Thaddeus''s smile froze at the corners of his eyes as a vague pain welled up in his chest. The girl who, against all odds, had carried him back from the brink of death, the one who had suffered countless injuries for him and then vanished without a trace. He had never forgotten her and had tried everything in his power to find her. He wanted to thank her in person, to repay her for saving his life. But after leaving Country L, Paloma had disappeared like a raindrop into the ocean, leaving no trace behind. He had even begun to fear that she might no longer be among the living.


    "It''s not her."


    Gazing up at the star-filled night sky, Thaddeus''s eyes filled with a momentary pain before he quicklyposed himself and replied, "But she''s just like Paloma, brave and resolute. We''ve been through countless trials and tribtions together. I''vemitted myself to her in this life and the next. I love her deeply."


    "Brother, I know you. You appear calm and rational, but once you fall in love, you treat your beloved like a deity, without a second thought, giving your all."


    His friend sincerely remarked, "Your wife is very lucky!"


    "No, it''s me who''s lucky she doesn''t look down on me. In every way, I don''t deserve her."


    Thaddeus lowered his raven-ckshes, his handsome face flushed with modesty, "I wronged her first, and in every aspect, I''m not worthy of her."


    "Good heavens, you were the top of your ss at the military academy back home, the highest achiever in our unit! You''re not worthy of her? Then I must meet yourdy, to broaden my horizons!"


    His friend still felt a pang of regret for him, "Ah, it was but a brief encounter back then, and I never thought there would be no day of reunion. Brother, I truly feel sorry for you and Paloma."


    "There''s no regret. If it''s meant to be, bynd or by sea, we''ll meet again."


    Thaddeus''s lips curved slightly, his expression serene, "If we''re destined, we''ll meet again someday."


    "Ah, well said, let''s not force fate."


    His friend suddenly changed the subject, "You didn''t call me in the middle of the night just to catch up, did you?"


    Thaddeus, his jawline tense and lips pressed together, found it hard to speak.


    "Though it''s been years since we''ve been in touch, our bond endures. When you took that bullet for me on the battlefield, we became brothers in arms. So, whether it''s climbing mountains or diving into mes, I''m here for you, just say it!"


    "After you were discharged from the peacekeeping forces, you were treated in a veterans'' hospital for a while before joining the Royal Guard, correct?" "That''s right."


    "And you''re still working for the royals?"


    "This is myst year serving the royal family. Come spring, I''ll be transferred to National Security."


    Thaddeus''s gaze deepened, his thoughts racing. Helgen, the Royal Guard, National Security. This connection had indeede at a crucial moment.


    "While serving in the Royal Guard, did you ever hear of someone named Dorothy? A royal female guard who once served as the captain of the guard." "My word... how do you know her?!" His friend was utterly astonished. Thaddeus''s heart skipped a beat, gripping the railing tighter, "You know her?!" "First, tell me, what''s your rtionship with her? How do you know her?"


    After a moment of contemtion, Thaddeus spoke in a deep voice:


    "She was an old friend of my mother''s and had done us a great favor. This matter has weighed on my heart for many years, and I''ve been wanting to find her, to see the benefactor from those days again and fulfill my mother''sst wish."


    Perhaps it was because he had been influenced by his beloved, he who rarely lied now found falsehoods slipping out effortlessly. He framed it this way, taking all the responsibility upon himself because he knew well the significance of Evadne''s mom''s background. Any carelessness could bring unpredictable trouble to Evadne and the Ashbourne family. He had to be extremely cautious, not to act recklessly.


    "I see..."


    His friend paused, sighing with mixed emotions, "Dorothy, that woman is quite famous within the royal family. But the outside world knows nothing about her, and even within the royal household, her name is spoken with bated breath, shrouded in secrecy."


    Thaddeus''s brows furrowed, pressing for more, "Why is that?"


    "I''m currently in a transition period at work, so there are things I can still discuss. But once I join National Security, there will be many things I can''t speak of."


    "I understand, I do."


    "So, what I tell you tonight, you must keep to yourself. I''m sharing this with you because I trust you, and since you''re not from Helgen, it''s safe to tell you."