Chapter 10:Are You A Witch Too?
Looking at the peaceful river in front of and the vast land teeming with greenery, I found myself srized as usual by the beauty of nature. I inhaled deeply to enjoy the fresh air, fully relishing this rare taste of freedom.
"After so long... It feels great," I comnted as I held my skirt and skipped my way towards the river, feeling excited like a kid who just got his favorite toy.
For soone like , nothing but freedom could truly make happy. It was more precious than any power or wealth in the world.
Martha followed quietly behind , simply letting do what I wish.
I made my way to the large boulders lining the side of the river and found a good spot to sit. As the rocks were surrounded by shallow water, I could dip my feet and play unhindered without getting my clothes wet. The calmly flowing water reached just above my ankles, and the cold against my warm skin felt wonderful.
As I was happy and smiling, as usual, one of my curses showed its effect.
The plants nearby that originally looked like ordinary shrubs, devoid of the beauty of flower blossoms, suddenly had buds grow on them that blood into colorful flowers. The entire place was transford into a flower garden, and it was a dazzling view.
I looked at Martha. "Aren't they so pretty?"
"That's why my lady should smile often," Martha comnted as she admired the view as well.
"Then you should bring out often, too," I laughed, smiling brightly as the happy kid inside was ready to co out.
Martha didn't reply, but there was a tinge of worry on her face, and I could understand why.
"Are you worried about what others will think when they see flowers blooming inside the capital?"
Martha looked at . "It's a good thing to see so many flowers after so long."
As usual, Martha avoided answering , but I knew what was in her mind.
"They will think this witch is happy after almost ruining the engagent ceremony of her sister, and these flowers in full blossom prove that."
"My lady should not be concerned with what others think," Martha comnted.
I smiled. "I am not as long as I can be free like this."
Martha was a lady who never smiled and only thought about how to do her job perfectly. However, through her actions, I knew she cared for . Seeing her constantly worry for never failed to bring warmth to my heart.
"Won't you join here, Martha?" I asked.
Martha sat on the rock beside calmly.
"Today, can you honestly answer a question of mine?" I spoke.
"Only if I can answer it," she replied.
I took a deep breath.
"Are you a witch too?"
"Why does my lady think so?" she countered.
Her response was a pleasant surprise.
'Did she really say sothing instead of flat-out ignoring my question straight away? I didn't hear her wrong, right?'
Though surprised, I kept myself calm. I needed to grab this opportunity to make her talk more.
"You know magic spells," I replied.
"So any person who knows magic is supposed to be a witch?" she asked back.
Her words made look at her face.
Although she was my nanny, Martha could not be considered old, probably just around the sa age as my birth mother. Though she was a servant, there was sothing about her that distinguished her from normal servants of the royal family. Perhaps it was her temperant, coupled with her looks.
Grey shade of hair tied in a long braid, a pair of light brown eyes, a long face with fair skin, sharp and pointy nose, as well as a tall, slender body. Although my sense of beauty might be different from the people of my kingdom, I believed that Martha could be considered above average if not pretty by normal standards. If she were to wear luxurious clothes, no one would think she was a re servant.
"You are old but still pretty. You are not ugly, so…."
"Who said witches are ugly?" Martha asked.
"Do I even need to ask anyone? If not that, then why would I have to cover my face?"
Martha opened her mouth to say sothing, but I stopped her. "I know! I know! You will say it's to protect , but I can't stop thinking I need to hide my face because I am ugly."
"You are even prettier than your mother," Martha mumbled under her breath, but she was no longer looking at . Instead, she stared at the river ahead, looking lost in thought. This was the first ti I had seen such an expression on her face.
Moreover, she ntioned sothing about my mother, sothing other than the two things I knew about my mother. First, that she was a witch, and second, that she was the one to put this veil on my face.
'Could it be the beautiful view that reminded Martha sothing? A mory of my mother? Do I need to continue this to fish out more information from her?'
I couldn't help but make plans in my mind for the next ti we sneak out again.
"If she was a witch, how can she be pretty?" I asked after I realized both of us had fallen in silence.
This ti, Martha didn't reply, which didn't co as a surprise to .
I had reached the phase where I could only ask questions and leave them for Martha to decide whether she wished to answer or not.
"So you personally know my mother," I concluded, not minding how she ignored my previous question.
Again, there was no reply.
"Were you friends, or did you serve under her, too?"
"How did you two et?"
"Most importantly, is my mother alive?"
"How did she and my father et?"
One after another, questions I hid deeply poured out of my mouth. However, Martha remained silent throughout. Before I could ask more, she stood up, and she stepped away from the waters onto the dry part of the riverbank. "We should leave, or I won't be able to take my lady to the market."
"She is my mother, but I know nothing about her. Can't you at least tell sothing more about her?" I insisted, but I did get up from the rock and followed her.
'This old woman walks really fast,' I sighed, trying to catch up with her.
"She was pretty. Knowing this much is enough for today," Marth replied as she led out of the river towards the city proper.
'This heartless woman. Just wait and watch what I'll do today,' I frowned inside, glaring at her back. 'If you think you can control just because you know so magic tricks, then you are wrong.'
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