Chapter 22:Shocking Realization
"Then my lady should behave like one," Martha comnted.
Before I could say another word, she pulled out sothing from the pocket of her sleeve. "This is for my lady."
I swallowed my words and asked in surprise, "For ?"
'Present for ?" I smiled lightly and took it from her, not waiting for a mont.
It was a delicate, finely carved hairpin with multiple and brightly shining stones fixed on it. Delicate gold chains hung to it, forming a semicircle, giving it a sophisticated look.
"It's pretty," I said with a light smile, suppressing a childish squeal not to show her how happy I was that she got a gift for .
"But this pretty hair ornant almost cost my job, my lady," Martha replied, hinting at the trouble I caused.
'Ohh, so she went to that shop to get this hairpin for when I was running away,' I thought and felt bad at the mory, but as usual, there was no need to show it to her and apologize for it. 'I'm a princess, after all.'
"Thank you for this gift."
Ignoring my thanks, Martha went to fix the bed for as it was late. "Tomorrow, we will have a cooking lesson for my lady."
The smile on my face disappeared as I exclaid, "Tomorrow?"
"Hmm." Martha nodded while getting a new set of bedsheets and quilt for from the wooden cupboard.
'No way,' I scread inside. "But, we had it a few days back."
"Those few days were long back," Martha replied.
"I'm a princess. Why do I have to—"
"One day, by chance, if my lady is lost in the wilderness or sowhere unknown, she should know how to survive. People will not be kind to you when they call you a witch."
"Why do I need to when you are here—?"
"What if I'm not there with my lady, just like what happened today in the marketplace?"
Her words reminded of the man who saved . Ever since we returned to the palace, my thoughts were occupied with worry for Martha and about what could happen to her. I almost forgot about that man.
"That man!" I mumbled and looked at Martha. "Did you see the man who saved ? Who is he?"
"My lady, I didn't see anyone but one beheaded body on the ground," Martha replied.
"He was there," I insisted. "He was the one to behead that man. He has scary red eyes and—"
"My lady must have made a mistake," Martha interrupted and finished preparing the bed. She then went to add more wood logs to the fireplace.
Sulking over the ignorant Martha, I complied and went to bed. "It's not the first ti I've seen him … I don't know how to explain, but I'm sure it's him."
I looked at Martha, whose back faced as she tended the fireplace. There was no reaction from her, as if she didn't hear .
"I once saw him fighting in the mountains, and he was the one to pull underwater... You don't believe as always." I couldn't help but feel infuriated by her reaction—or rather, her lack of one. Whenever I said things I've scryed to Martha, I always got silence in return.
Martha finally finished her work and stood up to look at . My eyes were full of expectations that she would say sothing this ti, but…
"Seems like it's due to lack of sleep that my lady is having weird dreams," Martha comnted. "I'll ask His Majesty to send more books for my lady to study so her mind will stop imagining absurd things."
"I don't want to study those boring books." I pulled the quilt over my head and lay in bed.
Martha ca to fix the quilt properly. "Studying is important for my lady. One should have all kinds of knowledge if they wish to survive in this cruel world."
I turned to one side, my back facing Martha. "I don't see any of its use when I can't even use that knowledge."
"Then how co my lady recognized the flammable oil on that curtain and defended herself?"
Martha was right. It was because I have studied the situation of the nearby kingdoms and the current trade between them. Back then, I was curious to see what kind of expensive things were imported from the eastern kingdoms. Afterward, Martha brought one tiny bottle and showed it to . We ended up using that expensive oil to ignite fire for our cooking lesson….Annoying cooking lesson.
Since I was young, Martha had taught to read and write, and there was always a stock of books sent by the King for to study. Though I wouldn't say I liked studying as I was upset with my father and didn't wish to follow any of his orders, I had to do it because of Martha, as she always found a way to make do it.
Her favorite trick was, giving a target, and if I finish it to her satisfaction, she will take out. Sotis, she would make my favorite food. Taking out was the best deal for , and I always did my best to get that deal done.
"Goodnight, my lady," Martha said, but with being stubborn, I didn't wish her a goodnight back. I heard the door of my room open and close, which ant Martha had left.
Finally alone, my thoughts wandered about. 'Why does the King want to study everything? Not like I'll be the one to rule his kingdom… Then...is this his way to torture silently?'
Tired of having so many questions in my mind, I closed my eyes, only to rember that red-eyed man again. I couldn't stop thinking if he was indeed the man I saw in my vision.
The first ti, I could only see his back and tattoo. The second ti, those red eyes and the sa tattoo.
"It's the sa tattoo. I can't be mistaken," I mumbled. "Those eyes...?"
I focused on rembering and compared the eyes I saw in water and those I saw in the marketplace.
"Ahh!" I covered my mouth imdiately to suppress myself from screaming loudly, or it would have ended up breaking all the glasses inside my bedchamber.
"Did...Did he just see naked underwater?"
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