Min-jae did not answer Gael's question out loud.
He reached instead for the small notebook tucked into the fold of his apron. His fingers moved quickly. He tore a page free, folded it once, and held it out.
Gael hesitated, then took it.
The writing was sparse, and Min-jae hoped Gael would understand most of it.
I am not who I appear to be.
I cannot speak here.
I am here for the Queen.
I need your silence.
Gael read it once. Then again.
His eyes widened, not with fear, but with recognition. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to Min-jae's face, searching it in a way no one else had. Something in his expression softened.
"It's really you," he murmured under his breath, too low for anyone else to hear.
Min-jae gave a slight nod.
Gael swallowed, clutching the paper a little tighter. "You came fast.." he said. "It's only been a few hours since I passed her message along."
