Chapter 23

‘This is serious. I want to quickly head back to my residence and engulf myself in that softness until I get sick of it.’

Lachlan let out a few deep breaths, clenching and releasing his hand multiple times. While Lachlan struggled to contain his thoughts, Brian picked something up.

It was a container with many colourful illustrations Brian lifted it up and brought it to his nose, smelling it. The strong scent of flowers wafted through the air. A merchant stared at Brian, furiously snapping his fingers as if to remember something.

“Ah, right. Come to think of it, we’ve heard that you’ve got a new wife, so this is a gift to you. Bring it to her.”

The merchant said before taking the barrel from his hand and turning it sideways. It was then, the container opened up. In it was a white cream which was the source of what caused the scent of flowers.

“That’s…”

“It’s a cosmetic that’s made for nobles in their home country. It’s made of a special subspecies of the Caran tree that is found in the desert, which have fragrant flowers that bloom only for a few days in a year. Moreover, I’ve heard that the oil from the trees is good at healing wounds, so I made that. Even if you don’t expect such a therapeutic effect, the scent alone seems to be worth it.”

He didn’t seem to be lying when he mentioned that this product was catered to nobles. Patterns that are slowly gaining popularity from those in the home country and are commonly found here were delicately painted on the container. Apparently, it was from a deal that had been struck with a nearby indigenous village with the merchants from Zebrem.

Brian smiled as he examined the item before him.

Lachlan instead stared at Brian before calling to the merchants.

“…Do you still have one more?”

“What?”

The merchants took turns to look at each other with wonder and curiosity filled eyes. Meanwhile, Lachlan’s eyes remained fixated on Brian’s container. Almost instantly, Brian took notice and recognised the type of gaze he had and placed the container into a drawer and closed it.

Lachlan clicked his tongue. Though his eyes still burned with a determined look.

***

The first thing Deertes did when she woke up checked her body. Fortunately, her pyjamas were exactly as she remembered from last night and she did not feel any unusual pain in her body.

‘Even so…’

Deertes’ hands moved about and examined her body. The moment she touched the back of her neck, the sensation Lachlan pressed his lips last night as if branding them flashed across her mind.

The feeling of being naked before him flooded her again and blood quickly rushed to her face. Embarrassed? Of course, she was. Who was once a lady of decency, had done the unthinkable. If the events of last night were to be spread by word of mouth…

Deertes’ hands tightly gripped the sheets. The feeling of fear was suffocating. A thought had popped up in her mind a while ago amidst her worrying. This is Saul. There are no Ramedes nobles here. No one will know that she is here.

Her throat tightened at that thought. She felt it was hard to breathe. Everything will be fine. No one knows that she’s here. Everything will be fine. It’s okay to stay like this for now.

Reaching that conclusion, Deertes laughed in vain. The irony in the situation. For God’s sake, just a while ago, she had wished for someone to recognise her. That was her only hope to go back to her home country or reach Bernst. Yet now, Deertes is relieved that no one recognised her.

Being stuck here, or having people know what she’s been through. Deertes could not figure out which of the two was worse.

It was then, a creak was heard and Helen entered the room. She must’ve noticed that she was awake, as seen by how in Helen’s hands was a wash basin filled with water and a clean towel.

Looking at Helen’s hand, Deertes was reminded of Lachlan last night. He had been doing what she had originally thought Helen would be doing.

“You… Why didn’t you let me know?”

Deertes unknowingly snapped at Helen with a sharp voice. All the tangled and piled up complicated emotions that she had felt yesterday exploded as she found an outlet to vent. Helen did not say a word as she brought the wet cloth to Deertes’ face, face wearing her usual expression.

Now, Deertes was starting to get annoyed as she noticed how Helen seemed to not understand her.

Many people enter and leave the estate throughout the day. Yet her maid remained the same despite her asking Craig for a change in maid. The request must’ve gone unanswered for fear that Deertes might have attempted to contact others outside through her maid.

Thinking that Helen still did not understand her words, Deertes spoke blatantly.

“You must have been aware that Lachlan had been going in and out of my room every night! Craig must’ve known as well! You are all in cahoots with each other! Leaving me with that man!’

Unable to continue with her words, Deertes frustratedly pushed the basin that Helen had brought in.

Splash!

Water from the once filled basin spilt onto the ground. Along with the sound of water splashing onto the ground, the sound coming from the basin rolling to a corner of the room rang.

She knew that she was being childish in ranting and venting in such a manner. So Deertes only did it in front of Helen. She knew that the native maid would find it difficult to expose her actions to others.

Looking at the basin which had finally stopped rolling, Deertes took a deep breath. Perhaps Helen will go on to clean it up as she usually does without uttering a single word. She has to.

“Lady Deertes.”

“…!”

For a split second, Deertes had thought someone else was in the same room as they were. However, the voice that had just called her name was Helen’s.

“Why are you doing this?”

“You… can speak this language…”

At her voice, Deertes stiffened. She wasn’t surprised solely by the fact Helen could speak the language. Instead, it was the fact that Ramedes’ language was flowing out of her mouth with such fluency that it was close to perfect, that surprised her.

Moreover, the way she spoke wasn’t that found amongst commoners. Her accent was one used by a highly educated member of the royal family. How could someone in this land speak in such a manner?

“‘This language’… Do you mean Ramedes’? Of course, I’m able to speak it. I have memorised all twelve books of Supera’s proverbs and have read the Chronicles of Davindorfp. My Lady, I’ll let you know in advance that I’m able to speak the languages Kancha, Semele, Trivi, as well as my hometown, Saul. Actually, Saul has six regional languages, all of which I’m able to communicate using.”

Helen’s words came out so quickly and accurately that Deertes found it hard to believe she had yet to utter a single word until this moment.

“So why didn’t you tell me that Lachlan had been going in and out of my room?”

“…”

“It’s because you didn’t ask me.”

Deertes felt like her head had been struck by a lightning of realisation. It was as Helen had said. She assumed Helen could not understand Ramedes’ tongue based on the colour of her skin.

Reaching that thought, Deertes immediately recalled all she had said to Helen thus far. Every now and then she would grumble to herself, when she did talk to Helen however, she had never spoken with the intention of getting back a response.

Sometimes, Deertes spoke when she needed something, most of which were simple and short words paired with hand gestures. Which Deertes had thought she saw and understood.

“And also…”

Helen turned to the basin and sighed softly. Noticing this, Deertes recalled her actions just moments ago and felt pathetic. She shut her mouth. She had nothing to say for herself.

“I’ll be resigning from being your maid as of today onwards. I’ll let Lord Lachlan know, I’ll take my leave now. I wish you the best of health, Lady Deertes.”

Helen greeted her, before immediately leaving the room. There, in the room, after Helen had gone out and water still splashed across the ground, Deertes stood. Deertes stayed there, amidst the mess, absentmindedly, not yet moving to clean the floor.

Then after a long time, it was only when she felt hunger pangs did she realise how hungry she was. And how she did not have any clothes to wear. And how she hadn’t yet washed her face as the water in the basin had been emptied onto the ground.

Deertes pulled on a thin sheet of fabric on her bed and wrapped it around herself. Carefully, she opened the door slowly. The loud creaking sound that followed her actions rang in the hallways. Fortunately, there was no one there.

“Is… anyone there?”

Deertes called out without getting an answer back. She had assumed there would at least be a handful of people in the building and for it to not be this empty. It was then, she could hear voices coming from outside the estate.

‘Right! There will be people who are busy working!’

As she approached the window, she hurriedly shut her mouth the moment she took a glimpse outside, when she was just about to call out to those workers.

If she wanted to leave the room, she would have to do so with a cloth thinly wrapped around her as she has yet to receive her indoor clothes. She couldn’t leave her room in such a manner. Moreover, there’s not a veil in sight to cover her appearance.

‘When more people become aware of my presence here…’

Such scandals have invisible wings. Even if it’s a faraway place from Ramedes, its wings will flap mercilessly and strongly, spreading rumours everywhere it goes.

With a sigh, Deertes gave up on her attempt to call on the people outside and proceeded to sit back down onto her bed. How would she wash her face? Where should I go to get some water? What should I do with the water on the floor?

Her stomach grumbled even louder.

She buried her face into her lap. There was nothing she could do about her hunger. Yet, what felt even worse was the shame.

Helen’s eyes came to mind as she reflected on her actions. Eyes that must’ve been filled with sympathy every time the ignorant Deertes spoke.