Julian remained silent for two seconds before turning to Nancy. "You decide."

Nancy looked at the sleeping Nate, then back at Xavier.

He stood there with messy hair, a red mark on his face, and trousers covered in drool, but his eyes were shining brightly.

"Alright," Nancy said. "It’s a good thing for him to have another godfather to love him."

Xavier froze for a second, then broke into a grin.

He smiled like a fool, reaching out to touch Nate’s face before pulling back halfway, afraid of waking him.

"I’ll buy him a longevity lock another day," Xavier said, his voice considerably lighter. "A gold one."

Julian glanced at him, said nothing, and turned back into the kitchen.

Nancy also carried the child back into the inner room.

Xavier stood in the living room, rubbing his hands together, unable to suppress the upward curve of his lips.

A godson.

That works.

It’s better than having nothing at all.

That year, life passed more peacefully than Xavier had imagined.

Aside from missions, his daily routine consisted of buying groceries and helping with the child. Nate became increasingly attached to him.

When Nancy cooked, he would help out—chopping vegetables, peeling garlic, or watching the stove.

Julian was a man of few words, but he became much more courteous toward him.

Occasionally, the two men would sit in the yard to smoke and chat.

They talked mostly about their missions.

After living like this for a long time, Xavier would sometimes fall into a daze, feeling as if this were truly his home.

But every time he saw Nancy serving Julian rice, putting food in his bowl, or straightening his collar, he would snap back to reality—this wasn't his.

He was just a godfather, a relative staying over to help.

But he was content.

At least he could see her every day.

At least she no longer avoided him.

At least Nate liked him.

The year passed quickly—so quickly that before Xavier could fully cherish it, it was over.

One evening, Julian returned home with a grim expression.

He closed the door tightly, pulled the curtains shut, and whispered, "Our identities are compromised."

Nancy, who was feeding Nate, paused her hand.

"Someone at the intelligence station was shadowed," Julian said. "By tomorrow morning at the latest, this place will no longer be safe."

He looked at Nancy, then at Xavier.

"The pickup car will be here soon. It only seats two. You two take Nate and leave first. I'll stay behind to clear the documents."

Nancy put down the bowl and stood up. "I'll stay. You take Nate and go."

"No." Julian’s tone was firm. "Nate can't be without his mother."

"Then he can be without his father?" Nancy’s voice was tight.

The two stared at each other, neither backing down.

Xavier, standing to the side, suddenly spoke up. "I'll stay."

Nancy turned to look at him.

Xavier looked at Julian, his tone calm and devoid of emotion.

"You take the mother and son and go. I’m a bachelor; I have no attachments. Leave the documents to me. I promise to clear them thoroughly."

Julian frowned. "This is my mission—"

"It’s my mission too," Xavier interrupted. "Don't argue. What time is the car coming?"

Julian looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, and finally said, "Ten minutes from now. At the back door."

Xavier nodded and pushed them toward the door.

As they reached the exit, Nancy suddenly called out, "Xavier."

He stopped but didn't look back.

"Be careful," Nancy said.

Xavier’s throat moved, but he didn't respond. He gently closed the door.

Ten minutes later, a black sedan pulled up silently at the back door.

Julian held Nate and pulled Nancy into the car.

As the car started, Nancy looked back through the window.

Xavier was standing at the second-floor window, a corner of the curtain lifted as if he were seeing them off.

Once the car turned the corner, the window vanished from sight.

The next morning, before dawn, at the train station.

Nancy held Nate and stood at the entrance of the waiting room, looking around.

They had agreed to meet Xavier here this morning to leave the Northern Front together by train.

People came and went on the platform. The morning light leaked through the glass roof, casting shadows across the floor.

Nancy held Nate, standing on her tiptoes to search the crowd.

In the distance, she saw a man in a grey coat walking from the other end of the platform.

He was tall and walking fast, his head down and the brim of his hat pulled very low.

It was Xavier.

Chapter 19

Nancy felt a wave of relief and was about to call out to him.

But at that exact moment, Xavier suddenly paused.

His gaze swept toward her, and the corner of his mouth twitched as if he were about to smile.

Then he saw something, and his expression changed drastically.

Nancy followed his gaze and looked behind her—

Two men in black jackets were entering the waiting room, their eyes searching everywhere.

Xavier lowered his head, pulled his hat lower, and turned to blend into the crowd.

He walked at a steady pace without looking back at Nancy even once.

Nancy opened her mouth but didn't make a sound.

She stood there holding Nate, watching the grey silhouette grow more distant until it finally disappeared at the end of the platform.

Julian returned after buying the tickets. Seeing her dazed, he asked, "What's wrong?"

Nancy withdrew her gaze and shook her head. "Nothing. Let's go."

As the train pulled away, she leaned against the window to look out.

The trees on both sides of the tracks receded rapidly. The distant platform grew smaller and smaller until it shrank into a point and vanished completely.

She looked down at the sleeping Nate. His mouth was slightly open, and his small hand gripped her collar.

Nancy gently patted her son's back, but her mind was filled with Xavier’s final look.

He had seen her.

He must have seen her.

But he turned and walked away without looking back.

He was afraid of implicating them.

Nancy closed her eyes and buried her face in Nate’s hair.

Three months later.

Inside the military compound, Nancy heard the news first from a comrade.

That afternoon, she had just returned to her office after training when a comrade who had just been evacuated from the North knocked and entered.

The comrade looked troubled and hesitated at the door before speaking.

"Nancy... have you heard about what happened in the North?"

Nancy, who was cleaning her gun, stopped her movements.

She looked up. "What happened?"

The comrade remained silent for two seconds, their voice dropping low. "Xavier... is gone."

Nancy’s fingers froze on the barrel of the gun, motionless.

She stared at the comrade’s face for two seconds, her lips moving as she asked, "How?"

The comrade said, "Comrade Xavier was arrested after his identity was exposed. He was detained for three months. The enemy used every means possible, but he never revealed any intelligence until the very end."

The comrade paused, their voice lowering further.

"Three days ago, he was executed. He did not betray a single comrade until his death."

The office fell silent for a long time.

Nancy sat in her chair, unmoving, still gripping the gun until her knuckles turned white.

She didn't cry, she didn't tremble, and her face showed no expression.

Watching her like this, the comrade felt uneasy, wanting to say something comforting but feeling that nothing was appropriate.

Finally, they could only whisper: "His body... they say it was reduced to ashes and scattered. Nothing was left."

Nancy nodded.

She placed the gun on the desk and stood up slowly.

Her movements were sluggish, as if every joint in her body were failing her.

When she reached the door, she suddenly stopped.

One hand gripped the doorframe. She stood there for a few seconds before opening the door and walking out.

The hallway was quiet. Sunlight shone through the window, making the concrete floor look bleached.

Step by step, she walked back to her dormitory, her feet feeling heavy as if she were treading on cotton.

Pushing the door open, she saw Nate sitting on the rug playing with blocks, with Julian sitting beside him.

"Mama—" The little fellow smiled when he saw her, reaching out for a hug.

Julian looked up at her, and his expression shifted slightly.

He knew where she had gone and guessed what she had heard.

Nancy walked over, knelt down, and took her son into her arms.

She held him very tightly.

Nate felt a bit uncomfortable from the tight grip; he struggled slightly and called out in a babyish voice, "Mama, hurts."

Nancy didn't let go.

She buried her face in her son’s small shoulder, which trembled slightly.

Julian sat beside her, saying nothing and not moving.

He simply reached out and gently pressed his hand against Nancy’s back.

It was a long time before Nancy released her grip and looked down at Nate’s face.

The little guy reached out to wipe the tears from her face, tilting his head as he said, "Mama’s crying."

Nancy gave a small smile, though another tear fell.

"Mama isn't crying," she said. "Mama just... has sand in her eyes."

Chapter 20

Two days later, a memorial service for Xavier was held in the military auditorium.

The hall was filled with a sea of people in black.

There were comrades he had fought alongside, leaders of various levels, and relatives who had traveled from his hometown.

Xavier’s parents were there as well.

The two elderly people, their hair entirely white, supported each other in the front row.

Nancy stood in the row for family and close associates, wearing her uniform with the brim of her hat pulled low.

Julian stood beside her, one hand supporting her arm.

Nate was in his arms; the little fellow didn't understand what was happening and looked around curiously.

The ceremony proceeded step by step.

The person reading the eulogy stood on the stage, their voice deep and solemn.

"...Comrade Xavier, born in 1958... In his final mission, he gave his life for his country, choosing death over surrender... He was twenty-seven years old..."

Twenty-seven.

Hearing this number, Nancy felt as if something had struck her heart violently.

He was only twenty-seven.

In the last life, he had lived to seventy-three. Though riddled with cancer, he had at least died of old age.

In this life, he died on the Northern Front at twenty-seven.

He didn't even leave behind a body.

Nancy lowered her eyes and gripped Julian’s hand tightly.

The ceremony continued.

Silence, a gun salute, and finally, the offering of flowers.

Nate didn't quite understand. Held by Nancy, he clutched a white chrysanthemum and tilted his head to look at the people around him.

Nancy carried him to the portrait.

The photo had been taken several years ago; he was in uniform, smiling boldly with light in his eyes.

Seeing the photo, Nate suddenly reached out and called out in a small voice, "Godfather."

He placed the flower on the stand. It was crooked, so he reached out to straighten it.

Nancy looked at the photo, her lips moving but no words coming out.

She leaned down and led Nate in a bow.

A breeze blew past, making the chrysanthemum petals sway gently.

She remembered that night when Xavier stood at the second-floor window, the corner of the curtain lifted.

That final look he gave was deep and tender.

Julian walked over, took Nate back into his arms, and gently wrapped his other arm around her shoulder.

"Let’s go," he said.

Nancy nodded and took one last look at the photo.

Then she turned and continued walking forward.

[THE END]