The palace corridor was unusually quiet that night.
John stood near the balcony while cold wind entered through the open windows.
His eyes stayed fixed on the dark sky, but his mind was somewhere else entirely.
The birthday party.
Even after several days, he still could not stop thinking about it.
In his previous life, he never paid attention to the details that night.
He was too distracted by Elena.
Too blinded by his feelings for her.
But this time…
He remembered enough to know that something terrible would happen there.
A voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
“You’ve been standing there for almost an hour.”
John looked behind him and saw Nick walking toward him casually with his hands behind his head.
Nick stopped beside him before leaning against the wall.
“What are you thinking about so seriously?”
John stayed silent for a few seconds before finally speaking.
“Nick.”
“Hm?”
“I need you to investigate someone for me.”
Nick immediately looked suspicious.
“That already sounds troublesome.”
John ignored the comment.
“I want information about Princess Elena.”
Nick blinked once.
“…The princess?”
John nodded slowly.
“Who she talks to. Who stays close to her. Which nobles support her.” He paused slightly.
“Everything.”
For a moment, Nick simply stared at him.
Then suddenly-
He laughed.
John frowned slightly.
“What’s funny?”
Nick crossed his arms with a grin.
“So that’s what this is about.”
“What?”
“You’re interested in her.”
John’s expression immediately darkened.
“That’s not what this is.”
“Relax,” Nick laughed again.
“You don’t need to act serious about it.”
John quietly looked away.
If only Nick knew the truth.
Nick continued speaking carelessly.
“I mean, she’s beautiful, smart, elegant…” He smirked slightly.
“Honestly, I expected you to fall for her faster.”
John’s jaw tightened slightly.
“You’re misunderstanding.”
Nick raised an eyebrow.
“Then why investigate her?”
Because she destroyed everything.
Because I watched my kingdom burn while standing beside her.
Because I died regretting ever trusting her.
But John could not say any of those words.
Instead, he calmly answered:
“I just want to be careful.”
Nick looked confused.
“Careful of what exactly?”
John stayed silent again.
The cold wind moved quietly between them.
Finally, Nick sighed.
“You’ve seriously changed lately.”
John gave a faint smile.
“People change.”
“No,” Nick replied while looking directly at him.
“Not this much.”
For a brief moment, John felt uneasy.
Nick was starting to notice.
And if he noticed…
Others eventually would too.
Nick suddenly pushed himself away from the wall.
“Fine. I’ll investigate her for you.”
John looked back at him.
“But,” Nick added with a smirk, “if this turns out to be some ridiculous love story, I’m never letting you live it down.”
John almost laughed at the irony of those words.
Love.
If only things were that simple.
Nick slowly walked away while waving casually.
“I’ll bring you whatever information I can find.”
John watched him leave before turning back toward the night sky again.
His expression slowly became colder.
Because deep inside-
He already knew this in vestigation would lead him toward something far darker than simple politics.