Episode 37

‘Bang! Bang!’

I stopped at the sound of something exploding.

Igon raised his hand to cover my ears.

Fireworks.

The air was thick with smoke and the smell of gunpowder.

Though not as bright and intricate as the ones I had seen in my past life, fireworks still illuminated the night sky.

‘Boom!’

Another burst of fireworks shot into the sky.

The sound was deafening.

I turned my gaze to Igon.

His eyes, looking up at the sky, were filled with the reflection of the sparkling fireworks.

He was murmuring something, but even from this close, I couldn’t hear his voice.

***

I hadn’t expected to feel such regret about leaving.

Every step felt heavy, as if weights were tied to my feet.

Watching the servants pack our things into the carriage, I sighed deeply with reluctance.

I felt restless.

I didn’t like postponing my duties for other activities, but here I was, wishing I could stay and delay all my responsibilities.

Once we returned to the capital, it would be back to the grind.

The clothes we borrowed for the festival were neatly folded and placed on the table.

I was told to keep them as a memento, but I wasn’t sure where I could possibly use them, so I hesitated.

As I ran my hand over the brightly colored fabric, I heard a noise from the doorway and turned my head.

“Eve, we’re leaving soon.”

“Yes.”

I nodded in response, then picked up the clothes I had been caressing.

Perhaps, if I ever came back here, I could wear them again.

Though I might end up borrowing new clothes next time.

“Let’s come back again.”

Igon said, lifting my hand as we stepped out of the room.

Holding his hand, I thought, ‘Yes, it would be nice if we could.’

Now, all that was left was to make the effort to ensure that it could happen.

As we made our way to the carriage, I took one last look around the place that had given us so many memories.

The festival, the dances, the fireworks – it all felt like a dream.

But I was determined to turn that dream into a reality we could revisit.

Igon helped me into the carriage, and we settled in for the journey back to the capital.

The road ahead would be challenging, but with Igon by my side, I felt ready to face whatever came our way.

The carriage started moving, and I looked out the window, watching the festival grounds fade into the distance.

A sense of calm washed over me, knowing that we had shared something special, something worth fighting to return to.

As the capital drew closer, I felt a renewed sense of purpose.

We would carry the light of this festival in our hearts, guiding us through the days ahead until we could come back and bask in its glow once more.

I thought about the letter.

As soon as I returned to the capital, I would find this person.

After one last stroll through the garden with Igon, we boarded the carriage.

I looked back at the receding estate multiple times.

* * *

Upon returning to the capital, I used the excuse of travel fatigue to stay in my bedroom for three more days.

A vacation doesn’t recharge you; it makes you lazier.

Of course, I didn’t do nothing during that time.

I immediately began searching for that peculiar fortune teller closest to my secret.

After confirming the address written on the envelope from the wizard, I called one of the servants, a quick and efficient girl.

I asked her to find out more about the address where the letter was sent.

I was worried that asking someone from the Duke’s residence might get back to Igon, but I had no other choice.

In the capital, my status as a lady made it impossible to roam around alone.

While the girl was away, I tried to decipher some of the words scrawled inside the letter.

Although the letter was primarily written with holes, each representing a word by their number and shape, some words like “milk,” “bread,” and “ink” were written in the corners, along with curses like “damned old fool.”

There were some words that were completely unintelligible, and those I could make out seemed meaningless.

The most puzzling phrase was “soul of the flower,” which I couldn’t make any sense of, driving me to frustration.

The girl returned with the address by mid-afternoon.

“It was an inn?”

“Yes, that’s what I found.”

The letter had been sent from an inn near the south gate.

While some people stayed there long-term, it was also a popular spot for travelers passing through the capital.

The fact that it was an inn near the gate bothered me.

The fortune teller might have already left a long time ago.

If he had fled the capital, finding him would be incredibly difficult.

Only a very select few were allowed to reside within the capital.

“Did you find out if he was still there?”

I asked, trying to mask my anxiety.

The girl shook her head.

“They said he left some time ago, but no one knew exactly when.”

Disappointment washed over me, but I couldn’t give up.

“Thank you. You’ve been very helpful,” I said, dismissing her with a small smile.

Alone in my room again, I pondered my next move.

I needed to find the fortune teller, but how?

The phrase “soul of the flower” kept nagging at me.

There had to be a clue in it.

I took out the letter once more, examining every inch of it, hoping to uncover some hidden meaning.

Hours passed with no breakthrough.

Feeling defeated, I finally put the letter aside.

I needed another approach, perhaps someone with more knowledge of these matters.

Deciding to seek help, I resolved to visit the library the next day, hoping to find some texts on ancient symbols and their meanings.

Maybe there, I could find a hint to unlock the mystery of the letter and locate the elusive fortune teller.

To live here, one had to have resided for at least three generations, and entering from outside the walls was exceedingly difficult.

Once you left, it took quite a while to be readmitted.

“Did you happen to remember anything about the person who asked you to post the letter?”

I asked the girl who had gone to the inn.

She shook her head with a troubled expression.

“No one seemed to remember who sent it. They offer a service where they collect and send letters on behalf of guests, so many people use it. Often, people leave money and letters at the counter when the owner isn’t around.”

“I see.”

It was disappointing to have no solid leads, but I couldn’t let it discourage me.

I had only one clue, the letter, yet I had a strong feeling I would find what I was looking for.

Fortune tellers were not a common profession in this world.

Moreover, the letter was wrapped in what seemed like a reused document, not ordinary wrapping paper.

If I went to the inn and asked the owner directly, perhaps I could find some clue.

‘I must go there myself.’

Tomorrow, there was a reading group meeting with the princess.

Now that I knew the inn’s location, I could stop by after the meeting and see for myself.

* * *

“Did you enjoy your trip?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The princess, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, approached me with many questions.

Avoiding her expectant gaze, I laid out the items I bought at the night market.

There was nothing expensive or high-end, but the small, cute decorations I found caught the princess and the others’ interest.

“Oh my, you didn’t have to bring these!”

“It was a small town, so there weren’t many high-end goods. I just picked up a few things that caught my eye while wandering around. They’re not much, so it’s a bit embarrassing.”

“Such things are more precious.”

I turned towards Eunice’s voice.

She was smiling as she picked up a wooden bookmark.

It wasn’t just any bookmark; it had ancient spells engraved on it. I had kept one for myself, too.

It probably didn’t have any real power, but among commoners, it was known as a kind of talisman.

At first glance, it was something the other ladies wouldn’t usually choose.

“I’ve always loved these kinds of things,” Eunice continued, running her fingers over the carved runes.

“They’re quite charming, aren’t they?”

I responded, glad someone appreciated the quaintness of the items.

As we continued to talk, I made a mental note to slip away to the inn later.

The conversation flowed naturally, and soon, the reading group settled down to discuss the books we had chosen.

But even as I engaged with the others, my thoughts kept drifting back to the inn and the mystery of the letter.

I had to find out more.

After the meeting, I excused myself and headed to the inn near the south gate.

The streets were bustling with people, and the inn was easy to find.

I walked in, the familiar scent of travelers and old wood greeting me.

The innkeeper was behind the counter, sorting through a stack of papers.

“Excuse me,” I said, approaching him. “I was wondering if you could help me with something.”

The innkeeper looked up, curiosity piqued.

“What can I do for you, miss?”

I pulled out the letter and showed him the address.

“This letter was sent from here. Do you remember who might have sent it?”

He examined the letter, then shook his head.

“We get a lot of letters here. People come and go, leave money and letters at the counter when we’re not around. It’s hard to keep track.”

I sighed, feeling a bit defeated.

“I understand. But do you have any idea who might have used this particular paper? It looks like it was part of an official document.”

The innkeeper’s eyes widened slightly.

“Ah, that I do remember. There was a man who stayed here for a while. He always had old documents and papers with him. Bit of an odd fellow, but he paid well and kept to himself.”

My heart raced.

“Do you know where he went?”

“He left about a month ago,” the innkeeper said, scratching his head. “Said he was heading north, towards the border.”

North. That was something.

“Thank you,” I said, feeling a mix of hope and frustration. “You’ve been very helpful.”

As I left the inn, I felt a renewed sense of purpose.

The north was a vast and often dangerous place, but it was a lead.

I needed to discuss this with Igon.

With this new piece of the puzzle, we might just find the elusive fortune teller and uncover the secrets hidden in that letter.

I had always thought Eunice had a good eye, so I was a bit surprised.

‘Come to think of it, in the original story, she adapted well even when her status was demoted to that of a commoner, no, a slave.’

Maybe she had a very simple taste.

“Oh, how intricate!”

Seeing the delighted faces made me feel that the effort of buying these items was worth it.

However, since they were handmade, there weren’t enough for everyone despite my intention to buy one for each person.

Most people chose what they wanted without any issues.

The problem arose when Christina and Andrea, who usually had different tastes, both picked the same item, and there weren’t enough to go around.

“I was first, Lady.”

“Sorry, but I had already claimed it earlier.”

“Just saying it doesn’t make it yours.”

“As the elder, you should show the virtue of yielding.”

“I’ve never been treated with respect as an elder.”

Andrea raised an eyebrow.

Christina’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Their eyes locked, sparks flying between them.

It wasn’t even something worth fighting over, but it seemed the fact that both had chosen it was what mattered.

I couldn’t understand how they managed to argue every time.

Intervention was necessary.

Whenever they fought, one would inevitably skip the next meeting, and we’d have to write letters to coax her back.

I looked to the princess, hoping she’d do something since she hosted the meeting and was known for her eloquence.

However, she signaled with her eyes for me to handle it since it was my gift.

No way.

What was I supposed to do about their constant bickering?

Just as I was about to speak and try to calm them, a Knight hurried in.

“Ferret?”

The princess tilted her head, questioning the interruption.

It was one of her usual attendants.

The Knight whispered something to the princess, causing her to frown.

“…Damn.”

“Your Highness.”

The unroyal language slipped out.

As expected of a noble lady, Tielle raised and lowered an eyebrow before calling the princess.

The princess ignored her and stood up.

“Everyone, congratulations.”

The princess’s face, now devoid of any trace of a smile, looked serious.

So that’s what she looks like serious.

She was always smiling, so this stern expression was almost new to me.

“Her Majesty, the Empress, has expressed her intention to attend our meeting.”

Oh my.

I glanced around, trying to gauge everyone else’s reactions.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one shocked.

Everyone’s eyes and mouths were wide open.

I quickly covered my mouth, realizing it was gaping.

“Brace yourselves. The Empress is stricter and more traditional than any etiquette teacher in the world. If you slip up, you might end up being scolded in one position for hours.”

The princess spoke candidly about her mother.

But still, hours of scolding?

Considering her age, I wondered where she got the stamina.

“Her Majesty, the Empress, is arriving!”

“She’s here.”

I thought I heard another muttered curse.

Even Tielle couldn’t scold the princess this time.

Understandable, given the situation.

The Empress entered with her usual smiling face.

Everyone quickly stood and curtsied, the room falling into an uneasy silence.

The Empress’s presence was commanding, and her reputation for strictness preceded her.

“Good afternoon, ladies,” she said, her voice smooth and authoritative. “I trust you are all well.”

“Good afternoon, Your Majesty,” we responded in unison.

The Empress’s eyes scanned the room, assessing each of us with a keen gaze.

“I am pleased to join your gathering today. I expect everyone to uphold the highest standards of etiquette.”

Her words were a reminder of the rigorous expectations she held.

I could feel the tension in the room as everyone tried to appear as perfect as possible.

This meeting was about to become much more challenging than any of us had anticipated.