Near noon, Yihan asked the plump uncle for leave and returned home.

He found Lia in the garden. The girl lay on the soft grass, gazing absently at the sky. Her eyes widened in surprise at his return—but joy quickly outshone it.

She scrambled up and hurried to him, clasping his hand. Her smile bloomed like spring sunshine in March.

Seeing her innocent expression, Yihan recalled Carola’s blunt warning. His heart softened. In that moment, he made his decision.

He ruffled Lia’s silky hair and smiled. "Let’s start packing."

The witch froze in shock. Then, radiant joy flooded her face. She stared at Yihan’s sudden change of heart, her eyes shimmering with gratitude and delight. "You’ll come with me?"

"Of course. I can’t let you go alone."

"Why the sudden change? You refused so stubbornly before."

Yihan’s expression grew uneasy. He hedged, "Leaving now... is more convenient."

*So that’s it.* Lia’s eyes narrowed. A cold chuckle echoed behind her. Carola must have tracked her down. They’d likely argued—and poorly, judging by Yihan’s choice.

That woman truly was relentless. She was still lurking in Windmill Town, perhaps watching them even now.

But it didn’t matter. Even if they left openly, the hunters wouldn’t follow. And if they did? The terrain near Waterfall Valley was treacherous. Beyond a hundred meters, they’d vanish. No one would ever find them again.

"Let’s go pack," Lia said, deliberately gentle. She held his hand like a bride anticipating her honeymoon, her steps light and quick, determined to ease his wariness.

Before she could pull him inside, Yihan gently turned her hand to hold it. Meeting her puzzled gaze, he asked slowly, "Do you have a safe place in mind?"

"Yes. Waterfall Valley. Not far from here—a secluded mountain haven."

"Elderly nobles retire there after leaving their families. Failed merchants hide from debts. Anyone wishing to vanish chooses it... if they accept never returning. The terrain is complex."

A flicker of unease crossed Yihan’s face. "I don’t plan to stay forever—"

"Don’t worry. Maps exist. Once the storm passes, we’ll return. Maybe a year or two. Can you endure that solitude?" She tightened her grip, fearing refusal.

"How did you learn of it?"

"While crossing the continent, I gathered rumors. I’d dreamed of taking you there after finding you... but you already had a home, a garden." She gave a soft laugh. "If not for those Witch Hunters hounding me, I’d never have mentioned it."

Seeing his hesitation, Lia sighed. She pressed close, her voice honeyed. "What are you afraid of? Would I harm you? Five years ago, we made promises. I remember them. Have you forgotten?"

Her words struck like a stone in still water, rippling through his calm.

Yihan met her tender gaze. Memories surged—five years past, under skies forever choked with snow. He’d made those vows. Only she had kept them.

From their rainy-night meeting to now, Lia clung to that promise. It sounded like coercion, yet Yihan knew *he* had broken faith. He’d abandoned her to frozen darkness, leaving her alone through a thousand lonely nights. If this was penance, he’d accept it.

He closed his eyes. "I haven’t forgotten."

A triumphant smile flashed across Lia’s lips—then vanished.

"Let’s go."

Waterfall Valley had shops for supplies. They packed lightly: spare clothes, food, and Yihan’s savings.

They visited the town bakery to bid farewell to the plump uncle. Mistaking the lovely Lia for Yihan’s bride, he assumed they were honeymooning. He heartily wished them well, promising Yihan his job upon return.

Since Waterfall Valley lay far from Windmill Town, Yihan hired a long-distance carriage. With no stops, they’d arrive by dusk. Inside, Lia sat poised in a simple dress and straw hat, back straight, knees together. She waited serenely for Yihan, greeting him with a tranquil, captivating smile—a noble lady awaiting her journey.

Yihan felt a strange dissonance. This wasn’t the shy, scruffy girl he remembered. Her grace, her composure—they whispered: *This isn’t the Lia you knew.* An uncanny unreality clung to her.

At her urging, Yihan tossed the last bag onto the carriage and leapt in after her. The driver cracked his whip. Wheels clattered as they rolled out of town, toward the unknown.

Noon sun blazed through the curtains. Yihan flung them open, welcoming the fresh air. Lia immediately nestled against his shoulder, her body curving into his side. Her thick lashes fluttered. A smile of triumph played on her crimson lips. *Joy thrummed in her chest.*

*Finally, the first step of the plan was taken~*

No one would disturb them now. At Waterfall Valley, they’d vanish. It wasn’t just a refuge—it was the perfect place for someone to disappear forever.

*But I’d never be so cruel.*

*I only want you to feel what I felt. Trapped in darkness. Alone. With no one to answer your cries for help.*

*Don’t worry. I won’t abandon you like you did me. I’ll stay outside your prison. Let you sense my presence. My emotions...*

*All these five years, I wondered: If I hadn’t awakened, hadn’t sought you out... would you have forgotten me completely?*

*So to carve myself into your heart—to make you remember me always—I must leave you... an unforgettable mark.*