Episode 40

In any case, it worked out well for me. Even though I found it odd, I picked up my pen and wrote a reply confirming my attendance.

As I finished the letter, I heard someone at the door.

“My lady, dinner is ready. His Grace is waiting for you in the dining room.”

“Okay. And can you send this out for me?”

“Yes, my lady.”

When I went down to the dining room, Igon was seated, looking over some documents while sipping an aperitif.

“Welcome, Eve.”

“Sorry I’m late.”

Seeing Igon working even at the dinner table made me think, ‘He really has a lot on his plate.’

As I took my seat, a servant carefully placed Igon’s documents on a tray.

We exchanged a few words about our well-being.

I shared my plans, mentioning that I would be attending the coming-of-age party for the baron’s daughter. Igon let out a long sigh.

“Take Liam with you.”

“Pardon?”

“That area is dangerous.”

So now there are restrictions.

I regretted mentioning it. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.

“It’s fine. The knights I usually bring are enough…”

“Eve.”

“Yes?”

Igon closed his eyes briefly and shook his head.

“If you don’t take him, you can’t go.”

Oh, my head.

* * *

From the moment I got into the carriage until we passed the newly built mint, I pondered how to convince Liam.

How could I persuade him to go where I wanted?

As I was lost in thought, Liam, who had been looking out the window, turned his head.

Our eyes met unexpectedly.

“If you have something to ask, please do so.”

“…Nothing.”

After a brief silence, I turned my head away. Convincing him wouldn’t be easy.

Above all, it was difficult for me.

Although I couldn’t fully grasp the world’s causality and all the mysterious terms, I understood Liam a bit more now. This allowed me to at least greet him, but having a conversation was still hard.

I still disliked him and was angry with him. Regardless, he had shared what I had told him in confidence with others. That fact remained unchanged.

More precisely, I was as much at fault as Liam. I had been naive, spilling secrets to someone who pretended to be a friend, and that past self of mine angered me.

Seeing Liam reminded me of my own mistakes and made me angry.

‘Allcut Traveler’s Inn.’

As I lost myself in these thoughts, I saw a sign on the three-story building’s exterior with those words.

‘Don’t miss it!’

Without thinking, I banged on the carriage wall.

“Stop for a moment!”

The coachman, startled by my voice, brought the carriage to an abrupt halt.

I lurched forward, almost falling into Liam, who caught my shoulders to prevent me from tumbling into his chest.

“Thank you…”

“…It’s nothing, my lady.”

I stood up straight and adjusted my disheveled hair and clothes. I looked out the window again to confirm the sign.

‘Traveler’s Inn.’

Yes, I found it.

Luckily, I didn’t miss it.

“Why did you ask to stop?” Liam asked.

“I need to ask the innkeeper something.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s a personal matter. I’ll be out in no time, so please just wait here, making up an excuse about the wheels or something.”

I placed my hand on the door handle, but a long arm shot out to block my way.

“My lady, I’m really sorry, but I can’t let you disembark here without a proper reason.”

A long sigh escaped my lips. I couldn’t explain the situation to him, and pushing his arm away was beyond my strength.

I needed a justification, an excuse that he couldn’t question.

I decided to exploit any sympathy he might still hold for me.

“Haa…”

I sighed deeply and closed my eyes tightly, recalling how Liam had once pitied me, seeing me as a pitiful child.

With difficulty, I began to speak.

“It’s about my family.”

“Pardon?”

“My real family, the one I had before I came to the Duke’s estate.”

‘Real family.’

The words felt awkward in my mouth. The term ‘family’ itself was strange and almost laughable to me.

The people who had given birth to me, who shared my blood, were now faint figures in my memory. There were no lingering feelings, except perhaps a small amount of resentment.

I wasn’t kind or generous enough to call the people who had abandoned me ‘real family.’ Remembering the young me who was left and ignored, a bitter taste filled my mouth.

Even I found my excuse hard to believe.

‘Ah, I’ve messed up.’

I’d been with the Duke for years. If I had wanted to find my family, I could have easily asked Igon.

But suddenly, on the way to a party, I asked to stop the carriage to find my family. It was a suspicious excuse that anyone would doubt.

I regretted my impulsive words, but Liam seemed to be taking it differently.

“…….”

He stood there silently, covering his mouth with his hand, then slowly lowered his arm.

He removed his cloak and handed it to me.

“…Your attire is quite noticeable. It might be better if you wear this, even if it’s uncomfortable.”

I almost laughed at his kindness, quickly raising my hand to cover my mouth.

So gullible. So naive.

“I’ll escort you to the door,” he said.

There was no reason to refuse his kindness as he opened the carriage door and offered to escort me.

His naivety was amusing.

“Would you?”

My voice trembled slightly as I laughed at the absurdity of Liam’s actions, reaching out to help me down from the carriage. To him, this trembling might have seemed like a sign of gratitude.

‘I didn’t know I could be such a great actor.’

“Tell the coachman I needed to stop because I wasn’t feeling well.”

“Yes, my lady.”

As I stepped down, Liam conveyed my fabricated excuse to the coachman.

I led the way into the inn, with Liam following closely behind.

Even before opening the door, the noise of patrons inside indicated a busy establishment.

When I opened the door, the mingling scents of food, alcohol, and wood rushed at me.

“Welcome!”

A lively greeting rang out like a bell.

As I surveyed the spacious and pleasant lobby, a piece of paper fluttered down in front of my shoes, likely dislodged by the draft from the door.

‘Room and board, 30 segels a month.’

“Um…, what brings you here…?”

The page boy, approaching cautiously and quickly, asked as I picked up the paper. Despite the cloak I wore, I didn’t seem like someone who had come to stay.

“Fetch the owner for me.”

“Yes, right away!”

The boy spun around and ran up the stairs.

I took a closer look at the inn. It seemed large enough to hold at least thirty rooms, possibly more if some were smaller.

‘Will he remember everyone who stayed here?’

If the soothsayer had just sent letters, he might not be remembered, but if he stayed here, the owner might recall something.

I felt a strange sensation and turned to find everyone in the lobby watching me in silence.

I felt like a spectacle.

They were observing me as a noble lady, an unfamiliar sight for them.

‘I’m just like you,’ I wanted to shout.

“A noble lady wants to see me?”

The voice of an old man sounded cranky.

“Are you the owner of this place?”

The old man looked stern and scrutinized me with a sharp glance.

“Hmm.”

After a short sigh, he bowed slightly.

“Greetings to a distinguished guest from who knows where.”

‘Damn old man.’

The words written in the letter came to mind. If there were no one around, I would have punched the air in triumph. My hunch seemed to be right—the soothsayer must have stayed here.

“Enough with the formalities. I have a few questions for you.”

“Yes.”

Without further words, the old man turned and led the way. I followed him up to his room on the second floor.

“Wait here,” he said, leaving Liam at the door before we entered.

Inside, I sat at the desk, which clearly belonged to the old man.

The old man placed a chair below mine and sat down.

“I’m looking for someone.”

“…My memory isn’t particularly good. I fear you might be wasting your time, my lady.”

I pulled two gold coins from my pocket and placed them on the desk.

The old man’s hand moved slowly, picking up the coins.

“What is it you wish to ask…”

“A soothsayer. He might have stayed here and sent letters outside the city.”

The old man raised his head, squinting as if searching his memory.

“A soothsayer… there are a few I can think of. Someone who requested to send letters…”

“Anything will do. Just tell me whatever comes to mind.”

Without answering, the old man smirked, fondling the gold coins. He clearly wanted more.

‘Ah, this damn old man.’

Now I understood why the soothsayer had written those words.

I took out five more gold coins and placed them on the table.

The old man grinned and, with claw-like hands, swept the coins into his grasp.

“Alright,” he began, “there was a man who stayed here for a while. He sent letters regularly, always with an air of secrecy. Called himself a soothsayer, just like you said. He always paid well, kept to himself mostly, but every so often, he would have visitors late at night.”

“Can you describe him?”

“Tall, thin, always wore a hooded cloak. Had a bit of a rasp in his voice. Kept his face hidden most of the time, but I saw enough to know he was middle-aged, with a few scars.”

“Did he ever mention where he was going or if he was expecting anyone?”

The old man scratched his head, thinking. “He was always on edge, like he was waiting for something or someone. One time, he mentioned heading to the southern territories, said something about the stars being right. That’s all I know.”

“Did he ever use a name?”

“Never his real one, at least. To me, he was just ‘the Soothsayer.’ He left suddenly one night, about a month ago. Haven’t seen or heard from him since.”

“Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.”

I stood up to leave, but the old man’s next words stopped me.

“Be careful, my lady. Those who deal with soothsayers often find themselves entangled in things they’d rather avoid.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

With that, I left the room, feeling the weight of his warning as I walked back to the carriage, Liam by my side.