Kiss the Stranger

Morning came, and when the steward knocked on my door, he was startled. He’d knocked and I swung it open, then he was startled again when he saw my face.
“Didn’t you sleep?”
He asked, and I gave a wry smile. I simply couldn’t sleep. I’d spent nearly the whole night wide-eyed, cried myself raw, and my face must have looked terrible. As if he’d guessed my state, the steward gave a bitter smile and said,

“Kamar would worry if he saw you.”
At that, I couldn’t help feeling a surge of excitement. Would he really? Would Kamar smile at me like before?
‘What is this face? Yohan, who did this to you?’

I laughed at the thought of Kamar exclaiming in horror, then the tears welled up again. I wished with all my heart it would happen.
I gathered my meager things and, holding Rikal, followed [N O V E L I G H T] the steward out of the inn. All the way to the palace in his carriage, my mind whirled between hope and despair.
After hours of travel, in the late afternoon at last the grand, gleaming palace came into view. The carriage slowed, and we stopped before its enormous open gates. The steward rolled down his window and showed his credentials to the guard.

“And the person beside you?”
The guard asked, and the steward answered casually,
“My assistant. It was hard to manage the research alone, so I recruited help.”
The guard leaned forward to examine me, frowned, and asked,

“Isn’t that child too young? How old are you? Doctor, we have laws here. Exploiting children is a problem.”
I hurried to answer,
“I—I’m an adult. Over twenty.”

The guard clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“At that frail state, how can you work? Even trainees need proper care. You’re bringing in a patient, not an assistant.”
“Haha…”

The steward forced a laugh and drove on. The guard let us pass. No sooner had he disappeared than the steward’s stern mask slipped, and he fumed.
“What am I supposed to do if you won’t eat, huh?”
“You’re right.”

I chimed in quickly. The steward shot me a stern glance.
“I’m telling you, Yohan, eat something. Don’t make me look suspicious too.”
“Okay… sorry.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for.”
Facing forward, he frowned.
“In any case, you must gain five kilos this month, understand? If you don’t promise, we’ll turn back.”

I started in surprise and nodded hurriedly.
“All right. I will. Yes.”
“Don’t just say it.”
“I won’t skip meals. I’ll eat it all.”

When I repeated the promise, his expression softened. Meanwhile we passed through the wide gardens and arrived at the palace entrance.
“All right, let’s get out.”
He parked the carriage in the designated spot. I stepped down after him, and the palace that had seemed distant now towered before me. Its immaculate white walls were built from huge stone grids; golden hemispheres connected walls to columns, and red roses climbed the pillars in delicate vines. A white marble fountain gushed endlessly, and the floors were polished marble throughout. In the inner courtyard, gilded everywhere, stood the skyscraper they called the world’s pinnacle. Staring up at the vast, majestic structure, the steward said,

“This is Rahimah Allah.”
The Palace of the Merciful God looked down upon us.
“This is my laboratory.”

He led me into his chamber, opened the door, and gestured me in. I dipped my head in thanks and entered. A soft exclamation escaped me.
“Far better than your room at the inn!”
“Thank you. But my quarters there are cozier.”

I couldn’t agree. His inn room was barely livable—constantly cluttered, spiders building webs, dishes piled up to rot. Here, however, everything was immaculately organized and I could see at a glance where everything belonged; there wasn’t even a stray pen. The books and papers on the shelves, the spotless desk—seeing the neat pencil holder made me marvel that the steward could live so cleanly. He scratched his head and said,
“I can’t concentrate—it’s too clean.”
“You should get used to this, Steward. I like it here much better.”

I nodded again, and his face still full of displeasure, he said,
“If Yohan prefers it.”
“Indeed.”

I said firmly. He took Rikal from me and set him on the floor.
“All right, Rikal can play here.”
“Yes.”

I remembered where I was and tensed. The steward turned and asked,
“You’re prepared?”
“…Yes.”

This time I hesitated. Suddenly I worried about my appearance. Should I at least wash my face?
“Um, Steward—Is this okay? We haven’t met in so long…”
He sized me up once, then fixed his gaze on my face.

“To me, you look the same as always.”
“Oh… right, I suppose.”
What difference would grooming make? He added,

“You always look good. Though you might not believe me.”
“I do. Thank you.”
His words comforted me. I forced a smile; he tapped my shoulder twice and returned it.

“Shall we go? Did you take the medicine?”
He meant the suppressant. I tensed and nodded,
“Yes.”

At last I was going to see him again. My heart pounded madly. Leaving Rikal in the lab, I followed him down the corridor, thoughts tangled in my head. What would Kamar think when he saw me? Would he say he loved me again? Or ignore me? What if he was just a look-alike? If he wasn’t Kamar, how long would I have to wait again?
Would I ever see him again….
My eyes burned with hot tears when the steward suddenly stopped. A guard blocked his path.

“Where are you going? Halt.”
In the guard’s cold tone, the steward replied as if unbothered,
“I came to see His Highness the Crown Prince. Is he in?”

My heart thudded. I waited for the next words, and the guard said,
“He’s not here now. Come back with permission next time. You didn’t promise a visit, did you?”
“Oh, that’s all right. It’s not urgent… We’ll come again.”

The steward stepped back but caught sight of me, then exclaimed and turned.
“This is my assistant, Yohan. I may send errands with him, so please let him pass then.”
The guard glanced at me and nodded shortly. I followed the steward’s retreating back and gave him a slight bow. The guard blinked without expression.

“Don’t be disappointed. It’s only the first day.”
The steward said. I answered softly,
“But I’ll see him soon, right?”

“Of course. You will.”
He answered readily. After a pause, I asked,
“Um, Steward, is this your first time seeing the prince? You’d never seen him before?”

“There was no opportunity. They seldom photograph royalty. The crown prince’s public appearance and speech are quite unprecedented. As God’s representative, they must keep the mystique.”
“I see…”
I murmured. Anxiety gripped me. Would I really meet him?

Suddenly my vision blurred, and I smelled it—familiar. I stopped in surprise, breath caught. Longing and sorrow pierced my chest. It wasn’t an illusion. The faint, sweet scent was undeniably his.
Kamar.
“Yohan?”

The steward called from behind, but I was already running. The scent grew stronger. It had to be him. I dashed down the broad corridor, into the inner garden, chasing that fragrance until I was breathless. Ahead, I saw lines of people. A man stepped from a sleek black carriage. The sweet scent filled the air and I knew.
“Kamar…!”
It had to be—my Kamar. His towering height, his broad chest, the startled look as he turned to me—

He could be no one else.
Tears blurred my vision, and I stretched both hands toward him with all my strength.