed to fall asleep easily—our hearts were racing.
At dawn, we quickly got ready, ate the inn’s breakfast, and headed toward the busy district.
As expected of the capital, even in the morning the streets connecting the market were packed with people.
So more people live here than I imagined…
It was fascinating. I’d never seen this many humans gathered in one place.
If Sia hadn’t been guiding me by the hand, I probably would’ve gotten lost just watching the crowds.
After walking for quite some time, Sia suddenly stopped.
“…Huh?”
Her voice sounded strange—full of confusion.
“What’s wrong?”
“He’s not here…”
She pointed straight ahead. When I looked, I saw a fruit shop.
Just as I was about to ask what was missing, her earlier words came back to me.
“I saw him peeling fruit for a child.”
So the man worked at a fruit shop.
But Sia had just said she couldn’t see him. Looking closer, the shop was closed.
I took Sia’s hand and stepped closer. There was no sign indicating a day off.
If he’s the owner, I guess he could rest whenever he wants.
I glanced at Sia. Disappointment was written all over her face. I wanted to do something for her—this time, I really wanted to help.
“Sia, let’s look for him.”
“How? We don’t know his name or where he lives…”
“It’s simple. We ask the people around here.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. Trust me!”
I puffed out my chest, trying to sound confident.
But—
“Well… I’m not sure who you’re talking about.”
Why did everyone say they didn’t know him?
The rice cake shop owner next door, the clothing store clerk, the shoe repairman—none of them recognized him.
This didn’t make sense.
As my doubts grew, Sia whispered softly,
“Sen… I think they’re wary because of our robes.”
“The robes?”
I looked down at myself. A completely black robe, hiding everything underneath. Sia was dressed the same. And our faces were covered too.
“Ah—”
I let out a short groan as it finally clicked.
Who would casually give information about an acquaintance to suspicious figures dressed head to toe in black in broad daylight?
I pressed my fingers to my forehead, cursing my ridiculous mistake.
Taking off the hoods and asking again feels awkward…
At this point, there was only one option left: search on foot.
Considering how confidently I’d reassured Sia earlier, the outcome was pretty embarrassing—and I felt bad.
“Sen, I’m getting tired of asking people. How about we just look around instead?”
Sia offered another idea at just the right moment.
She really could read my thoughts just from my expression. Pushing aside my embarrassment, I seized the opportunity.
“Good idea! He can’t be far from the shop he works at!”
Sia smiled and nodded. I grinned back and took the lead.
Then a thought struck me.
Wait. We don’t need to search blindly. Our sense of smell is better than humans’. If we knew his scent—
I stopped abruptly and turned to face her.
Sia tilted her head slightly, puzzled.
“Sia, do you know his scent?”
“Scent? Why?”
“If you do, we can track him with our noses!”
“Ah!”
Her face brightened as she clapped—then immediately fell.
“Sorry… I was too far away to smell him.”
“Hey, no need to apologize. It’s fine.”
I patted her back gently.
“Instead of feeling down, let’s go find the prince!”
She nodded with renewed determination.
Linking arms with her, I walked the streets thoroughly, checking every alley.
Thirty minutes. One hour. Two hours.
Eventually, fanning myself, I collapsed onto the grass beneath a shady tree.
If Joshua or Rita saw me, they’d probably freak out and drag me away—but I didn’t care right now.
I’m exhausted!
Sia stood beside me stiffly, disappointment clear on her face.
What should I do? I couldn’t think of a solution. The only answer was finding him—and we’d searched this hard already!
As I bit my lower lip, a scent reached me—water. Not the sea, but a river cutting through the capital.
It’d be more open than this crowded district, at least.
“Sia, let’s move.”
She nodded and followed.
Soon, a shallow-looking river and a bridge came into view. It seemed like a tourist spot, with places to sit and rest.
Relieved, I picked up the pace—when suddenly Sia’s footsteps stopped behind me.
“Sia?”
“……”
She stood frozen in the middle of the road. Her body was rigid, pupils fully dilated.
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“Th-there…”
She pointed somewhere, eyes unfocused.
Following her finger, I saw a man leaning against the bridge railing.
He was peeling a melon and handing slices to the children waiting in front of him.
“…Wait. A man. Fruit. Children…?”
My mouth fell open.
That man—the one we’d been desperately searching for—
Was Sia’s first love.
