– Miss Noah?

“Oh, I got it.”

– ‘Oh, I got it’? Is this a prank call to the Bureau of Investigation Security? This better be an emergency. 

As soon as the call connected, Park Noah was deafened by Kyle Leonard’s nagging. She interrupted his speech and spoke with a hoarse voice, “I’m sick.”

– Yeah?

A laugh resounded from the handset. Dumbfounded, Park Noah scoffed, the image of Kyle Leonard looking at her with pity flashing across her mind. 

“I think I caught a cold. My muscles are sore and my shoulder is bruised. It’s just, you know, it’s not like, it’s not a pain that can be alleviated with physical exercises.

– It’s not a bad idea to be slightly ill to develop your immune system. Muscle pain is a natural result because you haven’t moved your body for so long.

Kyle Leonard replied firmly, unfazed by her sluggish grumbling. And after about three seconds of silence, he added. 

– Do you have a headache? Or does your throat hurt? What do you mean your shoulder is bruised?

“Since you’re worried, could you please leave out the nagging?”

– Don’t be rude. So, where are you now? Is the train refueling? Then, is it Central Cezanne?

“Yes, I got off for a minute to wash up. I’m going to get on the train again soon, but there was a phone booth, so I called just in case. Sir, when are you coming?”

– I can’t go right now. Don’t forget to eat three meals regularly and always lock the room door. Go to the hospital as soon as you get off at Battuanu after sleeping like a dead man.

“Why can’t you come right now? The next train will be in four hours.”

– Lunazel and Edman rail networks are on high alert. They say all trains will be temporarily suspended until the railways are cleared from magic.

“What? Uh… When will it be resolved?”

All of a sudden, she saw a blond snooping around the window of the phone booth, his eyes narrowed. 

Are you saying I have to endure this man’s company until Kyle arrives?

– I don’t know. Yesterday’s attack revealed that Laurent was involved, and we’re not making any hasty requests to the Magic Department for their cooperation.

Before responding, Park Noah opened the door of the booth and grouched at the restless man wandering around.

“I’m on an important phone call, could you get out of here?”

“You said you don’t remember, what’s the point?”

“So what? By the way, how did you get here when Muell locked you up in the train?”

– …the Minister of Magic just left. Miss Noah? Can you hear me?

Kyle Leonard asked sharply over the receiver. She then hastily returned the handset to her ear and answered, “Yes, I’m listening.”

– Who are you talking to now? Is everything all right?

“It’s just a passerby. So, you can’t come right now?” 

– Yes. So as soon as you get to Battuanu, you should go to the hospital first. What kind of unusual cold did you catch on this warm spring day? I’ll have to get some nutritional supplements.

Park Noah grimaced upon recalling the unfortunate incident, which led to her cold, and decided it was better to hide it from Kyle Leonard lest she be branded as an irrevocably pathetic woman.

– If nothing happens after you arrive in Battuanu, please go up to the capital first. Don’t worry, Lenia Valtalere is being watched by the security department.

“Okay, sir. I’d love to see you, so come here soon.”

– Yes… What?

“Uh, the phone time is up. I’m hanging up now.”

The phone beeped exactly after she finished speaking. She placed the handset back in place and left the phone booth. The blond, who had been dawdling in front of the booth a little while ago, had disappeared.

Then, a loud shout from the operator resounded from a distance, announcing the train’s departure.  Park Noah hastened her steps and boarded the train. When she arrived in their room, she was greeted by a blond man comfortably sitting on the couch. 

*

“Honestly. You were my stalker, weren’t you? I’ve told you twenty times to get out of here. There’s no reason to keep hanging around with you.”

The scuffle between the two ended with Park Noah giving up. More precisely, it was more accurate that she was barely in the right condition to prevent whatever scheme he was planning.  

Hence, she confronted the man head on. Yet the man easily refuted her accusations while wearing a soft smile on his lips.

“I don’t think I’m stalking, I’m only following my lover because I’m worried. Just because you don’t remember doesn’t mean we’re not together.”

“I don’t know why I’m dating someone who has only a face to boast.”

In contrast, she thought in her mind that Eleonora Asil had been incredibly brilliant. 

“Adrian.” The man spoke all of a sudden, transfixed by his lover’s face. 

“…What?”

“Adrian. That’s my name. You kept calling me ‘you’.” 

Adrian. It was a name that perfectly complemented his bright, gentle look. Park Noah uttered the name once.

“Adrian.”

“…..”

“Adrian. Your name is uselessly pretty.” 

Park Noah expected a smug retort, along with a smirk, from the man, but she was surprised to hear no response.